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This has been reverent and has received many compliments.
Our annual celebration concludes next Sunday at 6.00pm (Sat) and 10.30am Masses.

A combined Christian celebration will be held next Sunday 29 May at 5.00pm to 6.10pm in St Andrew’s Church on the Village Green.  Kiwanis are providing a sausage sizzle.  Each church is asking 10 people to bring a dessert.  Please indicate to our parish office your intention to bring a dessert.

A Mass of Anointing will be held at St Anne’s Church on TUESDAY 24 May at 11.00am followed by morning tea hosted by the Legion of Mary (you are welcome to bring a plate of food to share).
Anyone requiring transport please contact the parish office.

Many thanks to those who attended the recent Sunbury Chaplaincy fundraiser – the Welsh Choir Concert.  A big thank you also to everyone who donated food for the afternoon tea – we had ample to feed about 160 people!  The Chaplaincy Committee greatly appreciates your support of this Concert which raised $1500!

Wednesday 11 May 2011 in Parish Centre.  You are invited to an hour of FREE information.

Note that more participants than have already signed up will be needed for this to be viable.

* Listen to an experienced solicitor speak about the need for all of us to have a Will and why it should be updated regularly.
* Learn about the Powers of Attorney—Executors—Legislation changes etc.
* Consider the different aspects of the Catholic Church which could benefit from your generosity.  Allow your faith to live on at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and in the wider Church.
* Be informed—ask questions—have an informal chat.
* Wills are not just for the wealthy, elderly or those with children—ALL ADULTS SHOULD MAKE A WILL.

To help us to prepare for this event, we request that you indicate your intention to attend by writing your name on the clipboard in the church, or contact the Parish Office.

The Beatification of Pope John Paul II takes place today in Rome.
Born in 1920, at the age of nine he lost his mother.  During the Nazi occupation of Poland, he worked in a quarry and later studied secretly for the priesthood at the risk of arrest by the Gestapo.
In 1946, he was ordained a priest, in 1958 he was ordained a bishop and in 1978 elected pope, the first non-Italian since 1523.  During the next 26 years, he was a ‘pilgrim pope’ visiting 129 countries including Melbourne in 1986.
He became the first pope to enter a mosque (in Damascus) and a synagogue (in Rome).
His declining health did not stop his travel or meeting people in the Vatican.
In 2005, he entered eternal life peacefully from his own apartment.
His writings will guide us for years to come, especially his encyclical for the new millennium in 2000.

Among the invited guests are the three Cardinals of the U.K.—Murphy-O’Connor, O’Brien and Brady, plus the Pope’s ambassador Archbishop Mennini.
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have issued a special prayer for this time:

‘We ask your blessing upon His Royal Highness Prince William and Catherine as they pledge their love for each other in marriage.
May your love unit them through their lives.
Grant them the strength to serve you, our country and the Commonwealth’.

……Fr. Kevin

Mass will be celebrated at 9.00am in St Anne’s Church to allow time for those attending the Commemoration Service at the War Memorial on the Village Green.  Our school children will be marching and laying a wreath.

The Service was held in St Andrew’s Church.  Our parishioners gave $650 from their Thanksgiving Offering to pay for the costs of the marquee etc. for the service.

The count will take place at all Masses over the next four  weekends.

The Christian Churches of Sunbury have again arranged an Interdenominational Good Friday Service to be held on the Village Green commencing at 10.00am.  Traditionally there has been a great spirit of Christian unity associated with this service, as members from all the Sunbury Christian Churches gather together in remembrance of the sacrifice made by Jesus some 2000 years ago for our salvation.  All parishioners are encouraged to attend and to afterwards enjoy a cuppa and hot cross bun with fellow Christians.
Volunteers are needed to set up on Thursday afternoon.

Dr Clare Walker, president of the Catholic  Medical Association (U.K.) has warned drugs are responsible for a huge rise in mental illness among young people and the problem is not being properly addressed.  ‘The quintupling of intractable depression rates in young adulthood after a history of taking cannabis or certain other illicit drugs is still not publicised’.  She pointed to studies which show that teenagers who drink alcohol regularly are more likely to suffer from depression.

Thank you for the ways in which you have ‘farewelled’ me—
to all those parishioners who have taken the time to write a card expressing gratitude and wishing me well;
for the generosity of my farewell gift;
for the kind words and special memories shared;
for the morning tea last Sunday and the opportunity to say what I wanted to say as I bring to a close this extraordinary chapter of my life.
I will always fondly remember my time working in this place.  I will not forget you and I will continue to remember you in my prayers.
……With a grateful heart, Irene.

At the recent Parish Information Session on Stewardship, a request was made for knowledge about the Presbytery Account which receives the First Collection, Baptism and Funeral donations.  No money from Stewardship is deposited in the Presbytery Account.
30% of the Presbytery Account income is forwarded to support the ninety retired Melbourne priests, our four bishops, fifty-nine priests in parishes unable to support  fully their priest and two Melbourne priests on overseas mission.
Other expenses paid from the account are:  the payment of the lease and running costs of the priest’s car, fees for Fr. Bert assisting  at  Sunday  Mass,  provision  of  food  and laundry at the Presbytery, and finally a living allowance of $320 a week from which the priest prays for his professional development, retreat, holidays, Thanksgiving Offering and other charities.

Special thanks to our parish collectors who are doing a favour to those who forgot to return their Time & Talent Sheet and their Pledge Card last Sunday, by collecting these items when visiting their homes so that the program can be signed off this week.  Thanks to Fr. Peter for his presence among us last Sunday at the four Masses and celebrating four Baptisms while Fr. Kevin was doing the same at Cheltenham parish.
All visitors are invited to a Social Evening on Wednesday at 7.30pm to wind up the program and hear the news of how our Stewardship program has gone.

7.00pm Thursday 31 March at Sunbury College.
Further info. on noticeboard at St Anne’s Church or contact Zelma on 9744 2719, email: sunburychaplaincy@hotmail.com

An opportunity for those who have suffered a loss due to the death of a loved one or separation/divorce—to join a grief and loss peer support group for adults.  Dates:  18 & 25 March,   1 & 8 April—7.00pm at St Francis of Assisi Parish, Mill Park. Email carmel.mcleod@cam.org.au or phone 9407 3176.

The Youth Group will not be meeting at St Anne’s Church this coming fourth Sunday (27 March).  Instead members have decided to gather at ‘The New Canterbury Estate’ park opposite Phillip Drive, Sunbury on Sun 27 March around 12 noon.
All are welcome.
Please bring along some snacks and soft drinks.
The group has planned yabbying and some outdoor games.
Further info. please contact Garnet Jacob on 9740 8328 / 0411 286 428.

Welcome to our parish to speak to us all on Stewardship.  Fr. Peter is parish priest of Cheltenham, chairperson of the Retired Priests’ Foundation and lecturer at Catholic Theological College.  We are grateful for all the time and effort he has put into our Stewardship Renewal.