About 40 parishioners from St Pat’s, and local parishes, joined together for Mass at the rotunda of the Pakenham cemetery on a lovely November evening, last Wednesday.
After Mass people visited the graves of loved ones and old friends buried there. They prayed a blessing as well as sprinkling some holy water. All agreed it was a worthwhile and joyful celebration.
FROM OUR SAFETY OFFICER FOR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS
Children need to have a voice when it comes to child safety and this is often overlooked. They need to feel empowered and have a platform to speak out confidently if something is not right or does not feel right.
(Australian Catholics May 2017)
Jesus Makes Surprising Connections.
Many years ago I gave Communion to a guy at Mass I recently had served at a homeless shelter. And this hit me: he and I not only share the body of Christ, we also were part of the Body of Christ.
A homeless man and I, part of the same body. It really made me think – just like this week’s Gospel. Christ our king says we serve him when we serve the people considered least in our world. God’s Spirit lives in them. God’s Spirit also lives in us. Thus, the connection: we are all part of the same body, the Body of Christ.
The child starving in Africa. The kid without friends. The man begging on the street corner. The old woman alone. The prisoner serving a sentence. And you and I. All part of the same body. That means we have to change our thinking at times. When our stomachs hurt, we ask why. We might spend time and money for treatment. We rarely judge or ignore it. But we sometimes treat parts of our spiritual body – the Body of Christ – differently when they suffer. “I’m too busy to visit,” some might say as they pass a nursing home where so many suffer loneliness. “They shouldn’t have broken the law,” some might say about people in prison.
Our spiritual body stretches around the world. When parts of it suffer, let’s take the time to understand why and relieve the pain. The Body of Christ SERVES the Body of Christ to BECOME the Body of Christ.
Anonymous
What connections or similarities have you seen between yourself and people you’ve met who are hurting or in need?
Practice times are Nov 30th, Dec 7th, Dec 13th and Dec 19th at 7:30 pm.
Those who would like to join are most welcome as we prepare for Xmas.
St Patrick’s Parish Pakenham (the Parish) holds the care, safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults as an absolutely necessary responsibility. Our commitment is drawn from and inherent in the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the gospel (Diocese of Sale Commitment Statement).
Read more…Professional Standards for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
As staff and volunteers of St Patrick’s Parish, Pakenham you are expected to actively contribute to a parish culture that respects the dignity of its members and affirms the Gospel values of love, care for others, compassion and justice. You are required to have read and to observe the principles and expectations as set out in the Parish Policy for the Care, Protection and Safety of Children and the Pastoral Care of Vulnerable Adults as published on the Parish Web Site.
Read more…Acknowledgement: Obligations by Staff and Volunteers