SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR SRS MAUREEN & MARY
A special collection will be taken up this weekend as a token of appreciation for the witness of these two religious sisters. There will also be an opportunity to say farewell to Srs Maureen and Mary at a shared lunch in the Parish Centre on next Sunday 28 August from 12.00 lunch time. Please bring a plate to share.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Paul concludes his discussion of the relation of Jews and Gentiles in the Church in today’s reading from Romans. In his amazement at God’s action in sending Jesus as both Jewish Messiah and universal savior, he cannot express anything except praise for God’s “riches and wisdom and knowledge,” his inscrutable judgments and unsearchable ways. God is beyond human comprehension, not because he doesn’t care or is hostile (as some religions have held), but because he is so great and loving and generous that neither our imagination nor our reason can grasp it.
Because everything we have comes as a gift from God, even our existence, Paul reminds us that we can’t give something to God in a fashion that puts God in debt to us. “For from him and through him and for him are all things.” So although we are in debt to God, we ought not to view our return to God of a portion of our time, talent, and treasure as a duty to be grudgingly accepted. Instead we’re invited to make a loving response.
Among the many blessings for which we owe thanks to God is the Church, through which we receive sacramental grace and in which we live our Christian life. Jesus built the Church on St. Peter and entrusted to him “the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” In it we can safely journey through the storms of this life until our arrival at heaven.
Copyright © 2011 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
RUPERTSWOOD CRICKET CLUB REGISTRATION DAY
Saturday 27th August from 9-11am at The Clubrooms, Rupertswood. Looking for U11, U12, U14, U16 & Seniors. New players and girls welcome.
Registration forms available on club website http://rupertswood.cricketvictoria.com.au. Enquire 0459 098 664 or 0421 991 519.
PARISH GARDEN
FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION
The Feast of the Assumption is on Monday 15 August and a Holy Day of Obligation.
Two Parish Masses in St Anne’s Church at 9.15am and 7.00pm.
PETITION FOR CALEB FARIA
At each Mass this weekend we welcome Michelle Faria. Her family are part of Sunbury Parish and their little boy Caleb has a very serious illness that needs very expensive life saving medicine.
There are petitions to sign that can be forwarded to our local member of Parliament, Ms Vamvakinou.
Please support this lovely little boy by signing the letter.
THANKSGIVING OFFERING
The Thanksgiving Offering of each parishioner is our life blood. Our generous givers give back in thanksgiving to God for all that we receive. Without givers, the Parish would not have began 100 years ago. Without our generous givers, we would cease to exist now.
Statements on our giving have been sent last week and today new sets of envelopes are available to be collected. You may find it more convenient to give electronically by direct debit or by internet banking instead of finding cash each Sunday. Our banking details are enclosed with your statements to assist with any changes you may need. Electronic giving is also more convenient for our Parish.
CELEBRATION OF FIRST RECONCILIATION
The celebration of First Reconciliation began last Thursday evening and will continue this Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Please remember these children in your prayers as they meet the forgiving Lord in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
PARENTS SESSION ON CYBERSAFETY
A CyberSafety information evening this Wednesday at 7pm at St Anne’s school is open to all our parents. Please contact the school office for tickets. The session will focus on social networking.
HELP WANTED
Please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060 if you are able to assist with setting up the Saturday 6.00PM Mass on a rostered basis.
SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR SRS MAUREEN & MARY
A special collection will be taken up next weekend as a token of appreciation for the work done by these two wonderful ladies. There will also be an opportunity to say farewell to Srs Maureen and Mary at a shared lunch in the Parish Centre on Sunday 28 August from 12.00 lunch time. Please bring a plate to share.
TRIVIA NIGHT AND AUCTION
A Trivia Night and Auction will be held by the Sunbury Chaplaincy Committee on Saturday 20th August at Sunbury College commencing at 7pm. Come along for a fun night with raffles, prizes and auctions of sporting memorabilia. BYO basket supper and drinks. Tickets are $15 at “Just Planet” (37 O’Shannessy St) or ring Helen on 0407 506 507.
ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY
The Assembly will be held on Saturday 3 September from 9am to 12.30pm in the Parish Centre. Every parishioner is invited. As Pope Benedict said in 2009, “we must improve pastoral structures in such a way that we gradually promote the co-responsibility of all members of the people of God in their entirety. Lay people must no longer be viewed as collaborators of the clergy but truly recognised as co-responsible. (The Tablet– 16 July 2011 pg 17)
The assembly is one such structure for participation in decision-making and of being involved in the evangelising mission of the Church.
All parish groups and neighbourhoods are being asked to make a brief presentation on their activity in the past year and plans for the future.
(Have a look here for a pdf copy of last year’s report.)
NATIONAL eCONFERENCE ON FOLLOWING JESUS
VOCATION VIEWS
It’s so easy to push people out of our lives. But the Lord knows no boundaries or races or colours. Spread the Good News that we are all God’s people.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
One emphasis that appears in the Old Testament is the need for the Jewish people to keep themselves apart from the surrounding nations to preserve the purity of their faith from the paganism around them. But there is also the teaching that appears in today’s reading from Isaiah that the Lord God is the only true god, and he welcomes the foreigners who worship him, “for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
God’s love for all humanity is also behind St. Paul’s teaching in Romans that God allowed the Jews to reject Jesus as the Messiah so the Church would proclaim to the Gentiles that he is the universal Savior of all peoples. And Jesus, while limiting his mission to the Jewish during his earthly ministry, responded with compassion to Gentiles who approached him in faith.
These Scripture readings make clear the God welcomes all who turn to him, without regard to nationality or class. As we seek to be good stewards, how closely do we follow that example? How well do we practice hospitality, one of the pillars of a stewardship parish? Do we welcome all who come to worship God, or do we erect barriers of class or color?
Copyright © 2011 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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