Mercy works is currently recruiting volunteers to support refugee students in their educational transitions in secondary schools in Melbourne’s northern and western regions.
The volunteer commitment is half a day per week for four school terms. Contact Sr Mary Lewis rsm on 9326 1895 or email somml@bigpond.com
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS (20th Nov)
Christ the King
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. And while Christ is King of the World, he is also a kind and loving shepherd who cares for His flock.
The first reading today focuses on the Lord’s caring nature. “I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. I myself will give them rest.” The Responsorial Psalm reiterates those sentiments, praising the Lord for His incredible generosity. He gives us all we need and more, again, like a shepherd who cares for His sheep.
Meanwhile, in all three of the readings, there is an eschatological element. Each one, in varying degrees, speaks to us of the second coming and the final judgment that will take place when the Lord does return in glory.
The Lord is our shepherd. It is, therefore, our responsibility as His disciples to use what He has given us wisely. We all have time, talents and treasure, and we are called to use those gifts to the best of our ability, not by squandering them, but by taking ownership of them and making the Master proud.
On judgment day, the faithful steward of God’s gifts will be with those on the right, and with the words, “Come, you are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” we will be ushered into the heavenly kingdom.
GARDENING NEWS
Thanks to all those who contributed on Saturday 5 November 2011 to St Anne’s continuing make over. The next working bee will be on Saturday 26 November from 9 to 12 at the Presbytery, 51 Macedon St. We want to spruce up the place before Fr Kevin’s return. This will be our last Working Bee for 2011 and will conclude with a sausage sizzle to thank all those who have contributed since July 2011. All enthusiastic gardeners most welcome at 9am.
OPEN DAY, JOIN UP DAY
Jill Gibbs neighbourhood garden
When: 20 November, 1-3pm
Where: Donkeys Paddock, Riddell Rd, Sunbury
Bring your gardening boots and tons of enthusiasm. Contact Bernie on 9744 4455 for further details.
THANK YOU: to Salesian College Farm Department for ripping and rotary hoeing the Jill Gibbs Neighbourhood Garden. A job very much appreciated.
Anyone wishing to donate any potatoes that are sprouting for planting can contact John Stafford on 9740 9966.
A GIANT CAR BOOT SALE with craft stalls will be held by Sunbury Uniting Church on the Village Green and inside the church hall, on Saturday 19 November from 8.30am. There will be outside car sites (over 60 cars!!) and inside craft stalls. Site prices: cars $20, inside craft stalls $20. For more info or to book, ring Helen on 9744 3031 or 0407 506 507.
Next weekend, Mr Charlie Gatt from the Bible Society of Australia will be visiting us to speak at all Masses about the “May They Be One” Bible Campaign. All parishioners will be invited to participate financially or through prayer, and thereby share in the blessings that come from helping to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel to others less fortunate.
St Peter Apostle Mission Parish at 38 Guinane Ave, Hoppers Crossing is hosting a healing mass and mission retreat.
On 11 Nov from 7-9pm there will be a heal- ing mass, preaching of the Word of God, Praise and Worship followed by Adoration.
On 12 Nov from 10am to 8pm there will be praise and worship, preaching the Word of God, Adoration, Holy Mass 1st Rite of Reconciliation.
Concluding on 13 Nov from 5-9pm with Holy Mass, Praise and Worship, Preaching the Word of God and Adoration.
Contact Fr Pius Kodakkathanath on 9749 4300 for further information.
BYO lunch. Tea and coffee supplied.
From Sun 13 Nov to Sun 20 Nov at St Brendan’s Flemington, St Joseph the Worker, North Reservoir, St Matthew’s, North Fawkner, St Martin de Porres, Avondale Heights, concluding at St Patrick’s Cathedral.
The Missione Mariana wil be led by Archbishop Salvatore Pappalardo, archbishop of Siracusa, together with Rev. Monsignor Alfio Inserra, in both Italian and English. Information will be on the Welcome Desk in the foyer of St Anne’s Church.
Our Lady of Mt Carmel preps have invited us to lunch in the multi-purpose room at OLMC school at 12 Thur 17 Nov.
For catering purposes, please ring Frances on 9744 1999 by 10 Nov.
The Gisborne Singers will be performing Handel s Messiah on Nov 20 at 3pm in The Chapel at Rupertswood Mansion, Sunbury. As in the past, the choir will present this major work with professional soloists and orchestra. Prices are General $35, Con $30, Students $20, under 12 free. Concert bookings, contact Liz on 5426 2467.
This will be held at Ferraro Receptions, 14 Onslow Ave, Campbellfield on Sat 19 Nov at 6.30pm. Tickets are $50 per person (inc food, drink & music) are available by contacting 9386 3948. All proceeds are for a very worthy cause.
Thursday 10 & 17 Nov7.45pm-9.30pm at Thomas Carr Centre, 278 Victoria Pde, Melb.
Before you get caught up in the parties and presents, take some time to review the year you’ve had and reflect on what Christmas is really about.
The Archdiocesan Office for Youth invites you to a two-part Advent retreat with each evening being a mixture of reflection, catechesis and small group discussions.
Register now.
Send your name and contact details to aoy@cam.org.au or call our office on 9412 3324. For more info, visit cam.org.au/youth.
A training session has been arranged for all Lectors and Ministers of Communion as per the letter sent out last week. The dates are:
Lectors have already been done. The date for the Ministers of Communion is: Wed 16 Nov at 10am and 7.30pm.
Please come along to support each other and grow in these very important ministries. Also take the chance to meet some interesting fellow parishioners.
New Ministers will be most welcome.
Most Year 12 students finished formal classes on Monday 24 October with exams starting from November 3. Please keep these young people in your prayers, that they may enjoy success from their hard work.
(and a special prayer for those who thought Maths Methods 1 & 2 was going to be easy, and found out it wasn’t!!!)
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS (13th Nov)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable of a master who leaves on a journey, and entrusts three of His servants with his money while he’s gone. When he returns to find that two servants have wisely invested his money, he is very pleased and offers them a greater share in his riches, while the one man who did nothing with what he’d been given is thrown outside “where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” He is punished in an extreme way.
This is clearly another parable about the Parousia (the second coming of the Lord at the end of time). The Lord has entrusted us with much here and now, and when He returns, or when we are brought to Him upon our death, He expects that we will have used what He has given us wisely.
All that we have – our time, our talents, and our treasure – comes by way of gift from Him. And, so, as stewards we are to care for it as such – to recognize it as gift and to use it for His greater glory. What each of us has been given is different, just like the three servants in today’s Gospel, so He does not expect us to “measure up” to our neighbor, per se. Rather, He expects us to use our gifts to the best of our ability in His service – to take care of our responsibilities (ourselves and our families) and then to reach out in service to others (at the parish level and beyond).
Sunbury United Junior Soccer Club kindly loaned the Youth Group their BBQ and donated sausages for the Sausage Sizzle last week. This helped the Youth Group raise much needed funds for their monthly activities.
As an ongoing part of our celebration of Reconciliation and First Communion in 2011, children and their families who celebrated these Sacraments this year have been invited to a special Neighbourhood Mass at 10.30am on Sunday 13th of November.
Refreshments will be available from 10.00am and we will arrange for families from each Neighbourhood to meet each other before Mass, to go in and sit together for the celebration of the Mass. Families from the following Neighbourhoods have been invited to come on Sunday 13th November: Boardman
Bulla
Clarkefield
Emu Bottom
Fullwood
Gisborne South
Gumtree Hills
Killara/ Canterbury Hills
Kismet Park
Reservoir Road
Riddell
Sherwood
Spaceline
Strathearn Glen
Studley Park
Sunbury West.
Other parishioners from these Neighbourhoods are warmly invited and encouraged to come along, meet with these young families before Mass and make them welcome in their Neighbourhood communities.
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 priests present the weekend. It is based around catholic values but you don’t need to be catholic to attend. The next weekend will be held on 11-13 Nov. For further info contact Marianne & Marcelle Van den Bronk on 9733 0997 or email vicbookings@wwme.org.au.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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