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The Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop was celebrated at St Anne’s Church on 8 August with the children from St Anne’s Primary School who had Sr Jose` pray with them. Sr Jose` is the Pastoral Associate for our Parish, and she is also part of the order established by Mary MacKillop, the Sisters of St Joseph. It was very special to have her celebrate this special feast day with the parishioners and children from our school. Mary MacKillop being the first Australian Saint is remembered for her devotion to helping those in need. As related to todays Gospel where Jesus says, “happy those servants if he (the Master) finds them ready…” Mary MacKillop certainly served her Master by serving those in need. May we remember the goodness of Mary MacKillop and be inspired to do the same.

ANNUAL PRIESTS’ CONFERENCE
Last week, Archbishop Denis requested all Melbourne Priests to undertake professional development at this Conference over four days. 131 priests including Fathers Martin Ashe, Greg Bourke, Philip Le and Linh Tran, who served us here in the past, lived in at the conference centre where we prayed, enjoyed each other’s company and heard four wonderful presenters: a theology lecturer, a biblical scholar, a Burmese asylum seeker and the Catholic coordinator  working at the Royal Commission into institutional child abuse. We prayed the Prayer of the Church and the Eucharist but also prayed in small groups of eight. We viewed the movie “The Lady” about the life of Aung San Suu Kyi, how she sacrificed her life for her country.
The topics were well-integrated with each other. It was great to catch up with fellows from other parts of our large diocese. I consider our conference was excellent as it was inspiring and thought provoking.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY INSPECTION
The regular inspection last Friday found our parish is complying with the government regulations.
…..Kevin McIntosh

WYD 2013 ran for six days concluding last Sunday when 3.2 million people gathered on Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janiero for Mass with Pope Francis as presider. The City Mayor’s Office estimated the crowd, the biggest since World Youth Day in Manila in 1995 where 4.5 million attended the final Mass with Pope John Paul II. Pope Francis gave some challenging messages to the youth, including these words:

“We need saints without cassocks, without veils– we need saints with jeans and tennis shoes. We need saints that go to the movies… and hang out with their friends. We need saints that place God in first place ahead of succeeding in any career. We need saints that look for time… to pray every day and who know how to be in love with purity, chastity and all good things. We need saints– saints for the 21st century with a spirituality appropriate for our new time.”

See Final Mass for 3 million pilgrims below

Our prayers and sympathy we offer to Mary Wicks as her husband Jack entered eternal life this week after a long illness. Jack’s Funeral Service will be on Monday at 10.30am in St Anne’s Church, concluding with committal at Sunbury cemetery.
Also to Sarina Kelly as her husband Gordon entered eternal life last week aged 64 years. The Kelly family have been in our parish for four generations.

Thanks to Cath & Colin Missen for their kind donation of a book shelf for the purposes of storing the parish photographs and historical items.

Bishop Blase J. Cupich, Bishop of the Spokane Diocese in the State of Washington, visited Australia this month and recorded two videos. In the first, he discusses the recent research by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and in the second, he talks about rebuilding trust in the Catholic Church. The Bishop is also the former Chair of the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People, established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. To view these videos please visit www.facingthetruth.org.au and subscribe for further updates.

This month, we are celebrating the 60 years of Ordination (1953) of Father Paddy Duggan, 50years (1963) Mgr Peter Kenny, Fathers Bren Donahue, Leo Griffin, John Flynn, George O’Connor, Gerry Beasley, John Wilken SJ, Gerry O’Collins SJ, Stephen Gnejc, Tony Kelly CSsR, Allan Mithen, Juliano Cavarzan SDB and 25 years (1988) Fathers Michael Miles and Kevin McGovern and Leenus Netany.
May the Lord continue to bless these priests and their ministry.

Morning tea will be held next Sunday morning after 8.30am Mass in St Anne’s Church.
All welcome.
Please bring a plate to share.

The Sing-a-Long will not be held this month. The next Sing-a-Long will be Friday 6 September. Put it in your diary.

A working bee will be held next Saturday 3 August from 9am to noon at St Anne’s Church. Please bring along you own tools.

As part of our parish feast day last week, some items of historical significance will remain on display in St Anne’s Church in the chapel.
All  welcome.

The feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop will be celebrated at Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre on Saturday 3 August from 10am to 4pm at 362 Alberts St, East Melbourne.
More info contact 9926 9300.

The statue will be arriving at St. Mark’s Church Fawkner, on 1st August (Thursday) morning. The Parish Primary School and Parishioners will welcome the Blessed Virgin Mary at 9:45 followed by the Holy Mass at 10:00am. It will be a day of prayer and reflection. At 6:30pm there will be a concluding Mass. The Blessed Virgin will continue her pilgrimage to Rosebud around 8:00pm.
After the Mass, a light supper will be available in the hall.
For further information contact St. Mark’s parish on 93593111.

Thanks to our generous parishioners. On Aboriginal Sunday a special collection was taken up and the amount of $1044.60 has been donated to help educate young Aboriginal children in our Catholic schools that they will have a brighter future.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held in St Anne’s Church on the first Friday of every month from 7-8pm and is led by the Legion of Mary.

5 days from 5-9 August. Day tour to Barwon Park mansion, Blue Lake, Home of Adam Lindsay Gordon, cruise up Glenelg River winery, etc and Penola to walk in the footsteps of St Mary MacKillop. Cost $799 per person including meals. More details call Anne on 9744 5899. We would love to have you join us

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WYD is being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pilgrims from Melbourne left last Monday. Some pilgrims are travelling en-route through Santiago, Chile and will encounter parish life and mission in the poorest parts of Chile where the Columbans from Australia work.

A one-off charity event will be heldat Elusive Style, Shop 12 Sunbury Target Centre, Sunbury,  on Friday 2 August from 6pm. Promoting 2013 Spring Racing Carnival fashions, but helping the “Dress for Success” Charity. Any handbags in good condition can be traded on the night for discounts on new ones. All bags traded should be in good condition as they will be donated to charity. Surprises and specials to be found on the night. Bring a friend and promote a local business.

Thanks to Jim Reilly and the volunteers who helped sort out the new Thanksgiving Envelopes. Please collect them at all Masses over the next 3 weeks. This will help keep mailing costs down.

Actual announcement found in a church bulletin (not ours of course??)

“Don’t let worry kill you– let the church help”