Congratulations to all involved in the planning, the teaching, the singing, and the ushering of hundreds of people who came to our Cathedral to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation last Sunday. The Cathedral was filled twice. We congratulate those 121 children confirmed, their sponsors, teachers, catechists and families. We were blessed with the weather and we finally thank Monsignor Greg Bennet who presided and preached so well.
We have booked in again for 2013 at the same time.
GETTING A FAIR FUNDING DEAL FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Catholic school families are similar to those in government schools.
Catholic schools play an important part in some of Victoria’s most disadvantaged communities. Like government schools, Catholic schools also cater for families with middle and high incomes. Catholic school students, on average, receive 20 per cent less government funding than government school students. There is also a significant gap in funding for students with special needs. To make up the difference, you pay fees. Even then, most Catholic schools like ours still operate at around 90 per cent of the cost of education in government schools. As it stands, paying fees is not easy for many Catholic families. If Catholic parents are forced to pay more in fees, it will put a lot of pressure on many families. They may have no option but to move their children to government schools which are already under pressure.
SCHOOL REUNION CAROLINE CHISHOLM CATHOLIC COLLEGE
CALLING ALL EX-STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
Seeking all past students and teachers of Caroline Chisholm Catholic College (comprising St John’s and Christ the King). We are holding a reunion in early November 2012 for the Graduating Classes of 1972, 1982, 1992 and 2002.
Please send an email with your Full Name (including Maiden name), Current Address, Contact Phone Number and the Year you Graduated to the Alumni Secretary alumni@cccc.vic.edu.au to register to receive an invitation to this SPECTACULAR EVENT.
OPEN HOUSE @ RUPERTSWOOD MANSION
OPEN HOUSE RUPERTSWOOD MANSION
”INTRODUCTION TO LIFE WRITING”
5 sessions over 10 weeks– alternate Tuesday afternoons in the Mansion @ Rupertswood starting 11September from 1.30-3pm. Fee $60 or $30 un- waged. Contact Bruno Lettieri on blettieri@scr.vic.edu.au or 9744
0073 or 0422 298 643.
Please see the noticeboard as there are many exciting courses available including “Italian for Travellers”, “Hosting a dinner party– Mansion style”, “Sacraments of Initiation for Secondary Students”, “Experimenting in the art of Storytelling through the exploration of Dramatic Performance techniques”.
SALESIAN OPEN SCHOOL TOURS
School Tours will be held on the following dates during Term 3:
Monday 6th August at 9.30am
Thursday 23rd August at 4.30 pm
Monday 3rd September at 9.30am
OPEN EVENING THURSDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 5.00 – 7.00 pm.
Please note that Applications for Year 7 2014 are currently being accepted. Enquiries concerning enrolments for other Year Levels (8-12) are welcome. Contact the College Registrar, Mrs Marylou Jones, on 9744 0060 for further information.
PARISH ASSEMBLY 2012
The Annual Parish Assembly was held in the morning of 1 September. The assembly was a very happy, peaceful gathering with a very positive atmosphere. The minutes of the assembly are at the Welcome Desk. Developments from last years assembly were noted, eg. re-introduction of Children’s Liturgy of the Word, further members of St Vincent de Paul Society, better audio visual at OLMC Church, an evangelising letter to 3550 Catholic households four times per year, the international day.
Several groups including our two schools gave reports on the past twelve months.
The schools highlighted religious education initiatives especially in social justice plus the developments in teaching and learning, including use of technology. The Legion of Mary gave their report of their pastoral care to those in aged care. Vinnies gave a report of their practical care to hundreds of people in Sunbury which was so inspiring.
Fourteen proposals were put before the assembly. Seven proposals were requests for more assistance, generally of more workers to existing programmes: Baptismal Preparation team, Bingo workers, Communion ministers to sick and frail, Legion of Mary, RCIA Team, Small Christian Communities and the Youth Group.
Seven new proposals were tabled: assist archiving of Parish Historical material, a bus for the Evergreens, Catholic Education Foundation for parish families; improve acknowledgement plaque; a memorial garden at St Anne’s Church; structure all parish meetings and support a health project in remote PNG.
The fourteen proposals are on the walls of the Gathering space. Please take time to view them and sign up today or next Sunday to the proposals, either as a new volunteer or to go on a sub-committee to investigate one of the seven new proposals. Please sign up on the proposals.
I thank the Parish Co-Ordinating Team for planning the Assembly and Michael McConville for his facilitating the Assembly (and for the photos).
ST ANNE’S INDOOR NIGHT MARKET
FRIDAY 7TH SEPT
6.00PM TILL 9.00PM
Over 30 stalls of fantastic shopping. Located in the new school wing.
Gold Coin Entry per Adult.
Come and support your local community.
CALLING ALL EX-STUDENTS AND TEACHERS – SCHOOL REUNION
Seeking all past students and teachers of Caroline Chisholm Catholic College (comprising St John’s and Christ the King).
We are holding a reunion in early November 2012 for the Graduating Classes of 1972, 1982, 1992 and 2002.
Please send an email with your Full Name (including maiden name), Current Address, Contact Phone Number and the Year you Graduated to the Alumni Secretary alumni@cccc.vic.edu.au to register to receive an invitation to this SPECTACULAR EVENT.
RUPERTSWOOD CRICKET CLUB INC
“Birthplace of The Ashes”
REGISTRATION DAY Saturday 25th AUGUST 2012 9am – 12noon
Sport Savers
at
Shop 17B Sunbury Square Shopping Centre Evans Street
Sunbury New Players and Females welcome Registration Forms Available on Club Website http://rupertswood.vic.cricket.com.au Or Email Request rupocc@optusnet.com.au Enquires 0459 098 664 or 0421 991 519
CATHOLIC SCHOOL ENROLMENTS INCEASING
In the last ten years, there has been a steady increase of 14% of students in our Catholic Schools– in 2012, there are 197,865 students in Victorian Catholic Schools.
The ratio of teachers to students has improved by 13%. No wonder, all the Sunbury Catholic schools have full enrolment.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Thank you from St Vincent de Paul Society who wish to thank the Parishioners for their gracious support of the Winter Appeal.
A total of $1221.00 was collected and will help support families in need.
Also, they wish to thank both St Anne’s Primary School and Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Primary School for their generous donation of food, clothes, blankets and cash at the Sacred Heart Masses on 15 June.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS……….MORE SUCCESSFUL
Catholic school students, (57%) compared to students in other school sectors (52%) are finding more successful pathways into higher education, according to the latest data on post-school destinations of 2011 Year 12 cohort
…cf Department of Education (DEECD) website “On Track”
CHILDREN’S CHOIR PRACTICE
There will be no choir practice during the school holidays.
Practice will resume again from the 25 July at 6.30pm.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
Please note, there will be no Children’s Liturgy over the school holidays.
We will resume sessions at the start of Term 3 on 15 July at 10.30am Mass.
WELCOME
Welcome to families of children preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Part of preparation for Confirmation is the Rite of Election. We pray for these children to be strengthened in their faith as they receive this important Sacrament.
Lord God,
you created the human race
and are the author of its renewal.
Bless all your adopted children and add these chosen ones
to the harvest of your new covenant. As true children of the promise,
may they rejoice in eternal life, won, not by the power of nature,
but through the mystery of your grace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
THANK YOU
Thank you for your gifts of warm clothing and food for the local poor given by families at our schools on the Feast of the Sacred Heart. The gifts will be distributed by Society of St Vincent de Paul who have said the amount of gifts is more than any other year.
ANNUAL AUDITS OF OUR PARISH SCHOOLS
The annual audits have been completed by Deloitte and found all in order. The Audit reports have been forwarded to the Catholic Education Office and the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Our 2012 enrolments increased by 50 from last year to a combined total of 818 students. At the beginning of 2012, the combined debt on our two schools was $1.25 million. It is budgeted that the debt will be $1.1 million at the end of the year. The debt is due to construction of two all weather ovals and new classrooms and refurbishments of classrooms.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY ASSISTING REFUGEE STUDENTS: MERCY CONNECT PROJECT
Mercy Works is currently recruiting volunteers to support refugee students in their educational transitions in Secondary and Primary Schools in Melbourne’s northern and western regions.The volunteer commitment is half a day per week for four school terms. Experience working in an educational setting is required.Retired teachers are encouraged to apply.
A training program will be conducted in July 2012.
Please contact Sr. Mary Lewis for an application form and further information. Website: Mercy Connect Project Phone:9326 1895 or email: somml@bigpond.com.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
We have recommenced Liturgy of the Word for children in our parish at 10.30am Mass, as happens in other parishes.
All primary school children are welcome.
PREP FAMILIES MASS
All families with children in Year PREP are invited to attend the PREP Families Mass at St. Anne’s Church on Sunday 6 May at 10.30am.
This is a time to celebrate the blessings which these children and their families bring to our community.
There will be a small gift from the Parish community for the children!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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