ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE REPORT:
Wednesday 11 July 2012
By Connie Skinner
PARISHIONERS of St Peter Apostle Mission Parish, Hoppers Crossing, celebrated the feast day of our parish patron saint with an inaugural Parish Feast Day Mass on Sunday 1 July.
Although the weather was cold and wet outside, inside the church there was a sense of warmth and faithful reverence as we gathered as a parish community, to praise and thank God for the gift our our patron, the great, St Peter the Apostle.
The glorious voices of our Parish Choir headed by Mr Michael Lapina, led the congregation in song throughout the Mass.
The entrance procession was a colourful display of the 25 Parish Groups, which have been established over the years to meet parishioners’ needs. A member of each group carried a banner or symbol representing the work they do in the parish. These banners and symbols are now displayed along the walls of the church.
The Liturgy for the Mass celebrated the spirit that has encouraged parishioners to actively seek to live out Jesus’ call to love and serve one another, since the foundation of the Parish in the 1970s, .
Many volunteers at St Peter’s give of their talent and time to pursue the mission given to St Peter our patron to feed the sheep, and fulfil our baptismal promise to live as Catholics not just by word but by action.
Bishop Vincent Long was the principal celebrant for the occasion. He was also joined by seven concelebrating priests: Fr. Domenic De Giorgio, Fr. Barry Tobin, Fr Donald Lorensz, Fr Duncan Lorensz, Fr. Fabio Alberto, Fr Sebastian Mappilaparambil and Fr Pius Kodakkathanath.
In his homily Bishop Long spoke with great admiration for St Peter, “the rock” on which Christ built His Church. He said that while St Peter was not perfect, and at times was crippled by fear, once he faced his fears, trusted in the Lord and was touched by the Holy Spirit everything changed.
The procession of gifts were brought forward by two pioneer parishioners, Mrs Bernice Steinhauer and Mr Bill Coghlan representing the past generations of parishioners, and Michael, Alex and Brianna Lapina, representing the future of our Parish.
Following the Mass, parishioners celebrated with a light luncheon in the Parish Hall. Bishop Long attended the luncheon with the parishioners and watched the entertainment provided by the children of St Peter Apostle Primary School and the Youth of our Parish.
It was a very special day for all!
St Peter Apostle Parish Prayer
God our Father,
We thank you for our parish of St. Peter Apostle.
Baptised we are gifted and called to show your unconditional love for all your people.
We gather to praise and worship you and are nourished by the Word and the Eucharist for our faith journey.
Be with us as we strive to see the face of Christ in all we meet,
and may we share our unique gifts in love and service as we grow together as one.
Amen.
Saint Mary of the Cross: Pray for us.
Saint Peter Apostle: Guide and unite us in our parish.
Photos by Reno Demicoli
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
Wednesday 11 July 2012
By Connie Skinner
PARISHIONERS of St Peter Apostle Mission Parish, Hoppers Crossing, celebrated the feast day of our parish patron saint with an inaugural Parish Feast Day Mass on Sunday 1 July.Although the weather was cold and wet outside, inside the church there was a sense of warmth and faithful reverence as we gathered as a parish community, to praise and thank God for the gift our our patron, the great, St Peter the Apostle.
The glorious voices of our Parish Choir headed by Mr Michael Lapina, led the congregation in song throughout the Mass.
The entrance procession was a colourful display of the 25 Parish Groups, which have been established over the years to meet parishioners’ needs. A member of each group carried a banner or symbol representing the work they do in the parish. These banners and symbols are now displayed along the walls of the church.
The Liturgy for the Mass celebrated the spirit that has encouraged parishioners to actively seek to live out Jesus’ call to love and serve one another, since the foundation of the Parish in the 1970s, .
Many volunteers at St Peter’s give of their talent and time to pursue the mission given to St Peter our patron to feed the sheep, and fulfil our baptismal promise to live as Catholics not just by word but by action.Bishop Vincent Long was the principal celebrant for the occasion. He was also joined by seven concelebrating priests: Fr. Domenic De Giorgio, Fr. Barry Tobin, Fr Donald Lorensz, Fr Duncan Lorensz, Fr. Fabio Alberto, Fr Sebastian Mappilaparambil and Fr Pius Kodakkathanath.
In his homily Bishop Long spoke with great admiration for St Peter, “the rock” on which Christ built His Church. He said that while St Peter was not perfect, and at times was crippled by fear, once he faced his fears, trusted in the Lord and was touched by the Holy Spirit everything changed.
The procession of gifts were brought forward by two pioneer parishioners, Mrs Bernice Steinhauer and Mr Bill Coghlan representing the past generations of parishioners, and Michael, Alex and Brianna Lapina, representing the future of our Parish.
Following the Mass, parishioners celebrated with a light luncheon in the Parish Hall. Bishop Long attended the luncheon with the parishioners and watched the entertainment provided by the children of St Peter Apostle Primary School and the Youth of our Parish.It was a very special day for all!
St Peter Apostle Parish Prayer
God our Father,
We thank you for our parish of St. Peter Apostle.
Baptised we are gifted and called to show your unconditional love for all your people.
We gather to praise and worship you and are nourished by the Word and the Eucharist for our faith journey.
Be with us as we strive to see the face of Christ in all we meet,
and may we share our unique gifts in love and service as we grow together as one.
Amen.
Saint Mary of the Cross: Pray for us.
Saint Peter Apostle: Guide and unite us in our parish.
Photos by Reno Demicoli
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
Comments