A reminder for families with children preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation to attend any of the Masses next weekend to receive the Creed and the Confirmation Stoles. Confirmations will take place on Sunday 13 October in St Patrick’s Cathedral. Please continue to remember these children and their families in your prayers.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM OUR ARCHBISHOP
After his visit last Saturday evening, the Archbishop said how impressed he was with your singing at Mass and how he admired the Altar, Ambo and Font installed in early 2009 which helped to bring the congregated people closer to the liturgical action and more intimately with each other.
…Kevin McIntosh
THE HUMAN DIGNITY OF ASYLUM SEEKERS COMES BEFORE NATIONAL INTERESTS
Human Dignity is the basis of the Catholic Bishops’ statement. “Each and everyone of us must rise above indifference and have the courage to open our hearts to asylum seekers, to listen to their hopes, to empathise with their despair and to welcome them into our community, “ said Bishop Gerard Hanna, representing the Bishops of Australia.
The Catholic Bishops of Papua New Guinea are concerned that Australia is asking the people of PNG to show a level of generosity far beyond their economic means.
The Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office says “An alternative way to prevent tragedies at sea is to accept more refugees from source countries and provide the possibility of reaching Australia through a regular legal pathway.”
COMBINED PARISH TEACHERS INSERVICE
Inservice will be held this Tuesday in our Parish Centre. The professional development will be led by Margaret Casswell, a scripture scholar from Australian Catholic University.
ADORATION
Adoration is held in St Anne’s Church on the first Friday of every month from 7-8pm and is led by the Legion of Mary.
Next Friday 6 September after 9.15am Mass, the Rosary will be prayed and a morning tea will be available to celebrate the Birth of Our Lady.
MORNING TEA
Morning Tea will be held this Sunday after 8.30am Mass.
Reservoir Rd Neighbourhood will be hosting the morning- tea this month.
All are welcome.
Please bring a plate to share.
SING A LONG GOONAWARRA NURSING HOME
SING A LONG GOONAWARRA NURSING HOME
FRIDAY 6th September 2.30 to 3.15PM.
ALL WELCOME.
Please come to help us entertain the residents.
Meet some older Parishioners and relatives.
MARY MACKILLOP FOUNDATION
2013 Fundraising Dinner on Friday 30 August from 7pm at Mount St Joseph’s Girls College, 133 Maidstone St, Altona.
$40 per person (3 course meal, BYO drinks)
Call 9926 9300 for bookings.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
The final words of the final Gospel for the month of August are: “For behold some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Jesus is saying to us, “You may be at the front of the line, but it does not matter.” Theologians say that one concept that is embedded in this message is a perspective of the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews as the chosen people would seem to be the first, but the Lord is saying that there will be Gentiles who enter Heaven before them.
Jesus also has two strong stewardship messages in this Gospel. Throughout His ministry and all the way through His teachings He stresses the need for conversion. He calls for change in us, and that is exactly what is involved in living a stewardship way of life. We must experience a conversion of mind and heart to be a true disciple of Jesus, a genuine steward.
The second stewardship point is directly related to the appreciation of “The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” At the heart of what Jesus asks us to do is service to others. The Lord also often reinforces the notion that putting the needs of others before our own is important to be a follower of Him. Stewardship involves knowledge of what it means to serve others, and a willingness to do so.
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
SPECIAL COLLECTION NEXT WEEK: PRIESTS RETIREMENT FOUNDATION
A Special Collection will be held next weekend. This collection supports the Priests who have now retired due to age or illness. Fr Alan Mithen and Fr Jim Feehan, who served our Parish years ago, are some of the priests we now support through this collection.
Please give generously to those who gave to our communities.
WELCOME Fr ADAIKKALA RAJ LOURDUSREMY
Welcome to Fr Adaikkala Raj Lourdusremy from Avondale Heights Parish who is preaching at our Sunday morning Masses today while Fr Kevin is presiding on the renewal of Stewardship giving at St Martin’s Parish, Avondale Heights.
THE FUTURE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN OUR GROWING PARISH
The future has been discussed over the last two years at our Parish Education Board and Salesian College Council. The Principals and Curriculum leaders of our three schools in Sunbury are taking part in a program over six weeks looking at the future of education at primary and secondary levels. Our Board has been assisted by the Director of Planning of Catholic Education Melbourne.
Salesian College Council has engaged Craig Brown, an architect experienced in developing master plans for schools. A draft master plan is being developed with input from staff.
During our three hour meeting of Salesian College Council last Thursday evening, we heard that the new Year 9 campus is being built and proceeding on time and on budget. The student leaders told us that Australian Catholic University is the most popular choice among students doing VCE.
…...Kevin McIntosh
NATIONAL DAY FOR MIGRANTS & REFUGEES
Sunday 25 August is the 99th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. A special message from His Holiness Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI “Every migrant is a human person who, as such, possess fundamental inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance.” Pope Benedict goes on to explain that the role of the Church includes developing programs and centres of welcome to help the full integration of migrants and refugees into a new social and cultural context and that “migrants trust that they will encounter acceptance, solidarity and help, that they will meet people who sympathize with the distress and tragedy experienced by others.. And are open to sharing.” Please keep migrants and refugees in your prayers.
PRAYER FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
Look upon those who travel in search of a better future for themselves and their loved ones Look upon those who are forced to flee away from their home because of hatred and persecution Look upon your pilgrim people in whose hearts faith and hope are inseparable
Hear the cry of the people who lack essential goods, are victims of natural disaster, wars and social unrest Hear the cry of those whose journey has become an ordeal when undertaken for the sake of survival May they be treated with dignity and find peace in their new found home
We ask this through Christ Our Lord
Amen
RSJ ASSOCIATES
Next meeting on Wednesday 28 August at 10am in Meeting Room in St Anne’s Church.
All welcome.
VALE FR BILL JORDAN
Fr Bill Jordan died 8th August. He was born 1935, ordained a priest in 1960, Bill obtained a doctorate in sacred music in Rome in 1967. Returning to Melbourne, Fr Bill became very involved in church music in Melbourne and was on national and international committees promoting music in the liturgy. He was parish priest of Flemington and Kensington Parishes from 1985 to 2011. He was a great pastor to all, including the Italian immigrants. It was fitting that his funeral Mass was celebrated with great music.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
We talked to the children about humility, and why Jesus said that we should try to be attentive to the needs of others, and not always think of ourselves first. We urged the children to pay special attention to those who others neglect, and to be nice to people who can’t pay them back.
CALLING NEW ALTAR SERVERS
Training for young people wishing to become Altar Servers will be held at 11am on Saturdays 24th and 31st August in St Anne’s Church. Applicants must be 10 years of age and have received or about to receive Eucharist. Any inquiries can be directed to Michael on 9744-2674.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
All of today’s readings, and the Gospel from Luke in particular, deal with conflict. In Luke 12:49-53, Jesus speaks of division. He is reminding us that living lives of stewardship, truly following Him as a disciple, is not easy.
If we are genuinely going to place Christ at the center of our lives, there will be tension, for with the Lord there can be no compromise. We live in a society that seems to thrive upon controversy and contradiction. Unfortunately, these “divisions” can occur within our families, our communities, with those whom we love.
Have you ever heard a public figure speak at length and come away unsure of what exactly was said? It is as if they do not want to be clear on things because truth brings division. Jesus is perfectly clear, however. It is as if He is saying, “If you really want to follow Me, you have to be prepared for the consequences.” He does not back down from the fact that He must face what He calls “baptism with fire” — that is, His death on the Cross for us.
Stewardship is not comfortable. It means that we follow our faith and live responsibly even at times when others may look at us with scorn and anger. Christ is with us, however, and He walks with us throughout the “race.”
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
NEXT SATURDAY EVENING MASS WITH OUR ARCHBISHOP
Next Saturday Evening Mass will be celebrated by our Archbishop as Fr Kevin is preaching the renewal of the Stewardship program at Avondale Heights.
Archbishop Denis will meet and greet us in the Gathering Space from 5.40pm and the usual Mass will follow at 6pm.
It is ten years since the Archbishop visited us.
THANK YOU AND FAREWELL (FROM OLMC PRIMARY SCHOOL, AT LEAST)
Mrs Christine Wallace has taught at OLMC Primary School for the last 35 years and has now decided to start her retirement after teaching lots of the children who grew up in Sunbury.
Christine’s dedication to her school and her community is well known.
She still serves the parish community by being on the Lectors Roster & Eucharistic Minister.
As a mark of appreciation, OLMC Primary are hosting an afternoon tea on Friday 23 August at 2.20pm in the OLMC school Multipurpose room.
All are welcome.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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