St Johnrsquos Parish Mitcham 494 Whitehorse Road Mitcham 3132

(Postal PO Box 95 Mitcham 3132) Email Mitchamcamorgau

Website wwwstjohnsmitchamcomau Phone 03 9401 6366 Fax No 03 9872 4316

Pentecost Sunday May 31 2020mdashYear A

As the Father sent me so am I sending you

Today we remember the birth of the Church the day we give thanks to God

for being part of the work of Jesus sent among us from the love of God sent with us to share the love of God

The bravest of all lifersquos calls is to love to say Yes to the call to love husband or wife children

to say Yes to the call to love the large family of Godrsquos people

A call to all married single priest religious

The birth of the Church is like celebrating the birth of someone we love

we celebrate who the person is not the ideal of what the person might be

we give thanks for the personrsquos past rejoice in anotherrsquos present life

and hope for the future

We do that this day as Christians celebrate our Church as it is

with its sinful members and its saints with its weak and its strong with its young and its old

We celebrate the good done for many centuries by people who took joyfully the words to their hearts

As the Father sent me so am I sending you

And we want the Spirit of God to refresh and renew within us

the desire we have to receive and spread the love of God

wherever we can

As the Father sent so am I send you

Communion ReflectionsmdashDonal Neary SJ

ldquoSt Johnrsquos Parish community committed to the Victorian Child Safe Standards

amp acknowledges that Child Safeguarding is everyonersquos responsibilityrdquo

Parish Information

Faith Formation Social amp Others

Normal Weekend Mass Times at St Johnrsquos Saturday Vigil 6pm then 830am 945am 1115am 5pm

Parish Priest

Fr Dispin John Supported by Fr Michael Kelly CSsR Parish Office

Visitation and Communion to the Sick amp Housebound Office hours Closed until further notice please call for assistance

Co-ordinator Cath Brindle 0423 065 825 Monday-Friday 9am-4pm Ph 9401 6366

Bereavement Ministry Monika Bredhauer Parish Secretaries Martine Giles (Monday-Wednesday amp Friday)

Schools Elisa Kelesidis (Tuesday-Friday)

St Johnrsquos School 494 Whitehorse Road Mitcham 9874 1575 Principal Mrs Verona Gridley St James School 51 Centre Road Vermont 9874 1830 RE for Government Schools

Principal Mr Dave Mutimer Andrew Pulsmdash0407 352 706

Services St Vincent de Paul Shop 282 Maroondah Hwy Ringwood 9870 9124 - St Vincent de Paul Furniture Pick-Ups 1800 621 349 The House of Books (house next door to the Church) 9401 6306 - St Vincent de Paul Welfare Assistance 1800 305 330

Scripture Readings for week Mon Genesis 39-15 20 John 1925-34 Tues 2 Peter 311-15 17-18 Mark 1213-17 Wed 2 Timothy 11-3 6-12 Mark 1218-27 Thur 2 Timothy 28-15 Mark 1228-34 Fri 2 Timothy 310-17 Mark 1235-37 Sat 2 Timothy 41-8 Mark 1238-44 The Most Holy Trinity Exodus 344-6 8-9 2 Corinthians 1311-13 John 316-18

AMONGST OUR PARISH FAMILY

We ask for the grace and peace of Eternal life for those who have recently passed away Bernadette Rodwell Robert John Ryan John McLeod and for those whose memories are sacred to us at this time especially John McCafferty Beck Partridge George Toft Mark Toft Sydney Phillott Katherine Mary Phillott Noel Theophilus Boudville Colin Langford Helen Kelesidis

The Travelling Rosary will be held at the home of Nola Rush from Sunday 31 MaymdashFriday 5 June We encourage you to say the Rosary in the safety of your own home during this time

Inspiration for the coming week from the Compassion and Friendship Group

The World is changed by your example not by your opinion

Paulo Coelho

PARISH OFFICE OPERATION

For general enquiries please contact the Parish Office on 9401 6366 or alternatively email mitchamcamorgau and a member of the Parish Team will respond to your query If you need to contact Fr Dispin urgently please call him directly 0413 683 153

Parish News for the weekly Newsletter

The Parish Newsletter which will be posted on the parish website each week Please feel free to email the parish office any parish news recent deaths or anniversaries of loved ones and want to share

GivingmdashOur Parish needs your support Details are First Collection Account Name St Johnrsquos Presbytery Account BSB 083343 Account No 515 469 035 Second Collection Account Name St Johnrsquos Church Account BSB 083347 Account No 676 841 942 Reference field Envelope number and Surname (contact the Parish Office if you donrsquot know your envelope no) You can also mail a cheque mentioning the split between the 1st and 2nd collections Please mention your name and envelope number If you have any questions about this please ring the Parish Office 9401 6366 or email mitchamcamorgau

NEW LITURGY ROSTER

Even though our roster is not functioning at the moment a new one for 20202021 needs to be drawn up

If there is any one who would like to come on the roster as Lectorcommentator or Special Minister we would love to hear from you Any new person will need to acquire a Working with Children Check The Parish office will explain the procedure

There may be someone who feels the need to come off the roster and we will reluctantly accept this

Please contact Tricia Spencer 9872 4903 with your requests

ST VINCENT DE PAUL DRIVE BY FOOD DRIVE

Our Team continues to provide emergency food aid to people in our area We need food donations to help continue this work

From Tuesday through to Friday between 10am till 2pm the garage behind the Parish Office will be open for food donations

You will be able to drive in and drop off food donations in the plastic bins in the garage

The priority items we need are rice pasta pasta sauce coffee tins of soup breakfast cereal long life milk biscuits

Faith Formation Social amp Other

Nothing can Separate us from the Love of Christ

It is encouraged to continue active participation in the life of the Church through activities such as time in personal and family prayer reflecting on the Scriptures and making a spiritual communion

Please be aware that you can access the parish website to view the video of Fr Dispinrsquos Homily and Gospel of the weekend httpswwwstjohnsmitchamcomau or you can participate in a Mass online via httpbitlyMassOnDemand or wwwwordonfireorgdaily-mass

Masses are livestreaming from St Patrickrsquos Cathedral MondaymdashFriday at 1pm Saturday 8am and Sunday 11am This is available to view on demand until one hour prior to the next scheduled Mass httpswwwcamorgaumass

We are pleased to share that during this time of physical isolation due to COVID-19 the 11am Sunday Mass at St Patricks Cathedral will continue to be televised free to air on C31 (often listed as Channel 44 on digital TVs) as well as live streamed on our website and YouTube channel We invite you to share the news widely particularly with those who might be limited to TV viewing

CHILD SAFETY

To view our Safeguarding Children amp Young People Code of Conduct go to stjohnsmitchamcomau

Catholic Social TeachingmdashWhat Can I Do About it here and Now

During this period of self isolation and social distancing the Parish Office and Fr Dispin will be sending out emails to keep Parishioners updated if you are not receiving emails and would like too please email the Parish office and we

will update your details accordingly

National Sorry Day (May 26th) National Reconciliation Week May 27th-June 3rd 2020 May 26th National Sorry Day 2020 commemorates 23rd anniversary of the handing down of the 1997 Bringing them Home report (BTH) which highlighted the impacts of Australian policies on Australiarsquos First Nations Peoples Whitehorse Councilrsquos flag raising ceremony will commemorate and honour the ongoing survival of the world rsquos oldest living culture View it on council facebook (refer back to May 26th)Did you know most of the 54 recommendations of the BTH are yet to be implemented Sadly in 2020 the deeply disturbing reality is that the rate of AampTSI child removal has increased exponentially since PM Kevin Rudd s 2008 National Apology to the Stolen Generations Consider viewing the 2017 documentary After the Apology which can be accessed by following links here httpsvimeocomondemandafterapology Further conversation on the documentary here May 27 2020 National Reconciliation Week (NRW) begins the week of prayer and events for reconciliation It concludes on Mabo day 2020 NRW themersquo In This Togetherrsquo ldquo The theme recognises that the Reconciliation journey is for all Australians everyone has a role to play as we collectively build relationships and communities that value [1]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples histories and culturesrdquo June 3 Mabo Day marks the 28th anniversary (1992) of the High Court judgement when it accepted the claim by Eddie lsquoKoikirsquo Mabo and other claimants that their people (the Meriam people) had occupied the Islands of Mer for hundreds of years before the arrival of the British ldquoThe [Australian system treated Indigenous peoples as if they did not exist Australia was regarded as terra nullius meaning an empty continent in which the land belonged to no one It was a convenient approach because it permitted the British settlers to strip Aboriginal people of their lands without compensationrdquo[2]

Parish Information

Faith Formation Social amp Others

Normal Weekend Mass Times at St Johnrsquos Saturday Vigil 6pm then 830am 945am 1115am 5pm

Parish Priest

Fr Dispin John Supported by Fr Michael Kelly CSsR Parish Office

Visitation and Communion to the Sick amp Housebound Office hours Closed until further notice please call for assistance

Co-ordinator Cath Brindle 0423 065 825 Monday-Friday 9am-4pm Ph 9401 6366

Bereavement Ministry Monika Bredhauer Parish Secretaries Martine Giles (Monday-Wednesday amp Friday)

Schools Elisa Kelesidis (Tuesday-Friday)

St Johnrsquos School 494 Whitehorse Road Mitcham 9874 1575 Principal Mrs Verona Gridley St James School 51 Centre Road Vermont 9874 1830 RE for Government Schools

Principal Mr Dave Mutimer Andrew Pulsmdash0407 352 706

Services St Vincent de Paul Shop 282 Maroondah Hwy Ringwood 9870 9124 - St Vincent de Paul Furniture Pick-Ups 1800 621 349 The House of Books (house next door to the Church) 9401 6306 - St Vincent de Paul Welfare Assistance 1800 305 330

Scripture Readings for week Mon Genesis 39-15 20 John 1925-34 Tues 2 Peter 311-15 17-18 Mark 1213-17 Wed 2 Timothy 11-3 6-12 Mark 1218-27 Thur 2 Timothy 28-15 Mark 1228-34 Fri 2 Timothy 310-17 Mark 1235-37 Sat 2 Timothy 41-8 Mark 1238-44 The Most Holy Trinity Exodus 344-6 8-9 2 Corinthians 1311-13 John 316-18

AMONGST OUR PARISH FAMILY

We ask for the grace and peace of Eternal life for those who have recently passed away Bernadette Rodwell Robert John Ryan John McLeod and for those whose memories are sacred to us at this time especially John McCafferty Beck Partridge George Toft Mark Toft Sydney Phillott Katherine Mary Phillott Noel Theophilus Boudville Colin Langford Helen Kelesidis

The Travelling Rosary will be held at the home of Nola Rush from Sunday 31 MaymdashFriday 5 June We encourage you to say the Rosary in the safety of your own home during this time

Inspiration for the coming week from the Compassion and Friendship Group

The World is changed by your example not by your opinion

Paulo Coelho

PARISH OFFICE OPERATION

For general enquiries please contact the Parish Office on 9401 6366 or alternatively email mitchamcamorgau and a member of the Parish Team will respond to your query If you need to contact Fr Dispin urgently please call him directly 0413 683 153

Parish News for the weekly Newsletter

The Parish Newsletter which will be posted on the parish website each week Please feel free to email the parish office any parish news recent deaths or anniversaries of loved ones and want to share

GivingmdashOur Parish needs your support Details are First Collection Account Name St Johnrsquos Presbytery Account BSB 083343 Account No 515 469 035 Second Collection Account Name St Johnrsquos Church Account BSB 083347 Account No 676 841 942 Reference field Envelope number and Surname (contact the Parish Office if you donrsquot know your envelope no) You can also mail a cheque mentioning the split between the 1st and 2nd collections Please mention your name and envelope number If you have any questions about this please ring the Parish Office 9401 6366 or email mitchamcamorgau

NEW LITURGY ROSTER

Even though our roster is not functioning at the moment a new one for 20202021 needs to be drawn up

If there is any one who would like to come on the roster as Lectorcommentator or Special Minister we would love to hear from you Any new person will need to acquire a Working with Children Check The Parish office will explain the procedure

There may be someone who feels the need to come off the roster and we will reluctantly accept this

Please contact Tricia Spencer 9872 4903 with your requests

ST VINCENT DE PAUL DRIVE BY FOOD DRIVE

Our Team continues to provide emergency food aid to people in our area We need food donations to help continue this work

From Tuesday through to Friday between 10am till 2pm the garage behind the Parish Office will be open for food donations

You will be able to drive in and drop off food donations in the plastic bins in the garage

The priority items we need are rice pasta pasta sauce coffee tins of soup breakfast cereal long life milk biscuits

Faith Formation Social amp Other

Nothing can Separate us from the Love of Christ

It is encouraged to continue active participation in the life of the Church through activities such as time in personal and family prayer reflecting on the Scriptures and making a spiritual communion

Please be aware that you can access the parish website to view the video of Fr Dispinrsquos Homily and Gospel of the weekend httpswwwstjohnsmitchamcomau or you can participate in a Mass online via httpbitlyMassOnDemand or wwwwordonfireorgdaily-mass

Masses are livestreaming from St Patrickrsquos Cathedral MondaymdashFriday at 1pm Saturday 8am and Sunday 11am This is available to view on demand until one hour prior to the next scheduled Mass httpswwwcamorgaumass

We are pleased to share that during this time of physical isolation due to COVID-19 the 11am Sunday Mass at St Patricks Cathedral will continue to be televised free to air on C31 (often listed as Channel 44 on digital TVs) as well as live streamed on our website and YouTube channel We invite you to share the news widely particularly with those who might be limited to TV viewing

CHILD SAFETY

To view our Safeguarding Children amp Young People Code of Conduct go to stjohnsmitchamcomau

Catholic Social TeachingmdashWhat Can I Do About it here and Now

During this period of self isolation and social distancing the Parish Office and Fr Dispin will be sending out emails to keep Parishioners updated if you are not receiving emails and would like too please email the Parish office and we

will update your details accordingly

National Sorry Day (May 26th) National Reconciliation Week May 27th-June 3rd 2020 May 26th National Sorry Day 2020 commemorates 23rd anniversary of the handing down of the 1997 Bringing them Home report (BTH) which highlighted the impacts of Australian policies on Australiarsquos First Nations Peoples Whitehorse Councilrsquos flag raising ceremony will commemorate and honour the ongoing survival of the world rsquos oldest living culture View it on council facebook (refer back to May 26th)Did you know most of the 54 recommendations of the BTH are yet to be implemented Sadly in 2020 the deeply disturbing reality is that the rate of AampTSI child removal has increased exponentially since PM Kevin Rudd s 2008 National Apology to the Stolen Generations Consider viewing the 2017 documentary After the Apology which can be accessed by following links here httpsvimeocomondemandafterapology Further conversation on the documentary here May 27 2020 National Reconciliation Week (NRW) begins the week of prayer and events for reconciliation It concludes on Mabo day 2020 NRW themersquo In This Togetherrsquo ldquo The theme recognises that the Reconciliation journey is for all Australians everyone has a role to play as we collectively build relationships and communities that value [1]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples histories and culturesrdquo June 3 Mabo Day marks the 28th anniversary (1992) of the High Court judgement when it accepted the claim by Eddie lsquoKoikirsquo Mabo and other claimants that their people (the Meriam people) had occupied the Islands of Mer for hundreds of years before the arrival of the British ldquoThe [Australian system treated Indigenous peoples as if they did not exist Australia was regarded as terra nullius meaning an empty continent in which the land belonged to no one It was a convenient approach because it permitted the British settlers to strip Aboriginal people of their lands without compensationrdquo[2]

NEW LITURGY ROSTER

Even though our roster is not functioning at the moment a new one for 20202021 needs to be drawn up

If there is any one who would like to come on the roster as Lectorcommentator or Special Minister we would love to hear from you Any new person will need to acquire a Working with Children Check The Parish office will explain the procedure

There may be someone who feels the need to come off the roster and we will reluctantly accept this

Please contact Tricia Spencer 9872 4903 with your requests

ST VINCENT DE PAUL DRIVE BY FOOD DRIVE

Our Team continues to provide emergency food aid to people in our area We need food donations to help continue this work

From Tuesday through to Friday between 10am till 2pm the garage behind the Parish Office will be open for food donations

You will be able to drive in and drop off food donations in the plastic bins in the garage

The priority items we need are rice pasta pasta sauce coffee tins of soup breakfast cereal long life milk biscuits

Faith Formation Social amp Other

Nothing can Separate us from the Love of Christ

It is encouraged to continue active participation in the life of the Church through activities such as time in personal and family prayer reflecting on the Scriptures and making a spiritual communion

Please be aware that you can access the parish website to view the video of Fr Dispinrsquos Homily and Gospel of the weekend httpswwwstjohnsmitchamcomau or you can participate in a Mass online via httpbitlyMassOnDemand or wwwwordonfireorgdaily-mass

Masses are livestreaming from St Patrickrsquos Cathedral MondaymdashFriday at 1pm Saturday 8am and Sunday 11am This is available to view on demand until one hour prior to the next scheduled Mass httpswwwcamorgaumass

We are pleased to share that during this time of physical isolation due to COVID-19 the 11am Sunday Mass at St Patricks Cathedral will continue to be televised free to air on C31 (often listed as Channel 44 on digital TVs) as well as live streamed on our website and YouTube channel We invite you to share the news widely particularly with those who might be limited to TV viewing

CHILD SAFETY

To view our Safeguarding Children amp Young People Code of Conduct go to stjohnsmitchamcomau

Catholic Social TeachingmdashWhat Can I Do About it here and Now

During this period of self isolation and social distancing the Parish Office and Fr Dispin will be sending out emails to keep Parishioners updated if you are not receiving emails and would like too please email the Parish office and we

will update your details accordingly

National Sorry Day (May 26th) National Reconciliation Week May 27th-June 3rd 2020 May 26th National Sorry Day 2020 commemorates 23rd anniversary of the handing down of the 1997 Bringing them Home report (BTH) which highlighted the impacts of Australian policies on Australiarsquos First Nations Peoples Whitehorse Councilrsquos flag raising ceremony will commemorate and honour the ongoing survival of the world rsquos oldest living culture View it on council facebook (refer back to May 26th)Did you know most of the 54 recommendations of the BTH are yet to be implemented Sadly in 2020 the deeply disturbing reality is that the rate of AampTSI child removal has increased exponentially since PM Kevin Rudd s 2008 National Apology to the Stolen Generations Consider viewing the 2017 documentary After the Apology which can be accessed by following links here httpsvimeocomondemandafterapology Further conversation on the documentary here May 27 2020 National Reconciliation Week (NRW) begins the week of prayer and events for reconciliation It concludes on Mabo day 2020 NRW themersquo In This Togetherrsquo ldquo The theme recognises that the Reconciliation journey is for all Australians everyone has a role to play as we collectively build relationships and communities that value [1]Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples histories and culturesrdquo June 3 Mabo Day marks the 28th anniversary (1992) of the High Court judgement when it accepted the claim by Eddie lsquoKoikirsquo Mabo and other claimants that their people (the Meriam people) had occupied the Islands of Mer for hundreds of years before the arrival of the British ldquoThe [Australian system treated Indigenous peoples as if they did not exist Australia was regarded as terra nullius meaning an empty continent in which the land belonged to no one It was a convenient approach because it permitted the British settlers to strip Aboriginal people of their lands without compensationrdquo[2]

St Johnrsquos Memorial Garden Plaques for this pastoral project may be ordered at any time for any deceased person who either was a parishioner at St Johnrsquos or who was buried from St Johnrsquos Church The forms are in the Newsstands These forms now include the Interment of Ashes at St Johnrsquos The completed forms can be mailed to the Parish Office PO Box 95 Mitcham 3132 Enquiries Maureen 9894 3288

New Date for Draw of Combined Catholic Parishes Raffle supporting ldquoLifeboat Foundationrdquo to provide support to established victims of church-related sexual abuse Due to the current restrictions imposed by the Victorian Government application has been made and approval received for an extensionpostponement of the 2020 Combined Catholic Parishes Raffle to the following dates Draw Date 26 September 2020 at 715pm Draw Venue 2 Taylors Lane Rowville (St Simonrsquos Church) Publication of Winners Date 30 September 2020

Our Lady of Sion College 1065 Whitehorse Rd Box Hill

Phone 9890 9097

Virtual Talk and Tour Morning Monday 22 June at 930ammdash1030am

Visit our Lady of Sion College in a whole new way and discover how your daughter can embrace life at Sion

Join us for a live-stream virtual tour of our College via Zoom

Our Virtual Talk and Tour Morning will feature a live address by our Principal Mrs Tina Apostolopoulos messages from our students and an opportunity to ask questions

Visit the website to book wwwsioncatholiceduau

Faith Formation Social amp Other

HOUSE OF BOOKS

Have you read everything on your bookshelves during the stay at home period Then we have good news for you The House of Books will re-open on Monday 1st June for limited trading hours The shop will be open from 10am until 1pm MondaymdashFriday The team at the Bookshop has implemented a CovidSafe plan designed to keep customers and volunteers safe The total number of customers in the shop at any one time will be limited to eight people Social distancing rules will be observed and hand sanitiser available Extra cleaning will be done Customers will be asked to provide their name and a contact phone number Please note that the Bookshop cannot currently offer ldquocontactlessrdquo payments so extra care will need to be taken in making payments Due to safety concerns the Bookshop will not be taking donations at the present

time Apologies for any inconvenience The really good news is that we have lots of great books and our prices are still mainly $1mdash$5

Our new phone number at the Bookshop is 9401 6306

Heart of LifemdashrsquoMeditation amp Mindfulness Reflection event viz Zoomrsquo

Saturday 30 May 10ammdash1pm facilitated by Carol Dyer This event offers par ticipants theory and practice in meditation and mindfulness Join us for an opportunity to broaden your ways of accessing your inner world and listening to what God is inviting you to do at this time Cost $20 bookings and payment via Trybooking at httpswwwtrybookingcomBJNSJ email holscbigpondcom Phone 9890 1101

Itrsquos Time to Lift Our Spirits

We invite you to contribute to our new initiative eg Household tips Gardening Tips Simple recipes Sharing Stories of Hope

Your contributions will be included on our parish website If you would prefer your contribution can remain anonymous

Please send your contributions to the parish office via email mitchamcamorgau or by post or please call Monika on 0438 220 361 for any queries

We are now in a new stage of lockdown Schools have started going back Cafes pubs restaurants and the casino are available for limited numbers with strict conditions However the powers that be have been reading The Bible which mentions human life as lasting lsquorsquothree score years and tenrsquorsquo So 70rsquos and over have to stay home A significant number of St John parishioners can thank God for a magnificent bonus Having given thanks for more than the mandated 70 years you now have extra time to prepare a new bucket list We have looked for some messages of inspiration while we journey on in this time of isolation and sometimes desperation Churchill advised ldquowhen you go through hell keep goingrdquo (he wasnrsquot a frontline worker) Napoleon advised ldquoan army marches on its stomachrdquo (he knew hunger was suffering) In a recent TV interview Australian icon Michael Leunig described his journey to seek out the meaning of life and gain serenity In spite of ill health mental anguish failed marriage and loneliness he spoke of his love of children and his intention to continue searching to the end of the road Here is his poem (his cartoon has his characters holding a bowl of soup and marching with his duck in the desert

OUR WINTER POEM by Leunig Into weariness and woe I am bound to simply go

Understanding less and less Of this existential mess

Not to stagger or to stoop But to bear this bowl of soup

With careful steadiness and cheer This soup I made this bowl so dear This time on earth these bits I found

The trembling heart the shaky ground The fading light the wistful moon

My winding path my wooden spoon

Napoleon and Leunig illustrate the comfort of food in stressful times Here is our choice

SOUP RECIPE (see next page) Feedback and food tips comments on previous recipes

The muffins contain buttermilk if unavailable milk can be curdled with lemon juice or Greek yogurt can be substituted for buttermilk

The cornbread is ideal for children to bake and easier than damper

Request for more recipes with vegetables acceptable for children

The garden in winter During lockdown the ABCrsquoS ldquoGardening Australiardquo soared in the ratings and nurseries had an increased demand for seedlings A significant number of people discovered the mental wellness and relaxation that gardening can bring Tips compost If you donrsquot have a bin choose an area of garden in where you want to plant later When leaves gather dump them on this area ndash in a couple of months they will rot down and the area will be ready to plant winter plants ndash rocket lettuce spinach peas Now ready to plant and good for salad and sandwiches Plants for winter We welcome recipes hints stories of inspiration and your coping strategies Like Leunig we must follow our own winding path We can be encouraged by the eternal truth (as Dispin reminded us last Sunday in this sermon) ldquoI will be with you all of the days till the end of the worldrdquo Not one of us walks alone

Itrsquos Time to Lift Our Spirits

We invite you to contribute to our new initiative eg Household tips Gardening Tips Simple recipes Sharing Stories of Hope

Your contributions will be included on our parish website If you would prefer your contribution can remain anonymous

Please send your contributions to the parish office via email mitchamcamorgau or by post or please call Monika on 0438 220 361 for any queries

We are now in a new stage of lockdown Schools have started going back Cafes pubs restaurants and the casino are available for limited numbers with strict conditions However the powers that be have been reading The Bible which mentions human life as lasting lsquorsquothree score years and tenrsquorsquo So 70rsquos and over have to stay home A significant number of St John parishioners can thank God for a magnificent bonus Having given thanks for more than the mandated 70 years you now have extra time to prepare a new bucket list We have looked for some messages of inspiration while we journey on in this time of isolation and sometimes desperation Churchill advised ldquowhen you go through hell keep goingrdquo (he wasnrsquot a frontline worker) Napoleon advised ldquoan army marches on its stomachrdquo (he knew hunger was suffering) In a recent TV interview Australian icon Michael Leunig described his journey to seek out the meaning of life and gain serenity In spite of ill health mental anguish failed marriage and loneliness he spoke of his love of children and his intention to continue searching to the end of the road Here is his poem (his cartoon has his characters holding a bowl of soup and marching with his duck in the desert

OUR WINTER POEM by Leunig Into weariness and woe I am bound to simply go

Understanding less and less Of this existential mess

Not to stagger or to stoop But to bear this bowl of soup

With careful steadiness and cheer This soup I made this bowl so dear This time on earth these bits I found

The trembling heart the shaky ground The fading light the wistful moon

My winding path my wooden spoon

Napoleon and Leunig illustrate the comfort of food in stressful times Here is our choice

SOUP RECIPE (see next page) Feedback and food tips comments on previous recipes

The muffins contain buttermilk if unavailable milk can be curdled with lemon juice or Greek yogurt can be substituted for buttermilk

The cornbread is ideal for children to bake and easier than damper

Request for more recipes with vegetables acceptable for children

The garden in winter During lockdown the ABCrsquoS ldquoGardening Australiardquo soared in the ratings and nurseries had an increased demand for seedlings A significant number of people discovered the mental wellness and relaxation that gardening can bring Tips compost If you donrsquot have a bin choose an area of garden in where you want to plant later When leaves gather dump them on this area ndash in a couple of months they will rot down and the area will be ready to plant winter plants ndash rocket lettuce spinach peas Now ready to plant and good for salad and sandwiches Plants for winter We welcome recipes hints stories of inspiration and your coping strategies Like Leunig we must follow our own winding path We can be encouraged by the eternal truth (as Dispin reminded us last Sunday in this sermon) ldquoI will be with you all of the days till the end of the worldrdquo Not one of us walks alone

Itrsquos Time to Lift Our Spirits

Moroccan Lentil and Vegetable Soup 1 Tbspn each of Olive oil and butter One large onion finely chopped I large stick of celery finely chopped Half a red capsicum diced 2 cloves of garlic crushed Fry together until onion is golden Add garlic last so it doesnrsquot burn Add any vegetables you choose and the amount you add will depend on how many mouths you are feeding chop the veggies into small cubes Zucchini pumpkin sweet potato potatoes beans parsnip etc Fry the vegetable together until they are starting to brown Add 1 tbspn ground coriander 1 tspn each of cinnamon turmeric and cumin 1 fresh chilli ndash remove seeds if desired Or 1 tspn dried chillies (if desired)

Fry together for a minute or two Add 1 cup of red lentils and stir for a few minutes Add 4-5 cups of stock ndash Vegetable or Chicken or can be any combination of both Finally add a can of chopped tomatoes Cook for approx 45 minutes Add more stock or water is mixture is very thick Before serving add a 150g bag of baby spinach juice of frac12 a lemon and a generous amount of chopped coriander or parsley or both This soup is delicious served with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of finely chopped coriander and of course crusty bread