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Christmas Masses

About 3000 people took part in our four family Masses, a higher number than in other years. Many leaving the Church and the Stadium commented very favourably on our celebrations. A priest in inner Melbourne told me their participants were also up and their collections were greatly increased.

Thanks for your Christmas Offerings

30% is forwarded to support the ninety-three retired Melbourne priests, as well as the archbishop and other Bishops and priests in parishes unable to support their priest. The remaining 70% is spent on the lease and running costs of a car, the running costs of the Presbytery and a living allowance for myself.
This Christmas the offerings were 61% higher than 2011 for which I am very grateful.
……Kevin McIntosh

Prayerful condolences to Leanne, Alyssa and Tegan Harry for the loss of their husband and father, Peter Harry. Peter bravely fought fires as a CFA volunteer, but unfortunately died after being badly burned on 29 December while fighting fires in Gisborne. Please remember Peter and his family in your prayers, and also for all the brave people who protect us all from the horrors of bushfires. There were two fires in our parish last Tuesday extinguished by many CFA members.

Farewell and Godspeed to Pastor Jim Pietsch of the Sunbury Lutheran Church who after six years among us has taken up an appointment in the Lutheran Church, Wellington, NZ. Jim has been a great promoter of Biblical Studies, a member of the Victorian Council of Churches and the secretary of the Sunbury Ministers Association. Some members of our parish were at his farewell service last Sunday.

 Parish Bingo resumes every Thursday evening from 17 January in the Sunbury Football Club, Clarke Oval, Riddell Rd.
Eyes down at 8pm, Meals available beforehand.

The Parish is able to offer “Gluten Free” breads to be consecrated during Eucharist. If you wish to receive the gluten free host, please inform the person setting up for Eucharist.

The Minister of Communion at the central aisle will have your host in a separate pyx.

 Leaders of the Columban Missionary Society from around the world met recently. A young Columban priest from Korea works in China; a young Fijian priest is now a parish priest in Chile; a young Filipino priest is involved in forming students for the priesthood. So the former missionary countries are now producing missionaries.
One purpose of the Columbans was to help Churches overseas mature until they are able to evangelize to their own and then to other people. The goal has been achieved in the Philippines and Korea. Our purchasing the Columban Art Calendar supports the Columban missionaries work.

On 13 December, Cyclone Evan hit Samoa. Four people are confirmed dead, 12 are missing, more than 4,500 are in evacuation centres and 4,000 homes have been destroyed. Please help. The Caritas Australia Pacific Emergency Appeal is now open.
You may donate through the Caritas website www.caritas.org.au, the toll free number 1800 024 413 or GPO Box 9830 in your capital city

Vicki Ward is the wife of Reverend Gavin Ward who is the Minister at the Sunbury Anglican Church, St May’s . Vicki is currently undergoing further radiation treatment following the discovery that existing tumours in her brain have begun growing again and further tumours have been discovered.Our community is connected via the Sunbury Lay Echumenical Committee and the various Christian activities in our area. We ask pairshioners to continue to pray for Vicki and the Ward family.  The Anglican community are holding a prayer vigil on Tuesday 8 January at St Mary’s Church in O’Shannassy St, Sunbury from 6pm to 10pm. All are welcome to join the Anglican community for silent prayer. The Ward family hope to join the service from 7.30-8.30pm for a directed period of led prayer.
Donations can be made to help support the financial needs of the family. Please contact the Parish Office if you are able to assist.

Thank you to Val Quinn as she leaves us to move to a new home. Val has been a regular worshipper with us on Sundays and Weekdays. She has contributed to Thanksgiving and has been involved in the music ministry and Minister of Communion. Val has also driven parishioners to Church and Evergreen events and will be missed. We wish her every happiness in her new home.

Au Revoir and sincere gratitude to Fr Kevin, Fr Bert, Sr Jose` and all the lovely parishioners for their support over the last 10 years.
This is not goodbye but Au Revoir.                                                ……Val Quinn

This year it is 100 years since his arrival in Melbourne in 1913 and 50 years since his entry to eternal life in 1963. On 16 March 2013, there will be a day conference at the State Library of Victoria. Keynote speaker: Professor Dermot Keogh, Professor Emeritus of History, Ireland. Cost $100, concession $70. Enquiries Melbourne Diocesan Historical Commission 9926 5677 or email archive@cam.org.au.

The funeral Mass will be held on Monday 7 January at 11am for Salesian Br Henry Van der Laan at Rupertswood College Chapel. Br Henry was part of the Sunbury Salesian community in 2008. His burial will be at Salesian College in the Priests Graveyard.

Your contribution has enabled our Parish to continue its service this year, unlike some schools which have closed due to financial  problems. During the year we have paid $3134 per week making our Parish Loan Repayments and have given $596 per week as our Diocesan Levy to support various diocesan agencies eg. Evangelisation Office, Hospital and Prison chaplains, Catholic Social Services and Formation of priests etc.
The support of our priest is given not from Thanksgiving Offering but from the first collection and Christmas Offerings. The support includes the lease and running costs of a car, board and lodging and a living allowance. Visiting priests are paid from these offerings also.

Strong academic performance of Catholic Schools is seen by a higher percentage of Catholic students achieving at or above the National Minimum Standard, compared to the Victorian average.
In addition, research at Melbourne University reported that our Catholic students in low socio economic (SES) communities are more likely to attend university. cf www.vcspb.catholic.edu.au.

A recent study by Rupert Shortt has shown there were more Christian martyrs in the 20th century than during the previous nineteen centuries put together. Jon Sobrino S.J. a famous theologian from Central America sums up “the Church is being persecuted because it defends the life of the poor, denounces the unjust destruction of life and promotes the right practice of justice”.

The leaders of the TRUTH, JUSTICE AND HEALING COUNCIL set up last week by the Australian Catholic Church are the Honorary Barry O’Keefe QC, (Chair) and Francis Sullivan (CEO). Mr O’Keefe is a former Chief Supreme Court Judge (NSW) and Chair of Interpol’s International Group of Experts on Corruption. Mr Sullivan is a former Secretary General of Australian Medical Association (AMA).

The Church supports the establishment of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The Truth, Justice and Healing Council has three tasks:
    Identifying systematic institutional failures that have impeded the protection of children
    Promoting lasting healing for the survivors of previous abuse
    Identifying all necessary measures to prevent abuse of children in the future.

“What a great Parish we have” was a comment heard on Friday. Let us give thanks to all who have given their time and finance to make our Parish be great, the list of givers is endless – but you know who you are. May the generous Lord reward your generosity.

Your contribution has enabled our Parish to continue its service this year, unlike some schools which have closed due to financial  problems. During the year we have paid $3134 per week making our Parish Loan Repayments and have given $596 per week as our Diocesan Levy to support various diocesan agencies eg. Evangelisation Office, Hospital and Prison chaplains, Catholic Social Services and Formation of priests etc.
The support of our priest is given not from Thanksgiving Offering but from the first collection and Christmas Offerings. The support includes the lease and running costs of a car, board and lodging and a living allowance. Supply priests are paid from these offerings also.

Copies of an executive summary of our submission to be heard probably in March is available today from the Welcome Desk.

Our Parish has recently ordered new chairs for the Parish Centre to replace the old, heavy chairs. If you or anyone you know are interested in purchasing  any of the chairs please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060. Make an offer!