Mercy Works Ltd is currently recruiting volunteers to support refugee students in their educational transitions in Secondary and Primary schools in Melbourne’s northern and western regions.
The volunteer commitment is half a day per week for four school terms. Experience working in an educational setting is required. Retired teachers are encouraged to apply. A training program will be conducted in Feb 2013. Please contact Sr Mary Lewis for an app. form and further info.
Mercy Connect Project 9326 1895 or email somml@bigpond.com.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Today — Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday in Advent — is a time to rejoice! Everything, from the lighting of the rose-colored candle, to the consistent use of the words JOY and REJOICE in the readings, points to being called to joyfully proclaim the imminent coming of Jesus.
Often people who practice stewardship as a way of life are called a “joyous people.” That is a natural reflection and a natural phrase to use with people of stewardship because, based upon living their lives as grateful people, they focus on their blessings, not their Crosses and burdens. When one sees the good sides of life and living, it is difficult not to be happy.
Our task as Catholics is to focus much of the energy and excitement which seems to come with this season into what we are really celebrating — the arrival of Christ. Advent is about hope. It is not just hope that things will get better or hope that our burdens will disappear. It is hope that there is meaning to our lives. It is the hope and understanding that there is an incredible existence beyond our human state. It is the hope that our lives are not as limited as they may seem to be. We must never forget what we heard in a Gospel passage of a few weeks ago: “All things are possible with God.” After all, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
TREE OF LIFE– OUR CHRISTMAS TREE
As we put up our Christmas trees, let us reflect on the symbolism: by a tree we were lost, by a tree we were saved: the Christmas tree, in a sense, prefigures the Easter cross also it is evergreen symbolising new life or eternity. A new book by Bernd Brunner places the first Christmas tree in Estonia in 1441.
…..Kevin McIntosh
THANK YOU
Thank you to the wonderful Ministers of Communion who take Communion to the house bound and the Aged Care Facilities, we thank you all and wish you a very Holy and Safe Christmas and many blessings in the New Year.
THANK YOU
THANK YOU to Jo Wiegerink and Jim Reilly for the beautiful work they have done on restoring the Christmas statues and building a new stable. The crib will be assembled next Tuesday by Eileen and Kelvin Cardillo, for all to enjoy.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SPECIAL CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SPECIAL CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
COMING UP OVER 2 WEEKENDS
Our parish has always had an excellent rapport with our local Vinnies. We are looking to have a special collection over the weekends of 9 & 15 December (please note the change of date) to assist the Vinnies at this time of the year. Rather than buying presents for families, it was considered more dignified to give families cash to buy gifts for each other. Our community has always been generous, and we ask that you can help again at this special time of year.
Vinnies are distributing $8000 per month to needy families in Sunbury and Diggers Rest and our Parish would like to give these families a little extra so they can have the joy and dignity of purchasing Christmas presents for their own children.
HELP REQUIRED
On Thursday 20 December from 7pm, we will be asking for people to assist with the set up for the Christmas Eve Mass at Lakeside Stadium, Rupertswood.
Last year we set up in 20 minutes.
NEWS FROM SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP
Caritas Australia Media Release – Crisis spreads in the Congo. Church Leaders say the Democratic Republic of Congo is on the brink of war. Read the Bishops of Africa’s full statement at http://www.caritas.org.au/media. To support Caritas Emergency response, donations can be made to Caritas Australia Congo Appeal at www.caritas.org.au/donate.
The Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project presents Julian Burnside A.O Q.C., a leading advocate for the human rights of asylum seekers, on Mon 10th Dec 2012 from 7.30 – 9.30 pm at St Joseph’s Hall, 274 Rouse Street, Port Melbourne. Melway Map 2JC6. Admission: $20 $15 Student/Senior. Includes Supper. Rsvp email gm_moore@bigpond.net.au
THANK YOU
Thank you to our generous parishioners for their support of the Melbourne Overseas Mission last weekend. Our Parish will be sending $1131.30 to support the important work of this organisation.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Today’s scripture readings remind us that as we celebrate the Advent season and await the celebration of Christmas, we are to do so actively – boldly proclaiming the Lord’s praises and giving Him glory in the way we live our lives. Advent is a season of waiting, but the wait is not a passive one. Rather, we are called to be actively preparing the meet the Savior, readying our hearts and our minds for His coming.
The gospel for today encourages us, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight and the rough made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
But how do we do so? We live our lives for the Lord. We offer Him ourselves in gratitude for the many things He has given us and the many things He has done, and, in so doing, we proclaim His greatness to the world, helping others come to recognize His wonder and His majesty.
“Bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.”
This Advent season offers us a time to reassess how well we are living for God. Is it obvious to everyone we meet that we are stewards of God’s many gifts? Does the way we use what the Lord has given us proclaim His praises to the world? Are we ready to greet Him – both as we celebrate Christmas and when we meet Him face-to-face when He comes again? Or is there more we can do?
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
ADVENT PENITENTIAL SERVICE
This will be held in St Anne’s Church on Wednesday 12 December 2012 at 7.30pm. Our Penitential Service will be one of reflection on the Advent readings with periods of meditation. There will not be individual Sacramental Reconciliation at this Service.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING CALEB FARIA
Michelle & Biju Faria would like to thank all parishioners for their generous donations and support for the Caleb Faria Trust.
They would like to wish many blessings to all.
Caleb is suffering from Hunters Syndrome and has been denied government funding of the medicine that will help his quality of life.
Caleb and his family are our parishioners.
Anybody wanting to donate funds to the Caleb Faria Trust can donate via www.calebfaria.com.
Please continue to pray that Caleb may get access to the medicine through government funding in the near future.
YOUTH GROUP NEWS
Saturday 15 December after 6pm Mass– ‘Parish Carol Night’ at St Anne’s Parish Centre. Philipino group will sing a few traditional carols, followed by our church choir groups who will lead us to sing some carols. Youth and children will sing a few carols with action. Santa will visit with lollies.
RSVP 7 Dec.
RSVP gljsjacob@gmail.com
DIARY DATES FOR 2013: SACRAMENT PROGRAM
Reconciliation:
OLMC & St Anne’s school families
Info & Rego 2pm & 7.30pm Tues 4 June Parish Centre
All other school families
Info & Rego 2pm & 7.30pm Tues 5 March Parish Centre All Families celebrating First Reconciliation on 13 or 14 August 2013, St Anne’s Church.
First Communion: All families
Info session 2pm or 7.30pm Tues 19 February Parish Centre
Celebrations: 18, 19, 25, 26 May & 1 & 2 June 2013
Confirmation: All families
Info & Rego 2pm & 7.30pm Tues 3 July Parish Centre
Celebration: 2pm & 4pm Sun 13 October St Patricks Cathedral
EVERGREENS
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary School students in Grade Prep have invited us back for another lunch on Friday 16 November at 12.30pm .
For bookings contact Frances Arians 9744 1999.
Afterwards, we are gathering at the Ballcourt Hotel for the Annual Christmas Lunch.
Cost $17.50.
Bookings by 10 December to Frances on 9744 1999.
SING A LONG
Christmas sing a long at Goonawarra Nursing Home will be on Thursday 13 December at 2.30pm.
Please come and join in.
CHILD ABUSE ENQUIRY
VICTORIAN PARLIAMENTARY ENQUIRY AND NATIONAL ROYAL COMMISSION INTO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
The first focus is our compassion for the victims. Many of you will know a victim abused by a church person or someone else. Some of my friends are abuse victims and the devastating effects of the abuse can be seen 40 or 50 years later.
My hearing first hand from victims has made me realise how debilitating such abuse is.
The great English Cardinal Newman (1801-1891) wrote “We must face the facts.. we can’t change the facts; we must face the truth.”
“Facing the Truth”, the submission to the Victorian Enquiry from the Victorian Catholic Church has been accepted by the Enquiry and can be viewed on the special website www.facingthetruth.org.au The website has an 8 page executive summary with graphs and the whole report of 155 pages. There are updates on this website.
The Church has three goals:
1. To assist the healing of the victims. In Melbourne, the Church provides special counselling.
2. To deal promptly and effectively with those guilty of abuse.
3. To prevent further abuse in the future.
As we mentioned in March this year, there has been another revision of the Code of Conduct for caring for children in the Melbourne Parishes. Our Parish is implementing this Code, especially in regard to “Working With Children Checks” (WWCC).
In our two primary schools, we are teaching children to be aware, to speak up and be assertive. The FBI states the best defence against predators is assertive children as abusers prey on quiet, isolated children. We have recently installed a higher fence around St Anne’s School. All visitors to our schools must sign in. All classroom helpers and contractors must have a WWCC.
As Jesus taught, “The truth will set you free.”
……..Kevin McIntosh
THANK YOU
Thank you to the generous parishioners of Sunbury for their kind donation of $665.25 for the Catholic Deaf.
We will send this money to them this week.
REQUEST FROM OUR LADY OF ROSA MYSTICA
She wishes people to celebrate each year on December 8, between 12-1pm in St Anne’s Church, the hour of graces for the whole world.
With this exercise, one will receive numerous spiritual and bodily graces.
All are welcome.
For those who wish to learn to pray the rosary, check out a beautiful and helpful website at www.therosary3.com.
MELBOURNE OVERSEAS MISSIONS APPEAL
Since its foundation in 1969, Melbourne parishioners have supported our own mission fund to help developing nations. This has marked our Archdiocese for its exceptional generosity. Currently, the major beneficiaries are people in Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Ghana, Pakistan, Botswana, Nigeria and Peru. Archbishop Denis Hart commends the fund to your continuing support.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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