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
COMMONWEALTH CENSUS DAY Tuesday 9 August
We are being urged by our Church to nominate our Catholic religion on the Census form. An accurate number of Catholics helps us in our planning for the future.
Atheists are campaigning for a ‘non-vote’.
PARISH COMMUNITY GARDEN
This proposal was raised at the last Parish Assembly and much planning has gone into the project. All at the last Parish Co-Ordinating Team meeting voted in favour of the garden to be situated at 107 Riddell Road, near the Parish Office. Access will be from Riddell Road.
……..Fr Kevin
NATIONAL VOCATIONS AWARENESS WEEK
On 7-14 August
All baptised Christians are called to be holy. From within the whole People of God, we are called to various vocations: to marriage, to single life, to religious life and to priesthood.
For more info. www.catholicozvocations.org.au
CHILDRENS LITURGY WORKSHEETS
Every week we have a new children’s worksheet available at both Masses. The worksheets are relevant to the weekly Gospel readings, which help the children to be engaged in the Mass. Please encourage the children to take a worksheet before Mass.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
Married couples, make 2011 the year that you prioritise your relationship. It underpins your family life. Please join the Marriage Encounter weekend this year. Our weekend helps you to remember why you married and gives you skills to maintain your love for one another. Couples and a priest present the weekend. It is based around Catholic values but you don’t need to be Catholic to attend. There is no group sharing. The next weekends will be held on 19-21 August and 11-13 November. For further info. and bookings, contact Peter & Erika Smith on 03 9899 0824 or email vicbook@wwme.org.au.
Check out website for more information on http://www.wwme.org.au.
ST. MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP
To celebrate the first Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop on 6-8 August 2011, the Sisters of St Joseph invite you to visit Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre from 10am to 4pm at 362 Albert St, East Melbourne. Entry by donation. The Museum, chapel and gift shop will be open and refreshments available. Enquiries call 03 9926 9300.
CITIZEN ADVOCACY SUNBURY
Volunteers are required to assist with the Citizen Advocacy Sunbury program. Each advocate volunteers their time to assist an intellectually disabled person. Simply by being a friend or helping with administrative or emotional needs, the volunteer advocate will assist with day to day issues. If you are able to help some fliers are available on the Welcome Desk or contact the CAS office on 9744 7378.
CARITAS AUSTRALIA EMERGENCY APPEAL
East Africa Crisis Appeal will be held 13-14 August to assist those areas of East Africa affected by drought. There is great suffering in this part of the world and any financial assistance offered would help many thousands of people to get access to food, clean water, medicine and veterinary assistance for animals.
ABOUT THE OPEN LETTER TO THE HOLY FATHER
This letter has recently been doing the rounds of many Parishes, e.g. Manly Vale/Balgowla and Templestowe and Catholic websites, e.g. the website of the National Council of Priests of Australia. And many more besides.
David Schütz, on his blog Sentire Cum Ecclesia has some comments worth reading. David is the Executive Officer of the Ecumenical & Interfaith Commission of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and his comments can be found here.
SING A LONG
Please come and help entertain the residents.
Goonawarra Nursing Home
Anderson Rd Sunbury
Friday 5th August 2.30pm-3.15pm
CATHOLICCARE ANNUAL APPEAL
The CatholicCare (formally Centacare) Annual Appeal will take place at all Masses next weekend. CatholicCare has been supporting and caring for the families of Melbourne Archdiocese for over 75 years and relies on the support of our Catholic community. Please give generously so CatholicCare can continue to support families.
GARDENING WORKING BEE
A working bee will be held on Saturday 6 August 2011 at 9.00am till 12.00 noon at St Anne’s to tackle the remainder of the Church grounds. Please bring mowers, trailers, whipper snippers and weeding tools. All welcome. For further enquiries call Jo Wiegerink on 9744 5788.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
We humans think that mercy and justice are opposites, but that is not true of God. The Responsorial Psalm tells us that the Lord is both merciful and just. We see his mercy and generosity emphasized in the lessons for today.
The prophet Isaiah delivers God’s invitation to the hungry and thirsty, “Come, without paying and without cost.” We see this fulfilled in the Feeding of the Five Thousand, when Jesus “moved with pity” fed the crowd who had followed him. He still feeds us, and with even better food in the Eucharist, when we receive his Body and Blood. In addition, St. Paul assures us that nothing in all creation “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Such kindness from God calls for a generous response on our part, the response of a grateful heart. As stewards responsible to the Lord for the use of the time, talent, and treasure entrusted to us, we need to heed the Lord’s word so we can obey his will. When we do so, we find that when we give back to God, we receive even more spiritual riches.
Copyright © 2011 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
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