Many people walked away from Jesus after he spoke about being the Bread of Life. This passage is often called “the crisis” in John’s Gospel; Jesus loses a large portion of his followers back to the world after this. He turns to the Twelve, to test their willingness to remain. As usual, Peter represents the group with his fearless answer, “Lord, where would we go?”

Suppose you were to reject the life of faith today as being too demanding. The Church’s teachings aren’t contemporary enough. The leadership seems flawed. The liturgy needs work. The community is, for all its professions of faith, just a bunch of sinners. If you bundled all of your grievances against the Church into a handkerchief and tied it to a stick and got ready to walk, just were would you be going?

Most people who walk away in anger have only their anger for company. Most “retired Christians” I know still carry that handkerchief of outrage around with them, dangling from the stick. We can imagine that those who become disillusioned with Jesus muttered about it for years to come. “Some prophet he was, Some Saviour!” But those who stayed with him and his words of eternal life, got past the cross and all the way to Easter. What is the hardest saying of Jesus for you? How do you live with it?

Perform a ritual of reconciliation with the Church itself. What has affected your relationship with the Church the most: that it has changed so much, or not enough? Ask for the ability to forgive and pray for understanding.

We will dedicate ourselves to you, O God. We will be faithful in following Jesus; we will be joyful as we go about our week; we will be ready to help the disadvantaged; we will play an active part in the faith community; we will be conscious of the terrorised and changing world; we will never rest until we have been challenged by the teaching, death, and rising of Jesus Christ . –GPBSeNews

For the last few weeks we have heard a number of readings from chapter 6 of the Gospel of John focusing on the teaching of Jesus that he is the Bread of Life, come down from heaven. This reading is the last in the sequence and shows the reaction to Jesus’ teaching. What Jesus has been saying in this discourse is incredibly confronting to his Jewish audience.

Jesus asserts that he has come down from heaven – from the Father – and that through knowing him one can know the Father. Jews were the first people to have a concept of one God. This belief did not allow for any spouse or child of God, nor any personal manifestation. They struggled with what Jesus was saying because his claim to have come down from heaven could be seen as blasphemous. No wonder many of them walked away from Jesus and wanted nothing more to do with him!

Jesus gives an interesting response to them. He tells them that it is the spirit that is important, not his human flesh, and that the spirit is what he has been sharing with them through his words and actions. He is trying to say to these faithful Jews, don’t be hung up about the fact that I’m here in person, listen to my message as you’ve never heard it before. It is an interesting thought for our modern audience as well. How often do we fail to hear the message of Jesus because we are dismissive of the way in which it comes to us; the messenger; or the circumstances in which we hear it? The message is all the more confronting when it comes from an unlikely (or even un-likable) source. The message of Jesus is to be found in our everyday encounters with everyday people.—Greg Sunter

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION My Jesus, I believe that You are truly present

in the Holy Eucharist. I love You above all things, and I desire to

receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at

least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You are already here and unite

myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen . Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Most Divine,

All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. (say 3x)

PRAYER TO ST JOSEPH St Joseph, You were receptive to God working in your life. Help us by your prayers at this time of trial. You kept Jesus and Mary under your watchful care: may your prayers assist our local Church to respond to those in need. You taught the Christ Child your trade and prayers: help us to follow his example of love. You were part of God’s plan for all humanity: assist us to be vigilant and responsible this day. You spent your life in service: may we be mindful of others, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, caring for them in these difficult days. You trusted in the clear primacy of God over all history and every situation: help us to grow in faith and pray to the Father, Thy will be done. Amen.

ROSTERS: 6:00PM 9:00AM

EUCHARIST MINISTERS

This Week Peter Naughtin Pat Kawalevski

Next Week Sr June Chin L. Tay

PROCLAIMERS

This Week C/ P:

Patrick Kelly Mai Le

Next Week C/ P:

Rachel Grealy Travis Yee

COUNTERS

This Week: Margaret Leach / Fela Colasanti

Next Week: Owen Grealy / Anthony Yeo

Sacraments: Baptism: 1st Sunday of the Month (9:00 AM Mass ) Reconciliation Marriage Anointing of the Sick Funerals

Contact Parish office for Enquiries & Arrangement

MASS TIMES:

Saturday: 6:00 PM Sunday: 9:00 AM Mass in Vietnamese : 5:00 PM (All Sundays)

Weekdays: Wednesday & Thursday, 9:15 am 1st Wednesday of the month, 10:00 am, Anointing Mass Every Friday, 10:00 am

MASS ONLINE

ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, MELBOURNE

Masses are livestreamed daily on our Archdiocesan YouTube channel and on Sundays are available to view on free-to-air TV

via C31 (channel 44 on digital TV).

ST LUKE THE EVANGELIST PARISH

Sunday Mass: TBA before every weekend

MASS FOR YOU AT HOME

Available at Network Ten - 10 Play https://10play.com.au/mass-for-you-at-home

Our Thanksgiving Online Payment Portal is Parish Pay Portal

https://secure.artezpacific.com/registrant/TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?

teamID=116521&langPref=en-CA

Gratitude for your continuing support to the parish.

Thanksgiving envelopes are now available in the foyer. You may also opt to use the direct debit facility, email or

call us for printed authorisation form or the Parish bank details.

Sheila Bacon, Joseph Gerard Borg, John Patrick, Daniel Justin O’ Carroll, Carmel Azzopardi,

Donald Roy Beaton, Muriel Teresa Ellis, Patricia Bourke, John Riggs, Caterina & Tom Bonica,

John Arelette, Agnes Ryan, John Bailey, Therese Monica Byrne, William Curtain,

Annie Frances Kelly, Luigi Lazzari, Arthur Willett, Irene Munsey,

Claire McCorquodale.

“If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve…As for me and my household, we

will serve the Lord.” JOSHUA 24:15

When we commit to serve the Lord, we must be willing to become a disciple in the work of the Lord. A disciple is a person who spends time in prayer every day, joyfully participates in charitable works and generously supports their local parish and Church mission. If we say we serve God, we must actually do something and not merely talk about it!

Let us continue to reach out/call our housebound neighbours, friends & relatives. You can also donate goods to St Vincent de Paul Society at 1800 305 330.

Fr Gerard is present for updates, contact, queries, to visit, the Sacraments of the Sick, Reconciliation and prayer requests. You can

contact him at foresthill@cam.org.au or

call 9877 2292 .

FEASTS OF THE WEEK

24 August - St Bartholomew

27 August - St Monica

28 August - St Augustine

With Priest Appreciation Day and

Vocations Awareness Week celebrated

this month, Melbourne parishioners were

asked about what they appreciate about

their priests. No answer was the same, demonstrating just

how many reasons we have for appreciating the priestly

vocation and the tireless service of our Melbourne priests.

So to our priests — we say thank you from all of us!

Watch the video created by the Catholic Archdiocese of

Melbourne at www.melbournecatholic.org

LATEST UPDATES ON LITURGICAL GUIDELINES

ON COVID-19

Additional changes have been announced for Metropolitan Melbourne

as of 11.59pm Monday 16 August, 2021:

The lockdown has been extended for two weeks, until at least 2 Sep-

tember 2021.

Curfew will be in place from 9pm to 5am, whereby a person is not

permitted to leave their home except for limited reasons.

Public gatherings outdoor is not permitted.

Work permit is required for authorised workers.

Complete information can be found at https://melbournecatholic.org/covid-19-

guidelines

AROUND THE CHURCH—THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY

Catholic Resources : melbournecatholic.org.au; cathnews.com

FORGOTTEN SYMBOL OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT

The 80th anniversary of the inauguration of a place that for decades had been an icon of hope and spiritual devotion for an entire community will pass by quietly this year.

Located on the corner of Rathdowne and Pelham Street, Carlton, the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes was for many years a pilgrimage destination and an inevitable backdrop for photographs that immortalised the most important moments of Italian families: weddings, baptisms, communions, confirmations and birthdays. Even the schoolchildren of the former annexed St George's School posed year after year in front of the cave in their uniforms or sports clothing.

With the dispersion of the Italian community of Carlton towards other city suburbs and the closure of the school, the centralising force of the Madonna in her niche dug in the cave has gradually lost its intensity.

These days the grotto can only be visited by appointment, as it forms part of Corpus Christi College, the regional seminary for Victoria and Tasmania. The original bluestone church of St George's Parish is now the seminary chapel and St George's was eventually renamed Sacred Heart Church.

ST TIMOTHY’S PARISH IS COMMITTED TO THE VICTORIAN CHILD SAFETY STANDARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY.

TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE FOR FIRST PLENARY COUNCIL ASSEMBLY

Despite large parts of the country being in lockdown, those planning the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia say all is in readiness to deliver the first assembly in October wholly online. Bishop Shane Mackinlay, the Plenary Council’s vice-president, said the Council journey has adapted to changing circumstances because of COVID-19 – and it is adapting again.

'With most of the country’s population currently in lockdown or having experienced lockdowns in recent weeks, we have plans in place to ensure the first assembly opens on October 3,' he said.

'Just as there was disappointment in needing first to postpone the assembly and then to move to regional hubs, the likelihood that most members will now join the assembly from their home is not what we had planned and hoped for.

'We know, though, that the Holy Spirit can and will work through this assembly, just as the Spirit has led us over the past three-and-a-half years.'

Plenary Council facilitator Lana Turvey-Collins said a huge amount of work had been done to prepare for the Council to be held in hubs, with each member participating on their own device. 'As a result, this shift to most people participating from home is a pivot rather than a major detour from what we were planning,' she said. 'We are receiving exceptional support from technical experts within and beyond the Church to ensure that we can make the virtual assembly one that allows for the prayer, conversation, listening and discernment we’ve hoped for all along.'

Teams working on liturgy, communications and the assembly’s program are also altering existing plans for the new format.

POPE FRANCIS PRAYS FOR AN END TO VIOLENCE IN AFGHANISTAN

As Taliban insurgents were entering Kabul and the United States evacuated its embassy personnel from Afghanistan, Pope Francis called for dialogue to end the conflict so that locals can live in peace, safety and with mutual respect.

“I join in the unanimous worry about the situation in Afghanistan. I ask you to pray along with me to the God of peace so that the clamour of weapons ends and that solutions can be found around a table of dialogue,” Francis said to the thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square.

“Only this way can the martyred population of that country – men, women, elderly and children – return to their homes and live in peace and security in full reciprocal respect,” he said.

Francis’s words came at the end of his Sunday Angelus prayer, and as news from Kabul spoke of the Taliban entering the capital.

Personnel were evacuated from the US embassy as Afghan nationals lined up at ATMs to withdraw their life savings.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES ACT QUICKLY TO HELP HAITI

Catholic charities are offering practical and monetary support for the people of Haiti, following the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck.

The death toll so far is more than 1300 people and at least 5700 have been injured, according to provisional information from the Haitian civil protection.

Aid to the Church in Need International has expressed its solidarity in prayer with Haiti and immediately approved an emergency aid package of 800,000 Euros ($800,000) for the Haitian people.

ACN International executive president Dr Thomas Heine-Geldern said the charity was in contact with the Church in the most seriously affected dioceses, in order to assess where the greatest need lies in the immediate aftermath

“We are conscious of the great efforts made by the Church to offer signs of hope to the people in their desperate situation, after so many natural disasters and in the midst of the violence and extreme poverty.

Caritas Australia’s humanitarian emergencies manager Melville Fernandez said, “This disaster compounds problems facing the nation, which is already reeling from a political crisis following the assassination of its president last month.

“There is immediate and urgent need for food, water, shelter, hygiene kits and first aid, especially as the country continues to grapple with COVID-19 with limited resources.”

The Caritas network has staff and local partners in Haiti assessing and responding to immediate needs.

ACN has set up an emergency appeal for Haiti: www.aidtochurch.org/haiti

Caritas Australia is supporting Haiti through its Emergency Response Appeal: www.caritas.org.au

INTRODUCTON:

Both the First Reading and the Gospel are concerned with choice. Are the messes in which we find ourselves usually the result of wrong choices? If God created us to automatically do the right thing all the time, like robots, what could we not do? Would we ever be able to choose to love God? Why do you think God gave us free will?

-Anne M. Osdieck

PENITENTIAL RITE:

Lord Jesus, you have shown us how to love. Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus, you call us to serve you. Christ, have mercy: Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life. Lord, have mercy: Lord, have mercy.

FIRST READING: Joshua 24: 1-2, 15-18

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem; then he called the elders, leaders, judges and scribes of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. Then Joshua said to all the people: ‘If you will not serve the Lord, choose today whom you wish to serve, whether the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are now living. As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord.’ The people answered, ‘We have no intention of deserting the Lord and serving other gods! Was it not the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery, who worked those great wonders before our eyes and preserved us all along the way we travelled and among all the peoples through whom we journeyed. We too will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’

RESPONSORIAL PSALM : Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. 1. I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The

humble shall hear and be glad. (R.) 2. The Lord turns his face against the wicked to destroy their remembrance from the earth. The Lord turns his

eyes to the just and his ears to their appeal. (R.) 3. They call and the Lord hears and rescues them in all their distress. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;

those whose spirit is crushed he will save. (R.) 4. Many are the trials of the just man but from them all the Lord will rescue him. He will keep guard over all his

bones, not one of his bones shall be broken. (R.) 5. Evil brings death to the wicked; those who hate the good are doomed. The Lord ransoms the souls of his

servants. Those who hide in him shall not be condemned. (R.)

SECOND READING: 1Eph 15: 20-28

Give way to one another in obedience to Christ. Wives should regard their husbands as they regard the Lord, since as Christ is head of the Church and saves the whole body, so is a husband the head of his wife; and as the Church submits to Christ, so should wives to their husbands, in everything. Husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her in water with a form of words, so that when he took her to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and faultless. In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies; for a man to love his wife is for him to love himself. A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats the Church, because it is his body – and we are its living parts. For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one body. This mystery has many implications; but I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia! Your words, Lord, are spirit and life: you have the words of everlasting life. Alleluia!

GOSPEL: John 6: 60-69

After hearing his doctrine many of the followers of Jesus said, ‘This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?’ Jesus was aware that his followers were complaining about it and said, ‘Does this upset you? What if you should see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before?

‘It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the outset those who did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. He went on, ‘This is why I told you that no one could come to me unless the Father allows him.’ After this, many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him.

Then Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.’