Preparing For The Vocation Of Marriage? The Grace Of Vocation. Union and Chari- Mater Dei Blakehurst & Parishes of Of Life and Love Marriage Preparation Week- ty, a series of discernment events held on 5th Sunday Of Easter St Raphaels end at the Catholic Adult Education Centre. Saturdays in Sydney for young single Places still available for May 2 & 3 or June 27 women sponsored by the Religious Sis- Entrance Antiphon BULLETIN 3rd May, 2015 & 28. $230 per couple. For more infor- O sing a new song to the Lord, ters of Mercy of Alma. Last event date: 16 for he has worked wonders; mation, call 9646 9010 or go to May. For further information visit in the sight of the nations Reflection: By Fr Michael Tate www.caec.com.au - *A wedding is a day, but he has shown his deliverance, alleluia. We are too familiar with today’s gospel. Christ is the a marriage is a lifetime* www.rsmofalma.org and to RSVP ring 02 First Reading: Acts 9:26-31 vine and we are the branches, sometimes in need of a 9557 2398 or [email protected] .

Responsorial Psalm : good pruning. But God’s purpose is not to produce a

Ps 21:26-28. 30-32. R. v.26 perfect vineyard. It is to produce a full-bodied wine at the end of history. Pentecost Retreat Saturday 23rd May, 2015 (R.) I will praise you, Lord, in the assem- bly of your people. There is a foretaste of this at every . The wine we Come and join us for a day retreat 9am to 5pm at 74 1. My vows I will pay before those who offer – ‘fruit of the earth and work of human hands’ – Rosebery Ave, Rosebery. There will be talks based on teh fear him. The poor shall eat and shall becomes the spiritual drink which best serves the pur- Word of God, time for personal reflection and shar- have their fill. They shall praise the Lord, pose of our Heavenly Father. How does this happen? ing. Please contact Verbum Dei Missionaries if you have those who seek him. May their hearts For the Jewish people observing an animal whose any questions on 9313 7099 or email live for ever and ever! (R.) throat is cut, it is obvious that the life drains out with [email protected] 2.All the earth shall remember and ret- the blood. ‘Life’ and ‘blood’ became synonyms. So, turn to the Lord, all families of the na when the Jewish Jesus says of the wine in the chalice tions worship before him. They shall at the : ‘This is my blood’, amongst other PILGRIMAGE TOUR - ImmaculateImmaculate HeartHeart worship him, all the mighty of the earth; things he is saying: ‘This is my life force, this is my very 3 JUNE 2015 DEPARTURE. of Mary before him shall bow all who go down life given unreservedly for you.’ There are some vacancies to the dust. (R.) So, when we drink from the chalice at Holy Commun- still available on the Catho- 3.And my soul shall live for him, my ion, the life of the Risen Lord courses through our bod- lic Archdiocese of Sydney's children serve him. They shall tell of the ies just as the sap of the vine courses through its Rome Pilgrimage Tour Lord to generations yet to come, branches. We share the same ultimate vitality so that which departs on 03 June declare his faithfulness to peoples yet our bodily existence builds into the Body of Christ. He 2015. The 7-night tour unborn: „These things the Lord has becomes truly ‘full-bodied’ as the Divine Vigneron de- package includes return done.‟ (R.) sires. economy airfares, accom- Second Reading: 1 Jn 3:18-24 We could take a moment to pray that we respond to modation at Domus Austral- the pruning and the tending and the pressing by our ia, all breakfasts and din- Lord you place deep in our hearts the Gospel Acclamation: Jn 15:4-5 love of Mary Help of Christians. Alleluia, alleluia! Heavenly Father so as to contribute our distinctive ners, and all tours including Live in me and let me live in you, says Through her prayers grant character to the vintage at the end of history, the spir- admission. For full details the Lord; itual drink of the Kingdom of Heaven. wisdom to our leaders and my branches bear much fruit. go to integrity to our citizens. Alleluia! www.romepilgrimages.com Under her protection may Gospel: 15:1-8 UNITED IN FAITH, GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT NOURISHED or phone 1800 819 156. Australia be granted harmony, justice Communion antiphon: and peace. We ask this through Christ I am the true vine and you are the BY THE EUCHARIST, COMMITTED TO PROCLAIMING THE our Lord. Amen. branches, says the Lord. GOSPEL.WE STRIVE TO LIVE AS GOD ASKS Whoever remains in me, and I in him, “to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6:8) bears fruit in plenty, alleluia MASS TIMES this week Mater Dei Parish and St Raph- 29 April 2015 Mater Dei St.Raphaels PARISH DIRECTORY ael’s Parish Saturday 6.15pm 5.00pm STATEMENT FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY Parish Sunday 10.00am 8.30am Invite you to their annual Par- MOST REV ANTHONY FISHER OP Tuesday 8.00am Fr Isidore Anantharaj ish Dinner ON THE EXECUTION OF ANDREW CHAN AND Phone: 9546-2605 Wednesday 8.00am [email protected] Thursday 9.15am in July MYURUN SUKUMARAN IN INDONESIA Friday 8am 9.00am Presbytery & Parish Office th RECONCILIATION: (also by appointment) Friday, 24 July 2015 1008 King Georges Rd., Saturday 4.30pm Like most Australians I do not support capital punishment: there is Blakehurst, NSW 2221 EXPOSITION 7pm for 7:30pm start Fax: 95472323 enough violence in our world already without legal systems model- Saturday from 4.00pm www.materdei-straphael.org.au Doltone House ling it to others. Legions of Mary Mater Dei Church: 1008 King Georges Rd, MD: Meets 10am every Monday 223 Belgrave Esplanade, Sylvania Blakehurst, morning in the Piety Stall at Mater Dei. St R‟s and Meeting every Waters When the Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, and I St Raphael‟s Church: 84 George St, Friday at 9:30 am downstairs in the Hall. South Hurstville made a joint appeal for clemency, we made it clear that we re- St Vincent de Paul Society Cost: $75 per person Parish Secretary for Both Parishes spected Indonesia’s sovereignty and shared its condemnation of Meets second Tuesday of each month in the Mrs Jenny Stanley Kennedy Centre at Mater Dei at 7.30 pm. Includes 3 course meal, drug trafficking. We are all aware of the terrible damage drugs [email protected]

HOME ROSARY beer wine and soft drinks, coffee/ cause. But refusing even to entertain appeals for mercy – even Parish office: Tues, Wed & Frd. 10-2 St Raphael‟s Parish 7.30pm after the pair had demonstrably turned their lives around– 04-05-2015 Tony & Maggie Tea 6 Scenic Cres, Connells Pt seemed to us to damage our neighbour’s reputation for justice. Br. Joe Cassar 11/5/15 Anton & Margurite DJ Included 9546 1232 13-A Australia St, Hurstville Pastoral Assistant (St Raphael‟s): Mater Dei Parish - Tuesdays In some ways capital punishment punishes the families more than A Date for your dairy: Br. Ben Krupowicz Ph: 9546 2544 5-5-15 Angela and Victor Diangelo those executed. They must carry the memories for years to come. 105 Kyle Pde, Kyle Bay. 8.00 P.M 31/05/2015 [email protected] My heart and the hearts of all good-willed Australians go out to 12-5-15 Frances and Tony Oscuro Sunday 10.00am @ Mater Dei Priest in Residence 51 Stuart St. Blakehurst 8.00pm the Chan and Sukumaran families and the families of the others Fr. Jan Chrzczonowicz Thanksgiving Mass for executed with them. May their children rest in peace. (Chaplain to the French) ALL WELCOME +Anthony Fisher op Mobile: 0412786 245 Please pray for the work of this Council which has SCHOOLS: been set up as part of the Church‟s response to the Mater Dei Primary 9546-7298 Royal Commission into Institutional Principal: Mr Peter Cranney Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Please Br Joe Cassar pray especially, too, for the victims of child CHARITABLE WORKS FUND (CWF) PASTORAL APPEAL. This week- St Raphael‟s Primary … .9546-4898 sexual abuse by clergy, religious and Church and for end is the CWF appeal which continues to play an important role in Principal: Mrs Annette McKenzie the Society of Christian Doctrine. providing social, pastoral, advocacy and training programs through Please Pray for ADULT FAITH FORMATION 2015. St Teresa of Avila For the years of service to our parish, its 6 agencies. The CWF is your Catholic charity and we encourage 2: Bishop David Walker DD, Emeritus Bishop of Deceased: Philomena Danaher, Martin Breeb, our schools & our community. you to give it your generous support. Couples, families, refugees, the Diocese of Broken Bay, will deliver teachings Rachele Calvitto,Baxter Derrig, Clarice on St Teresa of Avila. St Teresa, a Doctor of the Dorany, Domenico Cardillo, Betty Peipman, Fr Brendan Shiel, Baden Barter, Ron Masson, Please join us for morning tea after migrants, our future , Catholic public school children, the Church, has come to be recognised as one of the Souham Wehbe, Garry Stewart, Julia & Monica 10.00am Mass. deaf and hearing impaired are just some of the people you are great teachers of how to journey to God. Come Mullens, Natale Pelle, and join us in exploring the richness of St Tere- George Preca (in Maltese: Ġorġ Preca) helping by supporting the CWF. There is so much which can be sa’s wisdom. All are welcome! The venue for all Sick: Brian Waterman Sr Vianney Hatton, Damien courses will be The Centre for Christian Spiritual- & Rosemary Caruana, Neuyen, T Houng, Maria (12 February 1880 – 26 July 1962) done with your donations, so please give generously. ity, 14 Frances St, Randwick. St Teresa of Avila 2: COLLECTIONS LAST WEEKEND was a Maltese Roman Catholic priest who founded the The Interior Castle. Dates: Wednesdays: 29 DOWNPOUR - PENTECOST YOUTH RALLY – SAT, 23 MAY 2015. Join with hundreds as we Society of Christian Doctrine, a society of lay catechists. In April, 6 & 13 May 2015, 7.00 – 8.30pm. Course TYPE StR MD celebrate Pentecost 2015 and pray for Sydney! This awesome night will feature worship , he is known as "Dun Ġorġ" and is popularly re- Cost: $25. To register: http//trybooking.com/ First ferred to as the "Second Apostle of Malta", after Paul of by Steve Angrisano (USA), Gary and Natasha Pinto (Melbourne) and Stephen Kirk GVFO. Tarsus. He was canonized on 3 June 2007 by Pope Bene- (Canberra) with a dynamic preaching by Fr Chris Ryan MGL. A night not to be missed!! Second: loose Both Churches have a hearing loop dict XVI.*1+ Feast Day on the 9th May. Tickets and information available online at downpoursydney.com . Envelopes installed: switch your hearing aid to “T- coil”.