This weekend is particularly important for the children preparing for Confirmation. At all masses we welcome the children and their families as they take part in the Rite of Election. The children will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Patrick’s Cathedral on October 13. A reminder for parents that Parenting in Faith sessions will be held on Monday 19 August and Tuesday 20 August at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
“One’s life does not consist of possessions” (Lk 12:15).
With those words, Jesus reaffirmed what He tries to teach throughout His ministry. You may be aware that more than half of His parables dealt directly with this concept of “possessions and ownership.”
Stewardship, of course, makes it clear that what we may have, possess, or own is merely a gift for which we are the caretaker, the steward. Yet, this remains one of the main stumbling blocks to a stewardship way of life.
We live in a society that places great emphasis on possessions — the car we drive, the house we live in, the latest technological advancements. This attitude has been prevalent to humankind for thousands of years. The way the Lord addressed it in His time is still quite applicable today. He cautions us that the measure of our life is not found there, however. The parable of the rich man with the good harvest makes it all absolutely clear. The Lord closes the parable by saying, “Thus will it be for all who store up treasures for themselves, but are not rich in what matters to God” (Lk 12:21). Stewardship challenges us to get our priorities correct and to understand that what may seem important in this life is not important in the next.
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
FR KEVIN’S DIARY
ANNUAL PRIESTS’ CONFERENCE
Last week, Archbishop Denis requested all Melbourne Priests to undertake professional development at this Conference over four days. 131 priests including Fathers Martin Ashe, Greg Bourke, Philip Le and Linh Tran, who served us here in the past, lived in at the conference centre where we prayed, enjoyed each other’s company and heard four wonderful presenters: a theology lecturer, a biblical scholar, a Burmese asylum seeker and the Catholic coordinator working at the Royal Commission into institutional child abuse. We prayed the Prayer of the Church and the Eucharist but also prayed in small groups of eight. We viewed the movie “The Lady” about the life of Aung San Suu Kyi, how she sacrificed her life for her country.
The topics were well-integrated with each other. It was great to catch up with fellows from other parts of our large diocese. I consider our conference was excellent as it was inspiring and thought provoking.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY INSPECTION
The regular inspection last Friday found our parish is complying with the government regulations.
…..Kevin McIntosh
WORLD YOUTH DAY
WYD 2013 ran for six days concluding last Sunday when 3.2 million people gathered on Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janiero for Mass with Pope Francis as presider. The City Mayor’s Office estimated the crowd, the biggest since World Youth Day in Manila in 1995 where 4.5 million attended the final Mass with Pope John Paul II. Pope Francis gave some challenging messages to the youth, including these words:
“We need saints without cassocks, without veils– we need saints with jeans and tennis shoes. We need saints that go to the movies… and hang out with their friends. We need saints that place God in first place ahead of succeeding in any career. We need saints that look for time… to pray every day and who know how to be in love with purity, chastity and all good things. We need saints– saints for the 21st century with a spirituality appropriate for our new time.”
See Final Mass for 3 million pilgrims below
OUR PRAYERFUL SYMPATHY
Our prayers and sympathy we offer to Mary Wicks as her husband Jack entered eternal life this week after a long illness. Jack’s Funeral Service will be on Monday at 10.30am in St Anne’s Church, concluding with committal at Sunbury cemetery.
Also to Sarina Kelly as her husband Gordon entered eternal life last week aged 64 years. The Kelly family have been in our parish for four generations.
THANK YOU
Thanks to Cath & Colin Missen for their kind donation of a book shelf for the purposes of storing the parish photographs and historical items.
THANK YOU
As you might have read in the Newsletter 2 weeks ago, Louise Oswald and Rita Rocco were part of a Winter Sleep out to raise funds for St Vincent de Paul. They wish to send a big Thank you to all who supported them as they have managed to raise a bit over $3000.00.
Congratulations Louise and Rita, and the money raised will be used to help those in need.
FACING THE TRUTH
Bishop Blase J. Cupich, Bishop of the Spokane Diocese in the State of Washington, visited Australia this month and recorded two videos. In the first, he discusses the recent research by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and in the second, he talks about rebuilding trust in the Catholic Church. The Bishop is also the former Chair of the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. To view these videos please visit www.facingthetruth.org.au and subscribe for further updates.
JUBILEE OF PRIESTS OF MELBOURNE
This month, we are celebrating the 60 years of Ordination (1953) of Father Paddy Duggan, 50years (1963) Mgr Peter Kenny, Fathers Bren Donahue, Leo Griffin, John Flynn, George O’Connor, Gerry Beasley, John Wilken SJ, Gerry O’Collins SJ, Stephen Gnejc, Tony Kelly CSsR, Allan Mithen, Juliano Cavarzan SDB and 25 years (1988) Fathers Michael Miles and Kevin McGovern and Leenus Netany.
May the Lord continue to bless these priests and their ministry.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
“Ask and you shall receive…seek and you shall find…knock and the door will be opened.” Today’s Gospel includes all of these admonitions, and more. The late Archbishop Thomas Murphy, who chaired the Bishops’ committee on stewardship, was apt to say, “Just because you are living out stewardship may not mean the gates of Heaven will fly open for you.”
Thus, from a stewardship viewpoint, it is worth considering what door was Jesus talking about? He was speaking of Himself. He is our door to eternity; He is the gate; He is the gatekeeper. In fact, the Lord refers to Himself as the gatekeeper in John 10:7: “Amen, Amen, I say to you that I am the door of the sheep.”
The point is that stewardship is a way of life to which we are called. However, we are also called to pray — to have a consistent and planned relationship to God. It is not enough to share and to give and to love; we must go beyond that so that, as Paul indicates in today’s second reading, we are one with Christ: “You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God.”
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
MORNING TEA
Morning tea will be held next Sunday morning after 8.30am Mass in St Anne’s Church.
All welcome.
Please bring a plate to share.
SING A LONG
The Sing-a-Long will not be held this month. The next Sing-a-Long will be Friday 6 September. Put it in your diary.
WORKING BEE
A working bee will be held next Saturday 3 August from 9am to noon at St Anne’s Church. Please bring along you own tools.
HISTORICAL DISPLAY
As part of our parish feast day last week, some items of historical significance will remain on display in St Anne’s Church in the chapel.
All welcome.
ST MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP FEAST DAY
The feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop will be celebrated at Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre on Saturday 3 August from 10am to 4pm at 362 Alberts St, East Melbourne.
More info contact 9926 9300.
THE STATUE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA FROM AMERICA
The statue will be arriving at St. Mark’s Church Fawkner, on 1st August (Thursday) morning. The Parish Primary School and Parishioners will welcome the Blessed Virgin Mary at 9:45 followed by the Holy Mass at 10:00am. It will be a day of prayer and reflection. At 6:30pm there will be a concluding Mass. The Blessed Virgin will continue her pilgrimage to Rosebud around 8:00pm.
After the Mass, a light supper will be available in the hall.
For further information contact St. Mark’s parish on 93593111.
THANKS
Thanks to our generous parishioners. On Aboriginal Sunday a special collection was taken up and the amount of $1044.60 has been donated to help educate young Aboriginal children in our Catholic schools that they will have a brighter future.
ADORATION
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held in St Anne’s Church on the first Friday of every month from 7-8pm and is led by the Legion of Mary.
ROSARY
The Rosary is prayed at St Anne’s Church every Saturday morning from 9am and is led by the Legion of Mary.
MOTHERS OF OUR PRIESTS
We commend to the Lord, Vera, mother of Fr Noel Brady (Kings Park) and Jean, mother of Fr Peter O’Rourke (East Preston). May Mary the Mother of Christ of the Priest pray for these mothers.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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