"At Easter each year, we renew our baptismal promises, recalling our commitment to follow Jesus as His disciples, even to the giving of Himself on the cross."

"From the cross, Jesus teaches us that the answer to suffering is not more violence and more injustice, but trust in the power of God’s creative, forgiving and life-giving love."

"Therefore, let the friends of Christ confess their sins and renew their friendship with Him. So that, like Martha, Mary and Lazarus, they may receive divine favours, even resurrection."

"That’s what Lent prepares us for, to cut through everything which keeps us from God. So we can run into His arms, renewed and whole."

"For all of us, this encounter can remind us that understanding Jesus often begins in the ordinary, a conversation, a moment of honesty, a shared need."

"And when such glimpses are given on a mountaintop in Judea or in a Sunday mass, cherish it. But don't even try to capture it, for it's a fleeting, blessed gift of revelation."

"Jesus showed that holiness is not just about keeping rules but about living with integrity, compassion, and love."

"The light of Christ, strengthens our mission, to be light-bearers of Christ, so that others may see the truth of the Gospel"

"The commitment to our faith in baptism is about people and relationships."

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti surgere qui curat populo: Tu quae genuisti, natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem: Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Loving Mother of the Redeemer, who remains the gate by which we mortals enter heaven, and star of the sea, help your fallen people who strive to rise: You who gave birth, amazing nature, to your sacred Creator: Virgin prior and following, taking from the mouth of Gabriel that Hail! have mercy on our sins.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

The Holy Rosary is one of the most cherished prayers in the Catholic Church, with many great popes, saints, and Christian leaders urging us to embrace it. In her apparitions, Our Lady frequently calls us to pray the Rosary daily, seeking peace for the world and an end to conflict. As we pray the Rosary, we meditate on the public life of Jesus and Mary through Scripture. The Rosary encompasses twenty Mysteries, divided into the five Joyful Mysteries (prayed on Mondays and Saturdays), five Luminous Mysteries (prayed on Thursdays), five Sorrowful Mysteries (prayed on Tuesdays and Fridays), and five Glorious Mysteries (prayed on Wednesdays and Sundays). We invite you to join the Newman Catholic Society UQ as we pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary together.

Introduction

Today, the universal Catholic Church is joyfully celebrating the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. For the Church in India, this is a day of great festivity, because Saint Thomas is especially honoured as the Apostle of India. Even though we are now far from India, we are still children of India. Therefore, on this feast day of Saint Thomas the Apostle of India, let us come together and pray — for ourselves and for all people — seeking the intercession of Saint Thomas. I invite you to join with me in saying this prayer.

Prayer

O God, who blessed us by giving us Saint Thomas the Apostle as the Apostle of India, we adore You. We praise You. Holy Thomas the Apostle, who inspired courage in your fellow disciples by saying, "Let us also go, that we may die with Him," and who was crowned with the glory of martyrdom — grant us all the graces we need for apostolic works and a life of faithful dedication. Grant us the grace to grow in the love of God and in faith, by imitating the saint who proclaimed his belief in the risen Christ, saying, "My Lord and my God." Nurture us in brotherly and sisterly love, and grant us the inner strength to face any crisis with courage. Amen.

Please join Sean Woods and Sang Duc Bui at their Ordination to the Priesthood on Friday 13 June at 7pm at the Cathedral of St Stephen or tune in online here: https://www.youtube.com/@ArchdioceseofBrisbane

Please see the English translation below.

My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Because He hath regarded the humility of His slave: For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me; and holy is His name. And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath shewed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy: As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever. Glory be the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forever and ever, Amen. 

Prions avec Anick de Reland une prière pour la Journée Internationale de la Femme.

Cantate Domino – Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni (1657-1743)

Psalm 149

Cantate Domino, canticum novum, laus ejus in Ecclesia Sanctorum. Laetetur Israel in ejo, qui fecit eum, et filii Sion exultent in rege suo. O sing unto the Lord a new song: let the congregation of saints praise him. Let Israel rejoice in him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.

Dear sisters and brothers, The feast of the Vietnamese Martyrs is nearby, Let us praise and give thanks to God with them and ask them to intercede, pray for us before God. Let us now pray together the PRAYER OF THE VIETNAMESE MARTYRS In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Dear Vietnamese Martyrs, are children of the Father in heaven, is a heroic witness of Christ, is a faithful member of the Church. Now we join with you and with the Virgin Mary, is the queen of Martyrs to praise the Lord for all His greatness. In the past, God gave them the courage to be confident in God's Word and full of the power of the Holy Spirit, therefore, they patiently endured hardship and suffering, determined to follow Christ on the way of the cross and sacrificed to the last drop of blood. They accepted to become the grain of wheat sown in the ground, so that the Vietnamese Church to reap a bountiful harvest. Now the Church offers them to God like the first fruits of the harvest to give thanks and gratitude. They loved their homeland, please continue to pray for the country to be peaceful and happy and contribute to building a peaceful world. They were willing to die without resentment, please pray for people everywhere so they know how to love and care for each other. They sacrificed everything for their faith, please pray for all Christians know how to live and share their faith. Dear Vietnamese Martyrs, are the ancestors who completed your mission, please intercede for us, your descendants to follow your examples know how to use charity and commit ourselves to serve, so that one day in heaven we can join our voices with yours praise and give thanks to God for ever and ever. Amen. May all the Vietnamese Martyrs intercede and pray for us. Amen.

“For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” These words of Jesus penetrated the hearts of his apostles and save them from that indignant feeling toward each other. Surely, these same words need to penetrate our senses today to take away any sort of disunity in serving the same vineyard. There are no church organisations or no church ministries out there that has not gone through any tension whatsoever because one or two members are picking up steam. The intentions were good, but the disposition of everyone was not. The issue must remain as a test on our own desires in the name of service. Ask this, Have I really come to serve or be served? Am I here for my ego or for the common good?

Friends, let us be reminded today like James and John and the other ten apostles were by Jesus on the choice to be the servant amongst servants. The humility of God in the person of Jesus is written in the letter of St Paul to the Philippians, and I quote, “though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men and women. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross” I close the quote.

Wow, Jesus will go that far for us to tell us we are worthy on that cross. On that cross Jesus exhausted all for us to tell us we matter equally to him all the time, whoever you are, whatever you are, wherever you are. Jesus is a man of inclusion. Jesus is a God for all. St Augustine in one of his Christmas sermons said, and I quote, “That is why we have to upgrade our readiness”, that is, readiness to service and become servants. “Yes, as God, Jesus is the equal of the Father, but as man Jesus is the equal only of us poor beggars. That is why Jesus has to tart us up to look like God. What with Himself being dolled up as a human being, Jesus has been able to make many of us human beings into children of God. As a slave Himself, Jesus has been able to fatten up the other slaves, turning them into freemen and freewomen who have as their right to feel comfortable in the presence of God.” Close quotation. Fellow servants, in activating our being synodal, let us pray for each other in serving the vineyard of the Lord. Pray for us too, your ministers.

Transcript

I remember a few years ago, one of our catechists said that when the Church decided to send missionaries to Mongolia, the Holy Father didn’t send boxes of books, but he decided to send people, men and women. That would be the embodiment of Christ for them. So we are going now to pray for all the missionaries that all together, especially those who will receive the special call to go abroad to go outside of their own countries. We pray for all of them, that we all together, we may be always united with the Lord. And through our poor witness, people may find Christ.

Mongolian

Төгс хүчит эцэг минь, бид өнөөдөр бүх шашин дэлгэрүүлэгчдийн төлөө залбирч байна. Та тэднийг өөрийн ариун сүнсээр дүүргэж өгнө үү. Тэд хэзээ ч таныг хэзээ ч орхихгүйгээр үргэлж тантай хамт байж, таны хайр ивээлийг, таны уучлал өршөөлийг таны хязгааргүй хишиг ивээлийг бусад хүмүүст түгээхийг хүсч байна. Та тэднийг бусдад түгээж өгнө үү хэмээн залбиран гуйж байна

English

Almighty Father, we are praying for all the missionaries today. Please fill them with your Holy Spirit. I pray that they will always be with You without ever leaving You, Your love, Your forgiveness, Your mercy, Your unlimited bounty, and You will spread them to others.

A man came to Jesus and asked the question, Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life? This person is representative of the majority of people who are searching for happiness and meaning in life, including you and I. What must I do? That is a question that we must ask regularly, to evaluate what we are doing and the goals we are aiming for. This question also helps us look back at ourselves, to realise the mission God wants us to carry out in life. Living in this world, each person has a mission to complete. However, to realise the true mission of life is a difficult matter. There are many people who are struggling and holding many illusions, so for a long time they still have not determined their life mission. What must I do to have eternal life? To answer this question, we need the gift of wisdom.

The first reading this weekend shows us the necessity of the gift of wisdom. According to the teachings of the Church, the gift of wisdom is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. This grace helps us see clearly the nature of a thing or a person, rather than observing it based on emotions or external glamour. Also, according to the teachings of the Church, true wisdom is God. That wisdom is personified in the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. He is the wisdom of God. He is the Savior of the world. So friends, believing in Jesus Christ is the key to attaining wisdom and happiness in this life and the next. Enjoy your week!

Transcript

Hi. My name is Sr. Theresa Maria Dao. We are Sisters of St Paul de Chartres. As religious community, we take our Blessed Mother Mary as our model. Together we say the Rosary on the daily. To say to our Blessed Mother that we love you. This is like a string of love. We are one with Jesus saying together with Jesus to Mother Mary, we love you. This is one of the most beautiful prayers in our Catholic tradition. So please join us and pray.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The First Glorious Mystery: The Resurrection. He is risen! He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; and bring all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

The Second Glorious Mystery: The Ascension. So then the Lord, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; and bring all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

The Third Glorious Mystery: The Descent of the Holy Spirit. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign tongues, even as the Holy Spirit prompted them to speak.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; and bring all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

The Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption. And a great sign appeared in Heaven, a woman clothed with the sun. And the moon was under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; and bring all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

The Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation. Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, the honour of our people. The hand of the Lord has strengthened thee, and therefore thou shall be blessed forever.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell; and bring all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To Thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, Thy eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray. O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life.

Grant, we beseech Thee, that by meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thank you for joining us. May God bless you, and may Mother Mary, always intercede for you. See you soon.

In the light of the liturgy this weekend, I would like us to look at the simple meaning of the Kingdom of God in our life, especially in our family and marriage life. In the Gospel itself, Jesus himself spoke about the Kingdom of God about 126 times. Jesus often explained the kingdom of God in many different places, stories and parables. He tried to help his disciples and the Jews understand clearly how the Kingdom of God could be understood and experienced in very concrete situations of life.

The Gospel of Mark says, The Kingdom of God is God Himself. The Kingdom of God is love itself. In other words the Kingdom of God is God’s very gift to us, to all humanity. It is through God’s gift that we are allowed to love, and understand, and communicate with God Himself. In the light of the readings today, our question is very simple. “How do we experience the gift of the kingdom of God, in our married and family life? When Jesus was tested by some Pharisees about the issue of separation in the marriage under the Law of Moses, Jesus immediately referred them to the book of Genesis. “In the beginning of creation, God has given us a perfect gift of God himself, when Adam and Eve were created in the very image and likeness of God. He created them as a husband and wife, who became one body, to equally love one another, to express the very gift of God, which is love itself”.

The second part of the Gospel this weekend is a perfect example of the Kingdom of God, as a pure gift. When people were bringing little children to Jesus, he said “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you accept the Kingdom of God like these little children, you will never know what the Kingdom of God really is.” Because the Kingdom of God is the gift of God, it is not something that we earn. It is the gift of God. Just as love in a marriage is a gift of God, the life of a marriage is also a gift of God. It is a given, because God loves us. So, let us always and everywhere give thanks to God for his great love for us.

Pope Francis once said, “The ability to genuinely love others is not based on our own efforts or goodness. It is being only and always a gift from God. So let love be sincere. We are called to love, to charity. This is our highest calling, our vocation for excellence. Charity however, is the first and foremost, a grace, a gift, to love is a gift of God. He gives it willingly, if we ask for it”. For sure, there are always some challenges in life, in family, in marriage. We are invited to don’t easily give up. Let us ask God the source of love, to strengthen our love for one another. As we are in the beginning of October, let us ask the Holy Family, especially Mary mother of Christ, to pray for us, to pray for our family and to pray for our children. Thank you.

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I am going to say the prayer of Saint Francis, the Canticle of Creation, which Saint Francis wrote to praise God in all that we see.

Most High, all powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, the honour, and all blessing. To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy to mention Your name. Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and You give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendour! Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness. Praise be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars, in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful. Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind, through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures. Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water, which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste. Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong. Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us and who produces varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs. Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love, and bear infirmity and tribulation. Blessed are those who endure in peace for You, Most High, they shall be crowned. Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Bodily Death, through whom no living man can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin. Praised are those whom death will find in Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm. Praise and bless my Lord, and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility.

Pace e bene.

The disciple, John, makes the fundamental mistake. He says, “we saw someone who is not one of us casting out devils, so we stopped them.” John is showing clearly his mentality. He thinks that the mission is about the people following them.

The mission of Jesus Christ was not about anyone following them, it’s about following Him. And the mindset of John shows one we see far too much today one of exclusivity and one where the importance is on the one doing the mission, rather than on Jesus himself. We see much division among our Christian brothers and sisters today.

Many perhaps believe that other Christian faiths have nothing or very little to offer. And if people are not a part of our church or faith, they really don’t have anything to say. But it’s this very understanding that Jesus challenges in John. Jesus says, “no one who works a miracle I my name is likely to speak ill of me. Anyone who is not against us, is for us.” Particularly as we journey through the Synod, where listening is really at the heart. Let us always be intent firstly on listening to the message of Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, who welcomes us into this new way of life. Let that message be at the heart of what we hear, and let’s focus less on who’s proclaiming the message.

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It is a privilege to serve as one of the Queensland police chaplains. I’m here at St Michael’s parish church at Dorrington. It is fitting to be here because on the feast of Saint Michael’s who is the patron saint of all police, we commemorate National Police Remembrance Day. Today and always we remember and give thanks for those police officers who gave everything, gave their very lives in noble service and protection of their community. We also say thank you for all serving and retired police. Please allow me to pray.

Almighty God, whose great power and eternal wisdom embraces the universe. Embraces our very hearts, we remember and we give thanks for the officers who gave their all in selfless sacrifice for others. You know they served with honour. Loving God, watch over all police officers. Give them the strength, courage and perseverance to endure always. We commend them all to Your loving care knowing that their duty is vital.

Gracious God, grant them Your almighty protection, unite them safety with their families and friends after each duty has ended. We also pray for retired officers and know You bless their service. We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. Thank you for praying with us today.

In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus foretelling his death and resurrection for the second time in Mark. In the same way that Peter didn’t understand Jesus’ plan, the disciples don’t understand either what Jesus is saying. However, they didn’t ask any questions because they were afraid.

Why? Perhaps they didn’t want to be embarrassed or couldn’t acknowledge their limitations. The problem is that, instead of speaking up what they had in their minds, they ended up discussing futile things, arguing about who was the greatest. I wonder what would have happened if they had asked honest questions like, why did you have to die and endure all that suffering? What does it mean to rise again? I wonder what Jesus’ would have answered them. I wonder about the impact that His responses would have made in them.

Perhaps they would have understood that our call is to be like Jesus. This means to renounce to ourselves, to follow Him, and to carry our cross. Today, I would like to invite us all to reflect, are there any questions that I’m afraid to ask to Jesus? Perhaps questions about sorrows, injustice, your own painful situations, sickness of our loved ones, shattered dreams? I would like to encourage us to bring these questions to Jesus. We might not hear a clear answer but let’s take the opportunity to be taught by the Teacher, to become like little children, humble, trusting and willing to learn so we may continue growing deeper in our relationship with Him.

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Hi, my name is James Hodge, Director of Mission here at the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland. One of the core elements of our mission as Christians is to listen deeply to the cry of the poor, or in other words, to act in solidarity with people who are experiencing poverty, injustice, or disadvantage. Despite being a prosperous country, Australia faces growing challenges with housing affordability, unemployment, and the rising cost of living, which have contributed to an increase in poverty rates. Many Australians struggle to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck, with limited access to essential resources such as adequate food, healthcare, and education. Catholic Social Teaching Catholic social teaching emphasises the preferential option for the poor, a principle that calls for a particular care and commitment to the needs of the most vulnerable in society.

Rooted in the Gospel and in the teachings of Jesus, this principle recognises the dignity of everyone and supports and uplifts those who are impoverished and marginalised. It challenges individuals and communities to create just and equitable systems that address the causes of poverty. By advocating for people on the margins of our society, we are called to reflect God’s love and justice, ensuring that the needs of the least among us are met with compassion and urgency. Our faith calls us to a compassionate and hands-on approach that aims to restore dignity and hope to those in need, offering not just material aid, but also emotional and spiritual support. As we turn to prayer, we seek God’s guidance and strength for those experiencing poverty in Australia and for those who dedicate their lives to serving them. Let us pause and become aware of the presence of God.

Let’s pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer God of Justice and Mercy, We come before You with hearts full of compassion for our brothers and sisters experiencing poverty. In Your infinite mercy and love, we ask You to look upon them with kindness and provide for their needs. Grant them hope in times of despair, strength in moments of weakness, and comfort in their suffering. Bless our efforts and inspire our hearts with Your love, so that we may continue to be instruments of Your grace and peace. May our actions reflect the light of Christ and bring solace to those we serve. Lord, help us all to see Your face in the faces of the poor and to respond with generosity and empathy. Teach us to live out the Gospel message of love and service, and to work together to create a world where every person can live with dignity and hope. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

As we go on with our daily lives, may we carry in our hearts the commitment to serve and uplift those in need. Reflect on how you can contribute to any small act of kindness in your community. May God bless us with compassion, courage, and the strength to do what we can to make a difference in the lives of the poor and marginalised.

Transcript

‘But you, who do you say I am?’ This would have to be one of the most powerful questions of the gospels. It echoes down the centuries and is just as relevant today as it ever was. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Our answer to that question is perhaps the most revealing statement of our faith. Our answer no doubt changes over time as we grow in understanding and as we experience the ups and downs of life. But nonetheless, like Saint Peter in the gospel passage we’ve listened to, our answer remains a clear statement of our faith. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Just a good guy who lived 2,000 years ago? A role model? A friend? God made flesh? The Word come down from heaven? Nobody? Everybody? Our saviour? An inspired man of God? The Messiah?

Perhaps you’ve never tried to actually answer the question for yourself. It’s a confronting question, ‘Who do you say I am?’ It’s confronting because, as Christian people, we believe that our actions are a reflection of our beliefs and values. It’s confronting because whatever we say in answer to that question has implications for the way we live. ‘Who do you say I am?’ You see, the question is in the present tense, not in the past. It doesn’t ask ‘Who do you say I was?’; it asks, ‘Who do you say I am?’ The very question asks us to recognise that Jesus was not just some guy who lived 2,000 years ago, but rather someone who continues to be a presence in our lives today. As he stands before each and every one of us today and asks that same, demanding, confronting, purposeful question, ‘Who do you say I am?’

Like Saint Peter, I am sure many of us will say and use big concepts to describe who Christ is for us he is our Redeemer, our Saviour, our Lord, et cetera. We may start with big concepts, but eventually we each need to personally respond. To acknowledge our own weaknesses, and our own need for Jesus to understand the question and then begin to make the answer ours. Over the next few weeks, the Sunday gospel will call us into the ways of respect, of commitment, and of peaceful negotiation, to ever deeper insight into the ways of being part of God’s Kingdom. We will be reminded to reflect that you and I are the messengers, today. But today those beautiful words of Saint Peter never seem to get much of a focus, remember when Peter says; Lord you know everything; you know I love You. My friends, may Peter’s words to the Risen Christ be ours today. Lord, you know I love you! May we bring those words to life this week, Lord you know I love you!

If we try to put ourselves in the place of the man in today’s Gospel, I think we can begin to appreciate his predicament. The man was deaf. To try to imagine what that means, to be cut off entirely from the whole world of sound. In a moment of danger, a human voice could not warn him. In a time of sorrow, a human voice could not console him. The laughter of children, the conversations of friends, the joy of music, these are not a reality for him. As a consequence of his deafness he could not speak plainly, for he could not hear himself. He lived in a world almost completely cut off from the people with whom he lived.

We can understand, then, the joy of his enthusiasm when Jesus cured him. What a great day that was for him. Do you think that he ever forgot as long as he lived? Even the bystanders were so impressed that the gospel says, their amazement knew no bounds. It is only natural that we should take for granted our ability to hear and our ability to speak. It is natural, but it is not right. These are great powers for which we must be grateful, and the best way to be grateful for is the power that God intended. The power to speak is one of the faculties, which separates us from animals. Our speech and our hearing are meant for something even higher than human communication. They are also our means of communicating with God.