As part of the Year of Grace, the relic of St Francis Xavier will be part of a national pilgrimage.
Wednesday 8 October at 7pm in Holy Eucharist Church, St Albans South.
PREPARING FOR SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
A celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held on Tuesday 9 October at 7.15pm in St Anne’s Church. Several priests will be present.
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 last weekend for 2012 is 12-14 October in Melbourne.
For further information & bookings contact Marianne & Marcel Van den Bronk (03) 9733 0997 or Email vicbookings@wwme.org.au. Website for more information on www.wwme.org.au
NEW ALTAR SERVERS VESTMENTS
It is proposed to have a new style of vestment and sewers are needed.
If you can help, please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
It’s no secret that married life isn’t easy. Most of us are living proof of that. It takes a great deal of commitment and constant self-giving love to truly live out the vocation.
But it is not just married life that requires such loving commitment and self sacrifice. The vocation of Christian discipleship, the vocation to which every one of us is called — married or single, clergy or layperson — requires that we give of ourselves in loving service, committing our lives to Christ forever. We give of our time, our talents, and our treasure as a way to show The Lord that we love Him and that we want to give our lives to Him. He has given us so much; it is an honor for us to give ourselves to Him in return.
It is not an easy task, especially when society is encouraging us to live selfishly, to want more and more things, to look out for ourselves before others, etc. Indeed, it is a higher calling to live for the Lord, to give rather than to want, and to lovingly put others first, and it is a life full of joyful rewards. In this, we will find true fulfillment!
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Today’s readings lead us to reflect on the gifts we have been given, and the source of those gifts — God.
In the first reading and in the gospel, we hear of men who raise objections when they see others participating in God’s mission. Moses’ followers were appalled when they noticed that two men who were not among their company had been given the gift of prophecy. Surely prophesying was not their place. And, in the gospel reading, Jesus’ disciples objected to men who were casting out demons in Christ’s name.
In both cases, the objectors were assured that the men had been given gifts from God, and their decision to use those gifts to serve God’s kingdom was indeed a good thing.
The readings serve to remind us that every one of us has been given great gifts, and we are called to recognize those gifts, to receive them gratefully, and to use them in service of God and neighbor. When we do this, we participate in Christ’s own mission of loving service. He came to give Himself for us, and He has given us many gifts so that we can join Him in His earthly mission, using our gifts to proclaim His truth and serve one another.
What gifts has God given you? How are you using them? Do you find yourself caught up noticing the gifts others have been given and wondering about their proper use of them? Or, do you rejoice in the gifts God has given you and others and do your best to participate in the mission of the Church, serving God by giving yourself and your gifts back to Him in gratitude for all He has given you?
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
MORNING TEA
MORNING TEA will be held after 8.30am Mass next Sunday and will be hosted by Old Town Neighbourhood.
All welcome.
SING A LONG
SING A LONG at Goonawarra Aged Care from 2.30pm on Friday 5 October.
Please come along and join in the fun.
(P.S. Roy Rogers won’t be available)
EVENING ADORATION
EVENING ADORATION will be held at St Anne’s Church on Friday 5 October from 7-8pm.
THANKYOU
Thank you again to the generous people of the Sunbury Catholic Church.
The collection for CatholicCare last week raised a massive $1423.40!
The funds will help create infrastructures to support families in communities like ours.
EVERGREENS
The next outing is on Wednesday 3rd October from 10am to 11.30am at Rupertswood Mansion morning tea and show “Hot Flushes”.
Cost $15 all inclusive.
Booking essential.
Contact Frances on 9744 1999
KNIGHTS OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS
MEETING
Knights of the Southern Cross meet at the Parish House, 16b Stewarts Lane, on Wednesday 3 October at 8pm.
NEWS FROM SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP
We celebrate Social Justice Sunday this weekend. The 2012-2012 Social Justice Statement is titled “The Gift of Family in Difficult Times: the Social and economic challenges facing families today.” The Statement affirms the family as the basis of our community of faith and the very foundation of society. Nurturing a family is a vocation, inspired by love, which faces many challenges. The Statement names the social and economic structures of our society that impact in a significant way on the majority of families. These are competing for time, competing for wealth and the pressure these factors put on family relationships. It also ask us to ‘rediscover’ the Sabbath and to show a special concern for the poor and vulnerable families.
“Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited, it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Social Justice is not just for one day, but every day. People go through bad times and it is comforting that we are not alone at those bad times. As a Catholic Community, we are called to act like Jesus– simply to help others in their times of need. Praying is one way we can support those in need, but also by giving time to help people is very selfless.
Full text (15 pages) is available from www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au
WORKING BEE
WORKING BEE at St Anne’s Church on Saturday 6 October from 9-12.
Please bring your tools and your good humor and help keep our Parish looking beautiful.
PASTORAL ASSOCIATES
Pastoral Associates minister collaboratively with Priests and Parishioners to support the people of God in their faith journeys. They provide leadership in areas such as worship, formation, outreach and pastoral care.
Information is on the Welcome Desk at St Anne’s Church for those interested in this exciting ministry. Alternatively, www.apamelb.com
GETTING A FAIR FUNDING DEAL FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Catholic school families are similar to those in government schools.
Catholic schools play an important part in some of Victoria’s most disadvantaged communities. Like government schools, Catholic schools also cater for families with middle and high incomes. Catholic school students, on average, receive 20 per cent less government funding than government school students. There is also a significant gap in funding for students with special needs. To make up the difference, you pay fees. Even then, most Catholic schools like ours still operate at around 90 per cent of the cost of education in government schools. As it stands, paying fees is not easy for many Catholic families. If Catholic parents are forced to pay more in fees, it will put a lot of pressure on many families. They may have no option but to move their children to government schools which are already under pressure.
TABOR JOURNEY PROGRAM
TABOR JOURNEY PROGRAM 5-7 OCTOBER 2012 AT TEMPLESTOWE
Tabor Journey is a program for separated, divorced or widowed people coping with the loss, the grief, the heartache and struggle that follows the end of a marriage/relationship. This live-in weekend is designed to provide a reflective time, a time to share, to bring some closure on what has happened and move on with life with greater freedom.
For further information phone 5221 7055 or email geelong@ccam.org.au.
ST FRANCIS XAVIER
As part of the Year of Grace, the relic of St Francis Xavier will be part of a national pilgrimage.
For the dates and places please visit www.pilgrimageofgrace.org.au.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Christian stewardship is all about selflessness. We are called to follow Christ’s example and give ourselves out of love for others and expect nothing in return.
In today’s gospel, we see Jesus explaining to the disciples that He must suffer and die. But they are confused. To them, the Messiah is one whom they praise and glorify, not one who suffers. So Jesus explains further.
His earthly mission is to give of Himself for our sake out of love. And He tells the disciples their mission as His followers is to do the same — to give of themselves expecting nothing in return.
So, we too, as present day disciples, follow the Lord’s example. We have all been called to be His disciples. Do we live the stewardship way of life, giving our time, our talent, and our treasure, in loving care of one another? Do we give of ourselves not because we want recognition, or because of the promise of earthly rewards, but because we are grateful to the Lord for giving Himself for us, and because we love both God and neighbor?
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
PASTORAL CARE OF SAME-SEX ATTRACTED CATHOLICS
Last week, Fr Paul Check from the USA visited Melbourne. He has been caring for those with same-sex attraction (SSA) and their parents for ten years.
He addressed two groups: Courage and Encourage at the diocesan centre.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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