and Drouin Catholic Parishes St. Ignatius’, South-St. Joseph’s, Warragul-St Ita’s, Drouin ‘Forming Missionary Communities’

Parish Priest: Sunday 7th March 2021– THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT-Yr B Father Peter Slater

Presbytery: Sunday Mass Times 3 Witton St PO Box 275 Warragul. Warragul 3820 Saturday: Vigil 5.30pm ph: 5623-1642 Warragul Saturday Vigil 7.00pm [email protected] Warragul Sunday: 9.00am Drouin Sunday: 10.30am Assistant Priest: Warragul Sunday: Shona Mass 5.00pm Father Confidence Masvosva ph: 5623-1642 Weekday Mass Times [email protected] Monday: Warragul 9.30am Tuesday: Drouin 9.30am Deacon: Warragul 5.30pm Deacon Mark Kelly Wednesday: Warragul 9.30am 0427 748 646 Thursday: Drouin 9.30am [email protected] Friday: Warragul 9.30am

Churches: St. Joseph’s: 17 Queen St A LETTER FROM FR PETER. a combined churches sponsoring of an Warragul. Dear Parishioners, Alpha course. While the Pastoral Council Our Pastoral Council is in a time of didn’t initiate all these works it certainly St Ita’s: transition, there should be new encouraged much activity. On your behalf St, membership in a few weeks. At our last I would like to acknowledge the service Drouin. meeting, by way of bringing the service of provided by the whole council and thank retiring members to a close, the talk was those who are moving on to other areas of St. Ignatius: around the experience of the past year, service. Main Road, that is the twelve months we have been Regards Neerim South. living with Covid restrictions. How did we Fr Peter. do mission during that time? The Parish Office: responses were striking and I would like to SHONA MASS 19 Connor St, PO Box 275 share some of the things remembered. On Sunday the 7th of March at 5pm there Warragul. Warragul 3820 Phone calls were made to parishioners will be a Shona Mass at St Joseph’s Ph: 5623-1642 during those quiet times; as a way of Shona language is my mother tongue. The [email protected] keeping in touch. Prue, our secretary, Zimbabwean community in Victoria will began sending text messages and emails come for that Mass and there will be Parish Staff: to parishioners. This included emailing singing, drumming and dancing. Those the Sunday bulletin, which also included a who are willing to attend the Mass are Secretary: weekly letter from me, a practice which most welcome. Come and enjoy Mass in Prue Walkinshaw has continued to the present. Then, another language and experience a following a suggestion, the format of the different liturgical celebration. R.C.I.A. Coordinator bulletin was altered and colour was Fr Confidence. Joan Robertson Ph: 5623-1642 introduced to the soft copy version. [email protected] BOOKING FOR MASSES March 13/14 Sacrament & Catechist Coordinator For several weeks Deacon Mark provided St Joseph’s & St Ita’s faith education lift outs for the bulletin too. https://www.trybooking.com/ Thérèse Meggetto Ph: 5623-1642 These included material on the areas for BPJOD [email protected] the Plenary Council and Social Justice This will bring up the list of Masses. statements. Click on book now button and follow the Youth Minister prompts Bethany Allen Ph: 0476 273 279 Furthermore, a newsletter was compiled. [email protected] This contains more detailed news including personal items. The second Schools: edition is now being distributed. Marist-Sion College 5623-5944 Safeguarding - Our Parish is Principal: Mr. Peter Houlahan While mass attendances were restricted we made use of social media to upload a committed to providing a safe and St. Joseph’s Primary School 5623-2943 Sunday Mass each week, adding a small supportive environment for all people Principal: Mr. Ronan O’Mahony local contribution to the countless online with special concern for children, masses available. young people and adults at risk. Our St. Ita’s Primary School 5623-7222 Safeguarding Officer is Principal: Mr. Andrew Osler There was cooperation between Brian Robertson who can be CatholicCare, Vinnies and the local St. Angela’s Primary School 5622-9800 Foodbank – improving the delivery of contacted via Principal: Mr Justin Greenwood. assistance to people in need. There were [email protected] or gatherings by means of Zoom, the 56231642. provision of online booking for mass, and CATHOLIC PARISHES OF WARRAGUL AND DROUIN OUR VISION - FORMING MISSIONARY COMMUNITIES We are engaged together in the mission of Jesus today; as we seek to make God known and to love God and neighbour. Anything that helps people live in their full dignity and freedom, that serves the kingdom of God, is mission. We do this in community because we are more than individual believers and parishioners. We are one community made up of smaller communities: two parishes, three churches, our parish schools, ministry groups and families. We constantly need formation in our following of Jesus and we seek opportunities to grow in community for mission.

SUPPORTING OUR PARISH AND PRIESTS COLLECTIONS NEWS FROM OUR SCHOOLS Thank you to those who have brought your Sunday 28th February 2021 offerings in to the parish. It is still possible to Warragul Drouin ST ANGELA OF THE CROSS give support transferring your offering via Planned Giving $4574.70 $ 2532.95 Tuesday was a very big day of celebration direct deposit. The account numbers are as Presbytery $ 1433.55 for the St Angela of the Cross school follows: community as we celebrated our Feast Day. Planned Giving includes Direct Debit and We celebrated the life and service of Saint First Collection (to support our Credit Card Transactions. Weekly target for Angela by travelling to St Joseph’s Church Priests) Warragul Parish to meet all church and for Mass and a special tour with Fr. Peter. 083879 941199437 Presbytery running costs is $5000. Thanks As part of our celebrations back at school, St Joseph’s & St Ita’s Presbytery to all who give regularly and generously. we launched Project Compassion where account. Cash is not held on the premises students learnt how St Angela’s life and Second Collection (Plan Giving) Overnight mission was similar to the stories shared. St Joseph’s Church Account We finished off the day in Visual and 083879 489045334 PARISH NEWSLETTER: Performing Arts where students completed This is available at our Masses this a special lesson with a focus on St Angela. St Ita’s Church Account weekend, please make sure you get your A great day was had by all! 083879 568166097 copy. ST JOSEPH’S Thank you so much for your continued STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Our reconciliation candidates and their support. St. Ita’s Church Drouin on Friday, 12th parents attended the first reconciliation March at 7.30 pm. workshop on Thursday evening. This was a EASTER CEREMONIES great opportunity for the children to reflect Holy Thursday (April 1) Mass of the LENTEN DISCUSSION GROUP on some scripture passages and to engage Lord’s Supper at 7.30 pm at Warragul, St. Ita’s Meeting room on Monday, at 3 pm. in rich conversations with their parents. This Drouin and Neerim South. Not 7.30 as previously advertised. For Friday our children will participate in a further detail please contact Barbara “Bucket Challenge”, in which they will carry Good Friday (April 2) Celebration of the Durand 0414965079. a bucket of water for thirty minutes around Lord’s Passion at 3.00 pm at Warragul, an allocated course. This is to reflect the Drouin and Neerim South SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION plight of many people who have to walk a WORKSHOP REMINDER: distance to collect fresh water. Money Easter Vigil (April 3) at 7.30 pm at Our second Parent/Child Workshop is on raised from this challenge will be donated to Warragul and Drouin Wednesday 10th March at 7pm at St Ita's Caritas’ Project Compassion Appeal. School Hall or on Thursday 11th March at Easter Sunday (April 4) Mass at Warragul 4pm or 7pm at St Joseph's Church ST ITA’S and Neerim South at 9.30 am; Mass at Warragul. All classes Religious Education lessons are Drouin at 10.30 am. **Please note change IMPORTANT: Families are asked to focussing on Lent and the journey to of time please arrive 15 minutes before your Easter. Next Wednesday students who are chosen workshop, as we will be starting making their first Reconciliation will be With extra celebrations compared to each workshop promptly at the attending Reconciliation workshops, either previous years and with restrictions designated time so we can finish on time. on Wednesday in Drouin or Thursday in brought about by the need for Covid For any enquiries, please contact Thérèse Warragul, please continue to pray for these safety, we would be glad for small on 0499 116 428 students and their parents as they continue volunteer roles in the following areas. their faith journey. Our Mini Vinnies group **To hand out palms on Palm Sunday MEMORIAL MASS presented a Caritas information **To collect towels on Holy Thursday The first of a series of Memorial Masses PowerPoint at Fridays assembly; (after the washing of feet) will be held to commemorate the death of encouraging the children to think of others **To tend the fire at the Easter Vigil parishioners who died during COVID-19 before themselves. All classes spent extra **To hand out tapers at the Easter Vigil lockdown during the months of time in prayer on Friday as part of World **To operate the Power Point (especially at November and December 2019 and Day of Prayer. Warragul celebrations) January to April 2020. All parishioners are welcome. PROJECT COMPASSION Plus the normal roles of reading scripture Date: Tuesday, 9th March Venue: St. Ita’s Oliva, 22, didn’t have the opportunity to go and distributing Holy Communion. If Drouin Time: 7.30pm. to school, and was embarrassed that she anyone is willing to help please contact the Further memorial Masses will be held was unable to read, write or count. Her Parish Office. throughout the year. business was losing money because she couldn’t add up. Then Oliva enrolled in SINGERS FOR EASTER LENTEN PROGRAMME: Caritas ’s literacy and numeracy Looking for singers to be part of the LOOK TO JESUS classes. She also set up a home classroom Easter Liturgies in Warragul and Drouin. All interested parishioners are invited and to teach her neighbours for free, because Warragul contact: Jonathan Baker: 1430 welcome to participate in a 6 week they were too shy to attend larger classes. 176 771 . Drouin: Christine Fletcher: 0428 Lenten Prayer and discussion group. Oliva has now graduated, attendance at her 550 225 Sessions are being held on Mondays classes is growing, her kiosk is thriving and beginning 15th Feb 3.30pm St. Ita's she is helping her children with their Meeting Room or Thursdays beginning homework. She aims to become a pastor

18th Feb 1.30pm Marian Room. and run for leadership in the next local Enquiries: Barb Durand: 0414965079 or election - to help her community to ‘Be Joan Robertson: 56231642 (Parish More.’ Office).

TAKE TIME OUT YEAR OF ST JOSEPH “Jesus did not come to found a new religion called Christianity. He came to show people how to be more fully human in Prayer to St Joseph. relationship with a loving God and one another” (Treston, K. The Wind Blows Where It Chooses p44). This Sunday’s readings offer Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, insight into Jesus’ mission purpose. Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Paul reminds us that God knows a thing or two about humans, To you God entrusted his only Son; “For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom” (1 Cor In you Mary placed her trust; 1:25a). The Old Testament reading from Exodus includes the Ten Commandments as well as God’s plan for us to make some God With you Christ became man. time in our lives. That is what his instructions for the Sabbath are Blessed Joseph, to us too, about. Show yourself a father A day set aside for rest and reflection with God meant something And guide us in the path of life. in Jesus’ time (though even then Jesus found people abusing God’s time and place as in today’s gospel where he drives the Obtain for us grace, money changers and pigeon sellers and sheep and cattle out of Mercy, and courage, the temple.) (John 2:13-25). Ordinary Galileans relished the Sabbath as a toil-free blessing from God; a remembrance of And defend us from every evil. God’s goodness to them. In Christianity too, until living memory, Amen. Sunday was a day reserved for resetting our relationship with God and others; refreshing and refocussing for the coming week. No Pope Francis. shops, no footy, no options; just God time and family time.

How far we have strayed from God’s Law given at Sinai!: “For six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath for the Lord your God.” (Ex 20:1-17). God gave us the best way but we engage with the world as we find it. Parents find Sunday (or Saturday) Mass times that fit with basketball or work etc. Still though God urges us to maintain our spiritual, physical and mental health, living fully in relationship with God and each other. Deacon Mark Kelly

Please pray for the following of our Parishes:

Mass Intentions

Saturday 5.30pm Neerim South Antonietta Ziero Saturday 7pm Warragul Ray Hiriart Monday 9.30am Warragul Richetto Gianna Minisini PASTORAL SERVICES

Parish Office: 19 Connor Street Warragul RECENTLY DECEASED Fr Tom O’Connell, Josephine Laxton, Monday-Friday 9am-3pm Damian Pyle, Brian Venville Baptisms: Celebrated on Sundays by

prior arrangement including participation at an information meeting for Parents ANNIVERSARIES Marcel Van Oss, John Burns, Antonietta Ziero, (and Godparents) Ray Hiriart, Richetto Gianna Minisini, John Walkinshaw. Marriages: By prior arrangement, six months notice requested. MEETINGS Exposition: Saturdays 10am St Joseph’s Church CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP Meets Wednesdays St Ita’s Church 7.00pm All welcome. Reconciliation: St Joseph’s Wednesday 9.15am MENALIVE PRAYER GROUPS Every Wednesday 7am St Joseph’s Meeting Room. Fourth Thursday of each month 7pm St Ita’s Meeting Room. Saturday 10.30-11.00am RCIA Meets Wednesdays 7.30pm Marian Room. Enquiries to Joan Robertson 6.30-6.50pm 56231642 St Ita’s Saturday 9.45-10.15am ST VINCENT DE PAUL WARRAGUL Wednesday 10am St Joseph’s Meeting Room CatholicCare: Services include counselling Individual, Family & Natural Family Planning Counselling Ph 1800 522 076

St. Vincent de Paul Conference helpline: Warragul Ph: 5623 6741 Drouin Ph: 5625 4715

LITURGY OF THE WORD Gospel Acclamation Jn 3:16 First Reading Ex 20:1-17 Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory! A reading from the book of Exodus God loved the world so much, he gave us his only Son, The Law was given through Moses. that all who believe in him might have eternal life. God spoke all these words. He said, ‘I am the Lord your God Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory! who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ‘You shall have no gods except me. Gospel Jn 2:13-25 ‘You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of A reading from the holy Gospel according to John anything in heaven or on earth beneath or in the waters under Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them. For raise it up. I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God and I punish the Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, father’s fault in the sons, the grandsons, and the and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep great-grandsons of those who hate me; but I show kindness to and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters thousands of those who love me and keep my there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out commandments. of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money ‘You shall not utter the name of the Lord your God to misuse changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the it, for the Lord will not leave unpunished the man who utters pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my his name to misuse it. Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered ‘Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. For six days you the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to sabbath for the Lord your God. You shall do no work on that justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this day, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews servants, men or women, not your animals nor the stranger replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are who lives with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of and the earth and the sea and all that these hold, but on the the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from seventh day he rested; that is why the Lord has blessed the the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and sabbath day and made it sacred. they believed the scripture and the words he had said. ‘Honour your father and your mother so that you may have a During his stay in Jerusalem for the Passover many believed long life in the land that the Lord your God has given to you. in his name when they saw the signs that he gave, but Jesus ‘You shall not kill. knew them all and did not trust himself to them; he never ‘You shall not commit adultery. needed evidence about any man; he could tell what a man ‘You shall not steal. had in him. ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. The Gospel of the Lord. ‘You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his servant, man or woman, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is his.’ The Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm Ps 18:8-11. R. Jn 6:68 (R.) Lord, you have the words of everlasting life. 1. The law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul. The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, it gives wisdom to the simple. (R.) 2. The precepts of the Lord are right, they gladden the heart. The command of the Lord is clear, Next Weeks Readings: it gives light to the eyes. (R.) 3. The fear of the Lord is holy, abiding for ever. The decrees of the Lord are truth FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT and all of them just. (R.) 4. They are more to be desired than gold, than the purest of gold 2 Chr 36: 14-16, 19-23; and sweeter are they than honey, than honey from the comb. (R.) Eph 2: 4-10;

Second Reading 1 Cor 1:22-25 Jn 3: 14-21. A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians We are preaching a crucified Christ, a scandal to many, but to those who have been called, the wisdom of God. While the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, here are we preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s Mass texts: Roman Missal 3rd edition © International Committee on English in the weakness is stronger than human strength. Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Scriptural quotations: The Jerusalem Bible © 1966, 1967, 1968. Darton Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Inc. Used by permission. The Word of the Lord Psalm Responses, the Alleluia and Gospel Verses, and the Lenten Gospel Acclamations, and the Titles, Summaries, and Conclusion of the Readings, from the Lectionary for Mass © 1997, 1981, 1968, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.