Category: Events

Australia Day Mass: Please note, there will be only one Mass at 9.00am on Australia Day, Wednesday, 26th January.

Lord, may our faults and weaknesses never cause us to cease our striving to follow you.

Introduction:

This Sunday has been designated by the Church as the Sunday of the Word of God. It is a day for us to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches.

1st Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-6. 8-10

After their return to their homeland from exile, the people of Israel are moved to tears by the public reading of God’s word.

2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:125-30

St Paul teaches that we together are Christ’s body, made up of many different parts.

Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

The beginning of Luke’s Gospel: Jesus proclaims God’s word and sets out his mission statement.

Antiphon to the Psalm:

Yours words, Lord, are spirit and life.

Reading at Mass: Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Entrance Antiphon: Psalm 95: 1, 6
O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.

Opening Prayer:

Almighty ever-living God, direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First reading: Nehemiah 8:2-6,8-10

All the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law

Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, consisting of men, women, and children old enough to understand. This was the first day of the seventh month. On the square before the Water Gate, in the presence of the men and women, and children old enough to understand, he read from the book from early morning till noon; all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden dais erected for the purpose. In full view of all the people – since he stood higher than all the people – Ezra opened the book; and when he opened it all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and answered, ‘Amen! Amen!’ Then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before the Lord. And Ezra read from the Law of God, translating and giving the sense, so that the people understood what was read. Then Nehemiah – His Excellency – and Ezra, priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people, said to all the people, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.’ For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law. He then said, ‘Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet wine, and send a portion to the man who has nothing prepared ready. For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.’

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 18(19):8-10,15

Response: Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

The law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul. The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, it gives wisdom to the simple. R.

The precepts of the Lord are right, they gladden the heart. The command of the Lord is clear, it gives light to the eyes. R.

The fear of the Lord is holy, abiding for ever. The decrees of the Lord are truth and all of them just. R.

May the spoken words of my mouth, the thoughts of my heart, win favour in your sight, O Lord, my rescuer, my rock! R.

Second reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30

You together are Christ’s body, but each a different part of it

Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink. Nor is the body to be identified with any one of its many parts. If the foot were to say, ‘I am not a hand and so I do not belong to the body’, would that mean that it stopped being part of the body? If the ear were to say, ‘I am not an eye, and so I do not belong to the body’, would that mean that it was not a part of the body? If your whole body was just one eye, how would you hear anything? If it was just one ear, how would you smell anything? Instead of that, God put all the separate parts into the body on purpose. If all the parts were the same, how could it be a body? As it is, the parts are many but the body is one. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I do not need you’, nor can the head say to the feet, ‘I do not need you.’ What is more, it is precisely the parts of the body that seem to be the weakest which are the indispensable ones; and it is the least honourable parts of the body that we clothe with the greatest care. So our more improper parts get decorated in a way that our more proper parts do not need. God has arranged the body so that more dignity is given to the parts which are without it, and that there may not be disagreements inside the body, but that each part may be equally concerned for all the others. If one part is hurt, all parts are hurt with it. If one part is given special honour, all parts enjoy it. Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it. In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. Are all of them apostles, or all of them prophets, or all of them teachers? Do they all have the gift of miracles, or all have the gift of healing? Do all speak strange languages, and all interpret them?

Gospel Acclamation: Luke 4:18

Alleluia, alleluia! The Lord sent me to bring Good News to the poor and freedom to prisoners. Alleluia!

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21

‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen’

Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have taken place among us, exactly as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, I in my turn, after carefully going over the whole story from the beginning, have decided to write an ordered account for you, Theophilus, so that your Excellency may learn how well founded the teaching is that you have received. Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him. He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written: The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour. He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’

Prayer over the Offerings: Accept our offerings, O Lord, we pray, and in sanctifying them grant that they may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Communion Antiphon: John 8: 12

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Prayer after Communion:

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, receiving the grace by which you bring us to new life, we may always glory in your gift. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

new year blessing

God our Loving Father, you command us in the Name of Your only Son Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit not to be afraid. As we begin this new year, we once again entrust ourselves and all our loved ones to Your divine care. We pray for good health, safety, peace and the wisdom to discern what You have in store for each one of us. Deepen our faith in You who alone have the power over all and in all. Bless us with the grace of sincere trust in You and gratitude to You for all You reveal to us amidst our joys and struggles – whatever they may be. We implore the powerful intercession of the Blessed Ever Virgin Mary, Your beloved daughter and Mother of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Playgroup: Runs every Wednesday between 9am & 11am. All are welcome to join this friendly playgroup, lots of fun for the kids and coffee for the parents. No joining fee, $3 per week to cover cost of art supplies. You are welcome to drop by or call Nicole on 0411 542 619 for more information.

Greetings and welcome!

Fr Francis and I warmly welcome you here at Our Lady of the Mission, Whitford Parish; parishioners and visitors alike. We pray and hope that you feel truly safe and at home in this our place of prayer, worship and personal encounter with our risen Lord. May the Holy Spirit ever pray in us more than we can ever imagine and bind us together in the love of our Heavenly Father. Whitford Catholic Parish is home to over seventy nationalities represented by our parishioners and frequent visitors. We take pride in our young people; those in our parish primary and secondary schools, those enrolled in our Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) and our parish youth group. They are not just our future Church but a vital part of our Church today and now. We value our young people and endeavor to have their voices heard at every level of our administrative and pastoral engagements. We are ever grateful to the many individuals and groups that volunteer in various ministries of our parish life. To one and all, know that you are valued and appreciated in your own right. We cannot be what we are without you. With ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions, we renew our collective commitment to keeping OLM a COVID-Safe community. Our priests, office staff, cleaning ministry team are doing their bit. We ask you to do your bit in assisting us in this resolve. Together, we will be victorious over this pandemic. Fr Francis and I thank one and all of you for your ongoing prayers, concern, encouragement and support. Rest assured of our daily thoughts and prayers. We commend you as always, into the powerful intercessions of our Blessed Virgin Mother of Good counsel, and into those of St Joseph, patron of the universal Church.

Fr Cyprian M Shikokoti – PP.

New Collection Practice: Both First and Second collections are now being deposited in special collection boxes provided in the Church foyer upon arrival or as you leave Church after Mass. There will be NO collection at offertory time during Mass. For your information, First collection goes toward support of priests and Second collection is toward every day running and maintenance of the Church.

Reconciliation: We have resumed individual reconciliation / confession at the usual time of 12pm and at 5.30pm on Saturdays. 

For those of you who are still in a position to support our Parish, please see the form attached to the last page of the newsletter to contribute to our Parish through Direct Debit. Please complete the form and return to whitford@perthcatholic.org.au. Thank you for your continued support during this challenging time. Take care and God Bless.