My Dear Parishioners,

I would like to wish all our teachers, school staff, students and parents a happy winter school holiday. Please enjoy the break and stay safe and return for Term 3 filled with energy and enthusiasm.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our Parish Catechists a wonderful break too. And I would like to thank all of them for their tireless dedication to the Ministry. We all appreciate your hard work, thank you.

This weekend we celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday. Let us pray for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and especially for the Traditional Custodians of this land. That the peoples of this land will learn from their wisdom and work towards a sustainable future.

This weekend we have the collection for Peter’s Pence. The Peter's Pence collection is a gesture of solidarity through which every member of the faithful can participate in the activity of the Pope as Pastor of the universal Church.

As I have mentioned last week, I want to encourage more people to be involved in the hospitality team of our parish and I urge you to welcome all our new members and visitors warmly to our Parish. Please come forward to help with this very important ministry.

Our Confirmation program will begin early next term with the Parent Information evening on Thursday 21st July. Confirmation this year is on Saturday 24th September. Bishop Anthony Randazzo will officiate and confirm our children.

May God bless you,

Fr. Satheesh Antony OSH

The first thing that is striking about this gospel passage is the fact that there are 72 disciples whom Jesus sends out on mission. We can have an image of Jesus strolling around Galilee with just a small group of followers but this passage makes it clear that a significant number of people were engaged in his ministry. And the gospel writer has not just made an error in naming 72 rather than the Twelve because just one chapter earlier the Twelve were sent out. This sending out to mission is a significant element of the gospel of Luke. The first sending of the Twelve represents the mission to the Jews – the twelve tribes of Israel are frequently used symbolically to represent all of the Jewish people. The sending of the 72 then represents the mission beyond the Jewish people to all nations and all people.

Another theme that is significant in the gospel of Luke is the message of hospitality. Jesus teaches on it frequently and tries to convey a message that the hospitality of God is available to all. In the sending of both the Twelve and the 72, Jesus tells them to take nothing with them for the journey. He is telling them to rely on the hospitality of strangers. If they are welcomed and shown hospitality then they are to bless the household and carry out their ministry. The ability to show hospitality to the messengers of God is a sign that the household will welcome the message of God. However, wherever they do not receive hospitality they are to leave the town, shaking the dust from their feet, as their ministry will not be welcomed by people who are not ready to hear it. It is an excellent message about not wasting your efforts in unproductive ways – not hitting your head against a brick wall! What does it mean to us as Parish, to offer and receive hospitality today?