“When you’re switched on ‘God Moments’ are everywhere! St Anne’s Primary school are focusing on paying attention to those many acts of goodness that often go unnoticed. Things like a smile from a stranger, sharing a laugh, kind greetings. We can find God wherever we look if we open our hearts.
PARISH BINGO—21ST BIRTHDAY
Our weekly bingo session “Major Bingo” is turning 21. Come along this Thursday 26 September and join in the fun.
$2000 major prize, give aways, gimmick games, special callers. Sunbury Football Social. Eyes down 7.30pm.
Enquiries Gary 0419 301 760.
Please note early start and supper provided.
PARISH COORDINATING TEAM
The PCT met last Wednesday and considered some of the proposals presented at our Assembly. The Coordinating Team considered two projects for our overseas aid– one in Bangalore, India and the other in Jakarta, Indonesia. Both projects are caring for orphans as a result of HIV. We are doing further research before making a decision.
As the National Royal Commission into response of institutions to child sexual abuse begins, the Team supported another prayer service as outlined on the front page of today’s newsletter. The Team considered the proposal of having a Parish Meeting night once a month where all the parish groups would gather briefly for prayer, have their group meetings for an hour and conclude with supper together. This proposal was first put forward at the 2012 Parish Assembly. Further research has been done and the proposal will now be implemented in stages in 2014. The first stage will be a Parish Expo of our parish groups and ministries on Sunday 23 February.
The Coordinating Team gave its support to the Liturgy Team’s proposed Festival of Readings and Carols on 22 December at 7.30pm in OLMC Church.
PLANNING FOR 2014
Last Tuesday, our School Principals, our Pastoral Associates, our Religious Education Leaders and our priest met for five hours to plan the dates for 2014. Our major change was the result of the Archbishop’s availability to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation: next year, the celebration of Confirmation will be two months earlier than this year (ie August 2014) necessitating our celebration of First Reconciliation being moved a month later (to September 2014). All the dates will be on your parish calendar which will be distributed by our parish posties in December with the Neighbourhood Newsletters.
YOUTH DISCO
NEW DATE!!!
Youth Disco will be held in the Parish Centre on Saturday 21st September.
Cost is $15 for secondary students and $10 for primary students.
Pizza and can of drink is included in this price.
Contact Garnet Jacob on 0411 286 428 for further information.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
“You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Luke 16:13). Without even knowing what mammon may be, we get the stewardship message — what is important to us? God, or all of the other things in our lives which may distract us from living God-centered lives.
Scholars cannot universally agree on the origins of the word “mammon.” In Greek the word was mammonas, which means “wealth or treasure.” In Latin the word was mammon, which translated “riches and avarice.” However, it is in Christ’s native language, Aramaic, where we may find the stewardship truth. The Aramaic word was mamon. That word had a dual meaning to the Lord in His own tongue —yes, it meant “riches,” but it also meant “chaos, darkness.”
That may have been the point Jesus was trying to make in the Parable of the Unjust Steward. It is not just devotion to things that provide us with a major roadblock to living lives of stewardship. Those same “riches” may place us in a world of darkness, not the light of Christ which results from living as good stewards. Jesus is constantly advising us to be very careful about attaching our hearts to “things.” Truly we cannot serve both God and mammon.
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
Parish Assembly 7th September 2013
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
“Rejoice with me for I have found my lost sheep.” (Luke 15: 6) Each of us may be that “lost sheep.” Each of us is in need of God’s forgiveness and the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All of the readings for this 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time deal with lost souls, lost people. The first reading from Exodus is the story of how the Israelites became spiritually lost by worshiping the Golden Calf while Moses was on the mountain top. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul outlines how he was lost until the Lord reached out to him. The Gospel includes three parables from Jesus, all of which talk about being lost — the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
In every case, however, it is a merciful and loving God who forgives and reaches out to whoever is lost. Stewardship teaches us to trust in God. It reminds us on a daily basis to give thanks to God for the love and blessings we receive. Yes, in a sense we are all lost, but no matter what, God loves us, God seeks us, and God welcomes us warmly when we repent and return. To paraphrase the Parable of the Prodigal Son, “We are lost, but through stewardship we can be found.”
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
CATHOLICCARE SPECIAL COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND
The annual appeal for CatholicCare will take place at all Masses this weekend. CatholicCare has been supporting and caring for the families of the Melbourne Archdiocese and relies on the support of our Catholic community. Please give generously so CatholicCare can continue to support families to deal with the complex issues they face.
Book marks from CatholicCare are at the Welcome Desk in St Anne’s foyer to thank you for your generous and continued support.
DIACONATE ORDINATION OF MATTHEW BALDWIN
The Diaconate Ordination of Mathew Baldwin will take place in Rome on 3 October. To mark the occasion, our parish is presenting Matthew with a stole, paid from your Thanksgiving Offering. The stole was shown to those at the Parish Assembly. Please continue to pray for Matthew as he is called to this new responsibility in our Church.
NEW ALTAR SERVERS
Congratulations and welcome to two new members of our Altar Servers Team – Ella Blackamore and Liam Fisher
FATHERS DAY APPEAL
A very big thank you to the generous parishioners who supported the Fathers Day appeal for retired and sick priests of our diocese. Our parishioners have contributed $1889.20.
YEAR OF FAITH
The Life , Marriage & Family Centre recently produced a marriage and family resource for the Year of Faith. Titled “Eat together…Pray together.. Go to Mass together” the resource outlines the importance of families sharing the simple traditions of Catholic family life together. Families come in all different shapes and sizes. There is some reflection on the role of the family. Also, there is a beautiful card available on the Welcome Desk in St Anne’s foyer about praying the Rosary. Please take one and pray it as family if you wish or on your own as a meditation.
YOUTH GROUP FUND RAISING
Calling all keen bakers!!!
Our youth group need your best cake and bake recipes to develop the Parish Cook Book. We are just looking for cakes and sweets at this time (if it goes well, a soup, casserole and curry one will follow). Please drop your recipes into the parish office or email sunbury@cam.org.au. All donations for recipes will be acknowledged in the cookbook. Closing date will be 16 August, so book orders can start being taken immediately. Any family legend recipes to share? Gran’s best apple pie? Aunt Jenny’s chocolate cake?
MAN OF ASSISI
Don’t miss out on a new exciting musical titled ‘The Man of Assisi’. This musical is staged by the makers of Call of Guadalupe. It follows the life of St Francis & is to be performed at 5 star performing arts theatre in 20 -22nd September. It is a very entertaining performance with stunning costumes, fantastic music & inspirational musical premier. 300 tickets have already been sold so get in quick to avoid missing out.
Contact 0413398528 or geraldine343@gmail.com or to buy tickets 03)90175065 or visit www.lifemusicals.com
MAJOR BINGO
Bingo is turning 21 and are celebrating at the Sunbury Football Social Club on Thursday 26 September. Eyes down at 7.30pm and lots of prizes to be won. Books can be paid for in advance. See Gary on Thursday.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
No matter how we read or interpret today’s readings, the bottom line is that being a follower of Jesus, pursuing lives of stewardship, is not going to be easy. The message of the Gospel in particular presents Jesus speaking about being His disciple as a difficult path indeed.
As stewards we should not and cannot be put off by these challenges. What the Lord is saying are things we already know, including that there may be conflicts in our own families; we will have our own Crosses to bear; and we must be prepared to love the Lord more than we care for the things in this world.
Jesus is reminding us that we must be equipped for these kinds of obstacles. However, did we not already know that? In the Gospel He speaks of being ready to be His disciple. To be a steward, to be ready, means that we must have a close relationship with the Lord. It means that we understand the importance and the power of prayer. And most of all it means that we know that Jesus is with us every step of the way. As our Holy Father Pope Francis said recently at the World Youth Day celebration: “Put on Christ in your life, and you will find a friend in whom you can always trust.”
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
CONFIRMATION PREPARATION
We welcome the children preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation and their families who will be attending all Masses this weekend. As part of their preparation the children will be receiving a copy of the Creed. The Creed is a “Confirmation” of our faith and we pray it every time we come to Mass.
OUR PRAYERFUL SYMPATHY
Our prayerful sympathy to Gerard and Carmel Duggan as their mother, Mary Duggan, entered eternal life last Monday. Mary was born into the Reddan family in 1924 and with her brothers Jack and Garry lived on a farm in Holden Road. Mary married the late Douglas Duggan. She and Douglas were involved in community organisations and were active visitors with St Vincent de paul Society. Mary donated the Mass Vestments used at her Funeral mass last Friday.
Our prayerful sympathy goes also to the family of Elvie Williams, especially to Johnny her husband and her daughters, Annette Byrne-Phillips, Pauline Drago, Maree Walsh, Margaret, Peter and John (dec) and their families. In recent weeks, Elvie called her family in and said goodbye. A week or so later, she was giving her grandchildren a tutorial on the necessity of prayer in our lives. Her Funeral Mass is on Wednesday at 11am.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF CANON LAWYERS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
The Conference was held in Adelaide over four days last weeks. 106 Catholics, men and women, married, religious, priests and bishops received wonderful presentations from Australian and overseas lecturers. Most of those present minister in marriage tribunals. Last year about 480 marriages were declared null. We heard the new Vatican Secretary of State is a very bright diplomat, fluent in five languages and will be a breath of fresh air for our Church and world.
……Kevin McIntosh
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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