A proposal at the Parish Assembly in September was to establish a Key Register for the Parish Properties. If you currently hold a key to any Parish Property, could you please contact the parish office on 9744 1060 as you will need to sign the Key Register.
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
We would love to hear from people who are able to assist with Children’s Liturgy of the Word at Sunday Mass. Please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060 to register your interest.
WOOD ITEMS FROM BETHLEHEM
Christian families in Bethlehem are supported by making and selling items of a religious nature made from olive wood.
At Masses on 4/5 February and 11/12 February there will be a sale of items priced from $5 to $150.00.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee and called the first disciples, inviting them, “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.”
In much the same way, Christ calls each of us to follow Him and to use the time, talents, and treasure He has given us to build the Kingdom.
St. Paul reminds us, “the world in its present form is passing away.” So, we ought not to get caught up in the things of this world. We ought to live in this world but not of it, proclaiming the goodness of God and the glory of His Kingdom.
Each one of us has been given particular gifts of time, talent, and treasure, and it is up to us to recognize those gifts and to share them lovingly in such a way that God will be glorified and we will call others to come to know him. In all we say and do, we must honor Him. He must be more important to us than anything else – more important than our careers, more important than our hobbies, even more important than our families. The disciples in today’s gospel show us just how unreserved our response to God must be. They left their nets – their careers as fishermen – and left their father, to serve the Lord.
For most of us, the call to discipleship will not require us to leave behind family and friends and even our secular career. But for all of us, the call to be a disciple means God must be first and foremost in our lives, and we must offer Him the first fruits of our time, talents, and treasure as His faithful followers.
Copyright © 2011 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
WORKING BEE
Working bees around St Anne’s Church resume on Saturday 4 February 2012 starting at 9 til 12.00. Our work will concentrate on the grounds around St Anne’s Church and the Parish Centre. Please bring weeding gear, wheelbarrows, shovels, whipper snipers, etc. All welcome, help make St Anne’s look like the Garden of Eden.
DIARY DATES 2012
DIARY DATES 2012
Welcoming children into the Christian Community
Reconciliation in 2012 and First Communion in 2013:
* Information and Registration sessions for all parents: 2pm or 7.30pm, Tuesday 6 March, Parish Centre
* Celebration of First Reconciliation: 9, 14 and 16 August, 7pm St. Anne’s Church
* Celebration of First Communion: May 2013
First Communion 2012:
* May/June…………………Families have been advised of the preparation and celebration dates.
Confirmation:
* Information and Registration sessions for all parents: 2pm or 7.30pm, Tuesday 21 February, Parish Centre
* Celebration of Confirmation: 2pm and 4pm, Sunday 14 October at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Baptism of School Age Children:
* Sunday 17 June and Sunday 25 November
Contact the Parish Office NOT LESS THAN 6 WEEKS before these dates to arrange preparation.
For more information contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060 or e-mail: richard.hallett@cam.org.au
PARISH BINGO IS BACK!
Parish Bingo is held every Thursday Evening at the Sunbury Football Social Club, Clarke Oval, Riddell Rd Sunbury. $999.00 last game prize. Come on give it a go! Eyes down at 8.00pm Ticket sales from 7.00pm.
Dinner and snacks available.
EVENING ADORATION
Held at St Anne’s Church on Friday 2 December from 7-8pm.
HELP PLEASE
It is that time of year again where we will be sorting the new Thanksgiving envelopes.
We will be sorting the new envelopes on Wednesday 25 January after morning Mass.
If you are available to help, please meet at the Parish Centre.
CATHOLICCARE OUTREACH PROGRAM
In the past our community has given generously to Catholiccare. Our community has access to the services provided by this wonderful organisation through the outreach program.
It is run through the Sunbury Community Health Service and the hours of operation are: Mon, Tues, Thurs 9-5; Wed 11.30am-7pm.
Services provided range from individual, couple and family counselling, stress man- agement, grief and loss, pain management and parenting. Please contact 9744 4455 to arrange an appointment if you need to use this service.
FOSTER CARE
If you are in a position to open your heart and home to help a child, please consider foster care. Every night in Victoria there are thousands of vulnerable children who need a safe place to stay because they are unable to live at home.
If you can help, please contact MacKillop Family Services on 8398 6800.
KEY REGISTER
A proposal at the Parish Assembly in September was to establish a Key Register for the Parish Properties. If you currently hold a key to any Parish Property, could you please contact the parish office on 9744 1060 as you will need to sign the Key Register.
VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
We would love to hear from people who are able to assist with Children’s Liturgy of the Word at Sunday Mass. Please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060 to register your interest.
VALE FR TOM MCCARTHY
Fr Tom entered eternal life last week aged 90 years after being a priest for 64 years, even after retiring in 2006, he ministered in a local nursing home. He served in the parishes of East Brighton, Elsternwick, Mansfield, Clifton Hill, Glen Iris, Ascot Vale and then as parish priest of Geelong North, Macleod and Balwyn until 2006. As he began his studies for the priesthood in 1940, his local priest described Tom as “a young man of excellent, manly character, solid piety, as well as a thorough gentleman in his manner.”
CHRISTMAS OFFERING
30% is used to support the 93 retired priests of Melbourne, 5 Melbourne bishops, 2 retired bishops and priests in poor parishes. The remainder is used to provide a lease car for the priest of the parish, running expenses of the presbytery, medical insurance and the living allowance to the priest. I thank you for your generosity this Christmas
….. Kevin McIntosh
QUOTE
I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very centre of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.
…….H.G Wells
2012 COLUMBAN CALENDAR
The 2012 edition is the 90th Edition of the Columban Calendar. It is now available at the Piety Stall for only $8. Buy this Special edition of the calendar and you will be helping our missionaries at the same time. This calendar makes an excellent gift for family and friends. There is an Art Guide Presentation with an explanation of each painting on the website: www.columban.org.au.
FOSTER CARE
Every night in Victoria there are thousands of children who need a safe place to stay because they are unable to live at home. The long-term benefits of providing a stable and loving home environment are crucial to development of the vulnerable children and young people that MacKillop Family Services work with every day.
If you are able to help a child please contact MacKillop Family Services on 8398 6800 or www.mackillop.org.au
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VOCATION VIEW
A good Vocation prayer to say everyday, from the time we are ten years old till we are ninety years old, is found in today’s first Scripture Reading: ‘Speak, Lord for your servant is listening.’ Just try it with sincerity starting today.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READING
The theme of today’s readings is one any stewardship parish should be familiar with, and one whose message bears such a significant impact on our lives that it is well worth repeating time and time again.
God calls each one of us to be His disciples. He knows we are made to know, love and serve Him, and so He reveals Himself to us and calls us to Himself. Just as He called Samuel in the first reading, and then Andrew, Simon Peter, and the unnamed disciple in the Gospel reading, God calls us. He invites us to share in His life of love, because He knows that’s what we are made for.
However, His call necessitates a response. God doesn’t force us into a relationship with Him. Rather, He reveals Himself to us, much like He did to the men in today’s readings.
Both the Old Testament reading and the Gospel tell us of men who heard God’s call, responded by willfully following the Lord and then offered themselves to God as His stewards, using their gifts to bring others to Him.
God calls each and every one of us today, and He wants us to respond. We hear His call in numerous ways, and often, just like He did with Samuel and Andrew, the Lord uses other people to reveal Himself to us, to call us to Himself. We simply must be open to the call, keeping our hearts and minds fixed on Him, and then, we must respond to Him. Our response involves a willing gift of self, offering the Lord all we are – our time, our talent, and our treasure – to serve Him. Then, our lives will bear witness to the Love and goodness of the Lord, and, just as Andrew brought Simon, we will help others find the Lord.
Copyright © 2011 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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