Pregnancy Counselling Australia runs a 24/7 telephone counselling for pregnant women in crisis, providing compassionate, non-judgemental support.
Volunteer counsellors are needed. For more info. call Tahlia 9740 7378.
We would appreciate hearing from anyone available to read at any of our Easter Celebrations. Please contact Joanne Spiteri on 0448 566 270 or 97407151.
Tuesday night before Ash Wednesday, Stephen Littleton was a guest of our parish to launch the Stewardship Program. We started with a welcome from Fr Kevin who led us in the Stewardship Prayer. Stephen Littleton then took over and summarised Christian Stewardship. He said it is primarily a personal call to renew ourselves, a call to holiness, worship, and action. Having renewed ourselves over the years it may be easier to visualise as refreshing ourselves through our prayers, our efforts, and our sharing, in love, of ourselves with others. I see Stewardship as carrying on with that which Jesus asked of us when he said: “I have called you friends” and “I chose you, and I appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
In this same spirit Stephen Littleton went over the recent history of our parish. What had been achieved in the way of bricks and mortar at our churches and our schools and what we needed to be concerned with in the future. Things such as the pastoral care of a much greater population, the foundation of one or more schools, increased ministry to the elderly and so many other functions required by a greater and greater community. All of which costs more money than we currently have. Our expenditure on maintainance, salaries, utilities, loan repayments etc is more than our envelope collection each week. Our average envelope amounts to $8.44. The message was that in order to meet our present costs and future expansion, we need to boost our income, but as followers of Jesus. We can’t get caught up in how little some give as that’s not our concern. Remember Jesus in Luke’s Gospel with his reaction to the widow who gave all she could, small as it was. Our reaction as the friends Jesus left behind to carry on as his stewards should first be to pray about it. Maybe we could ask what we should do, ask the Father for help. As Jesus said in the Gospel of last Sunday, “enter into your inner room……..and pray to your Father”. We will be answered in some way or other. It could be to take the message to others, to ask for the help of others, to contribute more ourselves, to pray more for the parish community, to put more effort in to the workload of the parish. We also evangelise by our example.
Stephen Littleton then threw the meeting open for questions and then Fr Kevin closed the meeting with a prayer.
FRIDAY 1 APRIL 2011 2.30—3.15pm
Goonawarra Nursing Home, Anderson Rd. Sunbury.
Please come along and help entertain the residents.
New faces always welcome
As you know, Irene is leaving us on Wed 6 April. If you would like to contribute towards a gift for Irene, there will be donation boxes at both Churches next weekend. Alternatively, you can leave your donation in an envelope at the parish office. There will be a Morning Tea for Irene on Sunday 3 April after 8.30am Mass. All parishioners are warmly invited to attend. The people who are coming to 10.30am Mass might like to come early and have a cuppa beforehand.
Last Tuesday night Stephen Littleton was a guest of our parish to launch the Stewardship Program. We started with a welcome from Fr Kevin who led us in the Stewardship Prayer. Stephen Littleton then took over and summarised Christian Stewardship. He said it is primarily a personal call to renew ourselves, a call to holiness, worship, and action. Having renewed ourselves over the years it may be easier to visualise as refreshing ourselves through our prayers, our efforts, and our sharing, in love, of ourselves with others. I see Stewardship as carrying on with that which Jesus asked of us when he said: “I have called you friends” and “I chose you, and I appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
In this same spirit Stephen Littleton went over the recent history of our parish. What had been achieved in the way of bricks and mortar at our churches and our schools and what we needed to be concerned with in the future. Things such as the pastoral care of a much greater population, the foundation of one or more schools, increased ministry to the elderly and so many other functions required by a greater and greater community. All of which costs more money than we currently have. Our expenditure on maintainance, salaries, utilities, loan repayments etc is more than our envelope collection each week. Our average envelope amounts to $8.44. The message was that in order to meet our present costs and future expansion, we need to boost our income, but as followers of Jesus. We can’t get caught up in how little some give as that’s not our concern. Remember Jesus in Luke’s Gospel with his reaction to the widow who gave all she could, small as it was. Our reaction as the friends Jesus left behind to carry on as his stewards should first be to pray about it. Maybe we could ask what we should do, ask the Father for help. As Jesus said in the Gospel of last Sunday, “enter into your inner room……..and pray to your Father”. We will be answered in some way or other. It could be to take the message to others, to ask for the help of others, to contribute more ourselves, to pray more for the parish community, to put more effort in to the workload of the parish. We also evangelise by our example.
Stephen Littleton then threw the meeting open for questions and then Fr Kevin closed the meeting with a prayer.
Volunteers needed on Wednesday after 9.15am Mass in Parish Centre to help with compiling of envelopes.
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Today we shall hear a brief introduction to our program during March.
Our speakers are: John Bracher, Michael McConville, Trish McCourt and Karen Rose.
Last Wednesday a group of eleven parishioners met to begin the program.
For those who gave to Thanksgiving last year, there is a letter with a balance sheet from our accountant outlining how your money has been spent.
Please collect your addressed letter today.
The Youth Group welcomes all youth between Prep to Yr 12 to join in some indoor fun and outdoor activities.
The Youth Group gathers every fourth Sunday at 6.30pm at St Anne’s Church.
The next gathering is 27 February.
Please join! Bring along friends!
Goonawarra Nursing Home Friday 4 March 2.30—3.15pm.
Please come along and help entertain the residents.
We welcome to Melbourne Fr. Martin Adichilam Ackal, who is on loan from India and is appointed to Essendon West and Moonee Ponds parishes.
Over 200 yrs of Priestly Service have been given by four parish priests who are retiring in early months of 2011—Fr. Frank Arnold (Blackburn North) Fr. Cyril Blake (Highett) Fr. Eleni Caforella (Altona) Fr. John Cunningham (Ivanhoe). We thank them for their service to the People of God of the Melbourne Archdiocese and wish them well in their retirement.
The Neighbourhood of Gum Tree Hills is hosting a working bee in the garden at the Presbytery and convent prior to the CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS on Friday 18 February 6.00pm to 8.00pm.
All welcome!
BYO tools.
Jesus speaks on Vocations: You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. Your light must shine before people so that they may see your goodness in your acts, giving praise to your heavenly Father.
A child’s handful of pulled dandelions will bring joy to a mother. A small act of kindness will surprise the lonely heart. Who will bring joy and kindness today?
Saturday 29 January, 9.00am—1.00pm. As many parents as possible are welcome.
Remember many hands make light work.
Jesus said: “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” Today he could say: “I will make you mechanics of souls; doctors of wounded hearts, counsellors of broken families; clowns in a joyless society.” But regardless, Come.
Isaiah’s vocation was to be a light to the nations. Nations and neighbourhoods need missionaries – lay, clergy and religious. Listen to the call!
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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