Dear Families,

Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation
The Year 6 students have been busy preparing to make, and learning about the Sacrament of Confirmation. Last Friday, they attended a sacramental retreat day at Carroll College. The retreat day was superbly run by the Year 10 Youth Ministry students. Yesterday, all students attended mass with Fr. Anthony and had the opportunity to make the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I thank our Year 6 teachers Mr Matthew Harpley and Mr James Campbell for all their effort in preparing the students.

This Sunday’s Gospel 
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 9:36 – 10:8)

When Jesus saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’

He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:

‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.’

Reflection (courtesy of Dianne Bergant CSA):
The major themes in this Sunday’s Gospel are call and discipleship. Most of us are rather insignificant in the eyes of the broader society. And even those who are well known or in some way famous are still just simple human beings with needs and fears and dreams like the rest of us. Yet we have been called by God. This is what makes us special. Paul picks up this theme in his development of justification. He argues that we are special because when we were still sinners we were justified. All this has come to us as a pure gift from God. It is God who calls; it is God who chooses; it is God who justifies. If we are to boast, we must boast in God.

Paul further teaches that good works do not gain faith. It is the other way around. It is faith that manifests itself in works. In the gospel we see that the disciples are sent out to give to others the gift of faith which had been given to them. They proclaim the gospel, the good news that the time of fulfilment has come, and then they perform mighty works that demonstrate what they preach. We too have been called to discipleship; we have been made God’s special people. To us has been entrusted the good news of salvation to proclaim to others. We must be the healing touch of Christ in our world. We must comfort those who mourn, bring back to life those who are in despair, embrace those who have been ostracised by society, drive out anger and fear and hatred.

Farewell Fr. Anthony Riosa
In just a few days, Fr. Anthony Riosa will be leaving our parish - he will be greatly missed by our community. You are warmly invited to attend Father’s farewell mass this Sunday 17 June, 10 am at Sacred Heart. There will be a morning tea immediately after the mass. We wish Fr. Anthony all the best!

A Prayer of Farewell for Fr. Anthony
We thank you Lord, for how you have used Fr. Anthony at
Sacred Heart and what he means to us.  He will be greatly missed.

We ask that you fill Fr. Anthony’s heart and mind with good
memories from his ministry here. 
We know you are guiding him and his ministry and you are
preparing us for a new person as well.  

May we all, together, give you praise and thanks for the
many blessings you have given to Fr. Anthony, and us,
during his caring ministry here.  

We pray these things in the loving name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Genevieve Schofield
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)