Our Lady of the Mission

Whitford Parish - 7th July 2024

This Sunday is: The 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Next Sunday is: The 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message from Fr Cyp

Fr Francis and I warmly welcome you here at Our Lady of the Mission, Whitford Parish; parishioners and visitors alike. We pray and hope that you feel truly safe and at home in this our place of prayer, worship and personal encounter with our risen Lord. May the Holy Spirit ever pray in us more than we can ever imagine and bind us together in the love of our Heavenly Father. Whitford Catholic Parish is home to over seventy nationalities represented by our parishioners and frequent visitors. We take pride in our young people; those in our parish primary and secondary schools, those enrolled in our Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) and our parish youth group. They are not just our future Church but a vital part of our Church today and now. We value our young people and endeavor to have their voices heard at every level of our administrative and pastoral engagements. We are ever grateful to the many individuals and groups that volunteer in various ministries of our parish life. To one and all, know that you are valued and appreciated in your own right. We cannot be what we are without you. Fr Francis and I thank one and all of you for your ongoing prayers, concern, encouragement and support. Rest assured of our daily thoughts and prayers. We entrust you and yours; as always, into the powerful intercessions of our Blessed Virgin Mother of Good counsel, and into those of St Joseph, patron of the universal Church.

Fr Cyprian M Shikokoti - PP.

Reconciliation Times

Saturdays 5.00pm - 6.00pm

Prayer of the Week

Lord, you come to us in ways that we least expect. May we always be open to your spirit working among us.

Readings

How can we serve God and the society we live in? Jesus urges us today, as people of faith, to be prophetic in promoting Gospel values.

First Reading Ezekiel 2:2-5

Ezekiel is commissioned by God to speak to the disobedient Israelites. God tells him to deliver the message as commanded, even if they do not want to listen.

Second Reading 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Paul says that when he is weak, he is strong in Christ.

Gospel Mark 6:1-6

Jesus teaches in the synagogue at Nazareth but the people reject him. He is amazed by their lack of faith, and he is only able to heal a few sick people because of their unbelief.

Antiphon to the Psalm:

Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

Death & Anniversary

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Please offer your prayers this week for Hubert Schaub, Uwe Ehrig, John Raynor, Helen Sandison, Daisy Cheng, Magalene Ritchie, all souls in purgatory, those doctors, nurses and carers who have died while helping victims of accidents, disease and warfare, our recently departed loved ones and those whose anniversaries occur around this time.

Stewardship Corner

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During this time, we celebrate the independence of our country. We would do well to echo the psalmist, saying, “Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for His mercy.” May we always recognise and use wisely the gifts of freedom and abundance He has showed upon us.

PARISH NOTICES

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1. Parish Monthly Healing Mass: Our next Healing Mass will be next Saturday, 27th July at 8.00am. Please plan to join us for prayer and anointing of the sick. Remember to invite your family and friends to come along.

2. New Planned-Giving Period: Our parish new planned-giving program commences this weekend 6th/7th July. Please consider joining by use of weekly envelopes or signing up to direct debit for both 1st and 2nd collections. See newsletter for more details. Remember not to use envelopes from last financial year. Thank you.

3. First Holy Communion (FHC) Commitment Masses: All our young people making their FHC this year are kindly requested to attend a commitment Mass on 27th July at 6.30pm; or on 28th July at 8.00am,10.00am or 5.45pm. Please bring your completed prayer and commitment cards to Mass.

4. Golden Jubilee Celebration Booklet: to commemorate 50 years of our Parish, we are inviting all parishioners, past and present, to submit any articles and/or photos that may be of interest to others that can be included as part of the celebrations in October. Please submit any material to the Parish Office, 08 9307 2776 or whitford@perthcatholic.org.au.

5. Wedding Anniversary Couples 2024: This year we invite couples celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary to celebrate this special Anniversary at our Parish Golden Jubilee Mass on the 20th October with Bishop Donald Sproxton. A sign-up sheet can be found on the information desk or contact the Parish office with your details, 9307 2776 or whitford@perthcatholic.org.au. Please Note: there will be NO Wedding Anniversary Mass this year due to the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

6. Birthday Celebrations - Golden Jubilee Mass: We invite all persons who have turned 50 or are turning 50 this year to celebrate this milestone birthday at our Parish Golden Jubilee Mass with Bishop Donald Sproxton on 20th October 2024. A sign-up sheet can be found on the information desk or contact the Parish office with your details, 9307 2776 or whitford@perthcatholic.org.au.

7. Family Choir: We are welcoming new members to join our vibrant Family Choir! Whether you prefer a flexible commitment on a weekly, fortnightly, or monthly basis, we would love to have you with us. Our rehearsals are a fun and relaxed way to prepare songs for our Mass. We rehearse before Mass at 5:30pm. We are excited to welcome singers and musicians, including piano, guitar, bass, and drums. Come along and be a part of our musical family! If you have any questions, please contact Fran 0433852967

8. Legion of Mary Comitium of Perth: presents Growing the Spirit of the Legion on Monday 8th July from 11am to 4pm at the Devine Mercy Church in Chittering. Bus will leave from Edel Quinn Centre at 10am sharp, bookings are essential. Bookings: comitiumwa.secretary@gmil.com or 0410 269 518. More information on the Church notice board.

9. Eucharist Adoration: Please join us Wednesday and Friday for prayer. We especially need somebody for Friday prayer from 12-1pm. Please use this link for inspiration: The Power of Eucharistic Adoration - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon - YouTube. Please contact 0407 471 256 or medjugorje1981@gmail.com for more information.

10. The Word Among Us: NOW AVAILABLE – JULY/ AUGUST EDITION. Spend just 10 minutes a day with The Word Among Us, and you will learn how to love God, others and self. Available from the back of the Church and the Parish Office at a cost of $5. Let us embrace God’s Word and listen to Him.

11. Pastoral visits: Weekly pastoral visits conducted by Fathers Cyprian and Francis can be made by invitation to our sick and home-bound parishioners. On their visits, they bring prayer, sacraments of Reconciliation, Anointing of the sick, Holy Communion; and certainly, a listening ear. Please call one of our priests should you benefit or know somebody who would benefit from such a visit. Contact numbers on front of newsletter. Thank you.

14. Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help: The ongoing Novena on Tuesday starts at 6pm. All welcome to attend.

15. The Divine Mercy Ministry: The members of this Ministry pray for the sick and the dying. Please send names of family and friends, if you want them to be lifted up in prayer, via text or message to 0410 289 725.

16. The Divine Mercy Chaplet and Prayers: are recited each Saturday in our Church at the 8.00am Mass after benediction. All welcome!

17. The First-Class Relic of St Mariae Goretti: Parishioners may take the Reliquary to their homes, keep it as long as required and then return it to the Church. Please call the office 9307 2776 or Shirley-Ann 0424 813 890 to make enquiries and book.

18. Your Collections: Thank you for your continued contribution and support to the Parish and Priests. 1st Collection: Supports our Priests. 2nd Collection: Supports our Church. To contribute Direct Debit: Presbytery A/C (1st Collection) A/C#14027 5567, BSB# 086 006. Church A/C (2ndCollection) A/C# 66579 4722, BSB# 086 006. Planned giving contributions can also be made through envelopes or direct debit, please contact the Parish office: whitford@perthcatholic.org.au. Thank you.

19. Padbury Catholic Primary School: APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN. Contact the school for further information.

20. Whitford Catholic Primary School: APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN. To apply, please visit https://whitfordcatholicps.wa.edu.au/apply-online/.

YOUTH NEWS

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Youth News

1. 24:7 Whitford Parish Youth Group: We invite and encourage all our year six-twelve students to join us every 1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays of the month in the Parish Centre at 7.00pm. Our next gathering is on Friday, 19th July 2024. Please contact Caleb on 0409 682 923 for Jasmine on 0480 179 390 or more information.

2. ALPHA Course: An Alpha course for Whitfords' youth (from 16-22) has commenced and will occur weekly. Meetings will take place in Meeting Room 1, from 7:30-8:30pm with some optional snacks till 9pm. For additional information please contact Eliza Boylen at 0402 642 887.

ROSTERS 13th & 14th July 2024

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NEWSLETTER NOTICES DEADLINE: Wednesday at 12pm Noon.

RELIGIOUS GOODS STALL: Jenny Marcelino/ Pat Nerva/ Flora Joanilho/ Pam Thompson.

PROCLAIMERS OF THE WORD: Linda Sweeney & John Croft/ Natalie Bullen & Peter Ross/ Monica Jardim & Julianna Jardim/ Anne Couzens & Sarah Headd.

COUNTERS: Sunday 21st July 2024: Vicky Ryan/ Judy Cavanagh/ Clare Alexander/ Senol Bonny/ Amanda Cross.

CLEANERS: Saturday 13th July 2024: Tarsha Malone/ Christian Philogene/ Rhonda Sloan/ Ola Golawski/ Kelly Giannasi/ Helen Gormley.

GLORY BE CAFÉ: Sunday 14th July 8.00am: Alma Turner/ Jackie Murphy.

SPECIAL MINISTERS: Linda Sweeney & Margaret Shilton/ Meg Horne & Maura Killalea/ Sandy Williamson, Ronellie Lenon & J Quatermine/ Sharon Milne & Sheila Stritch.

STATUE OF FATIMA: The Statue of Fatima is with the Nerva family in Padbury from 13th July to 27th July. Those wishing to join them in reciting the Rosary may call 0432 022 550 to arrange. From 27th July to 3rd August, the Statue will be with the Alexander family in Hillarys, 0410 289 725.

DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS: Is held on the first Friday of every month during 9.00 am Mass. The next Devotion will be on Friday the 2nd August, 2024.

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: Adoration is held every Wednesday & Friday from 9.30 am – 7 pm.

BAPTISMS: We welcome Arabella Ryan-Snell, Bailee Wardell, Leonardo Vulpen, Theodore Webb, Lola Jackson, Kendra Kendagor, Kaitlin Kendagor and Alyssa Pius into God’s family this weekend.

PRAY FOR THE SICK: We pray for all those in our Parish’s Book of the Sick. You are most welcome to add names to this book in the foyer of the Church. Please cross out when our prayers are no longer needed.

GENERAL NOTICES

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1. Reconciliation Times at Surrounding Parishes:

St Simon Peter, Ocean Reef Tuesday & Friday: 6.30 pm. Saturday: After 8.30 am Mass & 5 pm – 5.45 pm

St Anthony, Wanneroo Saturday, 4.30 pm – 5 pm
St Luke, Woodvale Saturday, 5 pm – 5.50 pm
All Saints, Greenwood Saturday: 9.30 am – 10 am & 5.30 pm – 5.45 pm
Our Lady of Grace, North Beach Saturday, 5 pm – 5.45 pm.

2. Rosary Hour: Please join us on Saturday July 20th from 1.30 to 3pm rosary. Followed by afternoon tea. All welcome. Contact Claire Neill – 0450 927 575.

READINGS AT MASS: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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First reading: Ezekiel 2:2-5

These rebels shall know that there is a prophet among them

The spirit came into me and made me stand up, and I heard the Lord speaking to me. He said, ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebels who have turned against me. Till now they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me. The sons are defiant and obstinate; I am sending you to them, to say, “The Lord says this.” Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know there is a prophet among them.’

________

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 122(123)

Response: Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

To you have I lifted up my eyes, you who dwell in the heavens; my eyes, like the eyes of slaves on the hand of their lords. R.

Like the eyes of a servant on the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the Lord our God till he show us his mercy. R.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. We are filled with contempt. Indeed, all too full is our soul with the scorn of the rich, with the proud man’s disdain. R.

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Second reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

The Lord's power is at its best in weakness

In view of the extraordinary nature of these revelations, to stop me from getting too proud I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me and stop me from getting too proud! About this thing, I have pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me, but he has said, ‘My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness.’ So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me, and that is why I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.

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Gospel Acclamation - Luke 4:18

Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he sent me to bring Good News to the poor.

Alleluia!

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Gospel reading: Mark 6:1-6

'A prophet is only despised in his own country'

Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?’ And they would not accept him. And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house’; and he could work no miracle there, though he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

WE PRAY AS ONE

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God of our beginnings and endings. You are with us on the journeys of our lives. You accompany us when we can notice your presence; and you accompany us when we are unaware. We humbly ask that you be with us now; in our homes and in our community. Sustain us in gratitude and your unfailing Love for us. May we be open to Your Son Jesus and to the Holy Spirit. With renewed strength, may we praise you with our whole hearts. We ask this, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Our Lady of the Mission, Pray for Us.

Prayer Adapted from New Norcia WA Pilgrimage.

POPE FRANCIS' REFLECTION

Today’s Gospel reading (cf. Mk 6: 1-6) presents Jesus, who returns to Nazareth and, on the Sabbath, begins to teach in the synagogue. Ever since He left and began to preach in the neighbouring hamlets and villages, He had not set foot in His homeland. He returned. Therefore, the whole town was ready to hear this son of the people, whose reputation as wise teacher and powerful healer had by then spread throughout Galilee and beyond. However, what could have been a success, turned into a resounding rejection, to the point that Jesus was unable to work any miracles there, but only a few healings (cf. v. 5). The evangelist Mark reconstructs in detail the dynamic of that day: at first, the people of Nazareth listened and remained astonished; then, perplexed, they asked “where did this man get all these things”, this wisdom? And, in the end, they were scandalized, recognizing in Him the carpenter, son of Mary, whom they had seen grow up (v. 2-3). Therefore, Jesus ended with the expression that became proverbial: “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town” (v. 4).

We wonder: how did Jesus’ countrymen pass from wonder to incredulity? They made a comparison between Jesus’ humble origin and His present capacities: He is a carpenter; He hasn’t studied, yet He preaches better than the scribes and works miracles. And, instead of opening themselves to the reality, they are scandalized. According to the inhabitants of Nazareth, God is too great to lower Himself to speak to such a simple man! It is the scandal of the Incarnation: the disconcerting event of a God made flesh, who thinks with the mind of a man, works and acts with the hands of a man, loves with the heart of a man, a God Who gets tired, eats and sleeps like one of us. The Son of God overturns every human mindset: it is not the disciples who washed the Lord’s feet, but rather the Lord Who washed the disciples’ feet (cf. Jn 13:1-20). This is a reason for scandal and incredulity not only at that time, but in every age, even today.

The reversal wrought by Jesus commits His disciples of yesterday and of today to a personal and communal test. Indeed, it can happen even in our time that prejudices are fuelled which prevent us from grasping reality. However, the Lord invites us to assume an attitude of humble listening and docile expectation, because God’s grace often presents itself to us in surprising ways, which do not correspond to our expectations. Let us think together of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, for instance. A little Sister – no one gave 10 lire for her – who went through the streets to pick up the dying, so that they would have a dignified death. With prayer and her work, this little Sister worked wonders! The smallness of a woman revolutionized the work of charity in the Church. She is an example from our times. God does not conform to prejudices. We must make the effort to open our heart and mind to receive the divine reality that comes to wards us. It is about having faith: lack of faith is an obstacle to God’s grace. Many baptized persons live as thought Christ did not exist: the gestures and signs of the faith are repeated, but they do not correspond to a real adherence to the person of Jesus and His Gospel. Every Christian – all of us, each one of us – is called to reflect further on this fundamental belonging, seeking to witness it with a coherent conduct of life, whose connecting thread is always charity.

Through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, let us ask the Lord to soften the hardness of hearts and narrow-mindedness, so that we may be open to His grace, to His truth and to His mission of goodness and mercy, which is addressed to all, without exception.

SAFEGUARDING

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Our Lady of the Mission Whitford Parish acknowledges that safeguarding is a shared responsibility prioritising the care, protection and best interests of children and adults at risk.

By providing a safe environment, actively identifying and managing risk, and complying with the Safeguarding policy, guidelines and legal obligations, we serve Jesus and uphold human dignity as the foundation of our faith. We aim for our parish to be safe, welcoming, and inclusive.

Our Parish is committed to implementing the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS). We annually undertake a self-assessment (Safeguarding Activities Assessment Tool – SAAT) to continuously improve and monitor the implementation of the NCSS.

You can find out more about the safeguarding program, guidelines, find helpful resources, and protective behaviours resources and story books here: https://safeguarding.perthcatholic.org.au/

Our Safeguarding Officers

Safeguarding officers assist to create a safe environment for all. They are the first point of contact for any safeguarding concerns and support the implementation of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards. See poster in Church for contact details. Safeguarding Officers: Andrea Clemente: 0405 116 810, Renee Itzstein: 0413 225 560 and Rhonda Sloan: 0422 889 697.

Safeguarding Induction for all Church Workers

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has broadened safeguarding to include adults at risk. ALL church workers (volunteers or paid) are to complete a Safeguarding Level 1 Induction which is now a Self-Paced Online Learning Module that can be completed at any time, once every 3 years. Please visit: Safeguarding Training and Registration – Safeguarding Office (perthcatholic.org.au)

Safeguarding Forms and Policy:

Forms, Safeguarding policy and code of conduct can be found on the Safeguarding website, at the Parish Office or in one of the Safeguarding folders in the Church – Sacristy, Robing room or information desk.

Reporting Abuse

If you have concerns about the safety and well-being of a child or adult within the context of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth or wish to report abuse, you can:

· Contact the Safeguarding Officer

· Submit a Safeguarding Concern Report Form https://safeguarding.perthcatholic.org.au/

· Call the Safeguarding Program Office on (08) 9221 7762.

Other Useful Information

Safeguarding Commitment Statement: Use the following link to view the Safeguarding Commitment statement - Commitment Statement – Safeguarding Office (perthcatholic.org.au)

Safeguarding Handbook: Safeguarding_Handbook.pdf (perthcatholic.org.au)

Safeguarding Prayer: Safeguarding Prayer (perthcatholic.org.au)

Role of Safeguarding Officer: Please find description on page 4 of the handbook