POPE FRANCIS: “I HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING ON MY OWN”

On 30th June, in an interview with Italian daily “Il Messaggero”, the Pope was asked what was his plan. He replied

“The plan I follow is what the Cardinals have requested during the General Congregations before the Conclave (March 2013) ……. My decisions are the fruit of the pre Conclave meetings. I haven’t done anything on my own”

(English translation by Zenit 2 July 2014).

CHRISTMAS IN JULY DANCE

Dinner Dance

OLMC Youth Group will be hosting Christmas in July Dance in the Parish Centre on Saturday 26 July from 6pm.
Tickets cost $15.
Pizza and drink provided with cost of ticket.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

On Aboriginal Sunday we celebrate Aboriginal culture and their contribution to our Church. During NAIDOC Week 7th – 13th July many events celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are held where welcome to attend is extended to all. Refer to www.naidoc.org.au for details.

The NAIDOC Mass will be held at St Francis Church in the city on Sunday 13th July at 11 AM.
An art exhibition in the Pastoral Rooms beside St Francis from 7th July – 16th July has been done by primary schools FIRE carriers and expresses their journey as FIRE carriers.  FIRE – Fire igniting reconciliation through education.

Binnap Partners are holding a film screening on Sunday 20th July at the Nova Cinema in Carlton.
Funds raised go to the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry.  The film is ‘Charlie’s Country’, a compelling Australian film with Cannes award winning actor, David Gulpilil.  Tickets $20.00. Contact Pat on 9878 7939.  Bookings to be made by 14th July.

Opening the Doors Birthday Oration is on 6th August at Genazzano College.  Speaker Leila Gurruwiwi from the Marngrook Footy Show.  Details on Notice Board.   Opening the Doors

Foundation addresses the severe educational disadvantage still being experienced by many Aboriginal  and Torres Strait Islander families, by providing practical assistance so that they are able to choose and successfully maintain a positive educational environment for their children.

Please take the time to read the homily of Tamil Dominican Priest Father Pan Jordan of Pax Christi. A copy is on the notice board.  Father Pan’s homily received spontaneous and resounding applause at the funeral of Tamil asylum seeker Leo Seemanpillai.  It is powerful, profound and very moving.  Father Pan has agreed to share this homily.  Leo’s story is just one of many who once imagined they might find protection in our care.

We are grateful to Joe & Joan Koren for allowing the Parish to use their personal Message Stick at all Masses. The Message Stick acknowledges the Wirrunjeri people and shows the Sunbury “Rings” on the stick.

PREVENTING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

You would be aware of the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse in Institutions which is currently hearing of the many unfortunate cases of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and other Institutions. For those who have been impacted by institutional abuse, a special helpline exists to help the healing process begin.
It is  poignantly called the “Starting Point” Helpline. The number is 1800 99 10 99. If you need help and don’t know where to start, this may be the first step you take to begin your healing. Flyers are on the St Anne’s Welcome Desk in the foyer.

FR MATTHEW BALDWIN THANKSGIVING MASS

Sunday night 29th June we gathered in St Anne’s Church in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury to join with Rev Matthew Baldwin as he celebrated his Thanksgiving Mass following his Ordination on the previous day. His friends and family had come to celebrate with him, including his Uncle John from Cessnock. Apparently the Hunter Valley is much warmer than Sunbury at 5.30 at night.

Here is a slideshow of some photos of the night.

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MARY MACKILLOP FEAST DAY

Mary_mackillop

“As the Sisters of St Joseph expanded throughout Australia and beyond, Mary’s endurance, coupled with her compassion and leadership, touched many people’s lives leaving a legacy that endures today…”

Share in celebrating St Mary MacKillop’s Feastday on 8 August, 2014. Please visit the websites at www.sosj.org.au or www.marymackillop.org.au for celebrations.

SUNBURY CHAPLAINCY COMMITTEE IMPORTANT NOTICE

Hello to all supporters,

Many of you will have seen the segment on ‘A Current Affair’ this week slamming ACCESS Ministries and the work done by volunteers teaching CRE in schools.  As often happens, the media got it wrong!  Attached is a response by ACCESS setting the record straight.
Please note this is about SRI (Special Religious Instruction, or CRE as we know it), not Chaplaincy, but it will still be of interest to you all, I’m sure.
If you’re confused about the acronyms SRI and CRE (so was I! I still don’t know why the 2 terms!) ) – here is an explanation from the ACCESS website:
ACCESS ministries Christian Education program serves students and school communities in Victorian government schools by providing Christian Special Religious Instruction (SRI), which we refer to as Christian Religious Education (CRE).
Please feel free to forward or share this Statement (Click here for the statement) with anyone who is unclear about the role played by CRE teachers, or with anyone who has been misled or is confused by the media report.  I’m going to put it on the Uniting Church Facebook page.  It would be worthwhile to inform your congregations in some way too, if possible.  Let’s get the GOOD news out there!!
And let’s focus on the fact that over 90,000 children in 800 schools benefited from the CRE program last year!  What the TV report didn’t say much about is that parents can opt their children out of the program any time they want to – this has never changed!  Clearly thousands of parents are happy about their children participating and the ‘stars’ of the TV program are a minority.  Funny how the minority is always heard above the majority – people will often complain but rarely compliment, no matter what the subject!
It’s worth taking a look at the ACCESS Ministries website which has lots of useful information about CRE and Chaplaincy.
www.accessministries.org.au

Blessings to you all and thanks for your ongoing support!

Helen Hall
on behalf of the Sunbury Chaplaincy Committee
sunburychaplaincy@hotmail.com

ALTAR SERVERS

Training for Girls and Boys wishing to join the Altar Server Team will be held at 11am on Saturdays 5 and 12 July in St Anne’s Church.
New members must have received or are about to receive 1st Eucharist. Enquiries to Michael McConville 97442674

PROCLAIM 2014, CONFERENCE ON THE NEW EVANGELISATION

PROCLAIM 2014, CONFERENCE ON THE NEW EVANGELISATION

“LIVING THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL IN PARISHES”

PROCLAIM 2014 is for priests and key lay people who
want to build and grow their parish through outreach and evangelisation.  Come along to hear what one parish has done to grow from 1400 to 4000 committed parishioners… Keynote speakers are Fr Michael White and Tom Corcoran, Parish Priest and Pastoral Associate of Church of the Nativity, Timonium (North Baltimore) and Authors of Rebuilt.  Together they successfully rebuilt their dying parish and created a thriving community.
 Workshops will provide practical ideas and tools for participants to take back and apply in the parish.  Registrations are open. For more information see www.proclaimconference.com.au
Early Bird Closes: 30th June 2014. The Concourse, Chatswood (Sydney) from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd August.

REFUGEE WEEK

Sunday 22 June at 1.30pm starting at the State Library will be the World Refugee Day March. It is an opportunity for people to publicly express their concern about the plight of refugees both here and overseas. Did you know that Australia’s current policies are violating human rights and are not in line with the United Nations Refugee Convention?

MOTOR NEURON DISEASE FUNDRAISER

Marian O’Callaghan would like to thank the generous parishioners who supported her MND fundraiser last weekend. A total of $424 will be sent to MND Victoria this week.

CAR PARK ISSUES

Please take care and be courteous in the Church car park especially after Mass when congestion will naturally occur as parishioners leave around the same time. Please be aware of people walking between cars.

SR JOAN HEALY

Sr Joan is a Josephite Sister who recently received an Order of Australia Award for her significant social work and community based work. Sr Joan noted Saint Mary MacKillop as her inspiration for her outstanding work. Sr Joan worked for 25 years in Cambodia and in a refugee camp on the Thai/ Cambodia border. She also received an Honorary Doctorate at ACU for her significant contributions to the Community.
Please continue to pray for Sr Joan and the important work she does for those in need.

MATTHEW BALDWIN ORDINATION AND THANKSGIVING MASS

ORDINATION

June 28, Matthew Baldwin, a former student of St Anne’s school and Salesian College will celebrate his Ordination to the Priesthood at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

THANKSGIVING MASS
Sunday June 29, Matthew will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at our 5.30pm Parish Mass, at St Anne’s church. After Mass all are invited to share refreshments in the Parish Centre, to meet and congratulate Matthew. Please bring a small plate to share.

HEALING MASS 2014

On Wednesday 9 July at 7pm, St Anne’s Church will host the 2014 Healing Mass celebrated by Fr Varghese Parachkal and Fr Benny Mundanatte.
All welcome.

Acts 1:8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

ANNUAL ANNIVERSARY MASS

Are you celebrating your 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 70th wedding anniversary this year?
The Life, Marriage & Family Office invite you and your families to join us at the Annual Anniversary Mass. The Mass will be celebrated at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday 27th July at 11.00am by Archbishop Denis Hart. Couples who register will receive commemorative certificates and packs.
To register visit: www.cam.org.au/lifemarriagefamily or contact the Life, Marriage & Family Office on: 9287 5579 / lmf@cam.org.au. Registrations close on Friday 11th July.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

Invest in your most precious asset……Your Marriage! Forget life’s tensions and interruptions and rekindle the closeness, intimacy, love and romance that brought you together. Recharge your relationship batteries and explore the precious nature of your marriage, allowing you both to share your feelings, hopes and dreams with each other in ways that normal, daily living tends to inhibit.  There is no group sharing. Couples and a priest present the weekend. It is based around Catholic values but couples of all faiths are welcome.
2014 weekend dates : 13-15 June, 15-17 August, and 21-23 November in Melbourne.
Starts 7pm on Friday. Ends 5pm Sunday.
Accommodation and all meals provided.

Information/Bookings:  PH: Marianne & Marcel  (03) 9733 0997
At all Masses on weekend of 14/15 June, we will have a speaker to talk about Marriage Encounter Weekends.

EMMAUS CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP

EMMAUS CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP meets at St Anne’s Church at 10.00am on Thursdays. All welcome including children. For further info/transport please contact Grace on 9746 3294.

MOTOR NEURON DISEASE

This weekend of 7-8 June, Marian O’Callaghan will be fundraising for MND. She will be at all masses in St Anne’s church to support this worthy cause.
Please give generously.

For more information start here: https://mnd.asn.au/