Gospel Reflection 2022

 Sunday 14C - July 3 

See Fr Anthony's reflection in 'Parish Events' below

Sent out two by two

[cont> loyolapress.com ]

Audio Gospel Reflections -  Fr Frank Moloney SDB

[Updated June 30]

Messsage from Fr Anthony
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The Church, by nature, is missionary. This
fact comes from Jesus’ commission to his disciples:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Mt
28:19). As disciples of Jesus, each one of us is a
missionary either ad intra or ad extra: We are
missionaries in our own country or in a foreign land,
in our family or in the workplace, or wherever we
may be. However, what is the source of joy when we
carry out the mission entrusted to us by the Lord?
Last Sunday, the readings focus on the
vocation of the disciples and its conditions. This
Sunday, the readings continue focusing on the same
theme, but presenting it from the viewpoint of “being
sent.” This is the longest Lukan text reflecting on
mission. However, we need to note that Luke did not
primarily pay attention to the present mission which
the disciples are carrying out, but to the nature of the
mission as well as the source of joy and sorrow which
the disciples experience when carrying out the
mission. I will not go into details of today’s readings, I
would like to offer you a point to ponder, that is, what
is the source of my joy when I come to Jesus and when
I serve him through serving my brothers and sisters?
We find the answer for the aforementioned question in the answer of Jesus given to his disciples who went back and took pride in what they had accomplished: “The seventy-two returned rejoicing, and said, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us
because of your name.’ Jesus said, ‘I have observed
Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have
given you the power to ‘tread upon serpents’ and
scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and
nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice
because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice
because your names are written in heaven’” (Lk 10:17
-20). Jesus points out to his disciples that they should
not take pride and rejoice when they accomplish
something. The motif of the disciples’ rejoicing should
not be found in the “present” (demons are subject to
them), but in the “future” (their names are written in
heaven). Naturally, when we are invited to do a
service for the Lord, we often focus on the result so
much so that we sometimes become impatient with
out brothers and sisters or get discouraged when
thing does not go in the way we have planned.
My dear brothers and sisters, we are called
not to be successful, but to be faithful. We are called to
find joy in the Lord rather than just in successes in the
world. St. John of the Cross once said: “In the evening
of our life, we will be judged on love alone.” How is
our love life in relation to God and to others?
Fr. Anthony Nguyen Ngoc Dung, SDB (Parish Priest)

Welcome to Fr. Cassius Correya
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I wish you a blessed Sunday! In the
Salesian Constitutions, we read the following
beautiful words: “To live and work together is for
us Salesians a fundamental requirement and a sure
way of fulfilling our vocation” (art. 49). Our parish
has been entrusted to the care of the Salesians, who
minister not as an individual, but as a community.
For this reason, anytime when there is a Salesian
assigned to the community, the community is
enriched with his personal talents and gifts.
In line with this, I am happy to introduce to
our newest addition to Don Bosco House –
Melbourne, Fr. Cassius Correya. Being a professed
Salesian for 28 years, Fr. Cassius was ordained in
2004. He completed his Licentiate in Christology at
UPS in 2012, and earned his Doctorate in 2018. He
has been teaching theology for many years at Don
Bosco Theological Centre in Kavarapettai, India.
We welcome Fr. Cassius and we look
forward to the changes his ministry will bring to
our Parish!
Thank you and God bless,
Fr. Anthony Nguyen Ngoc Dung, SDB (Parish Priest)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander - Sunday 3 July
From the National Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Catholic Council:
“Every year, on the first Sunday in July,
Catholics come together across Australia to
acknowledge and celebrate the gifts of Australia’s
First Peoples in the Catholic Church.
This year is particularly important because
of the need to reconnect due to the COVID 19 Pan demic and its impact on the ways in which we
interacted and made contact with one another.
For 2022 NATSICC is asking for everyone
to come together, but also consider practical ways
in which they can support Australia's First Peoples
- not just for this special day, but every day.”
For more info visit www.natsicc.org.au/2022-atsi-sunday.html#mr

Buon Viaggio, Fr. Peter Varengo
Our prayers are with our assistant Parish
Priest, Fr. Peter, who will be away until the end of
August for an important visit to family in Italy.
“May your trip be safe and meaningful Fr. Peter.
Thank you for your spiritual service to the
parish community, and we look forward to your
return.”

Soul Searching In Light of the Plenary Council
Friday 1st July at 8.30am
Catholic Social Services Vic are holding an
online prayer and discussion, ahead of the second
Plenary Council beg. 4 July. This reflection hopes to
inspire a plenary statement that enlivens action on
social justice and service as core to the mission of
the Church in Australia. For further info or bookings
visit: www.css.org.au/events/soul-searching-in-light-of the-plenary-council-a-time-of-prayer-and-discussion/