HIGHLIGHTS OF 2009

Parish Renewal—sessions of spiritual renewal were offered in April and October.  We continued on our target of giving all 14,000 Catholics of our parish a sense of belonging.  To assist this, our infrastructure of 22 neighbourhoods was strengthened.  We were invited by the Archdiocese of outline our process to other large outer Melbourne parishes in November.

During the first four months, we worshipped in the Parish Centre while a new ceiling, heating/cooling, a new altar, a new font, new ambo, new ambry, audio loop were installed in St Anne’s Church.

In May a proper access ramp was constructed at O.L.M.C. Church.

In November a gala auction dinner and raffle raised sufficient finance to restore the bell tower at O.L.M.C. Church hopefully by the time of the sesquicientary in March.  The steel has arrived in the factory.

In March, Paul Hogan, Deputy Principal at Essendon, was appointed Principal at O.L.M.C. School.  In June, Shane Crawford—Deputy Principal at Heidelberg was appointed Deputy Principal at St Anne’s School.  Sadly, we lost Helen Williams, a staff member for 26 years, in October as she entered eternal life.

During the third term, the carpark at St Anne’s Church was asphalted with a new bus terminal.  The Federal Government granted $200,000 and the school took out a ten year loan of $142,000.

Painting of the exterior of St Anne’s Church—was completed over five days under the expert guidance of Santo Munafo.  Sincere gratitude to the 20 parishioners who willingly gave their time earlier this month.

123 parishioners were baptised into the Body of Christ and brought into the life of our Church.

Confirmation  was  conferred  at St Patrick’s Cathedral on 8 November—two sessions to accommodate the 137 Confirmands.

27 weddings were celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

32 funerals took place in our churches.