Category: Lay Ministries Parish workers

Everyone who does something

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PARISH COORDINATING TEAM MEETING 3RD FEB 2010

We started our first meeting for 2010 with a prayer and reflection on the current “Year for Priests”. We prayed

That the Simplicity of the Gospel may reach the ends of the Earth

We then recited Mary’s Magnificat, followed by a reading from Mark

Jesus called them and said, `You know the people who rule over countries make their people obey them. The great will tell the others what to do.
But that is not the way it is among you. Anyone among you who wants to be great must help the others.
Anyone among you who wants to be first shall be a servant to the others.
The Son of Man did not come to have others help him. But he came to help others. He came to give his life to make many people free.’

We continued with prayers of intersession and finished with the Lord’s Prayer.

Then it was down to the evening’s business.
We looked again at “Journeying Together”, the book of analysis and diagnosis that resulted from the continuing Parish Renewal sessions held in August and September 2006. In particular we looked at the problems with the then current structures for Parish Decision-Making and with the current structures for Making Proposals and for Planning. The basic problem was seen to be that the decision makers were unrepresentative and that there was no means of reporting back. Also that the processes have to be sufficiently visible so as to promote participation.
With this in mind we decided to move the proposed Parish Assembly back a little and hold a Formation Session of one and a half hours for Neighbourhood Teams, groups of Parish Posties, and indeed anyone who may be interested. These sessions will cover both the spirituality of what needs to be done as well as the practicalities. There will be a choice of times and dates (2nd and 3rd March) to try and spread as wide a net as possible. It is then to be hoped that the attendees will take the information back to their neighbourhoods, groups, friends etc. and assist the whole parish to become an active participant in the upcoming Assembly.

The Dedication of the Altar, Ambo, etc. at St Anne’s Church was discussed, as was the working bee for cleaning up around the church on the 6th Feb from 9.00am to 12.00. Indeed a group from the local Knights of the Southern Cross were out shortly after this meeting removing dead wood etc from the St Anne’s grounds.

The next item was a discussion of activities for the second half of the Year for Priests. Tenative proposals were for a dinner on the 23rd May and a working bee around the presbytery.

Finally there was a report back on the Parish Centenary Book (………a work in progress), and a suggestion that an A3 signature booklet be produced in full colour (4 X A4 pages) containing information about the parish and some of our timeline as well. The plan would be to get this publication incorporated into the “Home-Buyers Pack” that is handed out by local real estate firms.

The next meeting will be on the 4th March, immediately following the “Building Communities” formation sessions.

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FOUNDATIONS FOR PASTORAL MINISTRY

This Program is for those in parish ministries and other settings to enable them to learn more about their faith and to assist them in their Christian ministries. Brochures of courses beginning in February are at the Welcome Desk.

The entire life of the disciple is marked by learning and growth. Life long growth in faith is an essential Characteristic of adult catholic life. John Paul 11

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THE DEGRADATION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT

A moral problem threatening peace and human life…..Benedict XVI: On 15 December, Pope Benedict issued a message to world leaders for World Peace Day…..

’Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions’?

‘It is becoming more and more evident that the issue of environmental degradation challenges us to examine our lifestyle and the prevailing models of consumption and production, which are often unsustainable from a social, environmental and even economic point of view’.

Pope Benedict XVI (full story Catholic News Service 15 Dec 09).

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THANKS

Thanks to  all  who  have  supported  the  activity of our parish by their giving generously of their time and money to support the activity of our parish;

  • worship rosters
  • church cleaning
  • flowers
  • church setting up
  • counters
  • maintenance men
  • bingo workers
  • catechists
  • ministers of communion to the house-bound and those in aged care
  • music ministry
  • neighbourhood coordinators
  • parish posties
  • finance committee
  • school boards
  • liturgy planners
  • Thanksgiving Committee
  • parish coordinating teams
  • parish website, etc.

Thanks also to all those employed in our parish office and our two schools as pastoral, secretarial, support and teaching staff for their wonderful contribution throughout 2009.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF 2009

  • Parish Renewal—sessions of spiritual renewal were offered in April and October.  We continued on our target of giving all 14,000 Catholics of our parish a sense of belonging.  To assist this, our infrastructure of 22 neighbourhoods was strengthened.  We were invited by the Archdiocese of outline our process to other large outer Melbourne parishes in November.

  • During the first four months, we worshipped in the Parish Centre while a new ceiling, heating/cooling, a new altar, a new font, new ambo, new ambry, audio loop were installed in St Anne’s Church.

  • In May a proper access ramp was constructed at O.L.M.C. Church.

  • In November a gala auction dinner and raffle raised sufficient finance to restore the bell tower at O.L.M.C. Church hopefully by the time of the sesquicientary in March.  The steel has arrived in the factory.

  • In March, Paul Hogan, Deputy Principal at Essendon, was appointed Principal at O.L.M.C. School.  In June, Shane Crawford—Deputy Principal at Heidelberg was appointed Deputy Principal at St Anne’s School.  Sadly, we lost Helen Williams, a staff member for 26 years, in October as she entered eternal life.

  • During the third term, the carpark at St Anne’s Church was asphalted with a new bus terminal.  The Federal Government granted $200,000 and the school took out a ten year loan of $142,000.

  • Painting of the exterior of St Anne’s Church—was completed over five days under the expert guidance of Santo Munafo.  Sincere gratitude to the 20 parishioners who willingly gave their time earlier this month.

  • 123 parishioners were baptised into the Body of Christ and brought into the life of our Church.

  • Confirmation  was  conferred  at St Patrick’s Cathedral on 8 November—two sessions to accommodate the 137 Confirmands.

  • 27 weddings were celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

  • 32 funerals took place in our churches.

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SETTING UP FOR CHRISTMAS MASS AT RUPERTSWOOD

Wednesday at 7.00pm.

In recent years, it has taken us only 30 minutes to set out 1,500 chairs which can easily be carried by a child—so many hands make light work!

Thursday at 6.15pm.

Carparking attendants are required on Thursday evening from 6.15pm.

All Christmas Masses

All Christmas Masses will need volunteers to welcome and hand out newsletters.

Anyone able to help please ring Parish Office—9744 1060.

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PARISH COORDINATING TEAM MEETING

A report from the meeting of the 25th Nov 2009

Prayer A carefull hearing of the latest Neighbourhood letter followed by a communal reading of the prayer in the letter

Parish Target This short statement was read to the assembled team.

By the end of 2009 all the people of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish Sunbury, through their experiences and through structures of communication and participation, are aware of the value of every person.

PCT Membership Each Neighbourhood will elect a permanent representative to be a member of the PCT from the Parish AGM on the 27th Feb 2010. This representation will likely be for a twelve month period which will be renewable if the Neighbourhood and the representative is willing. In order to facilitate this, Neighbourhoods will be asked to meet and arrange the drop of an invitation to all the Catholics in the neighbourhood so all will have an opportunity to elect a representative to the Parish Coordinating Team.  At the meeting where the PCT representative is elected, the Neighbourhoods will also be asked for any proposals they may like to present to the Parish AGM.

Parish Assembly or AGM Will be held on the 27th Feb 2010 and written reports/posters from all Parish groups will be hung on the walls and each group will be asked to give a verbal report of about half a minute. Proposals will also be accepted from the Neighbourhoods via their elected representative. Proposals will need to be submitted in writing by 19th Feb.

Next meeting Wednesday 3rd Feb 2010 at 7.30pm

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WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011

World Youth Day 2011 will be held in Madrid, Spain 16-21 August.
Our Archdiocese will be coordinating the Melbourne pilgrims, not individual parishes and schools as in Sydney in 2008.
The estimated number of pilgrims is 2 million present in the middle of the Spanish summer.
Cost is about A$4,000 to $5,500 including airfares, accommodation and side trip.
Enquiries 9412 3322.

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MELBOURNE OUTER PARISHES

The Archdiocesan Office for Evangelisation holds two meetings a year for parish teams from the growing outer parishes. Last Thursday, our parish was one of four parishes (others being Hoppers Crossing, Hoppers Crossing North and Narre Warren) asked to make a presentation on models for fostering participation.
We outlined the processes for contacting all the baptised, our renewal retreat in 2006, our planning, our setting up of the neighbourhoods and our letters delivered by the parish posties to our 3,100 Catholic homes. Our presentation was well received.

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PARISH LITURGY TEAM REPORT

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Liturgy Team Report

It was good to see quite a few new faces on the team. These were parishioners who had volunteered during the “Workers in the Vineyard” program.

Parish Target

The team looked at the Parish Target. (By the end of 2009 all the people of Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish Sunbury, through their experiences and through structures of communication and participation, are aware of the value of every person.) This grew out of the program “Journeying Together” in August and September 2006 in which the parishioners arrived at their vision of the ideal parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. With the end of 2009 almost upon us we need some reflection on the target.

Neighbourhood Letter

The final letter to all the parishioners on the parish list will have the theme of “Acceptance and Hospitality” and this will be the theme of this years Advent. As the letters are delivered there will be an invitation to any Catholics who are not on the parish list to consider sending in their details and also a timetable for the Christmas Masses. This invitation will be dropped in all the other letter boxes that don’t get a copy of the Acceptance and Hospitality letter.

Advent

The theme will be “Acceptance and Hospitality”.
An Advent Wreath needs to be organised for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
The Tuesday 9.15am Mass at St Anne’s Church will be cancelled and there will be a 7.00pm Mass at Lady of Mount Carmel Church on Tuesdays instead. This will enable those whose working hours preclude them from attending Mass during the week to be able to come. The Wednesday 9.15am Mass will move from Lady of Mount Carmel Church to St Anne’s Church.
Once again we will have the lighting of the Advent Candles with a community prayer and a community sung response.
There will also be an Advent Hymn.
The audio/visual has been optimised so all the congregation will be able to read from the screens.

Christmas Music

A sub-committee was formed to look at the music for the parish Christmas celebrations, as well as the requirements for Advent. This will involve writing the community prayers, composing the sung responses and composing the Advent Hymn.

Consecration of the New Altar

On February 7th 2010 at 10.30am Bishop Tim Costelloe will come to at St Anne’s Church in order to consecrate the new Altar and dedicate the new Font, Ambo and Presiders Chair. This is an exciting occasion in the Church and the liturgy contains elements that go back through the mists of time to the very early church practices. We hope to be able to inform parishioners of the Why, What, How, etc so that they may get the most from the occasion.

Blessing of the Mount Carmel Bell

This will take place at 9.30am on the 21st March 2010. The Blessing will take place outdoors at Lady of Mount Carmel Church and will then move to St Anne’s Church for the Eucharist Celebration. Afterwards we will gather in the Parish Centre.

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PARISH COORDINATING TEAM MEETING

A report from the meeting of the 22nd Oct 2009

Prayer Led by Jill Gibbs with a reading from 1 Peter Ch5 1-5

Sacramental Program Confirmation organising is fine. We need more resources.(people) The focus is on the students growth and conversion. In the Holy Communion program, First Communion will take place in the middle of the program in order to build towards there being a second Communion, and third etc. We still need animated Neighbourhoods and broad parishioner support and enthusiasm for this to be successful.

Renewal and Parish Retreat This was discussed at length. It was felt that the numbers on Wednesday were somewhat lacking, those that attended felt it was very enjoyable.

Youth Group They have had a couple of gatherings but they, like so many other groups need to become visible so that the Parish can feel a part of their successes.

Mass of Thanksgiving This will be on Nov 22nd at 10.30am Mass. All asked to bring a plate. Some volunteers required to setup the Parish Centre.

National Committee for Professional Standards A sun-committee was set up to investigate a “Code of Conduct” and report back.

Centenary Celebrations Report It will be a busy year with a great range of activities for all. Bulla will be involved, Parish Ball, Car Rally, etc. Raffle tickets and other fundraising will take place after Masses on Sunday 25th.

“Year for Priests” A letter with various suggestions was recieved from Bishop Tim Costelloe. One of our main activities will be celebrating the 40th Aniversary of our Parish Priest on Sunday the 23rd May 2010. Further information on the Year for Priests can be found at this website.

PCT Membership All Neighbourhood coordinators or a permanent representative will be permanent members of the PCT from the Parish AGM on the 27th Feb 2010.

Parish Assembly or AGM Will be held on the 27th Feb 2010 and written reports from all Parish groups will be hung on the walls and each group will be asked to give a verbal report of about half a minute.

Parish Census Neighbourhoods will deliver the cards as they deliver the final letter for the year and it is expected that some will need extra “Posties” to cover their areas. We will need calls for help to be in early and we will need all the volunteers we can get.

Next meeting 25th Nov to setup for the AGM among other things.

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SING A LONG

Goonawarra Nursing Home Friday 6 November, 2.30 to 3.15pm.
All welcome.
Please come along to help entertain the elderly residents.
Enquiries: Irene—9744 1060.

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SPECIAL COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND – SEAFARERS’ SUNDAY

The Apostleship of the Sea is the missionary work of the Catholic Church establishing Stella Maris Seafarers’ Centres throughout Australia and the rest of the world to care for the people of the sea: the pastoral, social and material welfare of all seafarers and fishers regardless of their country or culture.

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CHILD PROTECTION SUNDAY—13 SEPTEMBER 2009

Today, Sunday, is the conclusion of Child Protection Week. The theme for this year is Promoting Safety for all in our Parish. The aim is to ensure that all communities and organisations within the church are safe and enriching environments for people of all ages, with special concern for children, young people and vulnerable adults. A prayer card from the Australian Bishops Conference is available today—one for each home.

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WORKERS IN THE VINEYARD

Recently the parish ran a campaign to encourage parishioners to become involved in the work of the community and also to update our Ministry teams. The information has been entered into the parish database and some ministries have had a series of formation meetings. Other ministries will be in need of a coordinator and further organisation. If you missed the campaign and wish to continue with your ministry, please fill out the form at the Welcome Desk or contact the Parish Office.