Parish Priest Parish Secretary Fr. John Madden Michele Agustin-Guarino

Parish Office, 116 Cotham Road, Kew

P.O. Box 3221, Cotham L.P.O. Kew 3101

Office Closed on Mondays

Office Hours Tuesday to Friday, 8.30am—3pm

Telephone 9853 6701 Mobile 0431 635 068 (Emergency Only)

Email: sacred.heart.parish.kew@gmail.com Website: www.shkew.org.au

Sacred Heart Parish, Kew 6th Sunday of Easter: 26th May 2019

Thanksgiving Campaign Over the last two weeks we have set before you the present financial situation in which this parish finds itself. As we come to the end of our Thanksgiving Campaign it is time for us to decide our own personal responses to the challenge facing the parish. Our problems are: The number of parishioners attending Mass on weekends has diminished over time. The majority of parents of children attending Sacred Heart Primary School do not attend Mass on weekends and,

consequently, do not contribute to the support of the parish. To plan our future, we have to explore the options available to us with an open mind. This parish has so much potential and could be one of the best in the Archdiocese. The future is limited only by our imagination and present lack of funds. The fact remains that the future affords us three options. A sufficient contribution to the running costs of the parish from parishioners and school parents. Sell part of the site to meet current debts. Develop the site to secure the financial viability of the parish long-term. Obviously, the first option is the desirable one

but, failing that, we have to be open to the other two options. At present, our costs are depleting our reserves as we only have 75K in the bank. For further details refer to the brochures in the church foyer. Decisions will be made that will affect all of us into the future. Your generous participation is necessary as we work together for the common good. This weekend, we are looking to you to commit to the financial security of the parish for the next three years. If you are not a member of the Thanksgiving Program, please join in by pledging a regular contribution. If you are already a contributor, please increase your contribution by between 15-30%. $5 could be increased to $8; $15 to $20; and $50 to $60. If you are a school parent and willing to contribute to the support the parish, please do so through the Thanksgiving Program. It is preferential for contributions to be made through direct deposit to demonstrate a predictable and relatively assured income stream and is not affected by absences from the parish. To be eligible to participate in the discussions around the future of the parish will require active membership of the parish community demonstrated by regular attendance at weekend Mass and involvement in the Thanksgiving Program. For those who can, we will also be looking for involvement in the various ministries of the parish. While the task may seem daunting, other parishes have taken similar actions to secure their future. It is a time for transformation as we cannot rely only on the old faithfuls to give more than they are doing. We have approximately 300 people who attend Mass regularly and most are generous. We cannot expect you (the practising parishioners) to carry the load on your own but we do need your practical and spiritual support. The future is an unknown territory, so let’s explore our options together. Fr. John has already received some good ideas from parishioners which will be part of any future parish discussions. We are best when we are challenged so let’s put our best foot forward with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the hopes of this Faith Community to encourage and sustain this endeavour. While we need people to contribute, we must not forget that the primary objective of any parish is to enhance people’s ability to commune with the divine. We are asking people to give so we can transform our parish and the spiritual lives of all our parishioners.

Thanksgiving envelopes

One of the major difficulties we are having regarding thanksgiving envelopes it the lack of

volunteers to help count on a Sunday morning. Last Sunday we had one person turn up to count. So

we asked around for help and only one person turned up on Tuesday to help. In no way am I

criticising the volunteers but just showing you the problem thanksgiving envelopes are creating. I am

also concerned for all our safety given the past experience of a break-in. The cost of the envelopes are

also a consideration. So we are asking those using thanksgiving envelopes to consider changing to

automatic payment. Your name will be shown with the automatic payment so we can link this to your

account. Please consider this option as it saves the parish money, releases parishioners to do other

things and stops thieves from targeting our parish. Thank you to the parishioners who have made the

change. Here are our parish account details:

Name of Account: Sacred Heart Church Kew

BSB: 083 347

ACCOUNT NO: 682 606 383

REFERENCE: Envelope no/ Full name

HOW TO IMPRESS A WOMAN

Wine her,

Dine her,

Call her,

Hug her,

Support her,

Hold her,

Surprise her,

Compliment her,

Smile at her,

Listen to her,

Laugh with her,

Cry with her,

Romance her,

Believe in her,

Cuddle with her,

Go shopping with her

Give her jewellery,

Buy her flowers,

Hold her hand,

Write love letters to her.

HOW TO IMPRESS A MAN

Bring Pizza & Beer

A bunch of blokes are in the changing room of a golf club.

A mobile phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands

free speaker-function and began to talk. Everyone else in the room

stops to listen.

BLOKE: "Hello"

WOMAN: "Darling, it's me. Are you at the club?"

BLOKE: "Yes"

WOMAN: "I am at the shopping centre and found this

beautiful leather coat.

It's only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"

BLOKE: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much."

WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the

new 2005 models. I saw one I really liked."

BLOKE: "How much?"

WOMAN: "$90,000"

BLOKE: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the

options."

WOMAN: "Great! OK. I'll see you later! I love you so much!"

BLOKE: "Bye! I love you, too."

The bloke hangs up. The other blokes in the changing room are

staring at him in astonishment, mouths agape..... He smiles and

asks: "Anyone know who this phone

belongs to?"

Dear Parishioners,

I wish to take this opportunity to thank the older members of our community for their

dedicated loyalty to me and to this parish. So often we can take such commitments for

granted. Personally I find our elderly parishioners to be warm, friendly, engaging and

generous to a fault. They are open-minded and their presence continues to

enrich us in so many ways. Life must be difficult at times but I never hear them

complain. I consider them to be Catholic is the truest sense of the word and

appreciate their ongoing support. Sometimes we can overlook the treasures in our

midst so let us truly appreciate the elderly of this parish. Fr. John

http://www.amazingaustralia.com.au/online-shopping.htm

Dear Parishioners,

We will celebrate and acknowledge our varied culture in our Fiji Catholic Community each month, this June Mass will be the indigenous Fijian culture. Attendees are invited to dress in whatever Fijian attire/dressing as they please. (I don’t expect anyone in grass skirts!). This can include island print clothing or even a lei worn around the neck, seeing its cold at this time.

The Fijian youth will read the Prayers of the Faithful in Fijian, followed by the English version (as we did at the combined Mass in April).

Make time for the Sacred in life and your life will be blessed.

Seven Spiritual Laws that most people Ignore

1. You are here for a reason

2. Life is a gift make the most of your gift

3. Sin is never private but always personal

4. If you want to be happy be generous

5. Forgive and you set yourself free

6. Prayer is the most powerful force on earth

7. Peace is the only gift no one can give you

I find that the most difficult question to answer is the following

What do you truly want?

Some say power but power is fleeting.

Some say money/possessions but these can end up owning you.

Some say happiness but they are afraid to seek inner truths.

Others say success and so become a slave to its demands

What do you want since life is fleeting and death is our constant companion. As I grow older and hope-

fully wiser it is the simple things that matter most of all. Why do we complicate things for ourselves

and others?

So I ask you the most revealing question of all. What do you want? Cut away the

external simplistic answers and ask yourself what do you truly want. The answer will excite and fright-

en you at the same time. Of course the next question is how will you achieve what you truly want?

Only the inward journey will reveal this to you.

This is the treasure of great price Jesus speaks of in the gospel. It can be yours!

Parish Working Bee: Saturday 8 June, 11-2:00 PM (Church & Grounds, Pentecost Decorations) Please place this date in your diary even if you can only come for one hour. All are welcome as many hands make light labour. We look forward to seeing new faces.

MASS TIMES Saturday Vigil 6.00pm

Sunday 9.30am & 5.00pm

Weekday Mass

Tuesday 7.00pm

Wednesday—Saturday 9.15am

Reconciliation

After Saturday 9.15am Mass

(or by private appointment)

Exposition

1st Friday of the month

(after 9.15am Mass)

Marriages

By appointment

Baptisms

Please refer to our parish website https://shkew.org.au/baptism

Prayer Group

Divine Mercy Tuesdays 6.30pm

School Administration

T: 9853 5859

F: 98538981

Sacramental Programme

Please refer to our website for details https://shkew.org.au/faith-formation

1st Collection—this money is used to support Fr John and the priests of the Archdiocese.

2nd Collection—this money is used to pay for the running of and the upkeep of our Parish.

$4,036.90 donations from last week.

We need $3K per week just to meet our everyday running cost.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

Proclaim a joyful sound and let it be heard;

proclaim to the ends of the earth:

the Lord has freed his people, alleluia.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

O God, let all the nations praise you!

O God, be gracious and bless us,

and let your face shed its light on us.

So will your ways be made known upon earth

and all the nations learn your saving help.

Let the nations be glad and exult

for you rule the world with justice.

With fairness you rule the peoples,

you guide the nations of the earth.

Let the people praise you, O Lord;

let all the people praise you.

May God still give us his blessing

till the ends of the earth revere him.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia Alleluia

All who love me will keep my words,

and my Father will love them,

and we will come to them. Alleluia!

COMMUNION ANTIPHON

If you love me, keep my commandments, says the Lord,

and I will ask the Father and he will send you another

Paraclete, to abide with your for ever, Alleluia!

READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK The Ascension of the Lord: Year C

First Reading:

Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11

Responsorial Psalm:

Psalm 46:2-3,6-7,8-9.

Second Reading:

St. Paul to the Ephesians 1:17-23

Gospel: Luke 24:46-52

Missionary Sisters of St Peter Claver are holding their

Annual Mission Dinner on:

When: Sunday 23 June 2019

Time: 1.00pm

Where: 154 Cotham Road, Kew.

Proceeds will assist the missions.

Bookings close 14 June. Tickets: $35.00 per person.

Bookings: 154 Cotham Road, Kew 3101 or phone 9817

3715.

Pentecost

Michele is looking for volunteers to help with making origami cranes for

Pentecost. Knowing Michele as we do it should be a lot of fun. They will hang in the

church so I am expecting great things. Lets have a great birthday!

https://maps.google.com/?q=154+Cotham+Road,+Kew&entry=gmail&source=ghttps://maps.google.com/?q=154+Cotham+Road,+Kew&entry=gmail&source=ghttps://maps.google.com/?q=154+Cotham+Road,+Kew+3101&entry=gmail&source=g