Lord, we thank you for your unconditional love which we celebrate in the Eucharist.
During this time of preparation, enable these children to discover more and more the gift of your love for them in the Eucharist.
Draw them, and all of your family, ever closer to you and to each other as we meet around your table.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
PRAYER COMPANIONS
Prayer Companions are being sought today to accompany our children in prayer as they prepare to begin receiving Holy Communion in May.
THANKSGIVING ENVELOPES
Please remember to put the amount given on your envelopes, as the perforated edges sometimes break and money can fall out. The counters will not know what money belongs in each envelope unless you write the amount on it.
Thanks for your help.
250 NEW ADULT CATHOLICS
250 new adult Catholics took part in the Rite of Election at the Cathedral last Sunday.
151 will be baptised at Easter and another 99 Christians are being received into full Communion in our Church.
These numbers include four from our Parish.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
St Anne’s Church car park currently has an area that has been damaged by water. We ask people who own heavy vehicles to please park at least 15 meters away from this damaged area near the industrial bins. This is a safety issue and will be attended to in the very near future.
INSPIRING VIDEO FOR LENT
The Catholic website http://www.xt3.com has posted an inspiring video for Lent. It’s message is for us to “Come Awake and be One with Christ again”
Click here to view on the XT3 site.
INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY
International Womens Day is celebrated this Sunday on 4 March and is a time to connect with all women around the world. It is also a time to consider the women who have impacted our lives and hold up in prayer those we have never met. It is an opportunity to share inspiring visions of women flourishing and achieving their full potential as people of God; to offer encouragement and hope in facing the rocky paths yet to be trod.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READING
In today’s readings, we focus on the cross.
In the first reading, we hear the story of Abraham willing to sacrifice Isaac because the Lord asks him to. And then an angel intervenes telling Abraham to stop. His mere willingness showed the Lord that he is faithful.
It is hard to even imagine what Abraham and Isaac must have felt as they approached the impending sacrifice. It is gut-wrenching to even think about, and yet, as Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans, Christ Jesus did die for us. In him, what we see prefigured in Abraham and Isaac was done. The father gave his only Son like a lamb to be slaughtered, and the Son willingly offered Himself. Sometimes we look at the crucifixion and, while we marvel at the torture Jesus endured, it is easy to think, “But He is God,” and thereby minimize His agony. But when we consider the crucifixion together with Abraham and Isaac’s story, the pain of the suffering becomes that much more real. It is important to remember that God the Father did in fact offer His only Son up to death just as Abraham almost did. It is important to remember that while Jesus is indeed God, He is also man, and as such, He experienced the pain and agony of His torturous death. And He did it all for us. In the midst of all this, it is vital to understand that the cross, while utterly torturous, was and still is necessary for our salvation. Without the cross we wouldn’t know the glory of the resurrection.
This reality applies not only to Christ’s crucifixion on Calvary, but to the many crosses we ourselves bear through pain and suffering. Life is not easy. But when we unite our sufferings with Christ’s, they too can become redemptive. They allow us to grow closer to Christ and deeper in faith as we learn to rely on His grace.
This is what life as a Christian disciple is all about.
Jesus Himself tells us “if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”
It doesn’t mean that carrying the crosses – dealing with the pain and sickness, trials and tribulations – will ever be easy. But when we deny ourselves and unite our sufferings with His, we will experience the glory of the resurrection in a deeply personal way. Christ will touch our lives and change us.
Copyright © 2011 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
Jill Gibbs Neighbourhood Garden Newsletter
The Jill Gibbs Neighbourhood Garden Newsletter for Autumn is now available on our Parish Reports page. Click on the above image to be taken there.
DIARY DATES 2012
DIARY DATES 2012
Welcoming children into the Christian Community
Reconciliation in 2012 and First Communion in 2013:
* Information and Registration sessions for all parents: 2pm or 7.30pm, Tuesday 6 March, Parish Centre
* Celebration of First Reconciliation: 9, 14 and 16 August, 7pm St. Anne’s Church
* Celebration of First Communion: May 2013
First Communion 2012:
* May/June…………………Families have been advised of the preparation and celebration dates.
Baptism of School Age Children:
* Sunday 17 June and Sunday 25 November
Contact the Parish Office NOT LESS THAN 6 WEEKS before these dates to arrange preparation.
For more information contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060 or e-mail: richard.hallett@cam.org.au
WORKING BEE
Working Bee on Saturday 3 March starting at 9 til 12.00. Our work will concentrate on the grounds around St Anne’s Church and the Parish Centre. Please bring weeding gear, wheelbarrows, shovels, whipper snippers, etc. All welcome, help make St Anne’s look like the Garden of Eden.
MORNING TEA
Next Sunday 4 March after 8.30am Mass will be hosted by the Old Town Neighbourhood. Please bring a plate to share and join in for a cuppa and a chat.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
Friday 2 March, at St Anne’s Church over 3 million people worldwide will take part in the World Day of Prayer Service, which this year has been prepared by the Christian women of Malaysia with the theme “Let justice prevail.” The Sunbury Chorale will lead the singing. Prayer booklets will be available. As James prayed;:”Father may they all be one… so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21) “Prayer is common to the should of the whole ceremonial movement.” (Catholic Catechism No 821) As the host Church this year, a large representation of our parishioners would be a sign of our hospitality.
Founded in 1887, this international Order of Service is translated into more than sixty languages and 1000 dialects in 176 countries and islands. In Australia, nearly 100000 people are expected to participate in over 1300 Services to be held in Churches, Centres, Schools and Nursing Homes.
In Sunbury, the service will be held at St Anne’s Church on Friday 2 March at 7.30pm with supper to follow. All parishioners are invited to join our sisters and brothers from other Christian Churches in this special service.
A plate of supper to share after the service would be much appreciated.
CATHOLIC HEALTH AUSTRALIA
CHA represents 75 hospitals and 550 residential aged care services operated by the Catholic Church Australia’s largest non-profit provider of health services.
CHA is urging more funds for health care.
JOSEPHITE ASSOCIATES
The enrolment of three new Associates will take place at the 10.30am Mass on this Sunday. All Associates are invited to welcome the new members.
RCIA
Today, the first Sunday of Lent our Candidate, her sponsors and family together with the RCIA team will join hundreds of others at the Rite of Election at St Patrick’s Cathedral at 2.30pm this afternoon. The Candidates and Catechumens are presented, on our behalf by their sponsors to the Archbishop and reaffirm their commitment to becoming members of the Catholic Community. It is a very moving ceremony which marks the beginning of an intense period of preparation for those who will be received into the Church, by Baptism, Confirmation and reception of the Eucharist for the first time at the Easter Vigil and at Pentecost. If anyone is interested in attending this inspirational ceremony, you will be most welcome. Please contact Jo Wiegerink on 9744 5788 if you are interested in coming.
SING A LONG
Goonawarra Nursing Home, Sunbury. Friday 2 March 2.30-315pm.
Please come along and help entertain the residents.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
We all do things to enhance our lives; Fitness programs and diets to improve our health ; Professional Development programs to improve our job skills.
We offer you an opportunity for married couples to give a wonderful gift to your children by enhancing your marriage through a Marriage Encounter weekend.
Take a look at our website on http://www.wwme.org.au
Our weekends in 2012 are: 20-22 April, 15-17 June, 10-12 Aug and 12-14 Oct.
For info and bookings contact Marianne & Marcel Van den Bronk (03)9733 0997 or Email vicbookings@wwme.org.au
CATHOLICCARE OUTREACH PROGRAM
In the past our community has given generously to Catholiccare. Our community has access to the services provided by this wonderful organisation through the outreach program.
It is run through the Sunbury Community Health Service and the hours of operation are: Mon, Tues, Thurs 9-5; Wed 11.30am-7pm.
Services provided range from individual, couple and family counselling, stress management, grief and loss, pain management and parenting.
Please contact 9744 4455 to arrange an appointment if you need to use this service.
CONFIRMATION 2012
Enrolment forms are to be given to the Parish Office by Friday 2 March.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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