67-77 Exford Road, Melton South 3338 . P .O. Box 2152

Ph: 9747 9692, Fax: 9746 0422 Email: meltonsouth@cam.org.au

Parish Homepage: stanthonysmeltonsouth.wordpress.com (includes Padua News)

Office Hours: Wed & Fri. 8.30am—4.30pm Friday 8.30 - 4.00pm

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C 4th August 2013

Let us pray for the gift of God’s forgiveness and love.

St. Anthony’s Parish Primary School Wilson Road, Melton South 3338 Phone: 9743 1401 School Secretary: Mrs. Marthese Pace Email: principal@sameltonsth.catholic.edu.au Website: www.sameltonsth.catholic.edu.au

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89

Leader: IN EVERY AGE, O LORD, YOU HAVE BEEN OUR REFUGE.

All: IN EVERY AGE, O LORD, YOU HAVE BEEN OUR REFUGE.

YOU TURN MEN BACK INTO DUST AND SAY: ‘GO BACK, SONS OF MEN’. TO YOUR EYES A THOUSAND YEARS ARE LIKE YESTERDAY, COME AND GONE, NO MORE THAN A WATCH IN THE NIGHT. YOU SWEEP MEN AWAY LIKE A DREAM, LIKE GRASS WHICH SPRINGS UP IN THE MORNING. IN THE MORNING IT SPRINGS UP AND FLOWERS: BY EVENING IT WITHERS AND FADES. MAKE US KNOW THE SHORTNESS OF OUR LIFE THAT WE MAY GAIN WISDOM OF HEART. LORD, RELENT! IS YOUR ANGER FOR EVER? SHOW PITY TO YOUR SERVANTS. IN THE MORNING, FILL US WITH YOUR LOVE; WE SHALL EXULT AND REJOICE ALL OUR DAYS. LET THE FAVOUR OF THE LORD BE UPON US: GIVE SUCCESS TO THE WORK OF OUR HANDS.

ALL: IN EVERY AGE, O LORD, YOU HAVE BEEN OUR REFUGE.

Gospel Acclamation: ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA! HAPPY THE POOR IN SPIRIT; THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS THEIRS! ALLELUIA!

MASS & DEVOTION TIMES THIS WEEK

Tuesday morning: No morning Mass Tuesday evening: 6.30pm Wednesday morning: 9.15am Thursday morning: 9.15am Friday morning: 9.15am

Saturday Vigil Mass 5.30pm

Sunday 8.30am & 10.30am

INDIVIDUAL RECONCILIATION Saturday 4.45pm

BAPTISM Baptism Preparation Meeting: 6.30-8.00pm in the Church Thursday 29th August for Baptisms 1st & 15th September See details on Parish Homepage as listed above and download forms. Fill them out and bring them to the Baptism Preparation Meeting for your chosen date along with a copy of your child’s Birth Certificate. Both parents are required to attend these meetings. Contact Father Fabian or the Parish Office if you have any

questions. Phone 9747 9692.

Adult Preparation for the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist or Confirmation through the R.C.I.A. Program. See Father Fabian or the Parish Office for information.

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Sue Alexander 9743 7281 Godwin Barton 9747 9493 Stephen Fernandes 9743 5331 Natalie Howard 0410 478 046 Mila Little 9743 7783 Rose Ma’ae 0431 386 473 Marthese Mercieca 0421 378 691 Maria Micallef 9746 9685

Carmen Vella 9743 4378 Ex-Officio: Fr Fabian Smith P.P., & Damien Schuster

Parish Priest: Fr Fabian Antony Smith Parish Secretary: Mrs. Lesley Morffew

St. Anthony’s School Principal: Mr. Damien Schuster

THIS WEEK’S HYMNS

1. Book 2, No. 132

2. Book 1, No. 42

3. Book 1, No. 125

4. Book 2, No. 106

Catholic Regional College - Melton (Years 7-12) Principal: Mr Mark Sheahan Contact: 9743 6522 Catholic Regional College - Sydenham (Years 11- 12) Principal: Mr Brendan Watson Contact: 9361 0000

THE HYMNS FOR

10.3O MASS

WILL BE ANOUNCED.

NEWS FROM THE WORSHIP QUADRANT NEXT WEEK 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C 10th & 11th August

Readers Special Ministers 5.30 Ted Caruana John Little, Mila Little, Marthese Mercieca and Vilma Pinto. 8.30 Geoff Sutton Rita Harinos, Lillian Christian and Edwina La Rose.. 10.30 Susan Malinov Frances Tanu and Anne Peramuna.

Next Week’s Readings: Wis 18:6-9; Heb 11:1-2, 8-19; Gospel: Lk 12:32-48

MASS COORDINATORS / COMMENTATORS 5.30pm - Godwin Barton & Alina Tsakonas 10th & 11th August 8.30am - Marie Wytkamp & Lina Calleja. 10.30am - Godwin Barton & Natalie Howard.

PIETY STALL VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS WEEKEND: 3rd & 4th August 5.30: Lorraine Tellis 8.30am Judy Johnson 10.30am:Rosa Smit PIETY STALL VOLUNTEERS FOR NEXT WEEKEND 10th & 11th August 5.30: Priscilla Bastian 8.30am Dolores Turcsan 10.30am:Anne Peramuna

CLEANING ROSTER : Thursday 8th August: Frances Spagnol, Farr Family and Maureen Sutherland.

NEWS FROM THE FAITH FORMATION QUADRANT

Meditation NO MEDITATION THIS WEEK. Divine Mercy 1st Sunday of the month at 3.00pm . Fatima Statue Amy & Ronald Honrade 9747 0078

Vinnies Blanket Appeal Monday 8 July - Friday 16 August In Victoria, the St Vincent de Paul Society distributes thousands of blankets each year through soup vans and welfare ser-vices. The demand for blankets always spikes during the cold winter months. We encourage you to collect blankets on our behalf to help keep someone warm this winter. Vinnies can collect large blanket donations from parishes and organisations. Individuals can drop them off at any Vinnies Centre. To help Vinnies reach their 5,000 target register at: vin-nies.org.au/donateblankets

THE PRAYER GROUP AT

TA PINU

CENTRE BACCHUS MARSH

Invites everyone to celebrate the

Feast of the Assumption

Thursday 15th August 2013

at 11.00am

Holy Rosary followed by Mass

Concludes with

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

At:

TA PINU MARIAN CENTRE

FLANAGAN’S DRIVE

FACING THE TRUTH United States Bishop shares his views / United States Bishop on Facing the Truth

Bishop Blase J. Cupich, Bishop of the Spokane Diocese in the State of Washington, visited Australia this month. The Bishop is also the former Chair of the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, estab-lished by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

During his time here, Bishop Cupich recorded two videos for the Catholic Church’s website Facing the Truth. In the first, he discusses the most recent research by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, into the causes of child sexual abuse by clergy, while in the second, he talks about rebuilding trust in the Catholic Church.

To view these videos or for further information on the Church’s response to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry, please go to www.facingthetruth.org.au. On the website homepage, please subscribe to be notified when new infor-mation is available.

COLUMBAN CALENDARS Columban Calendars 2014 are now on sale at the Piety Stall for $8.00.

When you purchase these calendars, you are participating in God’s Mission and assisting the Columbans in meeting the needs of the poor. An audio visual with an explanation of the traditional art-work and a written resource is available at no cost at www.columban.org.au/2014artguide

NEWS FROM THE PASTORAL CARE QUADRANT

Please pray for the recently deceased: Jean Noyes

We pray for the death anniversary at this time of: Veronica Butler, Ralph Cinel and St. Mary of the Cross, MacKillop (which

falls on Thursday 8th August)

Please pray for the Sick: Reg Marslen, Erlinda E. Cortez, Frank Consiglio, Lynne Dwyer, Victor Dimech, Therese Hall, Albert

Nicholls, Vicki & Bill Vassallo, Alex Venasilao, Gloria Cruz, Ian Nowak, Michael Saunders, Anna Persiano, Patricia Coulson and

all those who have requested our prayers.

NEWS FROM THE SERVICE / COMMUNITY QUADRANT

SOCIAL COMMITTEE SPIT ROAST LUNCH St. Anthony’s Social Committee will be holding a Spit-Roast Lunch on August 11th at 12pm (after 10.30 Mass) Where: in Padua Hall. Entry Fee: Adults: $10.00 Children (10-15yrs old) $5.00 Entry Fee includes: Roast Lunch Salads Dessert Tea & Coffee There will be activities for adults and children as well as a raffle on the day.

Please place your name & details on the sheet provided at the back of the church for catering purposes. This must be done by Sunday 4th August for organizational purposes.

RAFFLE TICKETS FOR THE RAFFLE TO BE DRAWN AT THE SPIT ROAST WILL BE ON SALE THIS WEEKEND. AT ALL MASSES. $5 FOR A SET OF 10 TICKETS. Prizes are a choice of: A Beauty Pack, Wine Pack, Nuts & Insulated Bag Pack or a Dip Tray and a glass jar of cookies.

PRIME TIMERS NEXT OUTING

On Tuesday 27th August we will having a tour of Flemington Racecourse. Cost of the day is $25 per head. This includes: Tour of the racecourse. 2 Course Seniors Lunch (set Menu –choice of 2 mains and desserts) Your raffle ticket. We are meeting at the Church at 10.30 sharp on the day. We need final numbers by Sunday the 18th August for catering purposes. Please place your name on the clipboard if you are coming. Enquiries John & Lois on 9743 6582.

ST. ANTHONY’S PARISH BINGO St. Anthony’s conduct Bingo every Tuesday evening in Padua Hall. Doors open 6.30pm, Eyes down at 7.30pm. Cost: $10 for 40 games MR. JACKPOT: $2 per ticket. Jackpot Prizes: $2000, $10,000 & $30,000.

FROM THE PARISH OFFICE COLLECTIONS: Presbytery Offering: Thanksgiving: (includes Direct Debit & Credit Cards) 28/7/2013 $ 592.00 $ 2222.30

NEXT WEEKEND WE WILL BE CONDUCTING THE ANNUAL MERCY PALLIATIVE CARE APPEAL

AT ALL MASSES. PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THIS VERY WORTHY CAUSE.

SPECIAL EDITION in parishes this weekend! Don’t miss this bumper issue celebrating National Vocations Awareness Week, WYDRio and more! To subscribe to the hard copy journal: kairos@cam.org.au or 9926 5758

OFFICE WORKING BEE - help needed.

I need some help organising and finishing the Thanksgiving Envelopes for the next 12 months. If you are free on Wednesday the 14th August could you please stay or come after morning mass. It will take a while so lunch will be provided. Many thanks from Lesley Morffew

Although we know very little about the life of St

Laurence (C 225—258), he is one of those whose

martyrdom made a deep and lasting impression on

the early Church. Celebration of his feast day spread

rapidly.

Laurence is believed to have been born in Spain, at

Osca (modern-day Huesca), a town in Aragon near the

foot of the Pyrenees. As a youth he was sent to

Saragossa to complete his humanistic and theological

studies. It was here that he first met the future Pope

Sixtus II, who was of Greek origin. The future Pope was

one of the most famous and esteemed teachers in

what was then one of the most renowned centres of

learning.

Eventually, both left Spain for Rome. When Sixtus

was elevated to patriarch in 257, he ordained

Laurence deacon, and though Laurence was still

young, appointed him first among the seven deacons

who served in the patriarchal church; therefore he is

called archdeacon of Rome. This was a position of

great trust, which included the care of the treasury and

riches of the church, and the distribution of alms

among the poor.

At that time, Roman authorities had established a

norm according to which all Christians who had been

denounced must be executed and their goods

confiscated by the imperial treasury. At the beginning

of August 258, the Emperor Valerian commanded that

all bishops, priests, and deacons should immediately

be put to death. Sixtus was captured on August 6, 258,

at the cemetery of St Callixtus while celebrating the

liturgy and executed forthwith.

After the death of Sixtus, the prefect of Rome

demanded that Laurence turn over the riches of the

Church. The tale goes that Laurence asked for three

days to gather together the wealth. Laurence swiftly

distributed as much Church property to the poor as

possible, so as to prevent its being seized by the

prefect. On the third day, August 10, at the head of a

small delegation, he presented himself to the prefect

and, when ordered to give up the treasures of the

Church, he presented the poor, the crippled, the blind

and the suffering, and said these were the true

treasures of the Church. In one account he declares to

the prefect: ―The Church is truly rich, far richer than

your emperor.‖

The prefect was so angry that he had a great

gridiron prepared, with coals beneath it, and had

Laurence‘s body placed on it. After the martyr had

suffered the pain for a long time, the legend

concludes, he made his famous cheerful remark: ―It is

well done. Turn me over!‖ From this derives his

patronage of cooks and chefs.

Holy Grail According to Catholic tradition the Holy Grail is a relic

that was sent by St Laurence to his parents in northern

Aragon. He entrusted this sacred chalice to a friend

whom he knew would travel back to Huesca,

remaining in the monastery of San Juan de la Peña,

core of spiritual strength for the emerging kingdom of

Aragon. While the Holy Chalice‘s exact journey through

the centuries is disputed, it is generally accepted by

Catholics that the Chalice was sent by his family to

this monastery for preservation and veneration.

Historical records indicate that this chalice has been

venerated and preserved by monks and monasteries

through the ages. Today the Holy Grail is venerated in

a special chapel in the Cathedral of Valencia, Spain.

M I R A C L E S Early on, the life and miracles of St. Laurence were

collected in a work entitled The Acts of St Laurence,

which is now lost. The earliest existing documentation

of miracles associated with St Laurence is found in the

writings of St Gregory of Tours (538–594), who

mentions the following:

A priest named Fr Sanctulus was rebuilding a

church of St Laurence, which had been attacked and

burnt, and hired many workmen to accomplish the job.

At one point during the construction, he found himself

with nothing to feed them. He prayed to St Laurence

for help, and looking in his basket he found a fresh,

white loaf of bread, it seemed to him too small to feed

the workmen, but in faith he began to serve it to the

men. While he broke the bread, it so multiplied that

that his workmen fed from it for 10 days.

V E N E R AT I O N Again we have a saint about whom almost nothing is

known, yet one who has received extraordinary honour

in the Church since the fourth century. Almost nothing,

yet the greatest fact of his life is certain: He died for

Christ. We who are hungry for details about the lives of

the saints are again reminded that their holiness was,

after all, a total response to Christ, expressed perfectly

by a death like this.

Laurence is one of the most widely venerated

saints of the Church. The church built over his tomb

became one of the seven principal churches in Rome

and a favourite place for Roman pilgrimages. Devotion

to him was widespread by the fourth century. Since the

Perseid Meteor Shower typically occurs every year in

mid-August, on or near St Laurence‘s feast day, some

refer to the shower as the ‗Tears of St Laurence‘.

St Laurence is especially honoured in the city of

Rome, where he is one of the city‘s patrons.

In Spain, the palace and monastery of San Lorenzo

del Escorial was built by King Philip II to comme-

morate the victory of Spanish forces over those of King

Henry II of France at the Battle of St Quentin, which

took place on the feast of St Laurence in 1557. To

honour the martyr, the entire floor plan of this

imposing edifice was laid out in the form of a gridiron.

The Brotherhood of St Laurence also bears his

name. And even the very altar of our church of St

Anthony of Padua here in South Melton holds a relic of

this most extraordinary saint.

According to Fr Francesco Moraglia, Professor of

Dogmatic Theology, the role of deacon is distinguished

by service of the poor. He is destined both to the

service of the table (corporal works of mercy) and to

the service of the word (spiritual works of mercy).

Feast Day August 10—St Laurence of Rome

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