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A celebration of Mass for the affirmation, encouragement and support of all those who care for the sick and elderly in their families will be offered by Monsignor Franco Cavarra at St Francis Church, Lonsdale Street on 18 July at 4.30pm.

A one-day program for those in the early times of grief following the end of their relationship.
Sat 17 July at 62 McKillop St. Geelong from 9.00am to 4.30pm.
Cost $50 ($30 concession) includes lunch, tea/coffee.
Bookings essential.
phone 52 217 055.

POPE’S DISASTER FUND: Amount raised $851.60. Thank you.

The Conference was held for four days last week in Geelong with 112 priests attending as requested by the Archbishop. This was one of our best conferences organised by Fr Martin Ashe and his committee. Our key presenter was Fr Dermot Power of London, a theologian and spiritual director. He was a delight to listen to, with good theology and a wealth of stories (some very humorous) from his own priestly experience. He summed up his six presentations by saying ‘we grow from the outside in—through pastoral experience with the People of God we are led to a deeper reliance in God’ – we never arrive, we are always longing to be better. We learn about the Kingdom of God from the ‘little people’. It is the laity who form the priests. The future is not in our hands, but the Holy Spirit will challenge us out of any comfort zone as we are all unfinished business…………………………………Fr Kevin

‘The greatest persecution of the Church comes not from her enemies without, but arises from sin within the Church and that the Church thus has a deep need to relearn penance, to accept purification, to learn forgiveness on the one hand but also the need for justice’…..11 May.

‘We must overcome the temptation to restrict ourselves to what we already have, or think we have, safely in our possession: it would be sure death in terms of the Church’s presence in the world; the Church can only be missionary, in the outward movement of the Spirit…..We are called to serve the humanity of our own time, trusting in Jesus alone’…..14 May.

The letter is available today for all parishioners.

Join with Catholic Mission this week to reach out around the world to those most in need. Your kindness is faith in action that brings life to people across the world. For those requiring a tax deductible receipt, envelopes are provided at the end of each pew.

This pilgrimage will explore Mary MacKillop’s heritage in Scotland followed by five days in Rome.
Enquiries 1300 467 663 or www.canonisationtravel.com

Don’t miss this exciting music event for singers, instrumentalists, choirs, liturgists, teachers and all who are involved in music within our parish and school community.
Further info and to register online visit: www.asonevoice.com.au

This is just a quick report on the last Liturgy meeting which started, as usual, with a prayer.

The first issue was the 10.30am Mass on 27th which will involve the Baptism of two infants and two older children. A video camera will be used to display the proceedings on to the large screens for all the parishioners to see. It is hoped that this can also be recorded and made available to the parents. Sheila and John Stafford will be celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary at this Mass.

The Children’s Choir, utilising the children from both our schools is still a work in progress which we are hoping will get under way next term. At this stage we are hoping to have them at one Mass per month.

There was a discussion about the next Neighbourhood Theme which ties in with the Parish Centenary Celebrations, namely to “Honour the Past and Polish our Present”.

The next item is our Parish Feast Day on the 25th July where it is hoped the Children’s Choir can take part in the 10.30am Mass. The readings were discussed and some suggested themselves as the day is to be a celebration of Mary, the Mother of Jesus under her title of  Our Lady of Mount Carmel, also a celebration of service via our  “Workers in the Vineyard” day, and finally as this Liturgical Year utilises the Gospel of St Luke, we will probably use one of St Luke’s stories that show the service of Our Lady.

On the Parish Feast Day we will be celebrating the service of all our “Workers in the Vineyard”. Whether you are praying for us all, or joining us in community at Sunday Mass, or standing drenched in the car park while directing traffic, or singing in a choir, you inspire us all. St Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, lists God’s appointments in the Church, starting with the Apostles, Prophets, teachers etc and then once we’ve become comfortable throws it all out and says “I will show you a more excellent way”.(Vulgate) So a quick look at 1 Corinthians Ch13 says everything about our individual service to our Parish Community.

One of the things we have learnt from last year is that it is an enormous job to  check with everyone on whether they will stay on the current rosters so this year it will involve parishioners “opting out” and we will assume those that don’t “opt out” are willing to stay. Some parishioners volunteered for some services that didn’t get off the ground as there weren’t enough people. Things such as tea/coffee after Mass and Children’s Liturgy didn’t have enough volunteers although some Neighbourhoods have said they would be interested in tea/coffee after Mass in conjunction with a Neighbourhood Mass. It may be possible to get someone to give a short talk on how the receiving of a ministry of giving has affected them. All parishioners at Mass that Sunday will be given a tag at the beginning of Mass on which to put their name.
Areas which particularly need volunteers are the “Welcomers”, “Hospitality” and AV operators.

Finally the meeting looked at a night to come together to watch the canonisation of Bl Mary MacKillop on Sunday 17th October. This is now also a work in progress.

On 5 June, we had the third successful Centenary event (the others being the Blessing of the Bell Tower and the Bush Dance). The compere was very competent. A great spirit was among those present who filled the Parish Centre. Congratulations to the Parish Centenary Committee and St Anne’s P.T.F.A. for organising the event.

This was the title of a meeting at the Vatican early last month of some of the world’s leading social scientists and experts in economics and finance. The cause of the current crisis was the mistake made by financiers and regulators that the market, left to its own devices, would weed out poor debt. Many at the meeting considered the crisis ‘to be moral rather than economic’, in that the financial sector sought to serve itself, not the common good, by seeking higher profits. Speakers discussed the innocent victims of this financial failure—the developing world. As the economy is now global, regulation needs to be global.

Fr Kevin

An in-depth study of the whole Bible over six terms. Presented by Bethany Lutheran Church and supported by the Sunbury Christian Ministers Fellowship. See brochure at Welcome Desk for full details and registration or contact Pastor Jim Pietsch 9743 4643.

• Education of Students for Priesthood $890.70
• Mary MacKillop Canonisation $1425.80.

Young single adults (18-35) are invited to attend one of our two retreat weekends-(1) ‘Mary MacKillop Inspired & Inspiring’ – experience the inspiration of a remarkable woman Friday 9 July to Sunday 11 July at Jan Juc. RSVP 30.06.10. (2) ‘Mary MacKillop Towards Canonisation’ – become inspired through her journey to sainthood Fri 27 August to Sun 29 August at Rye. RSVP 18.08.10. Cost for either weekend is $50 employed, with a concession rate for students/unwaged.
An e-copy of the brochure for the Retreat Weekends is available from macyac@sosj.org.au Limited places-apply early.
Enquiries: Rita 0419 299 065 / Janette 0411 406 152 or 9306 8903.

When was the last time you had a great weekend just for the two of you? The next three weekends will be held on 25-27 June, 20-22 August and 15-17 October.
Further info / bookings contact Peter & Erika on 9899 0824 or email vicbookings@wwme.org.au Website: http://www.wwme.org.au

Our parish priest (1973-77) is seriously ill in intensive care in Geelong. Please remember him in your prayers.

Food usually becomes more when it is given than when it is taken – The more Jesus is given, the more we share Him, the more He increases.

The Victorian Aboriginal Catholic Council and the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria invite all of you to join us in prayer during Reconciliation Week from 27 May to 3 June. This year marks 10 years since the walk across the bridges in all states and 20 years since the decade of the Reconciliation process. We hope that you will take the opportunity to reflect on the last ten years and recommit to reconciliation. May God always be on this journey with us. Reconciliation Prayer Cards are available at the Welcoming Desk.

I offer to you for the good wishes, prayers and very generous gift you gave me last Sunday on the fortieth anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood. I have had a wonderful week with family, friends and fellow priests ordained with me.
………..Fr. Kevin