our parish vision statement - sacred heart north...
TRANSCRIPT
Our Parish Vision Statement
‘We are a diverse and talented community drawing inspiration from the Jesus found in the Scripture and in the living tradition of his people, the Church. In valuing, celebrating and promoting life we support each other as we joyfully proclaim Jesus to the World’.”
Parish Priest: Father Dennis Crameri Assistant Priests: Father Paul Purcell Father Jake Mudge Pastoral Assistant: Sister Eileen Reardon Mt Beauty (0458 327 554) Weekend Masses Sacred Heart Church Wodonga:
Saturday 6.00pm Sunday 8.30am 10.30am Monday to Friday 9.10am
Our Lady Help of Christians Tangambalanga
2nd
, 4th Sunday 10.30am
St Francis’ Bethanga
2nd
Sunday 12 noon
St Joseph’s Dederang 1
st, 3
rd Sunday 10.00am
5th Sunday 10.00am
Liturgy of the Word & Communion
St Joseph’s Mt Beauty 1
st to 4
th Sunday 8.30am
5th Sunday 8.30am
Liturgy of the Word & Communion Reconciliation Sacred Heart Wodonga:
Saturday 9-9.30am Country Churches: before Masses
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10%
Contact: Denis Gallagher 6059 3381
Dear Fellow Parishioners, Welcome to the Easter edition of Parish Talk. In the best traditions of Nellie Melba and Whispering Jack, this is yet another ‘final’ edition from me. It’s been an unforgettable experience where I have been through every emotion from frustration through despair to satisfaction and joy. Particularly I note with awe the enormous contribution to this ministry in parish communication made by Kevin and Diana McKinley and their company of Posties; Denis Gallagher and his advertisers; Urszula Stratton and her magical mastery of illustration and assembly and our contributors, both regular and occasional. I also really appreciate the backing, trust and freedom given to me by two parish priests: Monsignor Frank Marriott and Fr Dennis Crameri. Now, it really is time to pass on to newer and younger hands bringing in new skills and ideas. It’s been fun and satisfying … but, its time! Keith
Please make sure that you support our advertisers – they certainly support us and are good value. And do tell them where you saw their advertisement. They appreciate it and you will be surprised.
Our next edition is the Winter issue of Parish Talk; closing date for articles and reports is Wednesday 16
th May 2012.
Enjoy!
From our PastorFrom our PastorFrom our PastorFrom our Pastor…………
The generosity of people and their willingness to "put in" continues to inspire me. Recently,
at the Wodonga Parish Masses, I spoke of the relationship between faith and action/ministry
and the need we have for support for three important ministries. The three I mentioned were
the Children's Liturgy and the need for some more adults to assist with the sharing of the
Jesus stories with our young children during the Sunday masses; assistance from married
couples to help prepare engaged couples for their marriage and help in various areas of
preparing our parish magazine "Parish Talk" for publication and distribution.
In all of these ministries, parishioners came forth to offer their service. How good is that!! It is
this willingness to "have a go" that makes the church and our parish such a good place to be.
The Church is you, God's people; we are a community of faith. Yes, we know we are not
perfect and that at times living our faith can be challenging and difficult. We may feel at times
the church asks too much of us. But hopefully, we also know of the unconditional love of God
for each of us and that we are vital in God's plan of bringing the good news of Jesus to the
world. God's desire is that in responding generously and lovingly we will know and
experience the peace, the joy and the sense of well-being that only God can give.
I am reminded of the lady who went to the parish priest and explained that the church just
wasn't good enough for her and that she was going in search of a perfect faith community.
The priest said to her: you have my blessing - go and find the perfect church and join it but
remember, once you join that church it will no longer be perfect!".
We will never be a perfect Christian community and that is
precisely why it is so good.
A mixture of all sorts, all with different gifts, different needs,
different outlooks, different politics, different in so many ways, but
one in belief. Unity in diversity, we say and what a great place to
be.
There is a wonderful link in the Gospels between faith and action.
The gospel of a few weekends ago relates Jesus healing Simon's
mother-in-law. The Gospel reads: "she had gone to bed with a
fever...He (Jesus) went to her, took her by the hand, and helped
her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them".
In speaking about this, I emphasised the strong connection
between faith and service, that there is something like a sacred
exchange wherein the person of faith almost by necessity feels a
need to offer themselves in service of others...and she got up and
waited on them! Our parish community is called to reflect in life the faith we share and
celebrate.
Fr Dennis Crameri PP
Parish Pastoral Council News
We hope that you have all had a great
Christmas break and that this new year
will bring many blessings to you and your
families.
Our first meeting for the year was held on
the 1st Feb 2012. It was great to gather
with renewed energy and vibrancy to
continue our work in bringing our
community of faith together, and in doing
so, gain a greater knowledge of how we
can best address the needs and concerns
of our parish community.
Irish Night
A number of new initiatives are planned for
this year with an Irish Night proposed for
some time in the first half of this year so
have your dancing shoes ready and your
singing voice tuned. Megan Teefey is the
person to see for any info.
The Leadership Course: Community
Skills Development Program 2012
Our 2012 program commences this month
so please be on the lookout for many new
and varied projects from our new
participants. I ask that you support
participants of our course by attending the
events they present within the parish as
these projects are for the enjoyment and
benefit of us all.
Parish Community Mass: Leadership
Course 2011 Project
After our beautiful Mass at Frayne College
last November we will hold another
community Mass at a different school later
in the year with upcoming dates and
venue to be notified when arrangements
are finalized. Keep an eye out in future
editions of Parish Talk and Bulletins for
this information.
Happy Hour
Happy Hour will continue at the Priests
House on the 2nd Thursday of every month
from 5pm. It’s a wonderful opportunity to
catch up with each other and meet
someone new. For all who attended the
Christmas break up you will know what an
enjoyable time was had by all. Many
thanks to Marg Barrett and friends for
hosting that event.
Men’s Breakfasts
These are being planned for this year with
Fr Jake, Rob Horner, Aaron Moffat and
Martin Clifford organizing these events.
More info to follow as dates are set.
Welcoming Sundays and Saturday
Nights Wine and Cheese.
These are set to continue at all Masses at
Sacred Heart Church on the first weekend
of each month. Pauline Lewis is looking for
any new groups who would like to host
these events. Please contact the Parish
Centre if you are able to assist. Bronwyn
Craig is the go to person for the
Welcoming Saturday Night Wine and
Cheese.
Youth
Fr Jake is working with Rob Horner and
his Remar students to develop a Youth
Group within the Parish. Meetings are to
be held on the 4th Friday of the month.
Please see Fr Jake or Rob if you need
further information.
This is just a brief summary of some of
what the PPC is hoping to achieve this
year. We will continue to invite leaders of
groups to our meetings so that we can
remain a transparent parish working
together to bring Jesus’ message of hope
to our world.
And one more thing –Recently I was
visiting my daughter in Geelong what a
lovely City, (it’s a shame some of their
footie supporters are not so lovely!)
Anyway I was walking past a little church
which had a sign out the front which read,
LIVE TO GIVE AND GIVE WHERE YOU
LIVE. I thought it was a great slogan, so I
+would just like to remind you that your
parish has lots of groups that need your
help. Whether its reading to the kids in
Children’s Liturgy, visiting the elderly,
gardening, helping out in the office or
working for Vinnie’s there is something for
everyone, so if you have a little time to
spare please see Frs Dennis, Paul or Jake
or call Marg and Sonni at the Parish
Centre.Ph 0260243366.
Ros Revell
Parish Pastoral Council.
Wodonga Catholic ParishWodonga Catholic ParishWodonga Catholic ParishWodonga Catholic Parish
The Web SiteThe Web SiteThe Web SiteThe Web Site
Our parish now has a web site – thanks Sonni – which is well worth a visit. Not only can you now read your Parish Talk in full and brilliant colour, along with weekly mass bulletins, there is a growing range of features and photos and news to browse. So, visit:
www.wodongacatholicparish.com.au
and get up to date. And do, please, tell friends and old neighbours that they can keep in touch with parish news from the comfort of their computer! Wherever they now live.
THE COLLEGE OF CARDINALS
Vatican City, 18 February 2012 (VIS) –
With the creation of twenty-two new cardinals in this morning's consistory, the College of Cardinals now has 213 members of whom 125, being under the age of eighty, are eligible to vote in an eventual conclave for the election of a new Pope. The non-electors, that is cardinals over the age of eighty and ineligible to vote in a conclave, now number 88.
Benedict XVI has created eighty-four cardinals in the four consistories of his pontificate.
The current members of the College of
Cardinals come from seventy-one States,
distributed as follows: Europe 119, North
America (U.S.A. and Canada) 21, Latin
America 32, Africa 17, Asia 20 and
Oceania 4.
St Augustine’s Primary School, 2012.
The holidays are lovely for the time to
catch up with family and friends, Celebrate
the festive season, relax and enjoy long
summer days, but school is back and so
we return to the chaos and business that
is school.
Term 1 has got off to a flying start at St
Augustine’s with a new group of 47 excited
little prep children, starting school for the
first time, as well as numerous new
students to other grades throughout the
school.
We warmly welcome them all.
We had a lovely informal morning tea the
first day of school to welcome them.
The children are catching up with friends
from last year, reacquainting themselves
and making new friends. It is a buzz of
excitement.
There are lots of things happening in the
classrooms with new learning
experiences, grade 5’s getting their
laptops for the first time, part of our 1-1
laptop program. Preps learning to read, all
are good and positive learning
experiences that St Augustine’s promote.
Term 1 is busy with parent information
nights, a family night at Wodonga pool,
walk to school breakfasts, school photos,
our annual Autumn Fair and Grade5/6
camp to Canberra as just some of the
great things to happen at school this term.
So keep us in your prayers this year that
our children continue to grow in body and
mind and that their school days are
fantastic life experiences for each and
every one of them.
For more details about any of the
above activities to be held at St
Augustine’s please visit the school
website:
www.sawodonga.catholic.edu.au or
contact the school on 0260242711.
Michelle McCarty
Community Co-ordinator
FRAYNE COLLEGE BARANDUDA
SEALING AND DRAINAGE WORKS AT FRAYNE COLLEGE
The much anticipated sealing and drainage works to our driveway entry and car parks
commenced during the 2011 summer holidays. Construction of retaining walls around the
Gathering Place and the Administration Office will enable us to landscape around these
buildings to enhance the visual appearance of our College.
All works are expected to be completed by the end of Term 1. This means we may no longer
live in fear of the next downpour of rain which in the past has resulted in major flooding of
Taylor House!
FRAYNE COLLEGE PRODUCE STALL: Frayne-grown fresh vegies, herbs & eggs available
for purchase from 3.15pm outside the Gathering Place on Tuesdays.
EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY: We welcome our families and Baranduda residents to
join us in our Frayne garden on Tuesdays between 9.45am – 10.45am. BYO hat, gloves and
hand trowel.
Works in progress in January 2012 The bitumen going down on 13th February
Frayne College welcomed 18 new Prep students this year.2012 promises to be an exciting and fun-filled start to their primary education.
CATHOLIC COLLEGE WODONGA
One hundred and sixty-nine Year 7 students, fifty-eight Years 8-12 students and nine new staff join us this year, injecting a new energy into our community. Currently we have just below 110 students enrolled for the 2012 school year.
I spoke on the first staff day about the need for rest. Teaching is from the heart and is done with a depth of commitment that brings integrity, knowledge and courage to our students. Each teacher must renew their heart, mind, and spirit through the exploration of the inner landscape of their life. They need to reconnect with their identity and integrity - identifying and honoring their gifts and strengths and acknowledging their limits. In order to do this, they must rest and do what makes their hearts sing. We all need to wind up to serve the needs of others but we must also remember to wind down. As Michael Leunig says; ‘Tiredness is one of our strongest, most noble and instructive feelings.’
Staff are now well rested and ready to meet students with open and warm hearts in 2012.
We trust that students and parents have also rested and are ready to open themselves to new learning relationships with each other and teachers.
We are currently drafting our Annual Plan- embedding previous reforms, re-shaping others and imagining new ways to develop our students.
Our theme for 2012 is ‘We are God’s works of Art’. Our opening school Mass on 15th February will further explore the theme that has been drawn from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Feeling good about who we are as individuals created by the master creator, we can then go out and make the world a better place as we are ‘Called to share our gifts’.
Angela Killingsworth
Principal, Catholic College Wodonga
We welcome into our parish We welcome into our parish We welcome into our parish We welcome into our parish through Baptiam:through Baptiam:through Baptiam:through Baptiam:
Lucy Avery Gypsy Bentley-Clough Kiah Bentley-Clough Molly Bentley-Clough
Oliver Bowen Elliott Boyd
Connor Fabris Scarlett Fabris Aiden Farley Ellen Gillam Finn Howard Molly Howard
George Hughes Sienna Irwin Archer Irwin Lily Iudica
Ella Kavanagh Ruby Kelly
Henry Lethbridge Nate Lewis
Elliott Mayhew Eli McKay Mia Miller
Oscar Mollison Harrison Musca Chelsea Pollard
Nate Randall Paige Randell
Hunter Richardson Isobel Richter
Isabelle Spokes Rowdy Stephenson
Mia Stewart Oliver Taylor
Hannah Warden
We rejoice in the Marriages of:We rejoice in the Marriages of:We rejoice in the Marriages of:We rejoice in the Marriages of:
Justin Hynes & Bridget Stanton
Joel Godde & Katherine McQuinn
GODSTART IS A
GOOD START
By the time the
Easter edition of
Parish Talk has
been published, the
GodStart team will
have hosted the
ninth annual Prep
student’s morning
tea. This year it falls on Wednesday 22nd February,
Ash Wednesday. The morning tea allows us to give
a small gift of a GodStart prayer book and balloon,
to all of the Prep students who attend St
Augustine’s Primary School, St Monica’s Primary
School or Frayne College, on behalf of the
members of the Wodonga Catholic Parish – that is
you!
The children are graduating from the GodStart
program, and moving into the Religious Education
programs run by each of the schools. We enjoy
meeting the children and their Parents in a relaxed
atmosphere and wishing them well. It is also a great
opportunity for the children to catch up with their
friends from Preschool.
This year, in an attempt to reach our GodStart
children who aren’t attending the Catholic Primary
Schools, we have invited the children from the
Wodonga and district Public and Independent
Schools, to attend the morning tea via a message
on their school newsletters. Hopefully this will be
successful.
As you may already be aware, the Welcoming
Sunday events for April have been postponed due
to them falling on Palm Sunday. We have invited
the Children’s Liturgy team to join us and Playgroup
as hosts next year. This will mean that the three
ministries which focus on the children of the Parish
will be hosting the event together in the future. We
hope that the Playgroup will be back in full swing by
then.
Our GodStart Mass will be held on the 29th of July. If
you would like to contact us before then please
leave a message for us at the Parish Centre. Fran,
Annette, Helen, Melinda, Kate and I would love to
welcome you to our GodStart team.
Dianne Gibbs-Jones
GodStart Team
Wodonga Catholic Parish
GodStart Prep morning tea
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The St Vincent de Paul Society began in 1833 with a 20 year old French university student named Frederic Ozanam. At the time, the people of France were experiencing tremendous political and social upheaval including the French Revolution, the industrial revolution and unjust employment practices. Ozanam gathered a group of colleagues together and began responding in practical ways to the poverty and hardship he saw around him by visiting people in their homes, offering friendship and practical support. Today this practice of ‘home visitation’ still remains a core activity for the St Vincent de Paul Society’s members and volunteers. The first Australian conference (local branch) was established by Fr Gerald Ward at St Francis’ Church, Lonsdale St., Melbourne on 5th March 1854. Today the Society in Victoria is made up of many Conferences throughout the state. The Wodonga Conference along with 5 other conferences is part of the Upper Murray Region. This Regional Council is one of 5 regional councils of the North East Central Council (Diocesan Council) which in turn is part of the Victorian State Council & it is part of the Australian National Council. The Wodonga Conference (St. Leo’s Conference) meets at 7.30pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at Sacred Heart Hall. The meeting consists of a spiritual reflection usually on the next Sunday’s Gospel, the volunteering of
members to the various rosters, together with Opening & Closing Prayers. The rostered members then spend a couple of hours at the society’s office ringing back people who have requested assistance & then visiting them in their homes to provide assistance if possible. This is repeated each day Monday to Friday by various volunteers. We are always looking for new members. Please ring John Goonan (Conference President) on 0431 353 241 if you would like to consider becoming a member or becoming a volunteer at Wodonga Vinnies Centre. In 2010/2011 year the Conferences in the Upper Murray Region provided aid in excess of $97,646 to 1398 adults and 1279 children. As well $21,628 of aid in the form of clothing, furniture and household goods was provided through the Wodonga Vinnies Centre. The material aid from the conferences consisted of $57,385 Food, $13,109 Utilities, $6,128 Accommodation, $6,174 Transport, $958 Prescriptions, $2,289 Whitegoods, $3,039 Education & $8,567 Miscellaneous. St Leo’s Wodonga Conference President & Members are grateful to the parishioners of the Wodonga Parish for their continued support in all ways, particularly with their generous donations to our Second Sunday Leaving Appeal. Mike Iverson – Acting Secretary
The REMARkable Collins Young Men
On Australia Day this year, Tim Collins
was awarded Young Citizen of the Year
for Wodonga. His two older brothers Dan
and Josh had been given the same award
in 2008 and 2010 respectively. How could
this possibly happen that all children of
one family are so highly esteemed in the
community? Well it hasn’t been magic.
Their story is quite a remarkable one with
their parents, Brendon and Karen,
navigating and supporting their sons
through some of life’s hurdles as they
were growing up.
The boys were educated at St.Augustine’s
and CCW, with Josh participating one day
a week in Frayne’s inaugural year as an
Yr8 student.
Growing up on a farm and Brendon
always having a building project on the go
meant the boys were exposed at a young
age to practical activity and play at home,
with a lot of time spent outdoors. So sitting
at a table/desk for a lengthy period at
school was hard to match home; activities
such as ferretting, yabbying, making a
flying fox, building rafts, building a hut in
the bush, welding, building a home-made
go-cart or making experiments that
involved a loud ‘BANG’.
Despite the boys being immersed with
literature, literacy skills did not come easy
to all of them, so extra assistance outside
school combined with Karen’s support with
a teaching background helped
enormously. During this time, Brendon and
Karen assured the boys that doing this
extra work was not negotiable The boys
learned during this period a life lesson; if
you work hard at something you are not
good at, with persistence and
perseverance you can get there. And it
happened for a long period, for all of them.
Simultaneously, Karen and Brendon
provided a very encouraging environment
in which to achieve. The boys’ individual
strengths were nurtured and their
enterprising spirit encouraged; with Josh
beginning, at age 14 his cattle business
that still operates today, Dan an importing
business at 16 and Tim supplying worms
to a local fishing shop at 13. They were
given the freedom to explore the hills and
rivers near home and learn through
‘hands-on’ experience in building and farm
work. Importantly, they always had to take
responsibility for their behaviour.
So by virtue of creative parenting, hard
work, wonderful teachers and great
educational opportunities that have come
their way, these young men have
developed into inspiring role models. Each
of the boys has travelled different paths,
yet they have enormous respect and
appreciation of each other’s
achievements, providing encouragement
for one another. They are all engaging
public speakers, have great
communication skills and are articulate
and comfortable speaking with a broad
range of people.
Brendan and Karen believe REMAR, a
leadership-training program at CCW, has
made a large contribution to the boys’
development. Rob Horner at the helm of
this program has been a great mentor to
Dan, Josh and Tim. REMAR exposed
them to the rewards of community work
and challenged them to think ‘outside the
square’. Rob has mentored many students
through this program and he has a unique
gift to draw the very best out of our young
people. Tim is the seventh REMAR person
in succession to have won Young Citizen
of the Year (Wodonga).
Dan completed the Kokoda Track in his
Year 12 year, having been sponsored by
the RSL. In a Gap year in 2007, he worked
in Tennant Creek, N.T. initially as a
volunteer but at 18 years incredibly,
became the manager of Centrecare’s
Youth Services Program, running a Drop-
In Centre for indigenous youth. He went
on to work in Kenya as a volunteer with
World Youth International spending time
there organising and managing the
construction of 10 houses for extremely
poor families many of whom were living in
tents with family members having been
AIDS affected. Generous donations from
within our parish supported Dan’s project.
Dan received a national award in
Canberra, the ‘Spirit of Kokoda’ award,
recognising the work he did in Tennant
Creek and Kenya. An article in the Border
Mail (Oct 6, 2007) stated, “When Dan
came to a fork in the road; he took the
harder path and discovered what was
most important in life”. Dan worked hard
at RMIT completing, firstly his Diploma,
then a degree in Construction
Management, graduating with first class
honours last year. Parallel to his studies,
in his first year Dan gained a part-time
position with Baulderstone, a national
building company, whereby he was trained
as a site-engineer on the construction site
of Crown. He gained two RMIT
scholarships in his second year, then in
his third year he was awarded by the
Masters Builders Association, the
prestigious award the ‘Florence M. Taylor’
medallion. Also in Dan’s third year of study
he took up study at a university in
Stockholm, Sweden for 6 months. While
he studied there, Baulderstone arranged
for him to work part-time with management
on a billion dollar tunnel in Stockholm.
Having graduated, Dan now works with
MIRVAC in Melbourne.
Josh at 21, has completed a carpentry
apprenticeship, a Diploma of International
Business, an Advanced Diploma of
International Business and is currently
completing his final year of a Commerce
degree. Josh’s achievements have been
nothing short of extraordinary given his
schooling background; a student who
struggled with literacy in his primary and
early secondary school years, skipping
Year 9 to enter the Year 10 VCAL program
at CCW (purely because he was old
enough to enter into a school-based
apprenticeship), yet going on to
completing Year 12. Last Dec, Josh was
awarded the Swinburne Vice-Chancellor’s
scholarship and is currently studying at
Limerick University, Ireland for 6 months.
Like his brothers, Josh does not let
opportunities pass him by. In a Gap year,
Josh spent several months working in
Alice Springs, some of his time at Santa
Teresa as a volunteer. He also worked as
a volunteer on a construction project in a
small community in Peru for 3 months with
World Youth International. Last year Josh
was chosen as an ambassador for
Swinburne University, giving lectures to
large school audiences. He was also given
a scholarship to participate in a study tour
of India in Feb 2010, giving lectures to
students in Indian universities.
Tim at 18 years has had fabulous role
models but has found his own pathway.
Tim was a Vice-Captain of CCW in 2011
and is a young man who has also helped a
lot of others. In Yr 11, Tim undertook a
150km hike across the rugged terrain of
the Great Divide to raise money to
sponsor 6 disadvantaged young people to
attend Mittagundi. Mittagundi is a not-for-
profit, outdoor, education centre set up as
a pioneer-style farm, established to
provide educational experiences for 14-18
year olds in the bush. In Year 11, Tim was
a participant of the CCW Bathurst Island
Immersion program living in the
indigenous community focused on building
community and sharing a positive cross-
cultural exchange. With REMAR, he has
worked and lived in the Condobolin
community assisting this small rural
community hard hit by drought (over page)
He has helped assimilate a Bhutanese
family in Wodonga, worked as a volunteer
at St Stephen’s Church on Christmas Day
and helped farmers re-fence their
properties after the fires. Last year he was
a committee member for the Red Carpet
Youth Awards. Like his brothers, Tim is
taking a Gap year. He too will be working
in Kenya later this year as a volunteer with
World Youth International. He will be
attending Swinburne in 2013.
This is a story about some of our
inspirational, young people in our parish of
whom we can be very proud.
The Collins family
Diana McKinley
MARTHA OR MARY?
I cannot choose; I should have liked so much
To sit at Jesu's feet-- to feel the touch Of His
kind, gentle hand upon my head,
While drinking in the precious words He said.
And yet to serve Him! ---oh,divine employ---
To minister and give the Master joy, To bathe
in coolest springs His weary feet,
And wait upon him while He sat at meat.
Worship or service--- which ? Ah, that is best,
To which He calls us, be it toil or rest; To
labour for Him in life's busy stir,
Or seek His feet, a silent worshipper.
( by Caroline Atherton Mason, 1911.)
Sent in by June Fuery.
CATHOLIC CHARASMATIC
RENEWAL
MICAH PRAYER GROUP,
WE ARE A CHARASMATIC PRAYER GROUP
COMING TOGETHERIN PRAYER AND
FELLOWSHIP. WE SUPPORT ONE
ANOTHER IN THE EFFORTS TO GROW IN
THE KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE OF GOD.
EACH MEETING IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO
WANTS TO COME.
WHERE: ST AUGUSTINS CHURCH
WHEN: EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT
TIME: 6 – 7pm ADORATION 7 – 7.30pm CUPPA
7 .30 – 9pm PRAYER MEETING
WE INVITE YOU TO COME AND JOIN US.
Once again we begin the journey of
coming together to praise, pray and learn
about God, experiencing his touch in our
personal life and through the church.
This year we are having some awesome
sharing. Looking at who Jesus is, what is
the message of the Gospels and the birth
of the church, Pentecost, the gift to all who
believe.
We are also looking at Jesus the Healer
who brings healing to our spirit, soul and
body as he is the same yesterday, today
and forever (Heb 13:8).
Most of us, if not all have wonderful
testimonies of the power of God in our
lives which gives witness to the presence
of Holy Spirit.
We are looking forward to what God has
for us this year to do.
Our prayer group is but one brick in the
wall as we come together to unite our
prayers with those who walk and lead us
on the journey of faith.
Natsumi Suenobu is a17 year old exchange student, from Japan who joined our Parish community for 2011 and lived with the Moffat family. She was brought into our Catholic Christian community by the Moffats, as a Buddhist, but was very open to both the ways of our church and the community of Sacred Heart. For the last 6 months of 2011, our Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) Prayer group was blessed to have her as new member. Natsumi attended Prayer Group religiously and prayed and worshipped God with a gentle spirit. I know the CCR prayer group and The Moffats are richer for the experience of knowing Natsumi. It was a blessing to be part of Natsumi‘s experiencing God. Picture taken at a prayer group gathering: Brigita Hore, Marjory Serbinek, Natsumi Suenbo, Edwidge and Brigita Serbinek. Natsumi presented this Thankyou to the prayer group when you she as leaving to go home.
Lenten fast of nothing but beer J Wilson has vowed to fast on beer this Lent. The 38-year-old from Iowa is following the example of 17th-century Bavarian friars who did not allow solid food to pass their lips during the penitential season but kept going on strong, dark specially brewed beer called doppelbock, reports Anna Arco in the UK Catholic Herald.
The first three days of the fast are meant to be the worst, says Wilson when I spoke to him two days after Ash Wednesday. He says he feels fine and on Day Three he is certainly sounding more cheerful and compos mentis than I would have expected from a man on a diet of four 12-ounce bottles of dark lager a day.
He has a headache, he says, but doesn’t feel bleary or even that hungry. Wilson is writing about the experience on his blog, Diary of a Part-Time Monk, and plans to write a book on the topic.
Like the Paulaner friars of Munich, Wilson, a home-brewing English teacher turned newspaper editor, brewed his own doppelbock, adapting old recipes. The beer, which is sweeter, stronger and darker than normal lager, is filled with nutrients and was called “liquid bread”.
Doppelbock received papal approval in the late 1600s, so the legend goes, because the Paulaner friars sent a cask of the brew to Rome which turned sour on the long journey across the Alps. The pope tasted the sour liquid and decided that anything so disgusting must be good for penitents, giving it his sanction.
The Paulaner doppelbock, which is a strengthened version of the original Lenten beer known as bockbier, was called Salvator, and the other Bavarian breweries which make doppelbock give the brew a name ending in the letters “-or”. Wilson’s beer is an Illuminator.
As well as being the editor of the Adams County Free Press, Wilson is a beer blogger for a site called Brewvana. The idea for the beer fast came to him some years ago. He says he was first drawn to the “storied history” of the Paulaner friars developing the doppelbock to sustain them during Lent
Altar ServersAltar ServersAltar Servers
All school aged children (girls and boys)
who have received the Sacrament of
Eucharist are invited to come and learn
more about being Altar Servers.
This is a wonderful opportunity to come to
a fuller understanding of the Mass by
participating more closely in service at the
Altar. It is also an important ministry in the
church that is especially fitting for our
children.
Some thoughts from our current Servers:
I love being an Altar Server. It is
surprisingly fun because you see the Mass
from a different point of view and learn
how it really works. It makes me feel
important and like a leader to younger
kids. You get to know the priests, and the
other servers become your friends. It
makes me feel more a part of the parish
community. Erin
I do it because I like to help the priest with
the Bible and with Baptisms. Being up on
the altar at Mass is different to just sitting
in the church. Seamus
Being an Altar Server is about being a part
of the Mass and helping Father doing jobs
at the Altar such as getting the Altar ready
for Eucharist, folding the corporal (a cloth
on which chalice and paten are placed
during celebration of the Eucharist) and
holding and carrying the cross up and
back. It is great being an Altar Server. I
would say ‘Just go for it!’ if you want to
have a go. Edward
Edward had very much wanted to train as
an Altar Server since the age of 7! He
knew though that he had to wait until
receiving his Sacraments of First
Eucharist and Confirmation prior to
training!
As a preschooler he just loved role playing
Mass. He naturally played the role of the
Priest and used the family Oxford
Dictionary as the Missal. He would set up
the coffee table as the Altar and process
up to it and back!!
Although not a Priest he is loving his role
as Altar Server for our Parish and certainly
undertakes his tasks very seriously and
with great reverence! We are very proud
of you Edward! Anne
If your son or daughter is interested in
finding out more about becoming an
Altar Server please contact Fr Jake or
Michael McLinden 6059 2924.
“I DON’T KNOW HOW”
Many Catholics who, through whatever circumstances have wandered away from the Church feel they don’t know how to return. They need encouragement. Why do we, practicing Catholics, not invite our loved ones back? We find Christ in our Church but no discovery is complete until the desire to share Him fills our hearts. Wouldn’t it be great if we all feel like the Samaritan woman, who, after meeting Jesus at the well, invited the whole town back to meet Him? First we find, then we tell. Like the Samaritan woman Teresa Ellen wishes to share her discovery with you. I was a participant in the Catholics Returning Home program at Wodonga. I had a desire to reconnect with the Church for some time and. ’I would ponder on it and then put it on the back burner. I had been a student at Catholic primary and secondary schools in Melbourne but once I started work, then moved overseas for a while and dropped my participation. ‘When I returned to Australia I continued that way for some time but was still drawn to church at significant times like Christmas and Easter. Never completely severing the tie but never quite feeling a part of it Life’s distractions gave me an excuse to not address my own internal struggle with faith and the Church. Well, so I thought. One day I noticed an advertisement in the local newspaper for the Catholics Returning Home program. It touched a chord within me I thought ‘this is an invitation; a pathway back.’ Having been through the program, I now have a sense of hope that I am not alone in ‘the struggle’. ‘The’ Catholics Returning Home’ program is run at the Wodonga Catholic Centre in casual surrounds, which put me at ease. The facilitators were caring and helpful. We met one evening per week over a period of about six weeks. The program covers various issues facing the Church today and the changes since Vatican Council II. The program gave me the opportunity to listen, pray, share stories and learn.
Through the support of this program I have renewed my connection with the Church and Mass. I feel like its okay for me to be there and I am a small active part of it. Teresa-Ellen Gardiner.
The ‘Catholics returning Home’ program will be running for 6 sessions between Easter and Pentecost. We invite you to share the wonder of Christ with a loved one. Contact Parish centre 6024 3366 or Gerri 60562442
SANDHURST DIOCESE ‘CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL’ CALENDAR FOR 2012 March 24 : Scripture day with
Fr. Robb. St Brendan’s Centre 10.30-3.30 July 28 – Sat. Scripture with
Fr. MichaelFallon St Brendan’s centre 10.30-3.30 July 29- Sun Scripture with
Fr. MichaelFallon St Brendan’s centre 10.30-3.30 August 25/26 Dookie Annual Seminar. \ Live in or daily. Guest speaker t.b.n. Nov.17 Scripture day with
Fr. Robb. St Brendan’s centre 10.30-3.30 This will also be our wind-up party for the year 2012 Contacts: Wodonga & surrounding area
Gerri Boldrini 0260562442 [email protected]
Wangaratta & surrounding area Margaret West 0357222821 [email protected]
PARISH MASS AND PICNIC 2011
During 2011 I participated in the Wodonga
Catholic Parish Leadership Course(now
known as the “Community Skills
Development Program) with 12 others from
our Parish and facilitated by Cathy
McGowan.
On completing the application form we were
asked to write down our “vision” for our
Wodonga Parish, mine being: ”Drawing ALL
(young, not so young, single married,
families, locals, country folk) in our large and
diverse Catholic Parish together as ONE to
share in true FELLOWSHIP”
One component of the Leadership Course
was to take on a “project’ an “event” so
bearing in mind my “vision” I chose to plan
and organise a Parish Mass and Picnic.
Let me now just share a little about my
“event”.
On Saturday November 19th 2011 ( in
between the torrential downpours and
thunderstorms), the Feast of Christ the
King, approx. 200 Parishioners ranging in
age from 6months to nearly 94(!!)
gathered out at Frayne College
Baranduda in the Deb Cousins Gathering
Space “coming together as one” to
Celebrate Mass
We were blessed to have Frs Dennis, Paul
and Jake all celebrating what was a truly
spirit-filled Mass to the strains of beautiful
music thanks to our very talented group of
fine musicians.
Two of our young trainee Altar Servers ,
Michaela Ward and Edward Tremethick
were commissioned and a group of our
Parish Reconciliation Candidates
celebrated their Baptism Revisited during
this Mass.
Following the celebration of Mass (and
there must have been many prayers said
as the rain held off) all spilled out into the
lovely grounds of Frayne to share in “true
fellowship” with a sausage sizzle provided
and a huge thanks goes to Nic Conway for
so generously allowing us to use the
Kinross Mobile BBQ.
Some parishioners had brought their own
picnic tea! There was a real buzz during
this time as people ate drank and mingled.
A cuppa was also provided for those who
wished to partake.
Light entertainment was provided during
this time of fellowship courtesy of our
resident Irish musician Joe Moran …
Thanks so much Joe for your contribution
to the special atmosphere on the evening!!
Although this Parish Mass /picnic was my
“project” it would not have happened
without the support and assistance of so
many… too many to name individually!!
My grateful thanks to all who so willingly
assisted in any way to ensure that this
celebration was such an enjoyable and
faith-filled time for all!
Thanks to Chris Telford and the staff at
Frayne College for generously opening up
your school, there were many comments
on what a lovely space and place it was to
gather to celebrate Mass and to share a
meal together.
Als Also to you the parishioners who attended
and those who were unable thank you for
your support and for being such an
integral part of my “vision”.
Cathy McGowan, Ros Revell and my
Leadership Buddies 2011 - thank you for
your continual encouragement of my
“project” it was an absolute pleasure and
so inspiring taking part in this course with
you all ☺
Last, but definitely not least, to Fr Dennis,
Fr Paul and Fr Jake for celebrating such a
beautiful Mass and for your full support
and trusting me implicitly with this Parish
“event” I THANK YOU ! It was a real joy
to organise such a Spirit - filled event!
Another Parish Mass is in the planning for
later in the year, keep an eye out for more
information to follow in Parish Bulletins
and future editions of Parish Talk.
Let me end he Let me end herewith some
inspirational words from St Mary of the
Cross MacKillop: “May the spirit of unity
and love reign amongst us (1884).
Anne Tremethick
Parishioner
Participant Wodonga Catholic Parish
Leadership Program 2011