Sunday 22 June at 1.30pm starting at the State Library will be the World Refugee Day March. It is an opportunity for people to publicly express their concern about the plight of refugees both here and overseas. Did you know that Australia’s current policies are violating human rights and are not in line with the United Nations Refugee Convention?
MOTOR NEURON DISEASE FUNDRAISER
Marian O’Callaghan would like to thank the generous parishioners who supported her MND fundraiser last weekend. A total of $424 will be sent to MND Victoria this week.
SR JOAN HEALY
Sr Joan is a Josephite Sister who recently received an Order of Australia Award for her significant social work and community based work. Sr Joan noted Saint Mary MacKillop as her inspiration for her outstanding work. Sr Joan worked for 25 years in Cambodia and in a refugee camp on the Thai/ Cambodia border. She also received an Honorary Doctorate at ACU for her significant contributions to the Community.
Please continue to pray for Sr Joan and the important work she does for those in need.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
Invest in your most precious asset……Your Marriage! Forget life’s tensions and interruptions and rekindle the closeness, intimacy, love and romance that brought you together. Recharge your relationship batteries and explore the precious nature of your marriage, allowing you both to share your feelings, hopes and dreams with each other in ways that normal, daily living tends to inhibit. There is no group sharing. Couples and a priest present the weekend. It is based around Catholic values but couples of all faiths are welcome.
2014 weekend dates : 13-15 June, 15-17 August, and 21-23 November in Melbourne.
Starts 7pm on Friday. Ends 5pm Sunday.
Accommodation and all meals provided.
Information/Bookings: PH: Marianne & Marcel (03) 9733 0997
At all Masses on weekend of 14/15 June, we will have a speaker to talk about Marriage Encounter Weekends.
PRAYER CARDS
Prayer Cards are available on the Welcome Desk in St Anne’s church. The Prayer Cards are for the upcoming Synod on the Family that Pope Francis has announced. The Synod will discuss the many issues facing families today. Pope Francis wishes us to pray that the Holy Spirit will illuminate those who will participate in the gathering. The Synod will be held in October 2014.
PROJECT COMPASSION 2014 – FINAL TOTAL
Thanks to all the generous parishioners who contributed to Project Compassion this year. An amazing total of $3247.75 has been sent to Caritas Australia to support the important work they do. Supporting communities in developing countries is some of the important work Caritas does throughout the world. Thank you for your kind support.
ANNUAL PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Annual Prayer will be conducted on Wednesday 4 June at 7.30pm at St Mary’s Anglican Church, Sunbury. During the week of Pentecost, Christians everywhere pray for Christian Unity. It would be appreciated if Catholic Parishioners of Sunbury would support this prayer meeting by their presence.
NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP – NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK
Each year from May 27th to June 3rd National Reconciliation Week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.
How might we walk the talk? There are several local events being held to celebrate Reconciliation Week. Join Richard Franklin for an evening of singing, yarning and film viewing on Wednesday 28th May from 6.30 pm (venue to be advised). A lunch is being held at the Sunbury Community Health Centre on Thursday 29th May from 12 pm – 1.30 pm. RSVP for both these events by Monday 25th to Gail Radford 9744 4455 or gailr@sunburychc.org.au
Hume Council is having a tree planting day and BBQ at Kangan Tafe Indigenous Education Centre in Broadmeadows on Wednesday 28th May between 10 am and 12.30 pm. Registration is required.
For more information visit livegreenhume.eventbrite.com.au. Friend of the Parish, Uncle Norm Hunter, was instrumental in setting up this Centre and there is a memorial garden there honouring Norm.
OUR FIRST PARISH PRIEST — FATHER JOHN GALLIVAN
Father John Gallivan was born in Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland on 8th February 1856.
He was ordained to the priesthood at All Hallows College Dublin on 24th June 1880. He was 24 years of age.
Fr Gallivan came to the Melbourne Archdiocese in November 1881 and was curate at Kilmore for five years.
In 1887 when Father John Gallivan was appointed to Gisborne, Sunbury was part of the Gisborne Mission. The new Gisborne Parish Priest was just thirty years of age.
In 1911 Archbishop Carr established the Parish of Sunbury with Father Gallivan as the first Parish Priest. Father Gallivan, now fifty five, took up residence in Sunbury.
Father Gallivan was transferred to Northcote in 1923 having spent thirty seven years caring for the people of Sunbury. He passed away in Northcote on 9th June 1939 and is buried in the Sunbury Cemetery. He was in his eighty fourth year.
He was held in great esteem by all. When leaving Gisborne to come to Sunbury a farewell was organised by the people of Gisborne and was attended by all the Ministers of the other denominations. The clergy of the other Churches all spoke well of him and this was widely reported in the local newspapers of the time. This was during a period in our history when Catholics were not encouraged to be involved with the other Churches.
Father Gallivan was a regular guest at Rupertswood the home of Sir William Clarke. When the Bishop attended ceremonies at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church he travelled to Sunbury by train and Father Gallivan would meet him at the station in Sir William’s carriage and they would be conveyed to Rupertswood for lunch prior to attending to the ceremonies. On the Sunday following the sudden death of Sir William, prayers and eulogies were offered in all Churches across Melbourne, but it is reported that it was the eulogy given by Fr Gallivan in the Sunbury Church that drew the most attention.
Father Gallivan was a great entrepreneur. He was renowned for his skills in organising bazaars and concerts featuring leading entertainers. Artists were always eager to be a part of anything he organised as the events were always of a high standard. The Grand Bazaar at Easter in 1901 was an example. Lady Clarke officially opened the Bazaar and there was a great coverage of the event in the local Sunbury Newspaper.
Father Gallivan rode a horse and in the early days at Gisborne this would have been his mode of transport to Sunbury. There is a chimney on the roof of the sacristy at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church so presumably at some stage there was a fireplace which some kind parishioner would have alight to greet Father Gallivan on his arrival from Gisborne on the cold winter mornings.
Father Gallivan visited parishioners in a horse and buggy. He travelled to Bulla for Sunday Mass at St Michaels and as there were rules of fasting from midnight before receiving the Eucharist, it would be lunchtime before he got back to Sunbury and was able to eat.
During his time in Sunbury a harmonium organ was purchased for Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church. The bell was installed in a bell tower to summon parishioners to Mass. Each day the students of Our Lady of Mt Carmel rang the bell at twelve noon for the Angelus. This was looked forward to by the people in the town as they eagerly waited for it to be rung each day as it signalled that it was time for their lunch break.
Father Gallivan was one of the officials of the Sunbury Cricket Club formed in 1897. The population of Sunbury in 1897 was 705.
A parishioner and former student of Our Lady of Mt Carmel School recalled that during heavy rain the Blind Creek near Kismet would flood and students would not be able to get across to get home. Father Gallivan used to bring his buggy and ferry the students across.
His greatest achievement was that he was instrumental in requesting that the Sisters of St Joseph come to Sunbury in 1916. He personally donated the land for the Convent.
He was held in such high esteem by the people of Gisborne that Gallivan Road in Gisborne has been named in his honour.
OVERSEAS HUMANITARIAN PROJECT – A “THANK YOU”
Thanks to the generosity of the OLMC Parish Community, a donation of almost $6,000 has been sent as an initial contribution to the Catholic University in Jakarta to support the children living with HIV-AIDS. We received the following “thank you” note from Nita Anggriawan who coordinates the support program:
“What a good news! We are very grateful for the generosity of Sunbury parishioners. Send our warm regards to them. We will provide you the receipt and our activities report during the year. Again, thank you very much for the loving support for these children. Your lovely attention will brighten their life”
Mick Hetherington, Julie Reddan and Tony Kiley on behalf of the Parish Coordinating Team.
CHAPLAINCY SUNDAY APPEAL
Next weekend is Chaplaincy Sunday in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The presence of Catholic Chaplains provides hope to those suffering from loneliness, physical illness, mental health challenges and HIV/AIDS. As well as those facing youth detention, a prison sentence or long bouts of time at sea, away from Church support, family and friends. The presence of Catholic Chaplains is also a crucial witness to our faith, a crucial dimension of our service of love, and a vital testimony to the value of life in all its stages. You are invited and encouraged to take home the envelopes in the seats next weekend . Donations will go towards supporting Chaplains who work with:
- Patients and their families in public hospital
- Those affected by menal illness
- Men and women in Prisons
- Young people in youth justice facilities
- Seafarers
FEAST OF THE VISITATION
The Maltese Gharb Club of Melbourne invites you to celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Elizabeth on Sunday 1 June at St Bernadette’s Catholic Community Centre, Cooke Ave, North Sunshine. Mass at 2.30pm celebrated by Fr John Taliana . Followed by a social function in the foyer.
PARISH GROUPS (OUR YEAR OF FAITH)
All parishioners belonging to any group are warmly welcomed to a gathering on Tuesday May 6 at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre. There we will discuss the commencement of the PMN (Parish Meeting Night) Initiative.
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP – EMMAUS
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us?” Jesus appeared five times to people on the day of His Resurrection. This was most likely the fourth appearance, as these two disciples walked the seven mile distance to Emmaus. The conversation of the men indicates that they were aware of the reports from others that the Lord had risen and had been seen. Yet they seemed to be uncertain. It is difficult to imagine their excitement recognizing Jesus, but an indication of that is the fact that even though they have just made the walk to Emmaus, they turn and go back to Jerusalem, we assume with great haste.
The first reading from Acts shows us a very different Peter than the one we have known. Having received the Holy Spirit and having personally witnessed Christ’s Resurrection, Peter is a man on fire with faith. He speaks with confidence and authority, and although the rest of the Apostles are there, he has clearly become the spokesman.
What St. Peter urges us to do is to have that same fire, that same commitment, so that our hearts can be burning within us with the knowledge of our salvation. Peter tells us to “Listen to my words” and “Hear my words.” We could add to that “Understand my words,” as we seek to live out our discipleship, our stewardship as followers of Christ.
Copyright © 2014 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
EASTER IN OUR PARISH
O God, who on this day,
through your only Begotten Son,
have conquered death
and unlocked for us the path to eternity,
grant, we pray, that we who keep
the solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection
may, through the renewal brought by your Spirit,
rise up in the light of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
the Collect of Easter Sunday
PROJECT COMPASSION 2014 – PLEASE RETURN ANY MONIES COLLECTED
Please arrange for Project Compassion boxes to be returned at your earliest convenience so money can be forwarded to Caritas Australia. Thank you for your generous support of this charity.
RESISTANCE TO POPE FRANCIS
Professor Andrea Riccardi, a historian and the founder of the Catholic community, Sant Egrlio with 70,000 members world wide and a former minister in the Italian Government warned last month that ‘resistance’ to the Pope could be found above all among clerics. “All this resistance is a sign that the Pope is changing the Church.” He also said that no pope this century has run into so much opposition form within the Church as Pope Francis. “He has told us everything he is thinking, the things that must be done and changed…. The resistance is coming from those that don’t want to change.”
PROJECT COMPASSION SRI LANKA 2014 – NIRANGINI’S STORY
Nirangini, 31, remembers her childhood fondly, growing up in a family of nine siblings during peacetime in Veravil, a small fishing village in Sri Lanka.
From 1983 to 2009 a civil war affected Sri Lanka. When the conflict impacted Veravil, the entire community was forced
to leave. Nirangini, her 67-year-old mother and her son who was seven-years-old at the time were constantly on the move with no permanent home.
During those years, poverty and the trauma of constantly being on the move took a toll. There was little food or water and Nirangini’s son became undernourished.
In December 2009, in the hope that a familiar environment would offer a safe setting for her son, Nirangini and her family moved back to her childhood village. In Veravil, a Caritas Sri Lanka program, supported by Caritas Australia, was assisting families to resettle.
In March 2012, the Caritas program supported Nirangini to build her own permanent home.
“We had survived a war and just managed to return to our home with virtually nothing. Now with the support of Caritas my family lives in a proper house. I am so relieved. The state of uncertainty we were living in is now over.”
Thanks to a livelihood grant, Nirangini was able to start a home garden and small poultry business. These give her a good income and provide her family with nutritious food.
A permanent home and an income source are also beneficial as it means her son can attend the village school and gain a good education.
“We are very thankful … We now have the confidence to stand on our feet and look after ourselves.”
Your support for Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia to lift the voices of the poor and promote the dignity of each person, regardless of ethnicity, religion or cultural beliefs.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
This weekend is a time for you and your spouse to be alone together, to rediscover each other and focus on your relationship in a very positive way. There is no group sharing. Forget life’s tensions and interruptions and rekindle the closeness, intimacy, love and romance that brought you together in the first place.
Your marriage deserves that kind of attention. Couples and a priest present the weekend. It is based around Catholic values but couples of all faiths are welcome. 2014 weekend dates : 13-15 June, 15-17 August and 21-23 November in Melbourne. Starts 7pm on Friday. Ends 5pm Sunday. Accommodation and all meals provided.
For further information and bookings:
Contact Marianne & Marcel Van den Bronk (03) 9733 0997 or Email vicbookings@wwme.org.au
PROJECT COMPASSION AUSTRALIA 2014 – LORRAINE’S STORY
Pintupi woman, Lorraine, grew up in Papunya, 300km west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Six years ago, after being diagnosed with kidney failure, Lorraine, 39, learnt that she had to undergo a lifetime of weekly dialysis treatment.
Deeply connected to culture, her mob and their dreaming, she is now living in a hostel in Alice Springs to receive treatment and desperately misses home. “I have to sleep indoors all the time. Someone cooks our food and cleans our rooms. I have no family here. I stick to myself. I am homesick.”
To keep her spirit alive, Lorraine visits The Purple House which was established in 2004 by Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation to support First Australian patients who have been dislocated from country and culture.
Caritas Australia is supporting a new income-generating social enterprise at the Centre – making and selling bush balms.
“My favourite balm is Irremenke Irremenke. It is a good bush medicine that our grandmothers used to make. It is good for pain and headaches. It is a cheeky plant, it is hard to find and hard to grow. I love the smell of the bush balm mix boiling up. It reminds me of home,” said Lorraine.
This bush balm program offers people aged 23-75 who are chronically unwell, a sense of purpose, comfort and wellbeing. It gives them the opportunity to pass on traditional knowledge and values, ensuring participants retain their connections with home.
Until the doctors say that Lorraine is palya (good) and she is able to receive local treatment, The Purple House and the bush balm program is her home away from home.
Your support for Project Compassion helps Caritas Australia work towards the creation of a world that God desires to be just and compassionate.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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