Category: Better World

Building a better world by building a better me

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FROM LITURGY TEAM — PRAYER OF SORROW

???????????????????????????????Prayer of Sorrow: in response to the abuse of children in institutions

On Wednesday 13th November in St Anne’s Church at 7pm, a service called “Prayer of Sorrow: in response to the abuse of children in institutions” will be held.
We wish to acknowledge the abuse that has happened in our Church in the past. We wish to welcome everyone to the service. We invite those who were physically affected by abuse, families of those abused and all parishioners who have felt betrayed by the treatment of the abused by the Church. We would wish that all parishioners could come and by their presence say that we are sorry for the hurt done by our Church. Experts tell us that healing only begins when trust is established. Trust is based on truth. Truth comes packaged in honesty and humility.

The Truth Justice and Healing Council is engaging with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse on behalf of the Catholic Church in Australia. CEO, Francis Sullivan, can be contacted on 02 6234 8900 or visit the website: www.tjhcouncil.org.au.

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SOCIAL JUSTICE FUNDRAISER

annual-thai-big-ridesSOCIAL JUSTICE FUNDRAISER FRIDAY 15TH NOVEMBER AT 6PM

Our Parish is supporting St Anne’s Grade 6 teacher, Kerry Champness raise funds for “Hands Across the Water Charity 500km Bike Ride”. She is attempting to raise $5000 by December to donate to a new orphanage in Thailand set up for children with HIV.
The first event is a live band- “The Projectors” who will play their own original music. A DJ will also be part of the night.
BYO drinks and food to the Parish Centre
Friday 15 November from 6pm onwards, to support this worthy cause.
Tickets are $15 from the Parish Office.

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HIGH TEA

HighTeaOn Tuesday 26 November (notice change of date)  from 11am to 1pm, a High Tea in the Parish Centre will raise funds for “Hands Across the water”.
Tickets are $28 from the Parish Office.

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SING ALONG

Cancelled_SingingThere will be no sing a long this month. This is not to reflect adversely on the singers but I suspect that the standard is so high that the residents at Goonawarra Nursing Home need more time to prepare for the next session. So my resident mother-in-law says and shes deaf.

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LAWN MOWER NEEDED

Lawn mowerIf any parishioners has a lawn mower that still works, that they can donate to a family in need, please contact Levitt on 0405 598 102. Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

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STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

saintpaulCATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” With those words, Paul compared his life to a race, something to which most people can relate. We live in a world that is infatuated with sports and athletics. Perhaps Paul’s world was not like that, but his willingness to use it as a metaphor certainly strikes a chord with our society today.

Our faith lives, our lives of stewardship, parallel Paul’s in terms of it being a race. We are not talking about a sprint, mind you, but a long, drawn out marathon. It is easy to stumble and it is easy to quit, but the real challenge is maintaining our faith and following our faith. Stewardship as a way of life presents us with many challenges and many hurdles, to use another racing term.

The faithful steward strives to keep moving, to keep praying, to keep trying to fulfill Jesus’ call and exhortation to us to be His disciples, His followers. Paul admits that he could not have run the race, could not have remained true to it, without the help and strength offered to him by the Lord. There is no shame, and no humility, in admitting that we need help, lots of it, to maintain our faith in a world which tests it constantly.

 

Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com

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SOCIAL JUSTICE FUNDRAISER

annual-thai-big-ridesOur Parish is supporting St Anne’s Grade 6 teacher, Kerry Champness raise funds for “Hands Across the Water Charity 500km Bike Ride”. She is attempting to raise $5000 by December to donate to a new orphanage in Thailand set up for children with HIV.
The first event is a live band- “The Projectors” who will play their own original music. A DJ will also be part of the night. BYO drinks and food to the Parish Centre on Friday 15 November from 6pm onwards, to support this worthy cause.
Tickets are $15 from the Parish Office.

Also, on Tuesday 19 November a High Tea in the Parish Centre will raise funds for “Hands Across the water”. Tickets are $28 from the Parish Office.

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STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

parable-persistent-widowCATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Many have referred to St. Paul as “The Persistent Apostle.” Thus, Paul serves as a great example and model for what is laid out for us in all the readings for this 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Persistence and its importance to people of faith is an intricate part of each of the readings.

The conversion of Paul is recounted six times in scripture — three times in the Acts of the Apostles and three times by Paul himself in his letters. The intensity and the persistence of Paul’s faith lead us to see how important persistence is to live a life of stewardship.

From the persistence of Moses in the first reading from Exodus, to Paul’s urging us to “be persistent” in his letter to Timothy, to the Parable of the Persistent Widow in the Gospel from Luke, we are advised that we should always pray and never give up.

Perseverance is a hallmark of good stewardship. Good stewards know that living in that way is not always easy and comfortable. Yet with the help and guidance of the Lord, the strength to both live that way and to fulfill Jesus’ call to carry on lives of discipleship is both possible and a path to great joy and satisfaction. Paul wrote,

“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

 

Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com

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FROM LITURGY TEAM — PRAYER OF SORROW

???????????????????????????????Prayer of Sorrow: in response to the abuse of children in institutions

On Wednesday 13th November in St Anne’s Church at 7pm, a service called “Prayer of Sorrow: in response to the abuse of children in institutions” will be held.
We wish to acknowledge the abuse that has happened in our Church in the past. We wish to welcome everyone to the service. We invite those who were physically affected by abuse, families of those abused and all parishioners who have felt betrayed by the treatment of the abused by the Church. We would wish that all parishioners could come and by their presence say that we are sorry for the hurt done by our Church. Experts tell us that healing only begins when trust is established. Trust is based on truth. Truth comes packaged in honesty and humility.

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STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

ten-lepers2CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

At the heart of stewardship is gratitude. The Greek philosopher Epicurus wrote, “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” There is certainly stewardship wisdom in that quote.

It follows upon the wisdom that is displayed in today’s readings. In the Gospel from Luke, for example, Jesus cures 10 lepers. They have been given something — health – which they once only hoped for. Yet only one of them, a Samaritan as a matter of fact, returns to the Lord to thank Him. Jesus says “Where are the other nine?”

Stewardship expects us to focus on our gifts, on our many blessings, not on what we may not have, or what we may have been denied. Not only do we need to concentrate on those gifts, but we need to take the time to thank God and others who may have provided us those gifts. When was the last time you actually thanked your parents for the gift of life? When did you last thank your spouse for all that he or she may have done for you? When did you last thank God in prayer?

According to many Catholic encyclopedias, there are five kinds of prayer — adoration, contrition, love, petition, and thanksgiving. For the good steward, those prayers of thanksgiving should be foremost.

Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com

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FROM LITURGY TEAM — PRAYER OF SORROW

???????????????????????????????Prayer of Sorrow: in response to the abuse of children in institutions

On Wednesday 13th November in St Anne’s Church at 7pm, a service called “Prayer of Sorrow: in response to the abuse of children in institutions” will be held.
We wish to acknowledge the abuse that has happened in our Church in the past. We wish to welcome everyone to the service. We invite those who were physically affected by abuse, families of those abused and all parishioners who have felt betrayed by the treatment of the abused by the Church. We would wish that all parishioners could come and by their presence say that we are sorry for the hurt done by our Church. Experts tell us that healing only begins when trust is established. Trust is based on truth. Truth comes packaged in honesty and humility.

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STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

parable_of_the_mustard_seedCATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (Luke 17:6) As is the case with Jesus’ statements almost always, there is a stewardship message here.

Most of us are aware that a mustard seed is incredibly small; in fact, it was one of the smallest seeds known in Jesus’ earthly world. The mulberry tree, on the other hand, was known to have a vast and large network of roots which spread far out from the trunk of the tree.

Jesus’ point is that faith cannot be measured by size or depth. It is as if He is saying that the key is quality, not quantity. It is not the size of one’s faith, but its presence, and the willingness of each person to rely on that faith in trying times.

One of the most important facets of stewardship is trust in God. It is that trust –– a trust built on faith –– which gives us the strength to follow lives of stewardship and service. What Jesus is saying at the end of today’s Gospel, “…we have done what we were obliged to do,” is that service, another important part of stewardship, should be a privilege, not a burden.

Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com

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MARCH FOR THE BABIES

March for the Babies is a pro-life peaceful witness beginning in the Treasury Gardens on the corner of Spring Street and Wellington Parade and moving to Parliament House on next Saturday 12 October at 1.00pm. The aim is to protect unborn children and prevent mothers being hurt. The Ministers of the Sunbury Churches endorsed this witness at their meeting last week.

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WEEKEND FOR CHAPPY

On Saturday 12 October some special activities have been arranged by the Sunbury Chaplaincy Committee to raise much needed funds for the Chaplains in the Sunbury Community.  A sausage sizzle will be held at 6 different locations on Saturday 12 October. On that same evening a fun Trivia night has been arranged at Sunbury Memorial Hall with an exciting auction, major raffle and musical entertainment.  A special collection will also be taken up on the weekend of 5/6 October to support the Chaplains in the Sunbury schools.

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PARISH DONKEY HEALTH REPORT

Our DonkeyA recent inspection of our donkey found him very well cared for so that his excess of weight has gone. He has been booked for “Christmas on the Green” on the 14th December.

(The Editor will be checking with the donkey to get some tips)

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STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

Rich_Man_And_LazarusCATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

St. Paul captures some important aspects of stewardship in the second reading today, as he tells Timothy to “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” That formula would seem to apply to being a good spouse, a good parent, a good sibling, a good neighbor, a good employee, a good boss, a good friend. Or, in other words be a good steward.

Stewardship, of course, recognizes how important our relationship to God is, as well as how we live out God’s love by loving others.  If we practice stewardship correctly, it is always on the edge of our consciousness, an important part of our decision-making, and an intricate part of how we live our lives every day, every minute, every place.

The Gospel from Luke may seem a bit heavy in the way it handles the rich man’s treatment of Lazarus. However, Jesus tells us over and over that we must be conscious of those around us; that we need to be aware of how we are blessed in relation to others; and we must appreciate that what we do is in preparation for the next life. Those who live lives of stewardship, who truly love their neighbor, realize what is truly important in life.

Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com

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ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY REPORT 2013

????????ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
Saturday 7 September, 2013

Over 30 Parishioners gathered in good spirit, commencing with prayer.
Michael McConville again facilitated with humour and encouragement.
Several apologies were noted.

Time was spent reviewing the proposals and outcomes of 2012 and the Parish Target “the people of OLMC Parish have become a Christian community in which we value one another and use our gifts for the good of all”

There were presentations from the Parish Primary School Principals. Noelene and Paul spoke of a program in collaboration with Salesian College that will enable the successful transition to Year 7, benefiting the students both socially and academically. The Religious Education Leaders, Rosalba and Colin with Richard outlined the RE program (based on the RCIA model), the Sacramental celebrations and the “Parenting in Faith” programs offered to parents.
Many of our Parish groups presented to the Assembly, outlining their work, plans and suggested proposals for the next year.
They included: Maintenance Team and Parish Centre Management, JG Community Garden, Knights of the Southern Cross, Justice and Historical Group. The Ecumenical group, Legion of Mary, RCIA, Baptismal Preparation Team and Emmaus Prayer Group were also represented. As was Bingo, Parish Web Page, Evergreens, RSJ associates, Children’s Liturgy and some of our Parish Neighbourhoods. There was a report on the Neighbourhood structure and Fr Kevin presented proposals on behalf of the Pastoral Team.
We heard of the incredible work of Saint Vincent de Paul, assisting their Sunbury clients with many hours of support and $8000 each month. The Conference is always in need of support with appeals and voluntary work.
The Youth Group are working to encourage parents and youth alike to become involved in liturgy and social gatherings.
Proposals, that were presented, to be considered by the Pastoral Coordinating Team include the financial support of an Overseas Project, Monthly Meeting Plan and a Parish Expo, maintenance issues of Parish property and involvement of Baptismal families. Other proposals suggested more Parish social gatherings eg picnic and morning teas hosted by Parish groups. Music in Sunday liturgies was discussed, as was the purchase of Liturgical banners for St Anne’s church.
A small group of parishioners gather monthly at Goonawarra Nursing Home for a sing-a-long with residents. Any musicians are warmly invited to join the fun.

All groups who were represented would warmly welcome any queries and/or new members.

Those who attended agreed that our Parish is blessed with many energetic and committed people who give freely of the time and talents for the growth of our Catholic community.

NOTE: A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT IS AVAILABLE ON THE “PARISH REPORTS PAGE HERE.
Also a comment may be left at the bottom of this page if you would like to leave any feedback.

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STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH ASYLUM SEEKERS

On Thursday 3 October from 10.30am to 12pm at Good Shepherd Chapel, St Heliers St, Abbotsford as special event has been arranged to hear about the current issues for asylum seekers in the communities. Reflection 10.30am then 11am Special Speaker,  Sr Bridid  Arthur, Asymlum  Seeker Advocate.  Enquires to Roberto Morales on 9270 9742. An initiative of the Good Shepherd Sisters.

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Yom Kippur – Jewish Day of Atonement– 14 September

yom-kippurFrom the Jews, we Christians have inherited their practice of repentance and seeking God’s forgiveness. 50 Years ago, Vatican II forcefully condemned anti-Semitism and rejected the charge of the Jewish responsibility for the death of Jesus.
During 2000, a year of Jubilee (a Jewish time of forgiving debts) Pope John Paull II visted Jerusalem and prayed “God of our fathers, we are deeply saddened by the behavior of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer and asking your forgiveness, we wish to commit ourselves to genuine brotherhood with the people of the Covenant” (Jews)- 26 March 2000)