Category: Spirituality

Prayer, meditation etc

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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.

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PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY

We all have family and friends to pray for.

  1. Every First Friday 7.00pm—8.00pm at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.  Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; Holy Rosary, Hymn; Divine Mercy Chaplet, Hymn; Divine Praises and quiet time for Adoration.  Don’t miss your chance to thank God for  prayers  answered  and graces received.

  2. Every Saturday 9.00am—10.00am—Holy Rosary, Hymn; Divine Mercy Chaplet, Hymn and quiet time for Adoration.

CHILDREN (OUR FUTURE) MOST WELCOME.

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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.

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EASTER REFLECTION FROM THE AUST BISHOP’S CONFERENCE

Media Release

As Catholics begin to plan their Lenten journey this year, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is calling on people to take up a new and exciting challenge.

“Instead of just giving up something for Lent, why not take up something as well,” said ACBC Commission for Mission and Faith Formation Chair, Archbishop John Bathersby.
“This year we are asking that you consider spending time with friends and family reflecting on the Scriptures that lead us to this joyous celebration of the Church”, he said.

The call goes out for people to share their Easter journey with others, in an innovative online experience called The Reflection.

The Reflection will offer people an accessible opportunity for faith formation via the World Wide Web.

“The responses we received last year from the St Paul and St Luke eConferences were extremely positive and very humbling” said Archbishop Bathersby. “The fact that more than 20,000 participants came online highlights a hunger in people to deepen their faith.”

Twelve Australian Bishops have agreed to participate in this pilot series, and will explore the Sunday Gospels of Lent with participants using a lectio divina model of prayer. Commencing the 15 February at 7pm, The Reflection comprises seven short weekly episodes that will remain archived on the site so that people may participate at their own pace.

Visit the website http://thereflection.vividas.com now to find out more about this project; guidelines for undertaking lectio divina; a downloadable booklet to take you through the readings for the period, and Q&A’s to assist further discussion.

Archbishops and Bishops who will be featured in the reflection include:

Most Rev Philip Wilson (Adelaide),
Most Rev John Bathersby (Brisbane)
Most Rev Denis Hart (Melbourne)
Most Rev Mark Coleridge (Canberra-Goulburn)
Most Rev Adrian L. Doyle (Hobart)
Most Rev Michael Putney (Townsville)
Most Rev Christopher Saunders (Broome)
Most Rev David Walker (Broken Bay)
Most Rev Gregory O’Kelly SJ (Port Pirie)
Most Rev D. Eugene Hurley (Darwin)
Most Rev Gerard Hanna (Wagga Wagga)
Most Rev Joseph A. Grech (Sandhurst)

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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!

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OUR SPECIAL LENTEN EXERCISE FOR 2010

On Saturday 27 February commencing at 9.30am, all are invited to the Parish Centre to experience meeting in small neighbourhood groups so that we can continue renewing our lives as Christians and strengthen our sense of belonging in our large parish. ‘Where two or three are gathered, I am in your midst’, Jesus said.
All parishioners and especially those workers in the Vineyard, those ministering in various ways—parish posties, coordinating teams, are invited. Our facilitator is Jill Gibbs who has been involved with parishes and religious orders for over thirty years worldwide.
The session will include some input, an actual experience of a small group meeting and some practical details. We will spend time together and conclude before 2.00pm. Please bring some lunch to share.

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ALERT……………..From Fr BERT

Once a month—on the fourth Sunday of the month—Fr Bert will write a brief article in the parish bulletin on some aspect of the Eucharist. It won’t be a difficult read nor a long read. The series of articles can be called ‘The Eucharist in Small Bytes’. Hopefully, with each read, we will grow in our understanding and appreciation of what it is we do together on the Lord’s Day each weekend. The first article will appear on the fourth weekend (27/28 February). It will be called ‘Gathering in Christ’s Name’. It will be our first byte into the Eucharist and our first step into the mystery of what we do on the Lord’s Day.

Fr Bert

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PROJECT COMPASSION

Project Compassion promotes peace by pursuing justice.

Please take home a Project Compassion box or envelope today from the Welcoming Desk at St Anne’s Church.

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LENT 2010—’CALLED TO BRING HEALING AND HOPE’

Our liturgy planning group last week discussed our theme for Lent as we begin our centenary year. We want to focus in Lent on our need to be healed of the wounds which we as a community have suffered over these 150 years and move on in hope. In Biblical times, a jubilee year (every 50 years) was a time of reconciliation and forgiveness of debts so that a new beginning could occur.

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OUR SPECIAL LENTEN EXERCISE FOR 2010

On Saturday 27 February, all are invited to the Parish Centre to experience meeting in small neighbourhood groups so that we can continue renewing our lives as Christians and strengthen our sense of belonging in our large parish.

‘Where two or three are gathered, I am in your midst’, Jesus said.

All parishioners and especially those workers in the Vineyard, those ministering in various ways—parish posties, coordinating teams, are invited. Our facilitator is Jill Gibbs who has been involved with parishes and religious orders for over thirty years worldwide.
The session will include some input, an actual experience of a small group meeting and some practical details. We will spend time together and conclude before 2.00pm. Please bring some lunch to share.

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LENT 2010

The season of Lent has two characteristics:

  • It recalls for most of us our Baptism or prepares a few of us for Baptism at Easter. It stresses a penitential spirit…..during Lent, penance should not be only internal and individual but also external and social (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Vatican II, Nos. 109/110).
  • Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting (for those over 18 years and under 60 years) and abstinence from meat (for those over 14 years).

Lent is the season of penance—more time given to prayer, to works of charity and welfare, and more effort at self-denial.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in a communal way with several priests on Tuesday 30 March at 7.45pm.

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EMMAUS CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP

The Emmaus Charismatic Prayer Group meets at St Anne’s Church at 10.15am on Thursdays.
All welcome including children.
For more info/transport please contact Lambert & Elaine van der Weerden on 9744 4029.

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VOCATION VIEW

The Lord says: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I dedicated you.” Always listen to an Old Friend.

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THE SYMBOLISM BEHIND THE DEDICATION CEREMONY

The Anointing of the Altar

By being anointed with consecrated oil of Chrism, the altar becomes a symbol of Christ, who before all others is called “The Anointed One”; for the Father anointed him with the Holy Spirit and constituted him the High Priest who on the altar of his body would offer the sacrifice of his life for the salvation of all.

Incense

Is burned on the altar to signify that the sacrifice of Christ, which is then perpetuated in mystery, ascends to God as an odour of sweetness, and also is a sign that the prayers of the people rise up pleasing and acceptable, reaching to the throne of God. The People of God are incensed for they are the living temple in which each faithful member is a spiritual altar.

The white cloth on the altar

Indicates that the Christian altar is the altar of the eucharistic sacrifice and the table of the Lord; standing around it priests and people, in one and the same action but with a difference of function, celebrate the memorial of the death and resurrection of Christ and partake in the Lord’s Supper. The altar is prepared as the table of sacrificial banquet and adorned as for a feast. This is the Lord’s Table at which all God’s people meet with joy to be refreshed with divine food, namely the Body and Blood of Christ sacrificed.

The lighting of the altar

Teaches us that Christ is “a light to enlighten the nations” (Luke 2:32), whose brightness shines out in the Church and through it upon the whole family of humanity. (Taken from “Rite of Dedication”)

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REMINDER

Reminder to all parents from schools other than the two Parish Schools: The first meeting in preparation for First Communion will be held at St. Anne’s Church on Tuesday 16 February at 7.00pm.

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DEDICATION MASS AT ST ANNE’S CHURCH NEXT SUNDAY AT 10.30AM

Bishop Tim Costelloe, Bishop of the Northern Region of Melbourne, will preside at his first liturgy in our parish. In recent weeks we have described the ceremony which is very beautiful, full of symbolism and good music. After the Mass finishes about 12noon, we are invited to lunch together in the Parish Centre, please bring some lunch to share. Tea and coffee will be provided.

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The Year of the Priest: June 2009 – June 2010

In recent years, studies have shown how happy priests are. The Presbyterian sociologist Dean Hoge:

“the level of happiness among Catholic priests is fairly high”.

In 2001, 88% said they would choose priesthood again. The Catholic sociologist Fr Greeley wrote in 2004

“priests score higher on measures of satisfaction than do doctors, lawyers, faculty members and Protestant ministers”.

92% said they would choose priesthood again.

These professional studies show that priests are not ‘unfulfilled emotional wrecks’ as sometimes portrayed.
Hoge listed three top personal problems for priests: low authority exercised in the church, too much work and thirdly unrealistic expectations by lay people.

Feel free to leave a comment below.