A kind parishioner has a wheelchair for anyone who needs it.
Please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060 if you are interested.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT – Week 2 Thai-Burma Border
Mark 9: 2-10

Lent is a time of transformation. We look to prayer, fasting and almsgiving – the traditional practices of Lent – as ways by which we can experience it in our lives.

In today’s Gospel, when Peter, James and John are alone with Jesus, they experience something that renews and invigorates their commitment to follow His example. They see Jesus in conversation with Moses and Elijah and then he is transfigured before their eyes. “His face was shining like the sun and his clothes were dazzling white”. A voice from a cloud announces: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!”

For the disciples, this moment is a defining one. They see Jesus linked with Moses, who delivered the ancient Hebrews from slavery and oppression and with Elijah, the prophet of the people. They see clearly their mission to bring the Good News to the poor, and freedom to the oppressed. And the work is waiting for them. “Get up and do not be afraid,” Jesus tells them and he leads them back down the mountain to do that work.

The Project Compassion story this week comes from the Thai-Burma Border and is also about transformation. Khin and her family escaped the poverty, violence and instability in Burma by crossing into Thailand. Once there, they and many other refugees and migrants found that life was still difficult. They faced the daily struggle of making a living in a country where language and cultural differences made them feel alienated.
A program supported by Caritas Australia and its partners has established community-based learning centres – particularly for the children of migrant workers – in Ranong province, Thailand. In this way, communities have their right of access to education so they can adapt to life in Thailand with hope and dignity and plan for a more stable future.
If we want peace, we must work for justice. This program is working for justice. We can recognise the call to be partners in this work. We can support such opportunities for those who have experienced conflict and displacement. We can, like the disciples, “get up and be not afraid”. The work is waiting for us, too.
This season of Lent is a time for us to recommit to it.

Click on the image below to go to the Caritas website.

This Mass will take place at Mass in the Cathedral on Tuesday 13 March at 7.30pm before Bishop Tim leaves for Perth.

The Parish Centre will be closed from 26 March to 15 April for painting and other maintenance.

Lord, we thank you for your unconditional love which we celebrate in the Eucharist.
During this time of preparation, enable these children to discover more and more the gift of your love for them in the Eucharist.
Draw them, and all of your family, ever closer to you and to each other as we meet around your table.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer Companions are being sought today to accompany our children in prayer as they prepare to begin receiving Holy Communion in May.

Please remember to put the amount given on your envelopes, as the perforated edges sometimes break and money can fall out. The counters will not know what money belongs in each envelope unless you write the amount on it.
Thanks for your help.

St Anne’s Church car park currently has an area that has been damaged by water. We ask people who own heavy vehicles to please park at least 15 meters away from this damaged area near the industrial bins. This is a safety issue and will be attended to in the very near future.

The Catholic website http://www.xt3.com has posted an inspiring video for Lent. It’s message is for us to “Come Awake and be One with Christ again”
Click here to view on the XT3 site.

International Womens Day is celebrated this Sunday on 4 March and is a time to connect with all women around the world. It is also a time to consider the women who have impacted our lives and hold up in prayer those we have never met. It is an opportunity to share inspiring visions of women flourishing and achieving their full potential as people of God; to offer encouragement and hope in facing the rocky paths yet to be trod.

Working Bee on Saturday 3 March starting at 9 til 12.00. Our work will concentrate on the grounds around St Anne’s Church and the Parish Centre. Please bring weeding gear, wheelbarrows, shovels, whipper snippers, etc. All welcome, help make St Anne’s look like the Garden of Eden.

Next Sunday 4 March after 8.30am Mass will be hosted by the Old Town Neighbourhood. Please bring a plate to share and join in for a cuppa and a chat.

Friday 2 March, at St Anne’s Church 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 Malaysia with the theme “Let justice prevail.” The Sunbury Chorale will lead the singing. Prayer booklets will be available. As James prayed;:”Father may they all be one… so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21) “Prayer  is  common  to  the  should  of  the  whole  ceremonial  movement.” (Catholic Catechism No 821) As the host Church this year, a large representation of our parishioners would be a sign of our hospitality.

Founded in 1887, this international Order of Service is translated into more than sixty languages and 1000 dialects in 176 countries and islands. In Australia, nearly 100000 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 Anne’s Church on Friday 2 March 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.

CHA represents 75 hospitals and 550 residential aged care services operated by the Catholic Church Australia’s largest non-profit provider of health services.
CHA is urging more funds for health care.

Goonawarra Nursing Home, Sunbury. Friday 2 March 2.30-315pm.
Please come along and help entertain the residents.

We all do things to enhance our lives;  Fitness programs and diets to improve our health ; Professional Development programs to improve our job skills.
We offer you  an opportunity for married couples to give a wonderful gift to your children by enhancing your marriage through a Marriage Encounter weekend.
Take a look at our website on http://www.wwme.org.au
Our weekends in 2012 are:  20-22 April, 15-17 June, 10-12 Aug and 12-14 Oct.
For info and bookings contact Marianne & Marcel Van den Bronk (03)9733 0997 or Email   vicbookings@wwme.org.au

In the past our community has given generously to Catholiccare. Our community has access to the services provided by this wonderful organisation through the outreach program.
It is run through the Sunbury Community Health Service and the hours of operation are: Mon, Tues, Thurs 9-5; Wed 11.30am-7pm.
Services provided range from individual, couple and family counselling, stress management, grief and loss, pain management and parenting.
Please contact 9744 4455 to arrange an appointment if you need to use this service.

Appointed by the Pope is Bishop Timothy Costelloe, our Northern Regional Bishop from 17 March. We thank him for his visits over the past five years especially to parents as they prepared for the Confirmation of their children and for consecrating our altar in 2009.
Father Martin Ashe has been appointed Episcopal Vicar of our Region. Father Martin will do some of the 82 Confirmations in this Region, attend fortnightly Curia meetings and a point of reference for the next year or so until a new auxiliary bishop is appointed. Fr Martin will continue as Parish Priest of Mernda-Whittlesea-Kinglake. Let us keep him in our prayers as he generously has accepted this new ministry.