Sunbury Action Group of the Leprosy Mission is holding an afternoon of Spring Delights on Thursday 20 September 2012 at 1.30pm at St Andrews Uniting Church, Sunbury. Admission is $7. Full details are in the brochure available at the Welcome Desk.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Today’s scripture readings focus heavily on the Lord’s almighty power and His love for all of us. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah promises a savior who will heal the deaf, the blind, and the lame, and in the gospel, we see Jesus do just that. He heals a deaf man. But the message of today’s readings is not simply that God performs miracles (although we ought to recognize that He does). Today’s readings remind us of God’s infinite goodness. He loves and cares for each and every one of us in infant homage ways. He provides for all our needs. He gives us every good gift. He has come to save us all, offering every one of us everlasting life with Him – miracle of miracles.
We should, then, be like the people in Mark’s gospel who witnessed Christ’s healing of the blind man. They couldn’t keep their mouths shut. They were so awed by what He had done that they had to spread the good news! So should we. God has done so much for us, and He continues to. Our lives should be a witness to the world, proclaiming His praises to the ends of the earth. In the way we live our lives, in what we say and do, those we come into contact with ought to be able to see that God is good, that He loves each one of us, and that He is the source of all good gifts.
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
THE BRIGIDINE ASYLUM SEEKERS’ PROJECT
The Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project warmly invites you to a Discussion Night TUESDAY 18 September 2012 7.30 – 9.30pm at St Joseph’s Hall, 274 Rouse Street Port Melbourne.
PARISH ASSEMBLY 2012
The Annual Parish Assembly was held in the morning of 1 September. The assembly was a very happy, peaceful gathering with a very positive atmosphere. The minutes of the assembly are at the Welcome Desk. Developments from last years assembly were noted, eg. re-introduction of Children’s Liturgy of the Word, further members of St Vincent de Paul Society, better audio visual at OLMC Church, an evangelising letter to 3550 Catholic households four times per year, the international day.
Several groups including our two schools gave reports on the past twelve months.
The schools highlighted religious education initiatives especially in social justice plus the developments in teaching and learning, including use of technology. The Legion of Mary gave their report of their pastoral care to those in aged care. Vinnies gave a report of their practical care to hundreds of people in Sunbury which was so inspiring.
Fourteen proposals were put before the assembly. Seven proposals were requests for more assistance, generally of more workers to existing programmes: Baptismal Preparation team, Bingo workers, Communion ministers to sick and frail, Legion of Mary, RCIA Team, Small Christian Communities and the Youth Group.
Seven new proposals were tabled: assist archiving of Parish Historical material, a bus for the Evergreens, Catholic Education Foundation for parish families; improve acknowledgement plaque; a memorial garden at St Anne’s Church; structure all parish meetings and support a health project in remote PNG.
The fourteen proposals are on the walls of the Gathering space. Please take time to view them and sign up today or next Sunday to the proposals, either as a new volunteer or to go on a sub-committee to investigate one of the seven new proposals. Please sign up on the proposals.
I thank the Parish Co-Ordinating Team for planning the Assembly and Michael McConville for his facilitating the Assembly (and for the photos).
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
In today’s scripture readings, we reflect on how living as Christian disciples is not about just giving of ourselves – our time, our talents, and our treasure – so that we meet some obligation, or so that others see what we do and are pleased.
If that is our intention, then we are like the scribes and the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, whom Jesus calls hypocrites. We are called to give ourselves solely out of love – love of God and love of neighbor, recognizing that God is the great gift giver, and we are grateful to Him.
Life as a Christian steward must be lived with an attitude of gratitude. Everything we do must be done because we love the Lord.
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
PASTORAL LETTER
The Bishops of Victoria together with the Leaders of Catholic Religious Australia and Catholic Religious Victoria have issued a Pastoral letter about the Parliamentary Inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other non-government organisations. In the letter the Church Leaders state that they respect the parliamentary process and will co-operate fully with the Inquiry. The letter includes a Prayer for Healing which can be used for individual or group prayer. Copies of the Pastoral Letter are available for you to take home.
SUNBURY ACTION GROUP OF THE LEPROSY MISSION
SUNBURY ACTION GROUP OF THE LEPROSY MISSION is holding an afternoon of Spring Delights on Thursday 20 September 2012 at 1.30pm at St Andrews Uniting Church, Sunbury.
Admission is $7.
Full details are in the brochure available at the Welcome Desk.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
In today’s readings, we focus on the Holy Eucharist. Jesus tells us, “For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”
The Eucharist is, in fact, Jesus’ body and blood. It is not simply a symbol. It is real. Christ gives Himself, whole and entire, so that we might have life in Him.
It is our responsibility, then, not only to revere the Eucharist, recognizing its sacred nature, but to run to Christ in the Eucharist, to receive Him regularly and eagerly, with hearts burning to live for Him.
What’s more, today’s readings challenge us to ponder how we live our lives. In response to God’s gift of Himself, do we offer Him ourselves, whole and entire, in return?
St. Paul tells us, we are called to live for the Lord, “giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP: THE FIRST PEOPLES ARE NOT ‘THEM’ – THEY ARE ‘US’
Following the very disappointing news that the Strong Futures legislation had been passed by the Senate, the Assembly of the United Church, who were meeting in Adelaide, protested on the steps of the South Australian Parliament. They were not meddling in politics, they were being the church. Four hundred people in total walked in silence from the Assembly venue to hold a vigil on the steps of Parliament House to sing, pray and mourn the continuing disrespect shown to the First Peoples of this land, in a public act of worship and lament.
We are one body in Christ ‘if one member suffers, all suffer’. (1 Corinthians 12:26) This legislation was also strongly opposed by the Australian Catholic Bishops. In the words of Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra from the Northern Territory, the Government has declared a ‘war on democracy.’ It has ignored our 43,000 signatures, the 450 submissions made to the Senate Enquiry, United Nations condemnation and even its own Human Rights Committee asking for a human rights test of the legislation.
The full statement by Andrew Dutney, President of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church can be obtained at the Welcome
FUNDRAISER
An invitation is extended to attend a movie afternoon that has been arranged to raise funds for the next African Children’s Choir in Uganda. Sunday August 12 at 4pm “The Sapphires” starring Jessica Mauboy and Deborah Mailman will be played at Readings Cinema Sunbury.
Tickets are $25 each and include admission and refreshment at the end of the movie.
All profits will go directly to Kwaya Aust. Inc. Contact Sonjo on 9740
1705 for tickets.
If you would like to know more about Kwaya Aust Inc, go to www.kwaya.org.
WALK AS ONE INAUGURAL FORUM
Indigenous communities are over represented among the world’s poorest and most marginalised. How can we walk in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples to challenge this injustice? Join us on 25-26 August in Sydney for two exciting days of learning, skill building and action planning. Visit our website for more information: http://www.caritas.org.au/act/walk-as-one-indigenous-peoples-campaign.
GRACEFEST
GRACEFEST is a five day festival from this Wednesday to next Sunday as part of the Year of Grace.
Full details are in the booklet available at the Welcome Desk.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
“Live in love,” St. Paul tells us.
It is as simple as that. There is no need for us to get caught up in the ways of the world – consumed with our possessions or achievements, focused on keeping up with the Joneses or being the best of the best. No. As St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading, in order to be happy and fulfilled in our lives, in order to do what we were created to do, to glorify the Lord and live worthy of the lives He has given us, we must simply live in love.
Notice how much more peaceful and manageable that calling is to the calling of the world which encourages us to attain more material possessions, to become a better businessman than the next one, to have the biggest most well furnished house on the block, and on and on. The world encourages us to find comfort and greatness in the here and now. It is exhausting just to think about. And, what’s more, it will never fulfill us, because we were not made for the here and now. We were made for God.
God calls us to simply love – love Him above all else and love our neighbors as ourselves. And, the wonderful Lord that He is, He does not merely call us to do that, He gives us an example to follow.
So, St. Paul urges us, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed Himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God” (second reading).
Living in love, in true, unconditional, Christian love, means giving oneself for the sake of another, just as Christ did. He offered His life out of true love for us, because He wanted us to have life everlasting, and He knew that in His offering Himself as expiation for our sins, that would be possible.
Likewise, each one of us is called to love God and love our neighbor. In doing so, we look out for our neighbor. We offer him ourselves in loving service, for no other reason than because we care for him. There are plenty of ministries within our parish that offer us the opportunity to do just that.
As Christ’s disciples, we should get involved. We should show true genuine Christian charity, and not in order to be praised or to check a to-do off our list, but solely out of love for one another. That’s what it means to be a Christian steward, to follow Christ, and to serve one another in love.
And to think, we don’t have to do it alone. In His ever-present spirit of love for us, the Lord not only gives us an example to follow, He gives us His grace and His strength, especially through the sacraments, aiding us in carrying out our mission as Christian stewards.
The more we participate in the sacraments, the more equipped we’ll be to live discipleship.
“Get up and eat, else your journey will be too long for you” (first reading).
Christ gives us Himself in the sacraments – His grace, His life – and He invites us to participate in them, promising us that when we do, He will strengthen us.
“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but they died… I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (gospel).
So, as we live our lives, striving to follow Christ as His disciples, we are called to love, first God and then one another, and we ought to run to the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, to encounter Christ and to gain the strength to “live in a manner worthy of the call we have received”(Eph. 4:1).
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
FUNDRAISER
An invitation is extended to attend a movie afternoon that has been arranged to raise funds for the next African Children’s Choir in Uganda.
Sunday August 12 at 4pm “The Sapphires” starring Jessica Mauboy and Deborah Mailman will be played at Readings Cinema Sunbury. Tickets are $25 each and include admission and refreshment at the end of the movie.
All profits will go directly to Kwaya Aust. Inc.
Contact Sonjo on 9740 1705 for tickets.
If you would like to know more about Kwaya Aust Inc, go to www.kwaya.org.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
Married couples, we encourage you to prioritise your relationship. It underpins your family life. please join us for a Marriage Encounter weekend. Our weekend helps you to remember why you married and gives you skills to maintain your love for each other. Couples and priests present the weekend. It is based around catholic values but you don’t need to be catholic to attend.
There is no group sharing.
Our weekends in 2012 are: 10-12 August and 12-14 October in Melbourne.
Further info contact Mr & Mrs Van den Bronk on 03 9733 6979 or email vicbookings@wwme.org.au.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
The Lord is abundantly generous! He gives of Himself out of love for each one of us, and His gifts are unconditional.
Today’s readings draw our attention to the gift par excellence — the Eucharist. In this central mystery of our faith, Christ gives us Himself, completely — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. It is so much more than we deserve, so much more than we can wrap our human minds around. It is Jesus Himself. And He invites us to partake of it — to consume Him — so that we might have life in Him.
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (Jn. 6:35).
Every time we step forward to receive the Eucharist, we literally take the Savior into our own bodies. And in so doing, we are given a grace to live our lives to the full, to show forth God’s glory.
How will we respond to God’s gifts of self, to His unconditional outpouring of love?
Will we offer Him ourselves in return — unconditionally? That is what it means to be Christ’s disciples. We recognize His gifts, we see that they are given solely out of love — he expects nothing back — and we respond in sheer gratitude and awe struck wonder, offering Him our whole lives in return!
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
THANK YOU
Thank you for the generous support shown by the Sunbury community for the Special Collection for the Intentions of the Holy Father– Humanitarian Relief. The total amount raised was $1051.70.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Today’s Gospel speaks to us of God’s unconditional love for us and His boundless generosity. He cares for our needs in such a way that we are not only cared for, but we are given more than we could ever ask for.
He does this on His own accord, of His own free will, and with His own capability. But He asks us to help. He wants us to help. He calls us to help.
Just as the boy with five barley loves and three fish was called upon to give what he had in order for Christ to carry out His mission, each one of us is called to give what we have to assist the Lord.
He loves and cares for every one, every single human being, and He longs to care for everyone — physically and spiritually. With that mission in mind, He calls each one of us to assist Him, to give Him all we have — our time, our talents and our treasure — so that, together with Him, we can feed the world, offering others the Love of Christ and sharing the Gospel with them.
This is what it means to be Christ’s disciples. We give of ourselves so that His mission, His ministry can be carried out here and now. This bring all those we meet closer to Him and spreading the Gospel throughout our parishes, our cities, and the whole world!
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PRIESTS
Last week Fr Bert and I joined 180 priests and bishops from Cairns to Bunbury and ordained six months to sixty years, who gathered at Warrnambool for a four day conference. I was encouraged to go as Fr Bert had previously heard the famous Fr Timothy Radcliffe, a Dominican from Oxford, author and retreat-giver.
The theme of the conference was “Navigating our way in a changing Church.” Timothy spoke of how he saw the present state of the Church and where to now. In this Year of Grace, there was a presentation on St Mary MacKillop who showed new ways of living the Gospel. Sr Veronica Lawson, a biblical scholar from Ballarat, presented St Mark’s Gospel (Sr Veronica Lawson RSM writes a weekly reflection on the Gospel for us under the heading of THE YEAR OF GRACE IN TODAYS READINGS)
Our fourth key speaker was a lecturer in journalism who has surveyed over 500 priests in Australia, finding that 90% of Australian priests are happy with their lives.
I came back full of hope, of challenges to be taken up after these four days of meeting old friends and new colleagues, of prayer together and much laughter. The staff at the venue remarked “these priests are quite normal and happy!” ……..Kevin McIntosh
TRIVIA NIGHT & AUCTION
In support of Sunbury Chaplaincy a Trivia and Auction Night will be held on Saturday 4th August at 7pm in Sunbury Downs College, Mitchells Lane, Sunbury.
BYO basket supper and drinks.
Cost $15 per person.
Call Helen on 0407 506 507 for bookings and further info.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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