Our liturgy planning group last week discussed our theme for Lent as we begin our centenary year. We want to focus in Lent on our need to be healed of the wounds which we as a community have suffered over these 150 years and move on in hope. In Biblical times, a jubilee year (every 50 years) was a time of reconciliation and forgiveness of debts so that a new beginning could occur.
OUR SPECIAL LENTEN EXERCISE FOR 2010
On Saturday 27 February, all are invited to the Parish Centre to experience meeting in small neighbourhood groups so that we can continue renewing our lives as Christians and strengthen our sense of belonging in our large parish.
‘Where two or three are gathered, I am in your midst’, Jesus said.
All parishioners and especially those workers in the Vineyard, those ministering in various ways—parish posties, coordinating teams, are invited. Our facilitator is Jill Gibbs who has been involved with parishes and religious orders for over thirty years worldwide.
The session will include some input, an actual experience of a small group meeting and some practical details. We will spend time together and conclude before 2.00pm. Please bring some lunch to share.
LENT 2010
The season of Lent has two characteristics:
- It recalls for most of us our Baptism or prepares a few of us for Baptism at Easter. It stresses a penitential spirit…..during Lent, penance should not be only internal and individual but also external and social (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Vatican II, Nos. 109/110).
- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting (for those over 18 years and under 60 years) and abstinence from meat (for those over 14 years).
Lent is the season of penance—more time given to prayer, to works of charity and welfare, and more effort at self-denial.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in a communal way with several priests on Tuesday 30 March at 7.45pm.
SALESIAN COLLEGE SUNBURY
Applications for Year 7/2011 are currently being accepted and will close on Friday 26 February. Applications received after this date will be treated as ‘LATE’ and will not be considered in the first round of placement offers.
The College will be holding an Open Day on Tuesday 23 February for interested parents/students from 9.00am to 12.30pm.
Further information, assistance and Enrolment Application forms are available at the College Office. Please feel free to call in or phone 9744 0000.
SEMINARY OPENS FOR FORMATION OF OUR PRIESTS
Today our seminary, Corpus Christi College, opens for 2010 with eight new students joining the current 22 students being formed for the Church of Melbourne.
Please keep them and the staff in your prayers.
ALTAR CARE LADIES
Reminders
- No flowers required during lent
- Please collect new roster for O.L.M.C. Church from foyer of St Anne’s Church.
REMINDER
A reminder to all parents from schools other than our two Parish Schools—the first meeting in preparation for First Communion will be held at St Anne’s Church on TUESDAY 16 FEBRUARY at 7.00pm.
DIARY DATES FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS—2010
Parents and guardians are invited to attend an Information & Registration session in preparation for their children’s celebration of First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. After seeing what is involved, parents and guardians will be invited to enrol their children in the preparation program. Dates for these sessions are:
#For parents and guardians of children at all schools OTHER THAN Our Lady of Mt Carmel and St Anne’s Schools:
Religious Education Program TUESDAY 9 MARCH 2.00pm or 7.30pm
#For parents and guardians of children at Our Lady of Mt Carmel and St Anne’s Schools AND all other schools (in other words……EVERYBODY):
First Reconciliation and First Communion TUESDAY 8 JUNE 2.00pm or 7.30pm.
Confirmation TUESDAY 10 AUGUST 2.00pm or 7.30pm
All meetings will be held in the Parish Centre near St Anne’s Church.
DEDICATION OF THE REFURBISHMENT AT ST ANNE’S CHURCH
Today, 7th February, Bishop Tim Costelloe blessed the new Ambry, Ambo, Font,Presiders Chair, and Altar in St Anne’s Church and con-celebrated Mass with Father Bert, Father Peter, and Father Kevin.
Fr Kevin spoke on the Parish Renewal process that was adopted in order to ascertain the parishioners Values, Needs, and what they considered their Treasures. Several meetings were held, facilitated by Sr Margaret Smith sgs, Very Reverend David Orr osb, and Randall Lindstrom.
Randall Lindstrom then spoke of the ideas and symbols behind the various works, such as the Ambo representing a book being opened to the gathered people of God while the Altar shape represented (among many things) a drawing in towards the centre in Communion of the people.
Bishop Tim started his homily with a promise not to talk for more than 45 minutes but he is such a spellbinding speaker with the gift of drawing all his listeners along with shared enthusiasm, that no one would have noticed the time.
His final point was that the Church, in it’s buildings and in it’s people in Sunbury and surrounds, is like a sacrament. Our parish with our buildings and people are an outward sign of the presence of God in our community. Jesus still helps the poor, teaches those who will listen, and works for the Kingdom of God here today in our community just as he did when he walked through Palestine all those years ago. Today he does it through his mystical body, us. We, the ordinary people of our parish, provide Jesus with his hands and feet in our time.
The Symbology of the Dedication
The Anointing of the Altar
By being anointed with consecrated oil of Chrism, the altar becomes a symbol of Christ, who before all others is called “The Anointed One”; for the Father anointed him with the Holy Spirit and constituted him the High Priest who on the altar of his body would offer the sacrifice of his life for the salvation of all.
Incense
Incense is burned on the altar to signify that the sacrifice of Christ, which is then perpetuated in mystery, ascends to God as an odour of sweetness, and also is a sign that the prayers of the people rise up pleasing and acceptable, reaching to the throne of God. The People of God are incensed for they are the living temple in which each faithful member is a spiritual altar.
The white cloth on the altar
The cloth indicates that the Christian altar is the altar of the eucharistic sacrifice and the table of the Lord; standing around it priests and people, in one and the same action but with a difference of function, celebrate the memorial of the death and resurrection of Christ and partake in the Lord’s Supper. The altar is prepared as the table of sacrificial banquet and adorned as for a feast. This is the Lord’s Table at which all God’s people meet with joy to be refreshed with divine food, namely the Body and Blood of Christ sacrificed.
The lighting of the altar
This teaches us that Christ is “a light to enlighten the nations” (Luke 2:32), whose brightness shines out in the Church and through it upon the whole family of humanity. (Taken from “Rite of Dedication”)
Note: A report on a course run by Bishop Tim for the Northern Parishes and attended by some of our parishioners can be found here.
VOCATION VIEWS
God does not ask you to be successful: God does ask you to be faithful. Put your vocation ahead of your career.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
A volunteer gardener position is available at the Sunbury Centre.
If you are interested and have experience in this field, please call the Centre Manager on 9744 1447
VALE FATHER BRIAN BAINBRIDGE
Vale Father Brian Bainbridge who was ordained for the Church of Melbourne in 1966 and was currently parish priest of Bennettswood. About ten years ago, Fr Brian facilitated the discernment process when our parish was examining where to build the Parish Centre and Offices. Last November, we were both on a priests’ retreat and I congratulated him on the good process and the fine result we now enjoy. He died in his sleep last Tuesday at his Presbytery. When he did not appear at Mass on Tuesday he was found to have entered eternal life…… Fr Kevin
REMINDER
Reminder to all parents from schools other than the two Parish Schools:
The first meeting in preparation for First Communion will be held at St. Anne’s Church on Tuesday 16 February at 7.00pm.
CARITAS IN HAITI
The Haitians continue to hold funerals for 170,000 victims. Last week in the grounds of their ruined cathedral, the funeral of Archbishop Miot and Monsignor Benoit was held.
The oldest hospital St Francis de Sales Hospital was almost totally destroyed when the children’s ward collapsed onto the maternity ward which collapsed on the operating theatres. Now the hospital has partially reopened with help from Caritas and some Belgian doctors. They are doing a lot of amputations.
Next Sunday, we shall have a special collection for Caritas Haiti.
VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES — BLACK SATURDAY
Let us hold in prayer the victims of this major tragedy as we recall their suffering which began on this day a year ago.
RESTORATION OF THE BELL TOWER
Volunteers wanted
The tower has been fabricated. We are now looking for a painter and sand blaster. Please contact Pat Reddan on 0418310866.
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL SCHOOL
Mass to celebrate the Opening of the 150th Year of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School will be celebrated on Friday 12 February at 11.45am. Current parents are welcome.
KAIROS
Kairos is published by our Archdiocese. First Edition for 2010 on sale today at $2. Articles on Bushfire Recovery, Stability in Catholic Schools, organ donation and Victorian prisons.
EMMAUS CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP
The Emmaus Charismatic Prayer Group meets at St Anne’s Church at 10.15am on Thursdays.
All welcome including children.
For more info/transport please contact Lambert & Elaine van der Weerden on 9744 4029.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
Volunteer couples and a Priest present the weekend.
The next 3 weekends will be held on 16-18 April, 25-27 June and 20-22 August.
For further information and bookings contact Peter & Erika Smith (03) 9899 0824 or Email vicbookings@wwme.org.au.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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