March 1, 2015 Issue 35

If you are interested to help in any of the tasks in the produc-tion of the Padua News, please contact any one of the commit-tee members or email: paduanews@yahoo.com.au

Thank you. Padua News Committee Dolores Turcsan Doris Bonello Anne Consiglio Colin Consiglio Edwina La Rose Lorraine Tellis Kim Barton Godwin Barton

Padua News is the official quarterly Newsletter of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Cnr Exford & Wilson Roads Melton South, VIC 3338 Tel: 03 9747 9692 Fax: 03 9746 0422 Email: MeltonSouth@cam.org.au Parish Priest: Father Fabian Smith

Message from Father Fabian

Message from our Parish Priest

Passion/Palm Sunday is the beginning of the holiest week of the year. During the first Holy Week, two thou-sand years ago, Jesus, through his Death and Res-urrection (Paschal Mystery), gained victory over sin and death. During this Holy Week we stop to remember and relive the events which brought about our redemp-tion and salvation. During the Feast of Passover nearly 25,000 lambs were sacrificed, but the lamb which was sac-rificed by the High Priest was taken to the Temple in a procession four days before the main feast day. On Palm Sunday, Jesus, the true Pas-chal Lamb, was also taken to the Temple in a large proces-sion. The procession of Palms represents Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. Palm branches, when carried in procession, signify victory and triumph. We use the palm branches to signify the victory which Je-sus gained over sin and death. They are a sign of divine protection which is ours by grace. That is why we place them in our homes. The entry into the Church represents the New Jerusa-lem where the mysteries of our redemption will be re-enacted in the coming week. During the Liturgy on Holy Thursday we come to bet-ter understand and embrace the supreme, threefold gift

of the ministry of the Priest-hood, the Eucharist and the new Commandment of Love. Just as the chosen people were ordered to keep the Pasch in constant re-membrance, by the annual celebration of the Paschal feast, so Jesus in the Upper Room used familiar food and drink at the Last Supper to establish God’s new and everlasting covenant. He himself was to be the victim in the form of this bread and wine. Jesus made pre-sent under the signs of bread and wine; the very same sacrifice that he was to offer to the Father on Cal-vary. In order that the fruits of this sacrifice are accessi-ble to all ages, Jesus institut-ed the Eucharistic sacrifice at the Last Supper and com-manded his disciples to do as he did. With the washing of the feet, the gesture with which, having loved his own, he loved them to the end is repeated (cf. Jn 13: 1), and he left this act of humil-ity to his disciples as their "mark". It had become customary on Holy Thursday during Mass to consecrate Hosts and reserve them in a suita-ble place for the commun-ion on Good Friday. After the Mass of the Lord's Sup-per, the liturgy invites the faithful to pause in adora-tion before the Blessed Sac-rament, reliving Jesus' agony in Gethsemane.

Good Friday, which com-memorates the events be-tween Christ's condemnation to death and his Crucifixion, is a day of penance, fasting and prayer, of participation in the Lord's Passion. To all outward appearances, the death of Christ was a failure, a tragedy, yet we know that in reality it was a triumph, a vic-tory. The reverence shown to the cross in the Good Fri-day liturgy is evidence that the Church looks upon the Cross as a sign of Victory. Holy Saturday is the day of great silence, and Christians are invited to preserve interi-or recollection in order to be better prepared for the Easter Vigil. Easter is the feast, not simp-ly one feast among others, but the "Feast of Feasts.” The first ceremony which takes place on the Easter Vig-il is that of the blessing of the new fire. The fire represents the glory of the Risen Lord. From the readings of the Old Testament, that are pro-claimed, we hear the wonder-ful works that God had done

Padua News This issue of Padua News is also published on the Parish Website

http://stanthonysmeltonsouth.wordpress.com/padua-news/

Continued on next page

Padua News Issue 35 Page 2

Easter Vigil the newly baptized and renew the promises of our Baptism. Thus, we will feel that the Church is ever alive, ever rejuvenated, ever beautiful and holy, for she is founded on Christ, who having risen, will nev-er die again. As we celebrate the moving ceremo-nies of these days, let us remember that Jesus laid down his life, so that

we may have a share in this divine life. Faithful participation in the Holy Week liturgies will deepen our rela-tionship with God, increase our faith and strengthen our lives as disciples of Jesus.

May God Bless you! Father Fabian Smith Parish Priest

I would like to take the opportunity in this issue of Padua News to intro-duce myself to the parish more fully. As I said when I spoke at the Masses on Sunday, March 1, 2015, I am Brother Michael Buck, a fourth-year seminarian completing a parish in-ternship placement at St Anthony’s, Melton South. I am here until the middle of June, and in July I will de-part for Rome, where the Archbish-op has asked me to complete the rest of my seminary formation. First of all, let me tell you a little more about myself. My home parish is Mentone, in the south-eastern sub-urbs of Melbourne. It takes me about an hour and twenty minutes to drive from there to here in Melton South. My parents and my sister live together in the family home. We have had for almost all of my life. I am twenty one, but turn twenty two on April 12, 2015. My sister is a year and a half older than I, and she is studying to be a doctor. I went to Our Lady of the Assumption Primary

School, Cheltenham, and then St. Bede’s Secondary College, Mentone. I have fond memories of both schools. In my spare time, I love to meet with my friends, have long con-versations and a nice meal. In the warmer months, spending days at the beach is my ideal way to relax. I also enjoy golf, though I have only been learning for a year now. I like to keep fit by running and going to the gym. I enjoy reading, especially history, litera-ture and theology, but unfortunately I don’t have a lot of time for it. I joined the seminary the year after I finished high school in 2012. The formation programme to learn to be a priest is seven-years long, and the fourth year has a particular pastoral emphasis. It is in our fourth year that we are sent out to parishes for a six-month placement. Normally this takes place in the second half of the year, but I am here for the first half because of my departure for Rome. The parish placement is an opportuni-ty to learn from a particular priest and

a parish, and to put into practice much of what we have learnt in theory at the seminary. I must admit, when I was told that I was being sent to Melton South, I had to look at a map to know where it was! So I am learning a lot about this area and the town. I have been very im-pressed by some of the

beautiful countryside that sur-rounds Melton, especially on the way up towards Gisborne and Mount Macedon. I have also been touched by the warm welcome of the parishioners. The atmosphere of the Primary School here is also quite impressive. It is my hope that in my time here I can learn more about the practicali-ties of being a priest and running a parish. I will be involved at St An-thony’s Primary, and also with Cath-olic Regional College. I will be assist-ing the Legion of Mary group on Tuesday nights, helping to conduct the renewal of the parish census, and speaking at various educational and catechetical talks in the parish. As with anything new, I am slightly nervous about doing or saying some-thing wrong, but overall I am excited by the opportunities of things to be done here, and enthusiastic about getting to know the parishioners and the parish, and making a difference here. Thank you all for welcoming me into the parish. Let us accompany each other with prayer over the next few months!

Submitted by: Brother Michael Buck

Message from our Parish Priest (continued from previous page)

Welcoming and Getting to know Brother Michael

for Israel, works of wonder that were only a lead-up to the work of Christ the Lord in redeeming mankind, which he accomplished chiefly by the Paschal mystery. In this night, through the celebration of the liturgy we come to see anew what God has and continues to do for us. Having blessed the new waters of Baptism and enlivened by a stronger faith, we welcome in the heart of the

Picture below: Brother Michael presenting the Lenten talk

Padua News Issue 35 Page 3

Twenty five years of God’s Blessings

What can one write about after ex-periencing 25 years of marriage! We can both honestly say it was 25 years of God’s blessings! Many trials, diffi-culties and tribulations came our way but each with its own purpose. “God’s ways are not our ways”, as written in scripture proved to be true to us. Hailing from two different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, God led our paths together and were married on December 30, 1989 at St. Paul’s in West Sunshine by Fr. Michael Moore. By 1993, we were blessed with 3 chil-dren. We certainly had our hands full with Joan on maternity leave and me working casually and studying fulltime. It was a struggle but God had his hand on us. God blessed us with two other children by 2002 and six ‘angels’ in heaven. We thank God for each of our children as they are each a gift from God!

Our six angels are also a gift to us as we know they are praying for us in heaven. We have come to realise over these years that without God in the center of our marriage....our marriage would not have lasted! God, through Jesus Christ, is the only one that helps us to forgive each other on a daily basis. It would be impossible other-wise!

Together with over a hundred people from our community, our parish and friends, we celebrated our anniver-sary with a Eucharistic celebration on the December 30, 2014 at St. Antho-ny’s with three presbyters, Fr. Eric, Fr. Fabian & Fr. Ivan. It was a beau-tiful and meaningful way to celebrate our anniversary and we like to thank everyone who made this possible.

Photos:

Top of page: Blessing by the Priest

Top Left: family and friends witnessing the renewal of vows;

Top Right: Choir singing at Mass

Left: Ben and Joan with their family

Submitted by: Ben & Joan Antony

Padua News Issue 35 Page 4

Year 6 Family Mass - Saturday, February 6, 2015

Technology and modern day com-munication systems are embedded in our society today. In Churches all around the world there is so much evidence of this. Today through the rapid advancement of very sophisti-cated and often complicated commu-nication devices we are able to hear more clearly and see the gospels in action. When we enter our Churches we are reminded to “Turn off

Mobile Phones” so that we are able to be truly present in our prayers and reflections. This re-quest was unheard of many years ago. Our students from Foundation to Year 6 are exploring, investigat-ing and researching the unit of work “Our Tech-nological World” Through our planning

sessions we are very clear about the about the role of the teaching of Jesus in our work. When we follow in His footsteps we are constantly reminded of our own digital Footprint. Does it reflect the life that Jesus asks of us?

The prayers the Senior students composed are indicative of this. Jesus is with us always to lead us, to guide us, encourage us and to inspire us to use the gift of technology so that our Church will continue to grow and thrive in a fast –paced world where He can often be forgotten.

Submitted by: Bernadette Cameron

Dear God,Thank you for all the people that  helped make technology.  Please  help us to  be good people and make responsible choices when using it. Please help us to use technology as You would and follow in Your footsteps .

Amen.

By Alla, Heather and  Rosemary

GRADE 6

Digital Footprint Prayers

Digital footprint

Dear Jesus, 

We sincerely promise to use technology wisely, to help show people how to use it properly. We understand the capability of technology and how it can hurt people’s feelings on social media. Help us remember this.  

Digital footprint

DEAR LORD,

PLEASE HELP ME TO BE A BETTER PERSON IN USING TECHNOLOGY. ALSO GUIDE THE PEOPLE THAT MISUSE TECHNOLOGY

AMEN.

BY LUKE, DHURUV AND MERLIN

Dear Jesus, Please give us the power and

help us to use the internet properly and save people the

grief of cyber bullying.We are so grateful for all the

entertainment technology has brought us. Please help us use technology properly and help stop cyber bullying and all the disadvantages of social media.

AMENJosh F, Ryan and Maddox

My Prayer

MY DIGITAL FOOTPRINTDear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for guiding us in our faithful journey as we move from

Primary School to Secondary School. Help us to use technology and help

us to use it wisely as we wish to follow Your footsteps. Thank you for

giving us the ability to use technology and for the people who

made it.Amen

Jordan, Drsika, Jacob, Ava Our PrayerDear Jesus,Thank You for technology and please help us use it correctly. Please help us to help others to use it correctly. We are grateful for all of the technology that You are giving us. Help us to be responsible with it. Amen

By Brandon, Seth and Joseph

(continue on next page)

Padua News Issue 35 Page 5

Year 6 Family Mass - Saturday, February 6, 2015 (continued from previous page)

Dear Lord,Help me to use the internet as you would of. Help others Use the internet as you would have. I pray that all people use the internet

appropriately. I am Thankful for social media for texting and tweeting Friends and Family overseas. I want my Digital Footprint to be

just like yours.AMEN

By Josh A Japneet Christan 

Our PrayerO Heavenly Father,

Thank you for creating technology that helps people to survive in bad times.

Please help us stop hackers, haters and cyber bullies. Thank you for the helpful

technology that helps everyone who uses it all around the world. Help us to always be responsible on the internet

and to never take anything offending too seriously. Thank you for all the

technology we use today to make our world a better place to live.

AMEN

Alyssa Isabel Alyanna Isabelle

Our Footprint Prayer

Dear Jesus,Help us respect the gift of technology and help us use technology as You would have done. Let us praise the people who have blessed us with such great gifts. In the future let everyone use technology in the right way.

Amen.

By Carlo, Steve and Venuka.

Dear Father In Heaven Please help the people who are getting

hurt from others, who say terrible things on technology. We ask for You to give

them the strength to carry on. I will use technology the right way with respect and kindness, and I will try to help others to

use technology the right way, the way You would use it.

By Isaac ..J Daniel .S Ben .T

Our Prayer

Dear Lord,Heavenly Father, above us allHelp us to use technology wisely and responsibly, guide us to follow Your footsteps and help those people who are cyber bullied. Please help those who are making the wrong choices on social media and show us that being a cyber bully is wrong. Amen.

Chelsea, Nina and Hayley

My PrayerDear Jesus ,Please help us to choose wisely when usingtechnology and guide us on how to use itappropriately. Help the people who have beencyber bullied by some users. We will beresponsible with technology and we will helpothers to be responsible users. Help us to usetechnology in Your name. We will use socialmedia the right way.Amen

By Isaac P, Arop, Ben k

Dear Lord, We thank you for the technology You have given us the

ability to make. We promise we will respect it and be careful and responsible

with what we do and say. We will follow You in your footsteps and take pride in what you have given us.

AmenBy Chloe, Ruby And Keira

Our Prayer

Digital Footprint

Dear Jesus,

Please help us use technology wisely, and help those who don’t know how to use technology  properly . Help us to follow in Your footsteps and use technology the way You would use it. Help us to not make bad choices on the sites we are using. Help us to be respectful of others when using the internet.

By Jill Kung and Yenuli Dompearachchi

Our Digital FootprintMaddy, Guia, Bea

Dear Jesus,I pray for all those who don’t

use technology the way it’s meant to be used. I pray that we may all use it appropriately and that

we may use it the way You would. Help us all to avoid

being inappropriate. Let us all set better examples for those

that we are teaching. Amen

Padua News Issue 35 Page 6

Did you know? - Origins of some Lent and Easter cultural traditions

It was Palm Sunday but because of a sore throat, 5 year old Craig stayed home from church with a babysitter. When the family returned home, they were carrying several palm fronds. Craig inquired as

to what they were for. 'People held them over Jesus' head as he walked by,' his father responded. 'Wouldn't you just know it?' Craig complained, 'the one Sunday I don't go and he shows up.'

Shrove Tuesday In some cultures, the day before the start of Lent is called Mardi Gras, or Carnival. It is a celebration of one last time to do things not permitted during the fast. The day may be also called Shrove Tuesday. People were expected to start Lent by going to Confession. Confession was known as being shriven of sins, hence 'Shrove.' Some also called it "Fat Tuesday" as rich foods are consumed as the faith-ful prepare for time of fasting, absti-nence, confession and penance. Customs and practices arose for Fat Tuesday where people would empty their pantries of many items restrict-ed during Lent .

Hot Cross Buns In many historically Christian coun-tries, plain buns made without dairy products (forbidden in lent until Palm Sunday) are traditionally eaten hot or toasted during Lent, begin-ning with the evening of Shrove Tuesday (the evening before Ash Wednesday) to midday Good Friday.

The egg has from the earliest times been a Christian symbol of the Resurrec-tion - Christ breaking out of the tomb. Giving eggs at Easter celebrates new life. The first eggs given at Easter were birds eggs. These eggs were painted in bright colours to give them further meaning as a gift. An Anglo-Saxon legend tells how the Saxon goddess Eostre found a wounded bird and transformed it into a hare, so that it could survive the Winter. The hare found it could lay eggs, so it deco-rated these each Spring and left them as offering to the goddess.

“Lent” literally means “Springtime.” It comes from a Latin word which means “longer” - the days are getting longer. It is the Springtime of the Church - a time for new growth to take place. It is the time for the deadness of Winter to blossom forth into new life. Why 40 days? Next to the number seven, the num-ber 40 occurs most frequently in the Bible. It represents a period of test-ing or judgment. Lent's duration of 40 days reflects other times of trial, testing and hardship found in the Scriptures: The story of Noah tells of rain

falling on the earth for 40 days and 40 nights.

Both Moses and Elijah fasted for 40 days before beginning their missions.

The Hebrews wandered for 40 years in the desert after leaving Egypt.

It took the spies 40 days to search out the Promised Land and bring back fruit.

Goliath taunted the Israelite ar-my in the morning and evening for 40 days.

Jonah warned the Ninevites they had 40 days until God would overthrow the city.

Jesus fasted and prayed in the desert for 40 days before begin-ning his ministry.

The pretzel is a symbol of Lent The pretzel is a very ancient bak-ery item, which traditionally was eaten only during Lent. It is made in the form of two arms crossed in prayer. The word bracel-lae, “little arms,” became in Ger-man Bretzel, then Pretzel. These early Christians ate no dairy prod-ucts in Lent, so the pretzel was made only of flour, salt and water: it was as simple as it could be.

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE!

Source: Unknown

Source: Unknown

Padua News Issue 35 Page 7

Lent/Easter Trivia

1. Spring; 2. Ash Wednesday; 3. Forty days; 4. Easter; 5. Purple; 6. The Gloria; 7. Alleluia; 8. Meat; 9. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday; 10. St. Patrick; 11. The Feast of the Annunciation; 12. Palm Sunday; 13. Tuesday of Holy Week; 14. Holy Week; 15. Holy Thursday; 16. Three o’clock; 17. Fourteen; 18.Three; 19. Simon of Cyrene; 20. Blessing of the new fire.

HOW DID YOU SCORE? Answers to Lent Trivia

1. What was the original meaning of the word "Lent"? 2. What is the first day of Lent called? 3. How long does Lent last? 4. What great feast does Lent lead to? 5. What color vestments does the priest wear during Lent? 6. What prayer of the Mass is omitted during Lent? 7. What word is never said or sung during Lent? 8. What do Catholics abstain from eating on Fridays during Lent? 9. On what days are Catholics required to fast during Lent? 10. What Irish saint's feast day takes place during Lent?

11. What important feast day occurs on March 25? 12. When does the priest bless the palms during Lent? 13. On what day during Lent does the Bishop bless holy oils for the year? 14. What is the last week of Lent called? 15. What is the last day of Lent called? 16. Traditionally, what time do churches begin their Good Friday services? 17. How many Stations of the Cross are there? 18. How many times does Jesus fall through the Stations? 19. Who helped Jesus carry His cross? 20. What is the first ceremony which takes place on Easter Vigil?

Based on the Allen & Unwin publication by Dennis O'Keeffe, this musical narrative tells the secret story behind the penning of Australia’s fa-vourite song, Waltzing Matilda. Set in Western Queensland during the civil unrest of the Shearers Strike of 1894, this play tells of forbidden ro-mance, conflict, mystery and intrigue, all the ele-ments of a truly great Australian story. For more information, contact:

John/Mila Little on 0412 078 543 or

Felix Meagher 0413-801294 felix@bushwahzee.com

‘The Man They Call The Banjo’ musical is coming to Warrawong Woolshed!

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WHEN: Friday April 24, 2015

Pre-show Dinner (6.30pm) & Show AUD 65.00

General Admission for Show only (8:15pm)AUD 42.50

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Submissions for next newsletter All Parishioners are welcome to give their suggestions. If you have any article of interest for the next newsletter, please submit them to the Parish Office or email to: paduanews@yahoo.com.au by April 30, 2015

Editorial Policy The Padua News is approved by Father Fabian Smith prior to printing. The editors and Father Fabian reserve the right to edit all articles submitted. Articles may be reproduced with permis-sion from the writer and editor.

Issue 35 Page 8 Padua News

WARRAWONG WOOLSHED  1200 Exford Road Eynesbury district

Available for hire Unique heritage features and friendly environment - arrange and set up to suit your own needs for up to 120 people for a sit-down meal/family gatherings.

For further details, or to arrange a visit and inspection, contact John Little at 0412 078 543

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