Growth
The Church is constantly looking to foster spiritual growth and maturity in its members. Here are some of the ways you can engage with the Church and your faith.
Mass
The celebration of the Eucharist is central to our faith and our parish life, drawing us into unity with each other and with God. We invite you, Catholic or non-Catholic, to join us for this celebration.
Sunday
Saturday 5pm / 6pm during Daylight Saving time. Currently 5pm
Sunday 9:15 am - includes Children's liturgy during school terms.
Sunday 6:15pm - Youth Mass.
Weekday
Mon-Fri 9:15am.
Reconciliation
The sacrament of Reconciliation (also called Confession or Penance) is a beautiful chance to experience the healing love, mercy and forgiveness of God. An exploration of the sacrament as it is reflected in the parable of the prodigal son is found here.
Reconciliation Times
Saturday 4:30pm / 5:30pm during daylight saving time. Currently 4:30pm
Rosary
A group of parishioners pray the Rosary each Tuesday after morning Mass (approx. 9:45). It is a beautiful way to place the needs of our Church and ourselves in the hands of our mother. Please feel free to come and join in any week.
Prayer Groups
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is a reading & reflection on the Scriptures which
leads to transformation of life.
Sunday 11am
- 11.30am
Wednesday 7.30pm - 8pm
Tuesday and Thursday 10am - 10.30am
All welcome. Refreshments provided. No Bookings necessary. Venue: Bethany Center, 39 Chilton Parade, Warrawee (Can park in the car park behind the church, and walk up the small stairs and follow the path to the house).
Upcoming Feast Days:
11th July: St Benedict
What a fantastic feast to celebrate, with our own Pope Benedict XVI visiting in just a few days!
Saint Benedict is called the Founder of Western Monasticism. He was born c. 480 in Narsia, Italy as part of the Roman nobility and as the twin brother of Saint Scholastica. He studied in Rome but was dismayed by the lack of discipline there. St. Benedict retreated to the mountains near Subiaco and lived as a hermit in a cave for three years. Legend even says that during this time of meditation and prayer, he was fed by a raven.
Because of his virtues, he was requested to lead an abbey of monks. So he founded the monastery at Monte Cassino. It was there that he wrote the Rule of St. Benedict, which Benedictine Monks still follow today. At one stage, as many as 4000 monastries across the world lived according to his Rule.
16th July: Our Lady of Mt Carmel
Mount Carmel is mentioned in the Bible in 1 Kings 18:16-40. It was there that the prophet Elijah took his stand against the pagan prophets of Baal and Asherah. He revealed to them all the power of Our Lord and God.
During the 12th Century, the Carmelite Order was founded on Mount Carmel. In 1251, Mary appeared to their superior, helping their new order to overcome opression and teaching them about her Brown Scapular.
22nd July: St Mary Magdalene
St Mary Magdalene was the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Despite being a sinner, her life changed when she saw the brilliance and truth in the teachings and person of Jesus Christ. She repented from all of her sinfulness and resolved to amend her life in service to God. When all of Our Lord's disciples except John ran away, Mary Magdalene stayed by the Cross sorrowing for the anguish of Jesus.
Because of her faith and repentance she was privileged to be the first person Jesus appeared to after His Resurrection (John 20:1-18).
In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI said, "The story of Mary Magdalene reminds everyone of a fundamental truth: She is a disciple of Christ who, in the experience of human weakness, has had the humility to ask for his help, has been healed by him, and has followed him closely, becoming a witness of the power of his merciful love, which is stronger than sin and death" (1)
24th July: St Bridget of Sweden
St Bridget was a Franciscan lay person. At the age of 10, she listened to a homily on Our Lord's passion. The next night she saw Jesus on the Cross covered with blood, and He spoke to her. This is one of her first visions from Jesus that she was privileged to received throughout her life. St. Bridget could never speak of the Passion of Our Lord without tears.
At the age of 13, she married Ulfo Gudmarsson, a prince of Nericia, and they had eight children, one of which was St. Catherine of Sweden. Her husband was a very pious man. Over the years St. Bridget continued to grow in holiness and was soon well known far and wide. She educated children and cared for the poor and sick. St. Bridget even set apart a house for their reception. In an act of humility that we all can learn from, St. Bridget would wash their feet and even kiss them. Her humility recalls the humility of Jesus in washing the disciples feet.
25th July: St James the greater
St James the greater was one of the 12 apostles, the brother of John, and the son of Zebedee (as opposed to St James the lesser, the author of the Epistle of St James found in the Bible). Along with his brother, he was a simple fisherman who heard Jesus' call to "Come, follow me", and immediately left everything behind to do exactly that.
After Jesus' ascension into Heaven, St James went and preached in Spain for 7 years, before he was killed by the sword by the order of King Herod Agrippa in c. 44 AD. He was the first apostle to be murdered for the faith.
26th July: Sts Joachim and Anne
Joachim and Anne are the parents of Mary, and thus, the grandparents of Jesus! Joachim was a prominent and respected man, however, he had no children, and he viewed this as a punishment from God. In an answer to his prayers, he and Anne, his wife, were given the daughter Mary. She remained sinless, ever-virgin, and was the Mother of God. Their prayers were answered greater than they could have ever imagined!
29th July: St Martha
Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus, with whom Jesus often stayed when he was in Bethany, 2 miles from Jerusalem.
St. Martha is remembered for the kindness and hospitality she showed to Jesus when He visited her. In Luke 10:23-42, Jesus reminds Martha that the most important thing is to listen to Him! She is busy serving Our Lord while Mary is contemplating. Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:38-42). Through Martha's example, we learn how important listening to God is. Serving God is extremely important, but it shouldn't take away from praying and contemplating. Prayer must come first!
31st July: St Ignatius of Loyola
At the age of 30, Ignatius was injured by a canon ball while serving in the Spanish military. While recovering, he read the only books available to him - a collection of lives of the Saints, and Life of Christ by Ludolph the Carthusian. These encouraged him to turn his life towards Christ. He traveled to Montserrat, where he prayed for an entire night before an altar of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was transformed from a man of war into a soldier for the Kingdom of God.
At different times in his life, he lived as a beggar in a cave, a preached to Muslims in the Holy Land, humbly studied grammar with children when he realised he needed an education to reach more souls, and founded schools, colleges, orphanages, refuges and, in 1534, the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He sent people all around the entire world to preach the Truth and in so doing declared a new war - a war against paganism, superstition, and heresy.
Finally, after 65 years on earth, St. Ignatius of Loyola died on July 31, 1556. Less than 50 years later, he along with his companion St. Francis Xavier, were canonized. Today the Society of Jesus has over 500 universities and colleges, 30,000 members, and teaches over 200,000 students each year.