Parish Bulletin
The Stuff of Life
Grandchildren reappeared on my horizon over the long weekend and we reflected on how blessed are our lives. As many people cautiously emerge from isolation to get on with their lives some reflect that we are sharing perhaps in the most remarkable events of our era. We begin to relish careful meetings with friends, neighbours and fellow parishioners; swapping a cheery “G’day” and sharing our personal CV stories and circumstances; and familiar standard questions and answers about family, busyness or otherwise and perhaps health and best wishes. In some senses this is “the stuff of life.”
Properly we try to craft our lives as best we can, around relationships, keeping relationships with each other and especially with God at our centre. But still there is an unsatisfied hunger for a deeper encounter with God. Jesus’ confronting message this week (Jn 6:51-57) offers a more profound expression of life. Having life within us! This is something else again; beyond simply living life, with its joys and pains, frustrations and success! Jesus calls us to “eat my flesh and drink my blood” and indeed this is the only way we will have life within us and live forever. Wow! Jesus intends to get this profound message across powerfully and so he does.
This is not “liking” Jesus on Facebook or swiping on Tinder, or swapping yarns, or agreeing to his principles and ideas, or even signing up to do his work. This is Jesus’ invitation to an incomprehensively close relationship with him, a relationship which is at the heart of his gift of himself as the food of eternal life, of Eucharist, to us.
“Human beings seek different kinds of bread to feed their deep hunger; only in Jesus will they find the bread of life that feeds it completely.” (Pagola p429). This is the ultimate Stuff of Life.
Deacon Mark Kelly
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On behalf of St. Vincent de Paul Society, St.Ita’s Conference Drouin, THANK St. Ita’s & St. Ignatius’ Parishes most sincerely for their generous support over the years and without your generosity we would not be able to help those in need. It is time for our Annual Winter Appeal. We are inspired by the Holy Spirit to care for others as Jesus did and through the Holy Spirit we are given the power to make a difference and so we are asking you to be generous in supporting us in winter 2020. Particularly in these changed times the need will be greater than ever because of job loss and financial stress due to the Coronavirus. If you are able to contribute to the Winter Appeal, then please donate by using the St. Vincent De Paul Society Web vinnies.org.au or calling 131812. Please mark your donations to be used by St. Ita’s Conference, Drouin and that will guarantee your Donation will be used to assist those in need in Drouin, Longwarry & Neerim South Communities. Thank you Sincerely. |
A Letter From Fr. Peter
Dear Parishioners, with the help of Fr John and Fr Herman we will be able to celebrate two extra Masses each Sunday for the next while.
At Warragul the extra Mass will be at 9am & 11am and at Drouin it will be at 8.30am & 10.30am. This begins on Sunday June 14.
These times allow for the necessary cleaning that has to take place after every celebration. Volunteers for this work would be appreciated. The other Masses will continue at the usual times.
Numbers are still limited to 20 persons at each celebration, plus the small number of ministers required. And booking is still being done by phoning the parish on p: 5623 1642.
However, this is enabling more of you to join in even if it is occasionally. Our churches are still being kept closed at other times and the distancing applies when you are in the church. So small steps forward but they do allow us to return to some of the public expression of our faith. Fr Peter