Message from Archbishop Anthony Fisher 25th July, 2021

The COVID-19- restrictions are preventing most people from receiving the Bread of Life. Fortunately people can still join the Mass through live-streaming and at least make a ‘spiritual communion’. Throughout this time of lockdown we must, in Paul’s words, “Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience” (Eph 4:1-6). But we hunger, hunger for that day when we can gather as a multitude once more, hunger for that day when we can sit together to hear our Eucharistic Lord, hunger for that day when we will again be fed by Him the Bread of Life.

As the spike in cases of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown continues to prevent us from gathering in person, I encourage you to pray: for an end to this pandemic, for those who have died of COVID and those grieving them, for the sick and those caring for them, for those testing and vaccinating us, for the isolated, lonely or anxious, for those leading us through these times, and for those places faring much worse than we are.

 

Live Stream Masses

The challenge during this time of lockdown is that Catholics need to find ways of maintaining their connection with God. You are welcome to attend live-streaming services offered by local parishes or may access Masses streamed by parishes in the Archdiocese of Sydney or The Catholic Network. Links provided below

St Gertrude’s, Smithfield – Sunday Mass and Weekday Masses, live streamed

https://www.stgertrude.org.au/

Sacred Heart, Cabramatta – Sunday Mass and Weekday Masses, live streamed

http://www.sacredheartcabramatta.org.au/

Our Lady of the Rosary, Fairfield – Parish Information https://www.olrfairfield.org.au/

Syriac Catholic Church – Parish Live Stream service https://www.syriac-catholic-church.org.au/

St Thomas the Apostle, Bossley park – Parish Live Stream service https://www.stthomaschaldean.org.au/

Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney – Sunday Mass and Daily Masses, live streamed https://www.sydneycatholic.org/live-masses/

The Catholic TV Network – Sunday Mass and Daily Masses, live streamed The Catholic TV Network

Daily Prayer

Prayer is an important part of daily life for Catholics and the Mary MacKillop Community. Each day a prayer for the day is provided to assist one in this daily devotion. Quotes from Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods are also included, as part of daily reflection, especially as Mary MacKillop’s feast day approaches. Also provided are Family Reflections that the whole family may engage in.

 

Weekly Rosary & Divine Mercy Chaplet

Students with their families may also engage in joining the Mary MacKillop Community for Rosary, Wednesday mornings at 8:30am and Divine Mercy Chaplet, Friday mornings at 8:30am. Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet will be conducted via zoom.

Zoom links will be provided to students via email or Youth Ministry Google classroom.

 

 

 

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – YEAR B – 2nd August 2021

 

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never thirst.

John 6:24-35

When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus. When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

you are not looking for me

because you have seen the signs

but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.

Do not work for food that cannot last,

but work for food that endures to eternal life,

the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you,

for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’

Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.’ So they said, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

Jesus answered:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven,

it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven,

the true bread; for the bread of God

is that which comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.’

‘Sir,’ they said ‘give us that bread always.’ Jesus answered:

‘I am the bread of life.

He who comes to me will never be hungry;

he who believes in me will never thirst.’

 

REFLECTION by Diane Bergant CSA

In many ways the Exodus story of the bread from heaven is very similar to last Sunday’s accounts. However, the focus today is not divine prodigality shown through the overabundance of food, but total dependence on God. The bread comes from heaven, not merely because the food seems to come down from the sky, but because it comes from God. The restriction about collecting it was meant to emphasise this point. Our survival is in God’s hands, not ours.

Jesus insists that he is the true bread from heaven; he is the real basis of our survival. The people followed him because they saw him as a source of bread; they did not realise that he is really the source of life. If we fill ourselves with all that the world provides as nourishment we will still hunger. Only faith in Jesus can satisfy our deepest hungers, and we will not be able to survive apart from him.

Acceptance of Jesus as the source of our life and the very nourishment of our spirits effects a total transformation in us. We will no longer be content to live with full bellies but empty minds. We will put aside our old selves steeped in ignorance and self-interest and put on a new self, created in his image. Having fed on the bread from heaven, we will be mysteriously transformed into it. The spirit of our minds will be renewed by his teaching. As a result, we will be able to launch out into a way of living that gives witness to our new understanding, our new life.

Liturgy Help © 2021

© The scriptural quotations are taken from the Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday & Co Inc, and used by permission of the publishers. The English translation of the Psalm Responses, the Alleluia and Gospel Verses, and the Lenten Gospel Acclamations, and the Titles, Summaries, and Conclusion of the Readings, from the Lectionary for Mass © 1997, 1981, 1968, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. The prayers are from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010 International Committee on English in the Liturgy Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved.