There will be two celebrations of the Eucharist-9.30am at St Anne’s Church and 11.45am at O.L.M.C. Church. This feast is our traditional opportunity to give materially to the poor. Hence, on Sunday next, we will have the collection for the Winter Appeal of St Vincent de Paul Society.
2010 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE SEAFARER
Pirate attacks, unwarranted detention and abandonment, not to mention boredom, isolation, fatigue, anxiety and depression-the sea presents a unique set of pastoral challenges. Churches have a long history of caring for seafarers of any faith or none. The Apostleship of the Sea was founded in 1922 and operates in over 100 countries including Australia. The U.N. has dedicated this year to the seafarer.
NEW SERVERS NEEDED
WORLD YOUTH DAY
WYD MADRID 2011 will be held in August. Melbourne Archdiocesan Website for youth has more information http://www.aoy.org.au There will be a diocesan group going rather than parish groups as to Sydney in 2008. Organisers are expecting about 2 million visitors as it is less expensive for Europeans than coming to Australia.
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
The annual prayer service sponsored by the National Council of Churches will be held this year at St Mary’s Church, Barkly St. Sunbury at 7.30pm on Wednesday 19 May.
TRIVIA NIGHT
TRIVIA NIGHT
FRIDAY 14 MAY IN OUR PARISH CENTRE 7.30PM
In support of Salesian College students travelling to build a house in a village in Cambodia for poor family.
Form a table and ring Fr Peter on 9744 0039.
OUR CENTENNIAL BUSH DANCE
The Dance has been the talk of the town-what a fabulous night with children dancing with their parents, students with their teachers and grandchildren with their grandparents. The shed at Pat Reddan’s farm had been transformed with tractors and farming equipment tidied, murals painted by the children of OLMC School and a sausage sizzle by the youth group. Between 450 and 500 people enjoyed this second event of our century year. Congratulations to the committee.
Some photos are to be seen on the earlier report
here.
COULD YOU CARE FOR A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Centacare Catholic Family Services is looking for adoptive or long-term foster care parents who feel prepared to take on the additional challenges of a child with special needs.
Centacare’s Adoptions and Permanent Care program manager Kathleen West says, ‘We are particularly seeking adoptive or long term foster care parents for a beautiful little two year old girl called Anne who has severe disabilities. We are hoping to find a family who can provide full time care for Anne for life. We need a family who is patient and resilient, able to manage Anne’s ongoing medical requirements and prepared to work with support and therapeutic services. Most importantly, we need someone who can accept Anne’s disabilities, limitations and unknown future, and love her for who she is’.
If you would like more information on providing Anne or another child, including those with special needs, with a loving home environment, please contact Centacare Catholic Family Services between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday on 9689 3888.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE CITY SERIES
This series is presented by St Francis Conference Melbourne at St Francis Pastoral Centre, cnr Lonsdale & Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne on Wed 28 April 12 noon to 1.00pm.
Guest Speaker: Phil Glendenning, Director Edmund Rice Centre, involved in human rights, peace and reconciliation work in Australia and internationally. ‘Those who were here first and those who were here last’. The place of Indigenous Peoples, Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Contemporary Australia.
Further info.-9895 5800.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your wonderful response to the Special Collection on Good Friday for the Holy Lands. A total of $1,957 was received.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your wonderful response to the Special Collection on Good Friday for the Holy Lands. A total of $1,957 was received.
PALMS AUSTRALIA
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer and working cross-culturally, join us at our Next Focus Workshop—Sat 17 April 9.30am at Simonds Hall, 120 Toorak Rd. Sth Yarra. Further info. Brendan@palms.org.au or phone 02 9518 9551 or visit http://www.palms.org.au
NOTES FROM OUR PARISH LENTEN EXERCISE
We started with a welcome and a prayer and then went straight into an introduction and an overview.
There was discussion of how we, as the people of God, are a sacrament to the world.
The group was sitting in Neighbourhoods and these were joined with other Neighbourhoods to discuss the subjects of ourselves as a Sacrament of Communion, as a Sacrament of the Reign of God, and as a Sacrament of Universal Salvation. A good starting place is the old Childrens Catechism which says a Sacrament is an outward sign of inward Grace. We didn’t get too far into sacramental theology but we were able to see that we, as a group, are a sign and an instrument of the presence of Jesus in the world now.
Next came a brief discussion on prayer, centred on the words of Jesus in Mathew 7:7. Ask, Seek, Knock.
Then we moved to “What the Parish does”
Community Life…
- Whole Parish Community
- Neighbourhoods
- Small Groups
- All Families
Pastoral Service…
- Catechesis
- Liturgical
- Schools
- Justice, Peace, Environment
Workers in the Vineyard…
- Recruitment
- Formation and Training
Decision Management…
- PCT/PC
- Parish Team
- Finance
- Office Administration
- Maintenance
- General Gatherings
Other Sectors…
- Play Group
- Youth
- Evergreens
The next step in our Neighbourhood Plan is to move a considerable amount of this to the Neighbourhoods by the Neighbourhoods taking on a four phase strategy, namely To Gather, To Serve, To Represent, and To Communicate. By this strategy we can decentralise many of our services and the Neighbourhoods can become small, active faith groups.(that is Big Faith, Small Groups) The Neighbourhoods can bring their issues via their PCT representative to the PCT meetings.
The Neighbourhood Groups then had a practice run at a Neighbourhood meeting using a guide book written for that purpose and available in the future from the Parish Office. Each meeting involves some prayer, scripture reading an discussion/sharing of our faith.
There was a break for lunch and much discussion. This was followed by a summing up and a discussion on “Where to now?”
Those Neighbourhoods who had a Coordinator present set up meetings to present the theme of Gather, Serve, Represent, and Communicate. Others would take the information and the strategy back to their Neighbourhoods to then do the same.
SALESIAN COLLEGE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM
We are looking for a number of adult volunteers (including former Salesian students) to supervise four Year 11 students at Sacred Heart Mission, St Kilda on Wednesdays during school term.
Students assist with the preparation and serving of the midday meal. Students travel together and we would need the adult supervisor to meet them outside the Mission by 9.00am. The volunteer session finishes at 2.30pm and students make their own way back to Sunbury. Volunteers will need a Working with Children check which the College can help organise.
If you can help contact Stephen Connelly on 9744 0058.
PROJECT COMPASSION
This week’s story takes us to East Timor where Domingas is being supported in a Caritas-funded Family & Community Violence Prevention Program. Domingas, like many women in her community, was the victim of violence and abuse. The program has provided her with ongoing counselling and a small grant to enable her to build a business and give her economic independence. Your donation helps to support women survivors of violence and to work for just relationships.
CHILE EARTHQUAKE & CARITAS
Caritas Chile has been active for 30 years. Caritas Australia will support Caritas Chile from our donations to Project Compassion this Lent.
PROJECT COMPASSION SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
Second Sunday of Lent 28 February
As Christians we are called to walk with those who are in need. This week’s story introduces us to Teneille, from Derby in Western Australia.
Limited job opportunities, low family literacy levels and poor health and housing are some of the issues affecting poor school performance amongst Indigenous children in the area. Teneille participates in a Caritas Australia-supported program that is empowering children to attend school, have healthy and nutritious food and improve the school performance amongst the area’s children. Your donation to Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion helps to work towards the goal of ensuring primary education for all children.
As Christians we are called to walk with those who are in need. This week’s story introduces us to Teneille, from Derby in Western Australia.
Limited job opportunities, low family literacy levels and poor health and housing are some of the issues affecting poor school performance amongst Indigenous children in the area. Teneille participates in a Caritas Australia-supported program that is empowering children to attend school, have healthy and nutritious food and improve the school performance amongst the area’s children. Your donation to Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion helps to work towards the goal of ensuring primary education for all children.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER INTERDENOMINATIONAL
Next week over 3 million people worldwide will take part in the World Day of Prayer Service which, this year, has been prepared by the Christian women of Cameroon with the theme ‘Let everything that has breath praise God’. Founded in 1887 this international Order of Service is translated into more than 60 languages and 1000 dialects in 176 countries and islands. In Australia nearly 100,000 people are expected to participate in over 1300 Services to be held in Churches, Centres, Schools and Nursing Homes.
In Sunbury the service will be held at St Andrew’s Uniting Church in Brook St. on WED 3 MARCH commencing at 7.30pm with supper to follow.
All parishioners are invited to join our sisters and brothers from other Christian Churches in this special service. A plate of supper to share after the service would be much appreciated.
CARITAS PROJECT COMPASSION
First Sunday of Lent 21 February
The good news of the Gospel challenges us to change ourselves and our world for the better. This week’s story takes us to rural Cambodia where Samon lives with his family. Life here is often a daily struggle. Caritas Australia is supporting 22 Cambodian communities, including Samon’s, with practical training in micro credit to increase families’ food production and livelihoods. Your generous donations to Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion allow subsistence farmer families to gain skills to increase their household food security and offers hope for a healthier future.
Archdiocesan Office for Youth Presents:
The next CulturED cafe will be on Thursday February 25 at 7.30pm.
Come down to the Cardinal Knox Centre (just behind St Patrick’s Cathedral) and enjoy great food and drinks (non-alcoholic!) with friends.
Our special guest speaker for the night is Bishop Tim Costelloe SDB, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne and Episcopal Vicar for Tertiary Education. After completing his theological studies, he was ordained to the priesthood at St Peter’s Church, East Bentleigh, on 25 October 1986, by Archbishop T. F. Little.
He has previously taught Systematic Theology at the University of Notre Dame in Western Australia and at Murdoch University. Currently, he teaches at the Catholic Theological College here in Melbourne and is Auxiliary Bishop for the Northen Region of the Archdiocese.
And here’s something you didn’t know about Bishop Costelloe…
On the rare occasion he has a day off, the bishop enjoys sipping a cappuccino and re-reads (!) his Lord of the Rings book collection!
Get to know Bishop Tim a bit better and join us for the first CulturED Cafe of 2010 this Thursday!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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