Thank you to the OLMC Preps and their teachers, Monique, Rita and Michelle for the wonderful entertainment and lunch they gave us last Thursday.
Everyone said it was one of the best days and will be remembered with much joy.
………………………Evergreens.
YOUTH GROUP
The Youth Group has been very busy. The Youth Group have organised a picnic this Sunday 27 November at Mount Macedon, Hanging Rock from 1.30-4pm. BYO food, drinks and outdoor games.
Also, on Saturday 3 December our Youth Group will be Singing Carols with Santa at 3 Aged Care Homes at Sunbury starting at 10am from Goonawarra Nursing Home, Anderson Rd, Sunbury. Dress colorfully, reindeer and Santa hats, bring along musical instruments and sing along.
Practice on 2 December at St Anne’s Church between 7-8pm.
For more info, contact Garnet Jacob on 9740 8328 or 0411 286 428.
GARDEN NEWS
GARDEN NEWS
GARDENING NEWS
Thanks to all those who contributed on Saturday 5 November 2011 to St Anne’s continuing make over. The next working bee will be on Saturday 26 November from 9 to 12 at the Presbytery, 51 Macedon St. We want to spruce up the place before Fr Kevin’s return. This will be our last Working Bee for 2011 and will conclude with a sausage sizzle to thank all those who have contributed since July 2011. All enthusiastic gardeners most welcome at 9am.
OPEN DAY, JOIN UP DAY
Jill Gibbs neighbourhood garden
When: 20 November, 1-3pm
Where: Donkeys Paddock, Riddell Rd, Sunbury
Bring your gardening boots and tons of enthusiasm. Contact Bernie on 9744 4455 for further details.
THANK YOU: to Salesian College Farm Department for ripping and rotary hoeing the Jill Gibbs Neighbourhood Garden. A job very much appreciated.
Anyone wishing to donate any potatoes that are sprouting for planting can contact John Stafford on 9740 9966.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS (13th Nov)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable of a master who leaves on a journey, and entrusts three of His servants with his money while he’s gone. When he returns to find that two servants have wisely invested his money, he is very pleased and offers them a greater share in his riches, while the one man who did nothing with what he’d been given is thrown outside “where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” He is punished in an extreme way.
This is clearly another parable about the Parousia (the second coming of the Lord at the end of time). The Lord has entrusted us with much here and now, and when He returns, or when we are brought to Him upon our death, He expects that we will have used what He has given us wisely.
All that we have – our time, our talents, and our treasure – comes by way of gift from Him. And, so, as stewards we are to care for it as such – to recognize it as gift and to use it for His greater glory. What each of us has been given is different, just like the three servants in today’s Gospel, so He does not expect us to “measure up” to our neighbor, per se. Rather, He expects us to use our gifts to the best of our ability in His service – to take care of our responsibilities (ourselves and our families) and then to reach out in service to others (at the parish level and beyond).
Copyright © 2011 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
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. The next weekend will be held on 11-13 Nov. For further info contact Marianne & Marcelle Van den Bronk on 9733 0997 or email vicbookings@wwme.org.au.
VALE JILL GIBBS
Jill Gibbs died this weekend. Please pray for the repose of her soul.
There is an article in the Brisbane Catholic Leader about Jill Gibbs. Click on the photo to be sent there.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
In today’s Gospel, Matthew’s recount of the 10 virgins sits amidst numerous parables about the heavenly kingdom.
In fact, all three of the readings today are eschatological in nature. In the first reading, the writer personifies a heavenly wisdom, making note that this wisdom, which is clearly beyond this world, is readily available for those who prudently live their lives seeking it. That which is the only wisdom that satisfies “graciously appears” to those who “keep vigil.”
In the second reading, Paul addresses the Thessalonians about those who have died, assuring them that, through His death and resurrection, Christ has won the victory for us. Therefore, those who die in Christ will be raised.
So, it is clear that the message of today’s readings is one that transcends this world. They communicate to us about the hereafter. The lesson here is this: if you are not prepared for the heavenly feast, you will be locked out forever!
It is a sobering reminder of God’s love and justice. We don’t know when the Lord’s return will take place or when we will be ushered from this earth, so as stewards of God’s manifold gifts, we must use all of the time we have – every minute that passes – wisely.
Copyright © 2011 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
WORLD MISSION DAY APPEAL ON 23 OCTOBER
“The universal mission involves everyone, everything and always. The Gospel is not an exclusive possession of those who have received it, but it is a gift to be shared, good news to be passed on to others. And this giftcommitment is entrusted not only to some, but to all the baptised, who are ` a chosen race… a holy nation, God’s own people’ (1 Peter 2:9), in order that they may proclaim his marvellous works.”…. Pope Benedict XVI
The Holy Father’s message for World Mission Sunday 2011.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
The theme of this Sunday’s readings is love, and Jesus reminds us that the most important duty of a Christian disciple is to love the Lord with his whole self, and to also love his neighbor as himself.
But love of neighbor is not always an easy task, especially when we recognize that others don’t always treat us with that sense of selfless love and, in fact, can be downright cruel to us at times. Nonetheless, Christ’s law of love stands firm. We are to love. Always.
Jesus offers us the perfect example of selfless love on the cross. He died out of love for us. In order to make reparation for our sins so that we could enjoy life everlasting, the Lord experienced the most excruciating suffering, simply because He wanted us to reap the reward. The stewardship way of life calls us to follow Jesus’ example and act on this selfless love. By doing so, we set an example and call others to follow Christ, just as St. Paul praised the Thessalonians for doing in the second reading.
The Lord has given us the gift of love and, through His own suffering and death, He has shown us how to selflessly share that love by laying down our lives for others. What’s more, He has given us our time, our talent, and our treasure, and it is our duty as Christian stewards to use them in love of God and in love of neighbor.
Copyright © 2011 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
ANTIPOVERTY WEEK 2011 ACTIVITY
A must-see feature film by Catholic filmmakers impacting people globally is a film named “The Human Experience”.
If you would like to borrow a copy contact the Communications Officer, Kristen Toohey on kristen.toohey@cam.org.au or call 03 9926 5778.
RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY ON SUNDAY 16 OCTOBER
Heavenly Father, Help us to see that death and suffering are not the end.
Your Son defeated death and gave us the hope to eternal life.
Help us not to fear the moment when You will call us home.
We pray that when confronted with suffering and dying, we may follow Your way of true love and mercy.
May we always be ready to respond to those who are suffering with companionship, empathy and love.
We pray for health care professionals and policy makers, that they will uphold the unique dignity of every human person regardless of age, sickness or disability.
We humbly ask that You will be with us during our own times of suffering and at the hour of our death.
Give us, we pray, the grace of a good death.
We pray that we might be witness to the gospel of life and transform our world with love.
Amen.
MacYAC
MACYAC
MacKillop Young Adult Community (MacYac) is a network of young adults and Sisters of St Joseph centred at the MacYac gathering place at 155 Melbourne Ave, Glenroy.
It provides an opportunity for young adults (1835 years) to `live in’, share life, prayer, reflection, vision and outreach to those in need.
MacYac is offering a `Come and See’ weekend from Friday 28 October to Sunday 30 October to find out more about the young adult community.
Alternatively, there is a `Come and See’ session on Saturday 29 October at 2pm.
For more info contact 9306 8903 or email macyac@sosj.org.au.
Mary MacKillop wrote “Believe in the whisperings of God to your own heart.”
INVITATION FROM THE SISTERS OF NAZARETH
The Sisters of Nazareth invite young women who are open to discerning a vocation to religious life and wishing to share a “live in” experience from Friday 21October to 23 October.
It will be held at Nazareth House, 218 Mill St, Ballarat.
Please reply to sister Rosalie O’Malley CSN on 0450 355 014.
DREAMING IN THE CITY
PRAYING THE ROSARY THE ABORIGINAL WAY
Please join us on Sunday 16 October after 10.30am Mass as we come together to pray, in the month of the Rosary, accepting the contribution to our Church from our Aboriginal Catholics. Aboriginal artwork for each Mystery will be shown on the screen in St Anne’s Church. These are the signs and symbols of this land.
ANTI-POVERTY WEEK 2011
Poverty ends life, inhibits education and denies people basic privileges which we take for granted. It attacks the God-given dignity of the human person.
Our faith compels us to take a stand against poverty in all its manifestations. As Catholics we have a rich social doctrine and moral teaching which binds us to respond to the cry of the poor.
Anti-poverty Week starts on 16 October until 22 October. Archbishop Denis Hart is encouraging parishes to get involved in local activities to bring dignity to those affected by poverty. St Vincent de Paul is a major agency who make a huge difference to the lives of so many. St Vincent de Paul currently needs help from volunteers able to help with the vital work they do. If you have any time available to help out as a volunteer, training will be provided by the friendly volunteers at the Sunbury office located at 156 O’Shannessy St, Sunbury. Contact Anthony Rocco for further info on 0416 008 967.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
People who think they’re only serving themselves can actually be carrying out God’s will despite themselves. So it was with Cyrus the Great, the Persian emperor. His military conquests were for his glory, he thought, but the Lord used him to restore the Jews, the Chosen People, to their homes in Palestine. He allowed their return after he conquered the Babylonians, who had taken the Jews into captivity. Isaiah even referred to him as God’s anointed, for he was serving God’s purposes.
This reminds us that God is the one who gives authority to governments, as well as to the Church, and that each has its sphere of responsibility for our welfare. The problem is that governments often seek to expand their powers in ways that are tyrannical rather than beneficial. That’s why the Church’s witness is needed so that we can return to Caesar what is his, as well as return to God what is God’s.
But it also means that as stewards we are responsible to share our gifts and serve the wider community beyond the parish wall as well as worship and serve within the Church. Both are needed for a healthy society. God’s care extends to all aspects of our human life.
Copyright © 2011 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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