The Chorale begins weekly rehearsals again at 7.30pm from Monday 4 February for approx. 1 hour at St Mary’s Church, O’Shanassy St. Sunbury. The choir would be happy to see any new members both men and women. No auditions or music knowledge necessary.
The Chorale lead hymns at 4 combined church events during the year. You will be most welcome at some or all events.
ANNOUNCING THE YEAR OF FAITH
On October 11 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican II, the Pope released an Apostolic Letter titled “Porta Fidei” for all to read. We have many copies of the letter in each church, so please take them. On page 11, Pope Benedict XVI tells us what we should be trying to achieve as a Parish in 2013. Did you know within our Parish we have Small Christian Communities? These groups gather to pray regularly and if you are interested in being part of it , please contact Jennifer Poon on 9740 9650.
COLUMBAN CALENDARS
Calendars are available from the Piety Stall at $9 each.
WORLD YOUTH DAY 2013
World Youth Day 2013 will be held in late July in Rio de Janiero. The Victorian Coordinator is Brendan Lindsay– 9412 3306 or email wyd2013@cam.org.au. Various tour packages are available from 16-22 days costing $5090 to $6190 which includes airfares, taxes, accommodation, tours and most meals.
Leaflets are available at the Welcome Desk.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
The readings for this Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time are so rich in content and include some of the most quoted passages, sentences, and phrases in all of scripture.
Jeremiah means “Yahweh” — God. The particular passage, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jer 1:4), reminds us that God has a plan for each of us, and He has known it from before we were conceived. Our challenge as stewards is to discern that plan as best we can, and to follow it.
Of, course, the second reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians is also very familiar. It is a definition of what good and holy love is in its purest form. “So faith, hope, and love remain, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13:13)
Luke’s Gospel recounts Jesus speaking in the temple in Nazareth. As is the case with the other two readings, one of the most quoted sentences in scripture is part of this passage: “No prophet is accepted in his own native place.” The key is how Jesus responds to the rejection by his friends and neighbors. He calmly loves them and moves through them to depart.
The three readings tie closely together — in the first reading we are urged to identify our own role as Christian stewards; the second reading makes it clear that love of those around us is the way to live out that mission; and the Gospel reminds us that there will be obstacles, but our proper response is love.
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
MORNING TEA IS BACK ON!
On the first Sunday of every month, after 8.30am Mass, one of our Parish Neighbourhoods will host morning tea for our Parishioners. We invite everyone to be part of this wonderful community atmoshphere. It is a good opportunity to catch up with people we haven’t seen in a while or to make new friends. It is funny to say that we know someone’s face but not their name, this is a great way to get to know their name and a beautiful opportunity to make new friends. This month the families of Jacksons Hill Neighbourhood will be hosting the morning tea. Please feel free to come have a cuppa. Bring a plate to share if you wish. All are welcome.
A PRAYER FOR MARRIAGE
These are the hands of your best friend young and strong and full of love for you that are holding yours on your wedding day as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow and forever.
These are the hands that will work along side yours as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years and with the slightest touch will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills you mind.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes, tears of sorrow and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.
These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.
And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged will still be reaching for yours– still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
HELP NEEDED
Help needed at 8.30am Mass for setting up for Mass. Training will be provided to any interested parties. We appeal to the regular 8.30am Mass goers to help as the majority of the Mass set up has fallen to one family, which is unfair. The roster is set for one month per year. If you can help, please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060.
Thank you to the 3 parishioners who have volunteered to help this week. If there are 2 more, that would be perfect!
INVITATION TO ALL FROM THE SALESIANS
The Salesians of Don Bosco invite you to the Eucharistic celebration of the Feast of St John Bosco and the Perpetual Profession of Peter Phung Ba Dat SDB and Charles Arun Michael SDB at St Margaret Mary’s Church, 51 Mitchell St, North Brunswick on Thursday 31 January at 7.30pm.
RSVP to Fr Anthony Quang 0412 560 445. Light meal following Eucharist.
TERM 1, 2013 ANIMA EDUCATION
Anima Education presents Face to Face with Jesus in the Gospel of St John.
A Year of Faith focus on a personal encounter with Christ in the Scriptures
“Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” – Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caristas Est.
In key passages of the Gospel of St John, individual persons come face to face with the Person of Jesus Christ. In this course, we will read the Fourth Gospel focusing on these personal – and potentially life changing – encounters in order to come face to face with Jesus ourselves
“so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” -Jn 20:31
12 hours (6 x 2 hour) interactive sessions on Monday nights 6:30pm to 8:30pm, February 11 to March 25 (excl. Mar 11) 2013 at Mary Glowrey House 132 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy (opposite Carlton Gardens)
Cost $15 per night ($90 for the whole course)
Enrolment and enquiries: 0400 978 938 or dschutz@cam.org.au or animaeducation.wordpress.com.
Lecturer David Schütz BTh BA GradDip MinGradDip LIM
HEARTBEAT BALL 2013
The HEARTBEAT BALL 2013 will be held on Saturday 16 February from 7pm-12am at Elizabethan Lodge, 604-610 Middleborough Rd, North Blackburn.
Costs $85 per head ($80 concession) and includes 3 course meal with unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks. Tickets can be purchased via Doris on 9385 0100. The money raised will support the work of Right to Life Australia and Pregnancy Counselling Australia.
LINK COMMUNITY TRANSPORT
Link Community Transport is a community transport service delivered through partnership between Link Community Transport and Hume City Council. The service provides transport to individuals and group transport for people over 65 or for those with disabilities or carers. The service can be pre booked via 9355 8484 for travel, but not for anything to do with Medical Appointments. Gold coin donations would be greatly appreciated.
Contact Link on 9355 8484 or www.linkcommunitytransport.org.au
FOSTER CARE
This is supposed to be the happiest time of the year for kids– new Christmas presents to play with, family get togethers, family outings, etc. Unfortunately, this is not the case for too many youngsters. Some children have no home, no family to care for them and live vulnerably every day. This is not what Jesus wanted for anyone, let alone these beautiful children. If you are able to help care for a vulnerable child, please think about Foster Care through MacKillop Family Services. They can be contacted on 8398 6800 or via www.mackillop.org.au for further information.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Today’s Gospel from John includes the story of the Miracle at the Wedding Feast in Cana. The wedding feast in Cana is always the Gospel reading for this Sunday because it is there that Christ is revealed. The last sentence in John’s Gospel (Jn 2:11) is “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.” This is his first sign, and as stated, it “revealed his glory.” For His disciples, you might say this was the “clincher,” and they “began to believe in him.”
Although today is the Second Sunday in Ordinary time, “ordinary” does not mean “commonplace.” In its usage by the Church it stems from two Latin words — ordinalis, which means numbers listed in order, and ordo which means order. Ordinary Time is merely a reminder to us that the Church has order, and that we are expected to approach our faith in an ordered and consistent way.
In the second reading from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Paul explains and defines what stewardship really is. “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” Each of us is gifted in some special way. And all of our gifts are to be used to build the Kingdom of God. If we truly believe, we need to live out our lives in the way once described by the late Archbishop Thomas Murphy, who said, “We all possess certain talents and gifts which are unique only to us. You already have what you need to start living an extraordinary life. It is up to you to let your light shine.”
Copyright © 2013 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
PRESENTATION TO EX-PARISHIONER HUGH O’NEILL
Supreme Knight Australia Colin Walsh and State Chairman Victoria Maurice Skehan recently travelled to Werribee to visit former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parishioner Hugh O’Neill. The reason for Colin’s visit was to present Hugh with a certificate reconising Hugh’s 50 years as a member of the Knights of the Southern Cross. A lot of parishioners will remember Hugh who was a very active member of our Parish until Hugh and Wife Margaret moved to a retirement village in Werribee 10 years ago.
Colin found Hugh and Margaret both still going very strong with Hugh having lost none of his humour.
HUGH O’NEILL WITH HIS CERTIFICATE FOR FIFTY YEARS SERVICE TO THE KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS
HUGH O’NEILL BEING PRESENTED WITH HIS FIFTY YEARS SERVICE CERTIFICATE BY SUPREME KNIGHT COLIN WALSH (LEFT) AND STATE CHAIRMAN MAURICE SKEHAN (RIGHT)
FROM FR KEVIN
Christmas Masses
About 3000 people took part in our four family Masses, a higher number than in other years. Many leaving the Church and the Stadium commented very favourably on our celebrations. A priest in inner Melbourne told me their participants were also up and their collections were greatly increased.
Thanks for your Christmas Offerings
30% is forwarded to support the ninety-three retired Melbourne priests, as well as the archbishop and other Bishops and priests in parishes unable to support their priest. The remaining 70% is spent on the lease and running costs of a car, the running costs of the Presbytery and a living allowance for myself.
This Christmas the offerings were 61% higher than 2011 for which I am very grateful.
……Kevin McIntosh
HELP NEEDED FOR 8.30AM MASS
Parishioners needed at 8.30am Mass to set up for Mass. Training will be provided to any interested parties. We appeal to the regular 8.30am Mass goers to help as the majority of the Mass set up has fallen to one family, which is unfair.
The roster is set for one month per year. If you can help, please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060.
PRAYERFUL CONDOLENCES
Prayerful condolences to Leanne, Alyssa and Tegan Harry for the loss of their husband and father, Peter Harry. Peter bravely fought fires as a CFA volunteer, but unfortunately died after being badly burned on 29 December while fighting fires in Gisborne. Please remember Peter and his family in your prayers, and also for all the brave people who protect us all from the horrors of bushfires. There were two fires in our parish last Tuesday extinguished by many CFA members.
FAREWELL & GODSPEED
Farewell and Godspeed to Pastor Jim Pietsch of the Sunbury Lutheran Church who after six years among us has taken up an appointment in the Lutheran Church, Wellington, NZ. Jim has been a great promoter of Biblical Studies, a member of the Victorian Council of Churches and the secretary of the Sunbury Ministers Association. Some members of our parish were at his farewell service last Sunday.
PARISH BINGO
Parish Bingo resumes every Thursday evening from 17 January in the Sunbury Football Club, Clarke Oval, Riddell Rd.
Eyes down at 8pm, Meals available beforehand.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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