LATEST NEWS

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SOCIAL JUSTICE FUNDRAISER

annual-thai-big-ridesOur Parish is supporting St Anne’s Grade 6 teacher, Kerry Champness raise funds for “Hands Across the Water Charity 500km Bike Ride”. She is attempting to raise $5000 by December to donate to a new orphanage in Thailand set up for children with HIV.
The first event is a live band- “The Projectors” who will play their own original music. A DJ will also be part of the night. BYO drinks and food to the Parish Centre on Friday 15 November from 6pm onwards, to support this worthy cause.
Tickets are $15 from the Parish Office.

Also, on Tuesday 19 November a High Tea in the Parish Centre will raise funds for “Hands Across the water”. Tickets are $28 from the Parish Office.

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YOUTH TRIVIA NIGHT

Trivia NightClick image above for a link to a flyer

Friday 25 October in Parish Centre from 7-8pm. Games, prizes and food. No entry fee. Gold coin donation welcome. Colouring competition for lower grade children. Sponsored and organised by OLMC Youth Group. Contact Garnet on 0411 2586 428 for further info. All families with youngsters welcome.

(Also a Youth Movie Night will be held in the Parish Centre on Friday 1 November. More details to follow shortly.)

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COLUMBAN CALENDARS 2014

The 2014 Columban Art Calendar is now available at the Piety Stall for $10. When you purchase the calendar, you are participating in God’s Mission and assisting us in meeting the needs of the poor. An audio visual with an explanation of the traditional art work and a written resource is available above or at http://www.columban.org.au/2014artguide.

(Unless you have a spare 30 minutes or so I would recommend downloading the booklet from here and reading it at your leisure. http://www.columban.org.au/assets/files/publications/2014%20col%20calendar/2013%20art%20guide%20A5%20booklet%20web.pdf)

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STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

parable-persistent-widowCATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Many have referred to St. Paul as “The Persistent Apostle.” Thus, Paul serves as a great example and model for what is laid out for us in all the readings for this 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Persistence and its importance to people of faith is an intricate part of each of the readings.

The conversion of Paul is recounted six times in scripture — three times in the Acts of the Apostles and three times by Paul himself in his letters. The intensity and the persistence of Paul’s faith lead us to see how important persistence is to live a life of stewardship.

From the persistence of Moses in the first reading from Exodus, to Paul’s urging us to “be persistent” in his letter to Timothy, to the Parable of the Persistent Widow in the Gospel from Luke, we are advised that we should always pray and never give up.

Perseverance is a hallmark of good stewardship. Good stewards know that living in that way is not always easy and comfortable. Yet with the help and guidance of the Lord, the strength to both live that way and to fulfill Jesus’ call to carry on lives of discipleship is both possible and a path to great joy and satisfaction. Paul wrote,

“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

 

Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com

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PARISH MEETING NIGHT

????????PARISH MEETING NIGHT

This is a concept where all the parish groups gather on one night a month, beginning with a brief prayer session together in the church, followed by their group meeting for one hour, concluding with supper together. At the parish of Kings Park (formerly St Albans West), they have followed this concept for 16 years with about 230 people involved each month. There, they use classrooms and other spaces for meetings. Each year, parishioners are asked to be in a group whichever they have the energy for in that year. Coming together on one night enthuses people as they are not meeting in isolated venues. Minutes are done at the meeting and emailed to those not present.  At our Parish Assembly, this proposal was accepted for us to implement next year. Parishioners can be part of multiple Ministries as they do not need to attend monthly meetings whereas Parishioners are asked to be part of one Group who do attend a monthly meeting. The difference between Ministries and Groups will be outlined in the Parish Expo on 15 & 16 February 2014. Information will also be part of the next Neighbourhood letter to describe the various Ministries and Groups for parishioners to be part of for the next 12 months.

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CATHOLIC MISSION SPECIAL APPEAL

5503aAfter decades of struggling in a communist ruled country, with no religious freedom, it is only recently that the people of Mongolia have had the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Today we invite you to reach out and help the people of Mongolia to build their Church, so that more people can come to know the grace, joy, peace and hope of our loving god. By supporting the Catholic Mission World Mission Appeal today or by becoming a ‘Friends in Faith Partner’ with a monthly gift, you will help build the Kingdom of God in Mongolia and throughout the world.

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REMEMBERING LOVED ONES IN NOVEMBER

The month of November is dedicated to the prayerful memory of the Faithful Departed.
Our parish will celebrate the memory of loved ones in a number of ways:

  • At each of our two churches there will be blank leaflets to write the names of those who have died, to be placed in a Memorial Book of the Dead. This book will be open for display and be presented at each Mass during the Procession of the Gifts. The leaflets may be taken home and returned completed during October.
  • The graves at Bulla and Sunbury cemetery will be blessed on Sunday afternoon, November 10 at 2.30pmand 3.30pm respectively.
  • We will celebrate a Mass of Remembrance at OLMC Church at 7.30pm on Tuesday November 19.
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FROM LITURGY TEAM — PRAYER OF SORROW

???????????????????????????????Prayer of Sorrow: in response to the abuse of children in institutions

On Wednesday 13th November in St Anne’s Church at 7pm, a service called “Prayer of Sorrow: in response to the abuse of children in institutions” will be held.
We wish to acknowledge the abuse that has happened in our Church in the past. We wish to welcome everyone to the service. We invite those who were physically affected by abuse, families of those abused and all parishioners who have felt betrayed by the treatment of the abused by the Church. We would wish that all parishioners could come and by their presence say that we are sorry for the hurt done by our Church. Experts tell us that healing only begins when trust is established. Trust is based on truth. Truth comes packaged in honesty and humility.

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CHRISTMAS SINGERS

Carolers005The Sunbury Combined Churches Chorale is beginning to prepare for Carols on the Green and St Mary’s Lessons and Carols Service and invites you to join us. Rehearsals are on Monday nights 7.30pm to 8.30pm in St Mary’s Church from the 7th October. Enquiries to Gwen Hutcheson 9740 5258
Join us as we celebrate our 20th anniversary.

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CHRISTMAS ON THE GREEN 2013

Christmas_treeBThe message of Christ brought to the Community by the combined churches of Sunbury
Saturday 14th December 2013

Activities starting 5pm. Nativity Stable with real animals, puppet show, clowns and crafts, food and drink stalls. This is followed by Carols on the Green at 7pm. Workers are needed for setting up tents and foodstalls and for actors in the stables. Everyone is very welcome.

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2 DAY PARISH YOUTH RETREAT — CANCELLED

prayerCANCELLED

A two day Youth Retreat will be held in the Parish Centre on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October.  The program is titled “Knowing God”. The program has been designed by YMT Australia and is aimed to help our youth in their faith journey. There are 5 sessions:

  1. Uniqueness & Individuality
  2. Loving & Accepting Others
  3. Jesus– An Intimate Friend
  4. The Power of Affirmation
  5. Where to from here?

Any youth wishing to attend this retreat will need to contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060 as we will need to know numbers attending for catering and cost purposes.

PLEASE HELP

As a way of supporting our Youth, we are asking all parishioners to supply food for the duration of the program. We will need lunch and dinner. Morning and afternoon tea will be supplied by the Parish. Please contact the Parish office on 9744 1060 to let me know what you can supply to meet the demands of those attending.

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MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

Married couples, we encourage you to prioritise your relationship.  It underpins your family life.  Please join us for a Marriage Encounter weekend.   Our weekend helps you to remember why you married and gives you skills to maintain your love for each other. 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.
Our next weekends  in Melbourne are on:  18-20 October,  2013  (full),  22-24  November,  2013,  and  4-6  April,  2014.
For  further information and bookings contact Marianne & Marcel Van den Bronk
(03) 9733 0997 or Email  vicbookings@wwme.org.au

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CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

Open Day Wednesday 6 November Study options, Building tour, Refreshments Two programs: 4.00pm–6.00pm or 6.00pm–8.00pm.
Bookings essential RSVP to Jenny Delahunt by Friday 31 October 2013
Phone: 9412 3314 Email: jenny.delahunt@ctc.edu.au
278 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

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INNER PEACE IN DIVINE LOVE RETREAT

Come & See Introductory Session Monday, 11 November—7.30pm until 9.00pm.
In this popular retreat we remember all God’s gifts to us. We explore how love is about giving and receiving between two lovers.
The weekly themes are ‘Remembering Love’, ‘Dwelling in Love’, ‘Love at Work’ and ‘Receiving and Giving Love’. Through these exercises the Lord will help us to remember and feel the traces of God’s love burning its way through our heart.. Please book, or make enquiries by contacting Jacinta Bright on 0425 710 797, or via email at  campion@corpuscc.org.au

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OPEN DAY AT MARY MACKILLOP HERITAGE CENTRE

MARY MACKILLOP HERITAGE CENTREOPEN DAY AT MARY MACKILLOP HERITAGE CENTRE

The Centre, at 362  Albert St East Melbourne, will be open to the public on Saturday 19th October from 10.00am-4.00pm, to enable visitors to tour the Mary MacKillop Museum, pray in the Chapel where Mary prayed, visit the gift shop and enjoy light refreshments in the beautiful surroundings. A guided Mary MacKillip Walking Tour will be available at 11.00am.