MtCarmel

September 30, 2015October 16, 2015

FR KEVIN AT RENEWAL CONFERENCE IN POLAND

In 1952 following the destruction of World War II, Pope Pius XII urged Catholics to build a better world. In response, Fr.Riccardo Lombardi S.J. of Italy formed a group of Catholics of various vocations and the Pope resourced substantially this new group. Today, this group has 565 members in 25 countries, e.g., 83 in India, 52 in Korea, 42 in the Congo, 39 in PNG, 38 in Italy and smaller groups e.g, 9 in Spain, 8 in Australia, and 6 in France. Our parish renewal project is from this group.
The delegates of the group meet every four years over twelve days. This year they met in September in Krakow, Poland where I attended as a delegate of Australia. We gathered in a centre for spiritual formation. The Cardinal Archbishop of Krakow met us all individually. The conference uses three languages; imagine listening to a sermon three times in French, Spanish and English!
Krakow is where St. John Paul II was born in 1920 and lived until he was elected pope. This year, the diocese had seventy priests ordained. The city is 97 per cent Catholic with 150 churches. It is the venue for World Youth Day in August 2016.
We visited the nearby Auschwitz concentration camp where 1.1 million persons were executed by the Nazis – a very confronting place. We saw the hair, the clothes, and the children’s shoes of those exterminated between 1940 and 1945.
Today, since the fall of communism Poland is growing economically, with good educational and medical facilities, a safe place with good public transport. …..Kevin McIntosh

September 30, 2015October 29, 2015

OCTOBER 2015 STEWARDSHIP MONTH

A MESSAGE FROM FR KEVIN
My dear friends,
This weekend we commence a special program — a Parish Stewardship Program. We undertake the Program recognising that “Parishes are the Heartbeat of the Church.”
Over the next few weeks we will ask ourselves what it means to be a part of our parish community. We will reflect on the three key areas that identify our parish as a special community of faith:
Firstly, that we are a parish which celebrates faith. We know the importance of gathering as a community to celebrate the Eucharist at Mass, We know that it is the foundation of who we are as a Catholic community. But importantly, we don’t merely attend Mass, we celebrate our faith. As Pope Francis says, “……… it is a beautiful thing to do.”
Secondly, that we are a parish that values engagement. We recognise the importance of being involved in parish groups and ministries. We encourage parishioners to be involved in the many opportunities available to nurture, grow and live our faith — as listed in the Program Time & Talent sheet.
Thirdly, we are a parish that supports generously. We firmly believe in the need to plan and budget for our personal financial commitment to our parish – giving us the resources to sustain our parish today and to grow and respond to Pope Francis’ call to Mission.
| encourage your active involvement in the Program – read the materials, listen to our speakers and discuss the issues with your family and friends. I also invite you to attend the key meeting of the Program —the Parish Information Meeting.
Let us all use this Program as a wonderful opportunity to grow our community of faith in our parish
Yours in Christ,

Rev Kevin McIntosh
Parish Priest

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
Dear fellow parishioners,
Father Kevin has asked me to be the Chairperson of our Parish Stewardship Program and I am happy to offer and use the gifts I have for this Program.
Together with my fellow members of the Program Leadership Team, i have met with Lorella Di Paolo from the Parish Development Office of the Archdiocese who will be guiding us through the Program. We have all been impressed with the message and structure of the Program and believe it will provide a wonderful opportunity to reflect, discuss and reaffirm what it means to be a parishioner here at our parish.
We are confident that with your support and involvement the Program can bring great benefits for us all as individuals as well as for our entire parish community. I endorse the Program and encourage your active participation. Throughout the course of the Program, please do not hesitate to contact me with any queries.

Warm Regards,
Karen Rose

The brochure which includes the Stewardship Pledge Card can be seen and downloaded here.

September 22, 2015October 8, 2015

SALESIAN COLLEGE OPEN EVENING

COLLEGE OPEN EVENING – All Welcome

Thursday 8th October

Commences at 5.00 pm with tours. Evening finishes at 7.00 pm

Come and experience the stunning grounds of Rupertswood first hand. Visit the classrooms, see live activities happening around the College; come and visit our Year 9 Centre; and take a look at our newly refurbished Dance Studio and Arts Centre with the amazing view!

Information and enrolment packs will be available.
Key staff will be on hand to answer your questions.

September 7, 2015September 30, 2015

REPORT AND SLIDESHOW FROM THE 2015 PARISH ASSEMBLY

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September 5, 2015September 11, 2015

ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY 2015

ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
This occurred on Saturday 5th September from 9.30am to 12 noon in the Parish Centre.
Those present thanked the representatives of our schools and Parish Pastoral Team and the representatives of all our various volunteer groups that are active in our parish.
The future development of the current and additional schools in our parish, as well as the maintenance required by our two churches, was subject to concerned discussion. It was discovered that some important work needs to be carried out immediately in St Anne’s Church. A contract has been let for the repairs to the St Anne’s car park.
All this discussion led to the urgent need for viable funding required to carry out God’s work in our parish. Our evangelising efforts will come to nought if those evangelised lose their cars down a hole in our car park.
Additionally it was discussed as to ways to call more parishioners to a more active role in all the tasks that are required so that the Word of God may be heard in our parish area.
“I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit” John 15:16

September 3, 2015September 30, 2015

CHRISTMAS ON THE GREEN 12th DECEMBER 2015

Christmas on the Green is our annual Inter– Church celebration of the Birth of Christ our Saviour. I attended a two-hour meeting last Wednesday night of representatives of the Anglican, Catholic, Encounter, Methodist and Uniting Churches of Sunbury. There is so much to organise for this event– advertising in the press, with posters, with billboards, security, the animal farm, children’s activities, St John’s Ambulance, CFA, Police, Western Water, Sunbury schools, Sunbury Chorale, sponsorship, printing the programs, setting up marquees, emergency plan, 3NRG, Hume Council, food stalls, etc. The event will be on Saturday 12 December from 5pm and Carols at 7pm to 8.30pm on the Village Green. …..Kevin McIntosh

Are you able to do FACE PAINTING? Are you willing to VOLUNTEER? Are you available on Sat. 12th Dec. 2015? Costs can be reimbursed. Please ring Wilmy on 9740 9448

September 3, 2015September 30, 2015

TRUTH, JUSTICE, HEALING COUNCIL

The Truth, Justice and Healing Council is coordinating the Catholic Church’s re- sponse to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse with a commitment to justice and compassion for survivors. There are twelve members of the Council including men and women with professional expertise in areas of child sexual abuse, paedophilia, trauma, mental illness, suicide, education and public administration.
From the Truth Justice and Healing Council blog:

We are now hard on the half way mark of the Royal Commission, both in terms of the time allocated and the public policy and examination work it has set itself.
By the end of the year it will have undertaken 33 of the up to 60 public hearings it indicated would form the examination component of its work.
Commissioner McClellan has indicated that what will surely be the last of the public hearings involving the Church will take place in early 2017.
This hearing will look in more depth at a range of cultural, institutional and systemic issues that have been touched on during public hearings so far but haven’t been the subject of dedicated examination.
The big questions of what it was about the culture of the Catholic Church at the time that led to the extent of child sexual abuse and why it was responded to the way it was will come into focus.
That hearing will likely look more closely at the role of the Vatican in the crisis, issues such as clerical training, the screening of candidates for the priesthood and religious life, the impact of clericalism, the management of offenders and the role of women, amongst others.
There is little doubt that by the end of 2017 the number of public hearings into the operations of the church will leave few, if any, stones unturned.

Read it all here:http://www.tjhcouncil.org.au/media/tjhc-blog.aspx

August 28, 2015September 3, 2015

PARISH CENSUS DATA

Thanks to the hundreds of you who filled in the census cards last Sunday. If you did not fill in a census card last Sunday, please do so today. The census data is only for our the good of our parish. The cards will be handed out at the first collection and collected at the second collection.

August 9, 2015August 17, 2015

DON BOSCO’S 200TH BIRTHDAY

DON BOSCO’S 200TH BIRTHDAY
On Sunday 16 August the Salesians will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Don Bosco’s birth with a mass at 10.30am in St Anne’s Church. All are welcome, especially those with a special link to Salesian College. All are invited to join us at the parish centre after Mass for refreshments and the cutting of the birthday cake. Those who can, bring a plate. Those who can’t, just bring yourself.
All Welcome on Wednesday at 9am Mass With Our Archbishop at Rupertswood
…. Fr Bert Fulbrook sdb

August 6, 2015August 20, 2015

END POVERTY………..15YEARS OF ACHIEVMENT

Millennium Development Goals Report 2014
(Click here to read the full report)

Fourteen years ago, the Millennium Declaration articulated a bold vision and established concrete targets for improving the existence of many and for saving the lives of those threatened by disease and hunger. There has been important progress across all goals, with some targets already having been met well ahead of the December 31st 2015 deadline.

Several MDG targets have been met

• The world has reduced extreme poverty by half

• Efforts in the fight against malaria and tuberculosis have shown results
If the trends continue, the world will reach the MDG targets on malaria and tuberculosis.

• Access to an improved drinking water source became a reality for 2.3 billion people
The target of halving the proportion of people without access to an improved drinking water source was achieved in 2010, five years ahead of schedule.

• Disparities in primary school enrolment between boys and girls are being eliminated in all developing regions
By 2012, all developing regions have achieved, or were close to achieving, gender parity in primary education.

• The political participation of women has continued to increase

• Development assistance rebounded, the trading system stayed favourable for developing countries and their debt burden remained low

• Major trends that threaten environmental sustainability continue, but examples of successful global action exist

• Hunger continues to decline, but immediate additional efforts are needed to reach the MDG target

• Chronic undernutrition among young children declined, but one in four children is still affected

• Child mortality has been almost halved, but more progress is needed

• Much more needs to be done to reduce maternal mortality

• Antiretroviral therapy is saving lives and must be expanded further

• Over a quarter of the world’s population has gained access to improved sanitation since 1990, yet a billion people still resorted to open defecation

• 90 per cent of children in developing regions are attending primary school

The MDGs brought together governments, the international community, civil society and the private sector to achieve concrete goals for development and poverty eradication. Much has been accomplished through the concerted and focused efforts of all, saving and improving the lives of many people, but the agenda remains unfinished. The analysis presented in this report points to the importance of intensifying efforts to meet all MDG targets.
The post-2015 development agenda is slated to carry on the work of the MDGs and integrate the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Continued progress towards the MDGs in the remaining year is essential to provide a solid foundation for the post-2015 development agenda.
Wu Hongbo
Under-Secretary-General for Economic
and Social Affairs

July 19, 2015July 30, 2015

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR FAITH AND LIFE AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Do you know someone who has questions:
About Faith? About Life?
About the Catholic Church?
Are you interested in rediscovering your own faith?

The Catholic Community of Sunbury
welcomes you to an inquiry night:
Monday 27 July 7.30pm at St Anne’s Church

Further info please call:

June 28, 2015September 3, 2015

NEW MASS VESTMENTS

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New Mass Vestments have been created by our artists Judy and Deb. They have been designed to fit in with our tapestry on the Paschal Mystery. There are five vestments for the five liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas, Easter, Lent, Pentecost and Ordinary Time. The artists have spent 500 hours planning and sewing. In the past, parishioners have donated a vestment. Anyone wishing to donate a vestment in memory of a loved one whose name is discreetly sewn inside the vestment, is asked to contact the Parish Office.

June 12, 2015June 26, 2015

CALLING All GARDENERS! THE MINI VINNIES NEED YOU

The Mini Vinnies from OLMC School are trying to raise funds and awareness for the needy by running a produce stall at our school. We are asking any gardeners with excess produce to please donate any goods they can for us to sell. The money raised will go directly lo the Vinnies Winter Appeal and any excess produce will be donated lo the Rotary Kitchen which feeds many families in Sunbury. Please drop items off on Monday 15th June or Monday 22nd June between 8.30am and 9.00am. The produce stall will be on the school grounds. Enter via the Church gates.
Thank you for your support, Mini Vinnies Conference at OLMC School.

June 12, 2015June 12, 2015

ALTAR SERVERS TRAINING

Training for young people wishing to join the Altar Server team will be held at 11am on Saturdays 6th and 13th of June. Girls and Boys wishing to join the team must be at least 10 years of age and have received or about to receive First Eucharist.
Enquiries Michael McConville 0417332186

June 5, 2015June 26, 2015

ST VINNIES WINTER APPEAL SUNDAY 14TH JUNE

St Vinnies Special Collection Sunday 14th June.
It’s been an awesome year! Since May 2014 this is what we have done together with Sunbury parishioners, Sunbury donors of material goods, Vinnies Store volunteers in O’Shanassy St, and the Sunbury Conference of St Vincent de Paul. We were able to:

make 875 home visits to people in crisis
assist 308 families/friends of whom 324 were children
ease budget and other pressures by giving vouchers totaling $77,329.38

Well done! God bless us all and our friends.