This is a six week seminar on the life changing work of the Holy Spirit, will be held at St Anne’s church on the evenings at 7.30pm commencing on February 23. Topics covered include: The Certainty of God’s Love, Freedom in Jesus, The Power of the Holy Spirit, The Spiritual Gifts of Charisms, Fullness of Life and Empowered to Serve.
For registration please contact a Sunbury Emmaus Prayer Group member or phone 9744 4029.
At the Ash Wednesday Eucharist we are signed with the cross of ash. At the beginning of Lent “we stand at a cross road and are given an opportunity to re-assess the direction of our lives” (Towards the Light)
Towards the Light
As a Parish we intend to have a weekly Lenten reflection, a choice of one of three sessions: Tuesday 7.30-8.15pm OLMC Church Sunday 9.40-10.30am St Anne’s Sunday 4.45-5.30pm OLMC Church
Everyone is welcome to register so as enough resources can be ordered. Also, we are looking for 3 leaders (we will arrange training) to run the sessions. If you are able to assist, please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060.
Christian families in Bethlehem are supported by making and selling items of a religious nature made from olive wood.
At Masses on 4/5 February and 11/12 February there will be a sale of items priced from $5 to $150.00.
On Friday 10th February the Knights of the Southern Cross are holding a dinner at the Celtic Club in Melbourne in order to raise money to assist in the purchase of ten thousand new Military Prayer Books. These books are printed on waterproof paper and will conform to the new english translation. The Dinner is open to the general public. For more information contact John Stafford 0411151663
In the gospel today, Jesus heals the sick and performs other such miracles. He then tells His disciples that He cannot stay. He must move on to the next town and continue preaching and healing others. “For this purpose have I come,” Jesus says.
As Christ’s disciples, it is our purpose and our mission to proclaim the Word of God to the world today. We are, in effect, the hands and feet of Christ, and He calls each one of us to continue His ministry of proclaiming the good news. In fact, that is why He established the Church – to call all men to Himself.
Each one of us plays a very important role in the Church’s mission. We are all vital members of the One Church, and the Lord has given us many good gifts with which to carry out this mission. When we live our lives for the glory of God and use our gifts – our time, our talents, and our treasure – to serve the Lord by serving others, people are sure to see Christ in us. People are sure to be drawn to our way of life, to the hope and happiness Christ offers, and men are sure to come to Him.
Later in Mark’s gospel, when Jesus tells the apostles, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation,” (Mk. 16:15), He was speaking to the whole Church. Let us take ownership of our call. May we all use our God-given gifts, our time, our talent, and our treasure – to proclaim the good news: Christ has come to save all and He offers everyone life everlasting. It is a wonderfully hope-filled message. May our lives reflect its truth!
We would love to hear from people who are able to assist with Children’s Liturgy of the Word at Sunday Mass. Please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060 to register your interest.
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 man- agement, grief and loss, pain management and parenting. Please contact 9744 4455 to arrange an appointment if you need to use this service.
Sunbury Secondary College has just announced that the DUX of the college for 2011 was one of our parishioners who will be very familiar to all who attend 8.30am Mass on Sundays. Caitlin Allen was today informed by the Principal of the College of her achievement.
Caitlin has already accepted a science scholarship at La Trobe University to study for a Masters in Nanotechnology.
The Emmaus Charismatic Prayer Group will resume meeting at St. Anne’s Church at 10.15am on Thursday February 2nd. All welcome including children. For further info/transport please contact Lambert & Elaine van der Weerden on 9744 4029.
As Christ’s disciples, we are called to recognize all of our gifts as God-given – our time, our talents, and our treasure and to use them accordingly, putting them at the service of the Lord.
Today’s readings remind us that it is the Lord whom we serve. In the gospel, when Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit, “Quiet! Come out of Him!” the gospel tells us, “The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed.”
It is amazing. God has authority over the whole world, and He has seen fit to bless us with so many good gifts, to give us life and family and faith, time and talents and treasure. It is only fitting that we recognize those gifts as God-given and give of them in gratitude to the One who has blessed us so.
So, we live to love and serve Him in all we do. Whether we are a mother or father, brother or sister, married or single, doctor or lawyer, writer or singer, it is our duty as Christian stewards to live our lives to the praise and glory of God. All that we do ought to proclaim His goodness to those around us.
In the first reading from Deuteronomy, the writer reminds us of this call. Speaking of prophets whose role it is to proclaim the Good News, he says, “But if a prophet presumes to speak in My name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the names of other gods, he shall die.”
Indeed, it is God whom we serve. We are called to live not for our own sake, but for the sake of the Gospel, being sure that through all we say and do, we help others see God.
The Parish will be conducting a Lenten Reflection ‘TOWARDS THE LIGHT’ program.
You will have a choice f one of three sessions which will be run each week.
Everyone is invited to register so that enough resources can be obtained. The cost of the 64 page booklet is $8.
Today,Jo Wiegerink, convenor of the Garden will invite more parishioners to take part in our Garden.
The blessing of the Harvest at the Garden will take place on Sunday 12 February at 9.30am.
Our Parish Schools will commence this week as all students return at the specific times as their parents were notified late last term. The leadership teams of our schools met last week.
A proposal at the Parish Assembly in September was to establish a Key Register for the Parish Properties. If you currently hold a key to any Parish Property, could you please contact the parish office on 9744 1060 as you will need to sign the Key Register.
Working bees around St Anne’s Church resume on Saturday 4 February 2012 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 snipers, etc. All welcome, help make St Anne’s look like the Garden of Eden.
Parish Bingo is held every Thursday Evening at the Sunbury Football Social Club, Clarke Oval, Riddell Rd Sunbury. $999.00 last game prize. Come on give it a go! Eyes down at 8.00pm Ticket sales from 7.00pm.
Dinner and snacks available.
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