WE PRAY FOR

The elderly and the sick Marius Fernando; Dantina Frederico; Barbara Burby; Stella Mammone; Gino Salvo; Rosa Di Pietro; Lucia Bordin; Ursula McWhinney; Justin Diviny; Stephanie Jouhari;

Anna & Garry Henneken; Nicholas Gillman;

ANNIVERSARIES In Faith, Hope and Love,

let us pray for repose of the souls of John Bastian; Cordila D’Cruz; Isabella D’Silva;

Carl Schuler; Norman Schuler

RECENTLY DECEASED

We remember in prayer, Pauline Morello; Jan Keogh; Patricia McMahon

May they rest in peace.

* SUNDAY ONLINE MASS * will be available via our Parish Webpage

www.stmonicasparish.com.au Every Sunday by 10.30am for parishioners to participate

in their homes.

SUNDAY LITURGY @ Home; Please click on each link below to find

guided reflection for 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time For Adults: For Families with Young Children:

We respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, as the traditional caretakers of the land which is the St. Monica’s Catholic Parish. We acknowledge the Elders, past & present. May we, too, be good stewards of this land.

ST. MONICA’S CATHOLIC CHURCH Moonee Ponds

Presbytery: 22 Robinson St., Moonee Ponds 3039 | Telephone: (03) 9370 5035 Email: mooneeponds@cam.org.au | Website: www.stmonicasparish.com.au

Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Tony Feeney Assistant Priest: Rev. Fr. Andrew Choi Parish Office: Sonya Bading (closed until COVID-19 Restrictions lift) Pastoral Assistant: Abygaile Cukavac School Principal: Mr. Peter Moore — School Phone No: (03) 9375 1132

Green 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 23rd August 2020

What does your mental health mean to you? Mental health can mean different things to different people and our views about it can change as we progress through life. The World Health Organisation defines mental health as a ‘state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community’. Next Sunday, Social Justice Sunday, our Australian Bishop will release their Social Justice Statement 2020-21 addressing the critical subject of mental health. Their statement ‘To Live Life to the Full: Mental Health in Australia Today’ encourages all of us – faith communities, governments and individuals - to make metal health a priority as more people are recorded presenting themselves to hospitals with mental health issues. The Bishop’s Statement is a timely message in the context of the Covid19 Pandemic we are living through with our present lockdown resulting in job loses, closure of places of worship, work places, and the added pressure, for many, of coping with the home-schooling of their children. The accompanying feelings of stress, anxiety, worry, even despair, we all share. The Covid19 Pandemic provides us with an opportunity to become more aware and active in helping to foster the mental health and wellbeing of all – starting with our neighbour, the one who lives each side of me, the one who lives across the road from me – call on them, see how they are, ‘is there anything I can do for you?’ In their statement the Bishop’s encourage us to draw near to and support those who are experiencing mental ill-health at this time (that’s all of us to some degree!), acknowledge that ‘they’ are part of ‘us’, then, and only then, we will be truly able to say ‘we are all in this together.’ Copies of the Australian Bishops Statement can be obtained from www.catholic.org.au

Upcoming Parish Zoom Mobile

Scripture Reflection and Discussion – with Fr. Tony 21 August (Friday) at 7pm – every Friday at 7pm This session will reflect on the following Sunday’s Gospel with a discussion of the Gospel of Matthew. https://zoom.us/j/5115717088 (Meeting ID: 511 571 7088)

Pray the Rosary Together – with Fr. Andrew 22 August (Saturday) at 7pm – every Saturday at 7pm Let us give 30 minutes to God with the Rosary. Please invite your children and/or grandchildren to this prayer session. https://zoom.us/j/5115717088 (Meeting ID: 511 571 7088)

Each Zoom meeting room will open 10 minutes before it commences. If you have any enquiry or problem to access Zoom, please email us: stmonicaspastoralteam@gmail.com

We are looking forward to seeing you. Parish Pastoral Team

PARISH SUPPORT: For many of you this may be a time of financial constraint. For those able to continue financially

supporting our Parish, you can do so via Direct Debit by filling in the form from our website under ‘Donate’. You can

also pay by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) to St Monica's Church Account BSB: 083347 Account: 672193773

(Please put your name and envelope number in the reference) We appreciate your continued support in this difficult time.

Accommodation Required

Retired male Parishioner is seeking a rental unit/flat in this area. References available. Contact: 0438 753 894

PARISH OFFICE : due to coronavirus, and for the health and well-being of our Parish Staff (not including the priests), the Office is now officially closed. Sonya will continue to work remotely and will respond to emails.

We know how challenging it can be to be isolated from family and friends. Many of us will have experienced feelings of loneliness during the Covid-19 lockdown, but fortunately these restrictions won't last forever. In the meantime, we can reduce loneliness by maintaining connections as best we can and keeping a daily routine, amongst other things.

"Connectedness is about the quality of our relationships,

not simply about our proximity to another person."

Read our simple tips and thoughts to help reduce

loneliness during Covid-19 restrictions. Read More

Learn more about CatholicCare counselling here.

Beyond Blue have some great resources for coping with

isolation too – check them out here.

St Monica’s Safeguarding Committee News A Safeguarding Committee meeting occurred Monday 17 August 2020, so a further report back will be provided in future.

Protection week, 6 -12 September 2020. Child Protection Sunday 13th September 2020. If anyone would like to know more about the Safeguarding Committee please contact the Parish and they will put you in touch with a member of the Committee, or conversely feel free to contact Jacinta Beckley 0435968379, or Joe Cerritelli on 0401 896 872.

Dates to Remember : August

27th St. Monica’s Feast Day 30th Social Justice Sunday September

6th Father’s Day 6-12st Child Protection Week 13th Child Protection Sunday 27th Feast of St. Vincent de Paul

Prayer to St. Monica. Dear St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine,

the wayward son whom you never stopped loving

and caring for.

You suffered violence and religious prejudice;

you experienced what it is like to be a migrant and

refugee,

dying far from your original homeland.

Throughout all the ups and downs of life

your faith never wavered.

You lived your faith with a complete

trust in God’s goodness and love.

You never stopped loving your wayward son,

praying for him,

witnessing to him the constancy of God’s goodness

and love,

helping him to, eventually, come to see and believe

with you

in Jesus as his Way, his Truth and

his Life.

Pray for us St. Monica that we may

always remain strong in our faith,

close to our children, witnessing to

God’s goodness and love

through all the ups and downs of

life.

Amen.

Enjoy Catholic Radio Reflections Visit Catholic Radio Podcasts Where you can listen anytime

St. Monica’s is a Child Safe Parish. We hold the care, safety and well-being of children, young people and vulnerable adults as a central and fundamental responsibility of our community.

Vale Pauline Morello At 5am on the 16th of August 2020, the evening of “The Assumption Of Mary…” which is fitting for the passing of Pauline Morello wife, mother & grandmother of St Monica's past students and long term contributors to the school and parish Community John Morello

Snr, John Morello Jnr, Elizabeth , Andrew , Isabella and Alessia Morello. Pauline was involved heavily in the Mothers Auxiliary, school library, tuckshop & pastoral duties whilst all 3 generations of Morello's attended both school and church.

The Morello family would like to sincerely thank the schools families for their kind thoughts, prayers, generous donations, and acts of kindness. The family has asked instead of sending flowers that people do-nate to Dementia Australia on a page set up in honour of Pauline to help beat this dreadful disease that affects so many close to us all. Click here

Funeral Service will be Webcast live on Monday 24 August 2020 with the service commencing at 11.00am. Link can be accessed via the online event web link or by heading to the Tobin Brothers website: www.tobinbrothers.com.au and search for Pauline Dorothy Morello in the Funerals/webcast search bar.

For more information contact the Registrar, Mrs Josie Zanic, on 9331 9128 or email registrar@columba.vic.edu

KEY DATES FOR YEAR 7 2022: Enrolment application closing date: Friday 9 October 2020

Offer of enrolment mailed out: Tuesday 1 December 2020

Final date to accept offer: Tuesday 15 December 2020

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long. O Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of mercy to all who call to you. FIRST READING (Jer 20:7-9) A reading from the prophet Jeremiah You have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced; you have overpowered me: you were the stronger. I am a daily laughing-stock, everybody's butt. Each time I speak the word, I have to howl and proclaim: ‘Violence and ruin!’ The word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision, all day long. I used to say, I will not think about him, I will not speak in his name any more. Then there seemed to be a fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones. The effort to restrain it wearied me, I could not bear it. ‘The word of the Lord. — Thanks be to God. RESPONSORIAL PSALM

(R.) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. . O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water. (R.)

So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory. For your love is better than life, my lips will speak your praise. (R.)

So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, my mouth shall praise you with joy. (R.) For you have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice. My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast . (R.)

SECOND READING ( Rom 12:1-2) A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do. The word of the Lord. — Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our heart, that we might see how great is the hope to which we are called. Alleluia! GOSPEL (Mt 16:21-27) A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord,’ he said. ‘This must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’ Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? ‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour.’ Christ. The Gospel of the Lord. — Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. COMMUNION ANTIPHON How great is the goodness, Lord, that you keep for those who fear you.

Next week’s readings 22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 30TH AUGUST

This week we have the readings for next Sunday the 30th August for our Parishioners to make some time during the week to read and reflect on.

Did you know ? Points of interest and Catholic lore

This text marks the beginning of the fourth major section of Matthew’s Gospel, which follows Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and death.

The word Satan originally meant ‘adversary’ or ‘accuser’. Later it came to mean personified evil. Here Jesus uses it figuratively of Peter, who does not yet understand the meaning of Jesus’ mission.

The name Peter comes from the Latin word for ‘rock’. In last week’s gospel, Jesus named Peter as the rock on which the church would be built. In this week's gospel, that rock has become a stumbling block in Jesus’ path!

Symbols and Images The cross is the central symbol of the Christian faith. It reminds us immediately of the death of Jesus, through which he won eternal life, but it also reminds us of our own struggles and sufferings. ‘We all have our cross to bear,’ said St Rose of Lima, a young South American saint of the 17th century. ‘Apart from the cross, there is no ladder to heaven.’ What do you think she meant by this?

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