Parish of Corio/Lara St Francis Xavier Church, Corio

St Anthony of Padua Church, Lara Archdiocese of Melbourne Australia

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Sunday 10th September, 2017 Today’s Gospel is from St. Matthew 18:15-20 Unfortunately, there are far too many Christians today who pay no heed to the serious obligation of encouraging an erring brother to give up his sinful ways. They shrug it off by saying: "I have more than enough to do to keep myself from sin" or "am I my brother's keeper"? The answer is in this lesson we have just read. We are our brothers' keepers, and even if we have many temptations and inclinations to sin we shall not overcome them if we have no time to think of our neighbours’ need.There are, alas, millions of lapsed or luke-warm Christians who could and would have been active members of Christ's mystical body if their neighbours had fulfilled this grave obligation which Christ has imposed on us all. They are now a source of scandal to the weaker and youthful members of the Church, and an impediment to the possible acceptance of the faith by non-Christians. Would the Reformation, which has caused whole countries of the western world to lose almost all faith in Christ and indeed in God, have had such disastrous effects, if those who remained within the Church had put this law of fraternal charity into practice? Let us see our present-day obligations and what we are doing to help our neighbours retain their Christian faith and practice. How much of the indifference to religion which the youth of today seems to be showing is due to lack of parental control and example? How many children of Christian families grow up as practical pagans because their Christian faith meant little or nothing to their parents? It is in the home that the religion of the next generation is firmly established or lost. When parents are loyal to their faith in their daily lives, their children will, as a rule, be loyal to it too; where parents are careless and lax their children will be still more careless and more lax.Parents! The first neighbours and fellow Christians whom you must kindly and charitably correct are your own children. Their future salvation and your own too will depend on how well you fulfil this obligation. Parents who are obedient to Christ in this will find time and many opportunities to have a charitable word of help for an erring neighbour outside their household. On the other hand, the lax parents, who give little or no thought to getting to heaven or to their children getting there in God's good time, will hardly bother with their neighbour’s salvation. Thus this cancer of infidelity and irreligion grows and spreads.Let each one of us look into his past conduct in relation to this law of charity. Have we really tried to help our fellowmen on the road to heaven? Have we given them the good example of a truly Christian way of living? Have we offered advice and encouragement when it was needed, and correction in private where that was possible? If so "we have gained our brother." We have brought a prodigal son back to a loving Father and that loving Father will repay us a hundred-fold in this life and especially in the next. Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

PARISH FAMILY DAYParish Family Day on this Sunday, 10th

September. The Holy Mass is at St Anthony’s Church Lara at 10.30am. It will be a combined Mass. The Nativity of Mary is also celebrated

on the day. We will have a Sausage sizzle, shared lunch at MacKillop Hall, a Jumping

Castle, Face Painting and a Magician. Please bring a plate of cake, slice or biscuits to share. All

Welcome.PARISH PRAYER We, the people of Corio/Lara Catholic Parish give thanks and praise to God the Father. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we become more like Jesus: listening to the Word of God and celebrating the Eucharist; sharing each other’s lives and forgiving one another; respecting creation and taking

PARISH MISSION STATEMENT We, the Catholic people of Corio/Lara guided by the Spirit, participate in Christ’s Mission.

With our gifts we create a Parish that welcomes all people.

responsibility for our world. Like St Francis Xavier, may we offer light to those in darkness, and warmly welcome all people. Like St Anthony of Padua, may we nourish the hungry with wise words and kind deeds. St Francis Xavier, pray for us. St Anthony of Padua, pray for us.

PARISH CALENDARMONDAY11TH Sept

TUESDAY

12th Sept

WEDNESDAY13th Sept

THURSDAY14th Sept

FRIDAY15th Sept

SATURDAY16th Sept

SUNDAY17th Sept

4pm Junior Legion of Mary, Corio

8.45am Rosary9am Mass, Corio10.15 Hume Crt Communion

9am Rosary9.15am Mass, Lara

6.30pm Rosary, Novena, Corio

8.45am Rosary9am Mass Corio

10.15am Mass, Hume Court, Lara

7pm Adoration7pm Bingo

7pm Mass Corio.

9am Mass Lara10.30am MassCorio11.30am Bapt.Corio12.30pm Bapt. Lara

ROSTERSTIME ANDDATE

READER/COMMENTATOR EUCHARIST MINISTERS

FLOWERS, ST FRANCIS CHURCH CLEANERS

16thSept 2017 7pm Corio

A RandallF MoloneyWelcomer-L Sagor

B Watson CORIO – C GrayLARA- C HarrisCLEANING- Legion of Mary

17th Sept 2017 9am Lara

B LeeK CroughWelcomers- G Anderson

M TitfordR ShannahanD Whelan

10.30am Corio B GeertsS GrootveldWelcomer- B Vlajankov

T GrovesP NeriN Madonna

NEXT WEEKS READINGS- Sirach 27:30-28:7; Ps 102:1-4,9-12; Rom 14:7-9; Mt 18:21-35

Anniversary: Rose Cook, Mariyamma JohnSick: Leo de Grandis, Nicholas Francis, Emily Gilson, Kirk Watson, Greg & Sally Brown, Jessica de Grandis, Andrea Franchina and Craig Marais.

Prayer Intention of Pope Francis for September 2017: Evangelisation: That our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.

Vocation View: How much would the world be changed if everyone was completely forgiving? Probably totally! Jesus’ stories of forgiveness are so loved because they are so needed. Re-tell them! Re-live them!

Children’s Liturgy: The celebration of the Word for Children is held during Mass in Corio every SundayLara in Term 3: Sep 10, Term 4: Oct 8, 15, 29, Nov 12, 19, Dec 3, 10, 17.

IF YOU ARE CELEBRATING A SIGNIFICANT WEDDING ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR – 25, 30, 40, 50, 60+ YEARS – WE WILL CELEBRATE YOUR MILESTONE AT ALL MASSES ON 23RD & 24TH SEPTEMBER 2017 IN OUR PARISH. Please fill in your details on the clipboards provided in the foyer to enable us to recognise your marriage milestones.

Wish You a Happy Feast Day

DINNER & FAREWELL FOR Fr MANOJSaturday 7th October, 7pm In the Xavier Centre Corio. Mass will be at 6pm. This is a fundraiser for SVDP and there will be an offering plate on the night for your donation to St. Vinnies for their wonderful work in our parish. We ask you to bring food to share - a main course (casserole/stir-fry/pie etc) and a dessert (cake/slice/biscuits etc) with the emphasis being to showcase food from your country of origin. BYO drinks, tea & coffee provided. This is our opportunity to thank Fr Manoj for his wonderful care of our Parish over the past 6 years.

SOME FUTURE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY22nd October: St Anthony’s Fair from 10am. We will be asking for help with the Plant Stall and the Silent Auction and Raffle ticket sales.28th October: Child Safety Standards Training – for leaders of all children’s groups

in the Parish. More details will follow closer to these dates.

Financial Statement: Fr Manoj and Charles Saliba, our parish accountant, have prepared a financial statement of the parish. Copies are available at the foyer.

Entertainment Books: This year we raised $156.00 from the sale of the Entertainment Books for our own SVDP conference

Geelong Catholic Diners’ Club     6:15 pm Tuesday, September 12, only $33 per person.. The new location is 258 Pakington Street, Geelong West, (previously Berkeley Lodge). For more information and reservations, please phone or text Michael Belleville at 0431 959 584 by Friday, September 8.

Western Spirituality in the Pub/Club – Tuesday 19th Sept, 7.30pm at Club Italia, Furlong Rd, St Albans – next door to Sunshine Hospital. Theme – Pope Francis said, “In the Church, women are more important than bishops and priests.” Hear Bishop Mark Edwards and Denis Minogue tell you what they think. Dine at the club from 6pm – to book Ph 9367 4187 & say that you are coming for the meeting and you can share a table with others. For further info contact Anne Dowling: Deanery.westernhighway@cam.org.au .

Columban Calendar 2018 is available from the piety stall for $9.

CATHOLIC PARENTS SEMINAR: Tuesday 12 September, 8.45am–1pm. Sts Peter and Paul's Church, Parish Hall, 377 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne. Passing on the faith to your children is not only a great joy and responsibility but also a great challenge in our secular culture. This seminar will present three talks for Catholic parents to inspire and encourage. Subjects are ‘Parenting for purity’, ‘How to keep your kids Catholic’ and ‘Vibrant faith in a secular age’. Speakers are visiting theology professor from Denver, Colorado, Dr Edward Sri, theologian and author Dr Conor Sweeney from the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family, and vibrant young theology graduate Simon Carrington. There will be a creche available and lunch will be available for purchase. Cost: Donation. Registration: www.tinyurl.com/melbcps Details: johnsmyth@parousiamedia.com

VINCENTIAN RETREAT CENTRE: ONGOING FRIDAY SERVICE: Friday evenings, 6.30–9.30pm. Next service Friday 15 September . Holy Eucharist Church, 1241 Dandenong Road, East Malvern. You are invited for Mass, Rosary, praise and worship, with healing prayers and Adoration, each and every Friday evening. Details: Ramesh and Bernie at rbvm.546.samson@bigpond.com

FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK: Most Holy Name of Mary – 12th Sept On this day dedicated to the Holy Name of Mary let us repeat that wonderful prayer of Saint Bernard, responding to Pope Benedict XVI's invitation to “invite everyone to become a trusting child before Mary, even as the Son of God did. Saint Bernard says, and we say with him: 'Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary … in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination”' (Benedict XVI, address at Heiligenkreuz Abbey, September 9, 2007).

Our Lady of Sorrows – 15th SeptThis feast dates back to the 12th century. It was especially promoted by the Cistercians and the Servites, so much so that in the 14th and 15th centuries it was widely celebrated throughout the Catholic Church. In 1482 the feast was added to the Missal under the title of

"Our Lady of Compassion." This feast is dedicated to the spiritual martyrdom of Mary, Mother of God, and her compassion with the sufferings of her Divine Son, Jesus. In her suffering as co-redeemer, she reminds us of the tremendous evil of sin and shows us the way of true repentance. May the numerous tears of the Mother of God be conducive to our salvation; with which tears Thou, O God, art able to wash away the sins of the whole world.

NOVENA to our Mother of Perpetual Help is on every Wednesday with a Rosary at 6.30pm followed by Novena of Mother of Perpetual Help at St Francis Xavier Church, Corio.

Parish Care Group: Carers are there for you at both Corio and Lara. The Care Group was established to support members of the Parish who are experiencing grief, loneliness or difficult times. If you would like a carer to visit you please ring the Parish Office or Pam Fitzgerald in Corio area on 5275 2507 or Lou Schepers in Lara Ph 0413 802 623.

BINGO: Is held in the Xavier Centre, Corio every Friday night starting at 7.30pm. There is a friendly atmosphere, great prizes, cool drinks and supper available for sale and free tea and coffee.

Fr Manoj Mathew Parish Priest Pauline Gilmore & Diane Saliba Secretaries Bill Geerts Chairperson, Parish Pastoral CouncilMaria Scala Principal, St Francis Xavier School, Corio Ph 52751974Natalie Heard Principal, St Anthony’s School, Lara Ph 52821415PARISH OFFICE 143 Bacchus Marsh Road, Corio 3214 VICTELEPHONE 5275 4120. email fxcorio@iinet.net.au Web: www.coriolaraparish.org.au OFFICE HOURS Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri - 9.00am - 4.00pm (1-1.30pm Lunch Break) Wednesday – Office ClosedWEEKEND MASS TIMES-Saturday- 7.00pm, St Francis Xavier, Corio. Sunday-9.00am - St Anthony’s Lara, 10.30am - St Francis Xavier, Corio.WEEKDAY MASS TIMES: Tuesday and Thursday-9am, St Francis Xavier, Corio, Wednesday-9am Lara.1st &3rd Friday- 10am Hume Court Lara, 2nd &5th Friday- St Anthony’s Lara. 4th Friday- 11:30am St Anthony’s Lara. SATURDAY DEVOTION: Mass at 9:30am followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every 1st Saturday each month, St Francis Xavier Church, Corio.RECONCILIATION-1st Sat of each month 10-10.30am and 6.15-6.45pm St Francis Xavier Church, Corio, 1st Sunday of each month- 8.15-8.45am St Anthony’s Church, Lara

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