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Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, appeared before the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into child abuse for over three hours on Monday 20 May. He renewed his apology on behalf of the Church for “an horrific episode in our history, the effects of which are still keenly felt today”, and explained how the Church had changed since the 1990s. For further information on the Church’s response to the Inquiry or to download a summary of the Archbishop’s statement visit www.facingthetruth.org.au. On this website you will also find:

• videos on Towards Healing and Melbourne Response, the Church’s processes for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse

• copies of statements made by those appearing before the Inquiry

• new fact sheets and frequently asked questions.

Printed copies of the Archbishops statements given last Monday are available at our Welcome Desk. Cardinal Pell of Sydney will appear tomorrow, 27 May.

Editor: I strongly recommend reading all the “right of reply” documents, particularly those from the Independant Commissioner, Melbourne Response. Click here.

The Gala Ball will be held at the Plaza Ballroom on Thursday 30 May and is the major fund raiser for Alcohol & Other Drug Family Services.
The funds raised go toward funding alcohol & other drug family counsellors in the Western Region of Melbourne.
The program is focused on restoring the wellbeing and relationships of those affected by problematic alcohol and other drug use.
Contact 9287 555 for further information.

Wednesday evenings starting 5 June to 24 July. Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy.
Enquiries Fiona 0407 879 991 or www.cam.org.au/lifemarriagefamily.
Blessed John Paul II “Theology of the Body”. Why is marriage between man and woman? Why can’t priests marry? I just want to be happy…is it possible? Some of the topics discussed at the course.
Registrations close 29 May.
$40 per person.
Info on St Anne’s Noticeboard and welcome desk.

Federal Member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou and Breast Screen Victoria invite you to a free breast health Information session on Thursday 13 June from 10.30am to noon at Maria Vamvakinou’s Office, 6/1100 Pascoe Vale Rd, Broadmeadows.

The Maltese Gharb Club of Melbourne invites you to celebrate the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Elizabeth on Sunday 2 June at St Bernadette’s Catholic Community Centre, Cooke Ave, North Sunshine. Mass at 2.30pm celebrated by Mons Benedict Camilleri followed by a function in the foyer.

Sunbury United Sporting Club in Mitchells Lane has applied to the Victorian Commission for Gambling to increase by 85% the number of poker machines at their club.
Sunbury residents may comment on this application in writing. Please visit www.vcglr.vic.gov.au or 1300 182 457 for contact details. Comments close on 29 May.
Your submission may be helped by material from the Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce whose members include Archbishop Philip Wilson Chair of Australian Catholic Bishops and the CEO of St Vincent de Paul and Catholic Social Services.

Archbishop Hart will appear before the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into child abuse on Monday, 20 May. He will acknowledge and apologise for the terrible blight of child sex abuse by priests and other Church representatives that largely occurred over a 30 year period from 1960 to 1990. Go to www.facingthetruth.com.au for statements, videos, frequently asked questions, fact sheets and a full copy of the Church’s submission to the Inquiry, Facing the Truth. Please subscribe on the homepage for updates.

Touring another land can help us to understand the people, history and culture of that place. A tour led by Fr John Magri and Sr Margaret Mary is being organised for later this year. The tour wanders through Jordan and Israel, visiting places where Moses, Joshua, Ruth and other Old Testament people of faith travelled, as well as where our Lord was born, grew up, worshipped and carried out his ministry.
“Walk the very ground that Jesus walked!”
If you are interested please register your interest with Fr John (9568 1206 / oakleigh@cam.org.au ) or Sr Margaret Mary (0423 813 361 / servants2hearts@yahoo.com.au ) and for an itinerary.

The Sunbury Action Group of the Leprosy Mission invite you to their 30th Birthday Celebrations at St Andrews Uniting Church on Thursday 9 May at 1.30pm. Admission by donation.
Speaker and Afternoon Tea available (for sale).
RSVP Joycelyn Young on 9740 5948 by Monday 6 May.

www.facingthetruth.org.au
From Monday 29 April, the Catholic Church will commence appearing before the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into child abuse. Bishop Bird and Bishop Connors from the Diocese of Ballarat, and representatives from the Salesians and St John of God Brothers will appear on 29 April. Other Catholic Church representatives will appear over coming weeks.

Go to www.facingthetruth.org.au to find:

• videos on Towards Healing and Melbourne Response, the Church’s processes for dealing with allegations of sexual abuse.

• copies of statements made by those appearing before the Inquiry.

• new fact sheets and frequently asked questions.

• 18 corrections to common misconceptions about child abuse and the Catholic Church.

On the website homepage, please register to be notified when new information is added.

Gorgeous, friendly kitten 6 weeks old.
Call Will on 0406 786 422 or Jan on 0422 912 456.

The Rotary Club of Sunbury will be holding a Country & Western night on Saturday 18 May from 6.30pm in Sunbury Memorial Hall.
BYO supper & Drinks.
$15 entry includes entertainment, Tea & Coffee.
Fantastic Live Band.
Tickets available from N & M Catering on 9744 7283 or Mannie on 0421 490 134 or Kerry 0411 287 781.
More info on St Anne’s foyer Noticeboard.

Morning tea will be hosted by Sunbury West Neighbourhood on Sunday 5 May, after 8.30am Mass.
Please bring a plate to share and enjoy a cuppa with friends.
All welcome!

Palms Australia is a Catholic organisation which has been sending volunteers on mission for over 50 years. Palms global volunteers mentor and exchange skills in countries across Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Positions exist in education, health, administration, agriculture/farming, trades and other areas. Pope Francis calls Catholics back to Core Values.  Volunteering to share your skills is a great place to start. Come to Palms Information Session on Saturday 11 May, 11:00  AM at Ross House, Ground Floor Room 1, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne. If you know anyone who may be interested in volunteering but is unable to attend, please ask them to contact Sarah Torcasio on 02 9518 9551 or at sarah@palms.org.au for more information.

Anzac Day Mass will be celbebrated at 9.00am to allow time for participants to be at the Prayer Service at the War Memorial on the Village Green at 10.00am

Our prayers and sympathy we offer to the family of Peg Kellock who entered eternal life aged 89, last Wednesday. Peg and her late husband, John, came to our parish in 1986 to support their daughter Liz O’Donnell. Peg was treasurer of St Vincent de Paul Society in Parkdale and later in Sunbury. The family thanks the Ministers of Communion who served Ped during her years in the Lions Hostel.

The parish of St Mary’s Sunbury has written to thank us for praying for Vicki Ward during her 15 month illness, for her family and for their parish.

We are delighted to invite you to see and purchase handmade religious articles made by the Sisters after morning Mass on Friday April 19. The Christian Orthodox Sisterhood named in Honour of Holy Martyr Grand Princess St Elisabeth is located in the Republic of Belarus in Central part of Europe.
Sisterhood of St Elisabeth was founded in 1996. Our missionary began in National mental hospital located not far from the Convent. Nuns and sisters of mercy take care of mentally challenged children and adults.
Life of the child with diagnosis such as Down syndrome, birth traumas or congenital physical defects may be quite short and it is painful to see them suffering. Also the adult patients need constant support owing to the fact that their illnesses make it impossible for them to adapt socially. In the recent years a shelter and house of Labor for former drug and alcohol addicted people was organized 20 miles away from the Convent. A lot of homeless, struggling and lost people get a chance for a new start in life to find God.
In order to help these people some workshops were organized on the premises of the convent where they have a possibility to express themselves in art for God working together with nuns, sisters and lay brothers and making the icons (including hand painted) crosses, crucifixes, wood carvings, embroidered and ceramic gifts, rosaries and vestments. All these goods are made with love and prayers and bring blessings to their owners. We are happy and thanking God for the opportunity to introduce and offer them for your attention.
Sisters of St Elisabeth Convent

Come along and learn about the meanings, celebrations and rituals of “Adulthood” in different Faiths: Aboriginal, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic and Sikh.
Date: Wednesday 17 April 2013
Time: 9.30 am – 12 pm
Venue: Hume Global Learning Centre (room 4 & 5), 1093 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows
Cost: Free
(light lunch will be provided RSVP: Required by 15 April to Carmen Largaiolli on 9205 2437 or carmenla@hume.vic.gov.au