Gospel Reflection 2019
 Easter 6C
This portion of John's Gospel comes near the end of the first of four chapters that make up Jesus' long farewell discourse at the Last Supper. This section of chapter 14 actually sums up the themes of the opening of the discourse: the Christian's life is not shaped by Jesus' absence but by God's abiding presence; God's presence overcomes anxiety about God's absence; and the present holds in it the seeds of a fresh future shaped by love, not fear.

These verses also contain a glimpse of some of the other themes of the farewell discourse: Jesus' relationship with the Father and the disciples' relationship to Jesus connect the disciples to the Father as well. Jesus promises to send an Advocate or intercessor who will remind the disciples of everything that Jesus taught them and bring them peace.

Jesus is preparing his disciples in advance for his absence so that they will continue to believe in him and not feel all alone after his return to the Father. After the initial excitement of his Easter appearances, Jesus will remain with his followers in a very different way throughout the centuries.

As our celebration of the Easter season is coming to an end, the liturgy reminds us that Jesus remains with us through the Holy Spirit, who teaches us everything we need to know, reminds us of all that Jesus taught, and brings us peace.

   [Updated May 23]

A Very Special Birthday !!
A very warm Happy Birthday to Fr Martin !!
He turned 50 years old last Friday. Please be gentle with him as he is now older than before.
Older people need looking after !! :-)

Prayer Evenings at St John's
Do you thirst for a spiritual conversation? Here is an invitation to join us in prayer and spiritual conversa-tion. We meet fortnightly in Aikenhead Hall from 7pm to 8.30pm. Our next meeting is June 3. These evenings include shared prayer contemplating Gospel texts and the First Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola, as well as spiritual conversation. There is no cost and all are welcome.

Homelessness - What can we do?
On Saturday 8 June, 2019, with the onset of Winter, Catholic Social Services Victoria will host a forum “Homelessness What can Parishes do?” at Cardinal Knox Centre, 383 Albert Street, East Melbourne, from 9.30am-1.00pm. Come and hear what the Australian Bishops have to say about making a home for every-one in our land, what the Christian community is already doing to assist, and join in discussions about how you and your parish can help. Cost: $20, includes lunch. Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/BBQOR; enquiries to Lucia Brick at lucia.brick@css. org.au, tel 03 9287 5566.

Healing Mass at St Joseph's
Don’t forget our Healing Mass at St Joseph’s on Satur-day, 22nd June, commencing at 10 am. And we will be experiencing that wonderful Vietnamese catering afterward in the hall. Come and join us.

Family Mass
Our next Family Mass is on Sunday next, 2nd June at 10:30am in St. John's Church. This Mass is intended to be more inclusive of the young in liturgical minis-try and to share their talents of reading and music making. A cuppa will follow in Aikenhead Hall. Please bring a plate to share, if you are able. All are welcome. If your family would like to be involved in this Mass or future Masses, please contact <jennifer.jacobs@utoronto.ca>

Pondering Grief
Saturday 22 June 2019, 10am-4pm.
This Reflection Day offers an invitation to reflect on and honour our inner life of change and transition. With creativity, space and gentle guiding support, this workshop will offer a sacred place for the breadth of human experiencing and spirit to guide individual exploration.
Facilitated by Linda Espie, psychotherapist, supervi-sor, educator and author with 35 years' experience specialising in loss, grief and trauma.
Cost $80 including materials. Contact Heart of Life: Centre for Spiritual & Pastoral Formation, Box Hill, tel 03 9890 1101, emailholsc@bigpond.com or book and pay online at www.heartoflife.melbourne

Weekday masses
Fr Martin will be at the Salesian Chapter meeting all
week, so will not be available for Mass or consultation.
Therefore the only Masses celebrated at St
Joseph’s will be on Wednesday 22nd and Friday 24th with Fr Anthony and Fr Frank will be celebrating Mass at St John’s on Tuesday 21st and Thursday 23rd, as per usual.

Fr Martin’s Installation
Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of the Southern Cross.
It is with much appreciation that I once again say a
BIG ‘Thank You’ for your presence at my installation
last Sunday. It was wonderful to see all the many
parts of the parish represented. Thanks for not only
supporting me but also supporting each other. It was
great to have Bishop Terry Curtain, the other priests
and religious there supporting the parish. My heartfelt
thanks goes out to ALL those who helped with the
preparations including; the church environment, the
booklet, the flowers, the music, the setting up and
cleaning of the hall, the tasty food, especially that
beautiful cake, and the Mother’s Day gifts. I feel very
much at home here in the parish and look forward to
continue building up our church and school communities
together. Fr Martin

A very warm welcome
As you know, Fr Martin Tanti has just recently become
our new Parish Priest at Our Lady of Southern
Cross in Collingwood and Clifton Hill. His formal
installation was last Sunday. He has been with us only
a few months but I know he will gain the love and
respect of our parish family. He is a warm and
friendly person with a deep love of God. I’m sure he
will bring his own special qualities and ideas that we
are eager to embrace.
Our Lady of Southern Cross, especially the Vietnamese
Community of the Parish, has always been
blessed with outstanding Priests, and I have no doubt
that Fr Martin will become one of them. We pray that
his stay with us will be blessed with much happiness.
We look forward to travelling with him as he leads us
on the road to strengthening our Catholic faith.
Truc Nguyen

Winter Warmers Drive
OLSC parish is collecting socks, gloves, hats and scarves which are badly needed items and can make a huge difference to keeping warm in the cold.
On the next rainy boring day clean out those drawers, cupboards and ward-robes that house the clothing that hasn’t seen daylight for some time. Bring your unwanted (clean) clothing items to Mass and leave them at the back of the church.

Youth Conference
Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed,
for the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go. - Joshua 1:9
The Chosen Conference is a national conference for youth and young adults between 18 - 30 years old, organised by Jesus Youth, an International Catholic Association with a focus on evangelising young peo-ple and nurturing their missionary initiatives.
We invite you to join us from the 4th - 7th July 2019 at Sacred Heart Girl's College Melbourne for 4 power-packed days of youth rallies, up-lifting talks, work-shops, theatre, Eucharistic celebrations, vocation & mission expo and live music.
For registrations please visit www.chosenconference. org.au. For further information, queries or group registration please contact info@chosenconference. org.au or call us at 0491 002 081.

Priestly Ordination of Fr Martin Tanti sdb - 28 Aug 2010 Brunswick

Salesian Mission News - May 2019

Cagliero - May 2019       Prayer Intention - May 2019