Feast of Sts Peter & Paul
The earliest disciples of Jesus were Jews who continued, after Jesus' execution and resurrection, to observe Jewish laws of behaviour and worship.
They were Jewish Christians. They felt obliged to continue Jesus' preaching in Jerusalem in the hope that all their compatriots would accept Jesus as Messiah. They were sometimes arrested and imprisoned for promoting a hostile sect within Judaism. But they were released after a beating, time and again.
Today's first reading (Acts, iii: 1-10) marks a change in attitude towards the apostles. Herod had James beheaded. He had popular support. He then went after Peter, head of the apostles.
In this way persecution touched the whole community of early Christians. They were to experience the same ordeal as their Master. They would seem to be deserted as was Jesus.
But, they would also be delivered by God as was Jesus. Happily, Peter's arrest and deliverance occurred around Passover time when all faithful Jews were remembering their ancestors' deliverance from Egypt. They were assembled in prayer, powerfully interceding on behalf of their leader. It was God's plan to keep his church from the power of evil. The symbolism of this event is more important than the historical details.
The responsorial psalm, 'The Lord has set me free from all my fears' (Ps, 33) links the two main scripture readings.
On a personal note, I have been blessed to have been in a parish as SS Peter and Paul from 1973 until now. I have wondered over and over why Peter and Paul, the twin pillars of the church were never separated in either the ancient liturgy or in iconography. Is it as the Glennstal missal notes, 'Between institution and charism there must always be dialogue, even if, at times it leads to tension, for the Church must progress in the knowledge and practice of the truth.'
In the Gospel from Matthew (Matt., xvi: 13-19), we have the well-known incident when Jesus commissioned Peter as 'Rock' and 'door-keeper'. Later, after the resurrection, ascension and Pentecost, Our Lord commissioned Paul as 'my chosen instrument to bring my name to the pagan nations'. The earliest Church was both conservative, out of sensitivity to the Jewish Christians and innovative out of sensitivity to the Greek Christians. There was no tension between the two parties.
Peter was eventually convinced that there had been two Pentecosts: one for the Jews in Jerusalem, another for the pagan family of Cornelius at Caesarea. Paul soon reported to Peter and the Church at Jerusalem that the spirit was at work wherever he preached to non-Jews far from Jerusalem. Local churches in our own day need to be faithful to both Peter and Paul by keeping the faith and adventurously sharing with others. WYD workers hope to do just that.

My mate, Les Twentyman, has thrown his hat into the by-election ring in Koroit, western suburbs, Victoria. He's standing as an independent with preferences already allocated his way by both Labor and Liberal candidates.
He dropped over, a couple of days ago, with campaign manager, Phil Cleary, well known as Coburg's ex¬coach in the VFA, electrical trades union official and social activist in his own right. He also takes photos for Les's campaign material.
Read more.

Don't forget that this Sunday is our chance to say farewell and thank you to the Loreto Sisters who are moving on from the parish.

This program, to be held at St Joseph's parish centre, South Yarra, is designed to identify personal values and goals, heighten person responsibility, expand the use of healthy life skills and increase effective communication for all age groups.
It consists of 6 x 2-hour sessions that will include meditation, story telling, journaling, drawing, learning more about ourselves and our spirituality using a holistic approach.
Wednesday nights 7.30 - 9.30 pm on 8, 12 & 22 October and 5, 12 and 19 November.
$150 wage earners - $80 students and pensioners. (Contact Gemma or Giovanna about funding options). To book, contact - Gemma 0438 533 332 or Giovanna 0418 231 251.

Trying to keep up with WYD proceedings, I was delighted to receive an unsolicited email from people identifying themselves as Olive Wood Market. The CEO of the group says he's leader, also, of a religious singing and dancing crew, Al Raja, who'll perform in Sydney in July.
Should I have been suspicious already?
Read more!

Please help clean the church on Saturday 28 June at 10.30. It needs to be sparkling, ready for the parish feast day on 29 June. Help is also needed ready the place for the farewell and thank you celebration for the Loreto sisters who are moving from the parish after 100 years of service. There will be a sheet at the back of the church this weekend, just waiting for you to sign as a volunteer.

On 24 June Kilbride will have a Reflection Day: Giving the Gift of the Present. It will be held at the centre from I0.00 - 3.00 RSVP by Monday 23 June. 'Take time out to breathe in the sea air as you spend time in prayer, reflection and meditation.'

Kilbride's next Wednesday Dinner for Men will be held on 25 June at 6.45 pm. Men are warmly invited to enjoy an evening together in a relaxed and happy atmosphere of fellowship with one another over a meal. During this time there will be a guest speaker. This month it is Cr Dick Gross who will share some of his story. Dick is a colourful character and entertaining speaker who will bring fun and interest to the night. RSVP Monday 23 June.

RSVP to Kilbride Centre 9690 1076 or contact@kilbridecentre.com.au

With less than 30 days to go before DIDO8 and WYDOB, we encourage any parish or school coordinators who were unable to come to the training to visit the Days in the Diocese website www.did08.com to download the latest information resources, including information on planning local events and formation for pilgrims.

FaithTrip, an online community for Christian youth, is your chance to chat directly with pilgrims arriving in our city for DIDO8 this July! Visit www.faithtrip.net.au and join the Melbourne Community today!

Our man in Darfur, Sudan, John, has sent a brief eye witness account of chaos fanned by tribalism.'How are we to live together?' This is the overriding concern of modern society - or needs to be globally accepted as such. Some of us have a vocation to keep people of different tribes in touch with each other.
Having achieved that, probably after much personal pain, the next step is to enable those same people to work together to create a 'commonwealth' for our shared children.
Good tribalism IN, bad tribalism OUT.
Click to read more.

JAEL, Christian musician friends of the Parish ask for prayers.
- For God to keep Jael faithful, obedient, strong, humble and effective for His sake.
- For Garry and Sel's house to be sold or rented.
- For the families of Jael both here and at home.
- For health and safety in the band during tour.
- For finances for Jael to continue their work.
- For their Album as we record it at the end of this year.
- For their Pastors and the increase of our Church.

Commissioning Mass at Telstra Dome
From 10-14 July, Melbourne will welcome thousands of international young pilgrims to celebrate their faith and life during Days in the Dioceses Melbourne. Archbishop Denis Hart will celebrate a Mass for up to 50,000 local and international pilgrims on Friday 1 July 2008 at Telstra Dome to formally commission our young people on their journey to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. Be a part of this historic event! Send your ticketing requests (tickets are free) to ticketing@did08.com. For information on DIDO8 events and celebrations, visit www.did08.com or 9412 8400.

For over 100 years the Loreto Sisters Have been involved in our Parish and community, many of you would know that they have sold their property in Albert Park and that their new Provincial office will be in Hawthorn.
On June 29, the Feast day of Sts Peter & Paul the Sisters have been invited to attend our l0 am Mass when we, the parishioners, will have the chance to say farewell and thank you to the sisters for the wonderful work of their congregation since 1888. They have also been invited to stay on onwards for a light lunch. All parishioners are warmly invited to stay on as well. Further details will be available next week.

A second community bus will hit the streets from 2 June. The expanded free bus services will operate on weekdays (excluding Public Holidays) and provide more links between Port Melbourne, South Melbourne and St Kilda.
The community bus service provides 'Access for All', with capacity to transport wheelchair mobile passengers, passengers with shopping trolleys and bags, and assistance offered from its drivers to support passengers on and off the bus.
The community buses stops at important community destinations including South Melbourne Market, St Kilda Library/Town Hall, Alfred Hospital and Port Melbourne Town Hall. It connects the community to community centres, libraries, medical and health centres, childcare centres as well as council offices, public transport and local shopping districts.
Please note, there will be some slight alterations to the existing service routes and times to allow for helping passengers on and off the buses. For more information or a copy of the new timetable and route map, please contact ASSIST on 9209 6777.

I Got an email this week from John, our man in Darfur, Sudan. I say 'our man' because he grew up in South Melbourne. Rough and ready too was John. He loved the commando reserve unit and joined at his earliest opportunity. Click to read more