PDF version of this parish newsletter here:
Also, you can access an online copy of the newsletter *here*
“This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:35)
(Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Item ID: Item ID: 602206451- Cross with light rays, in purple tones. Abstract modern artistic background. Contributor: Thoom)
PASTOR’S POST. The hope of the Hopeless
The word that best describes how I feel about the state of the nation and the world at the moment is “malaise”. A sense of discontent with the way the world seems to be tilting off its axis, and I’m not sure how to correct it again, or if that is even possible.
Even though we have been dealing, and coping with it, the Covid pandemic has sapped our physical and emotional energies for some time, and while I hope we never have the virus as a constant in our lives, I believe we are managing to work with or around it. In fact, we have learnt some valuable lessons about resilience and acceptance that we might not have known about until we are forced to confront things beyond our control.
Yet we have learned to take control of the parts of our lives that really matter. We have learned to live with change and surprised ourselves with our adaptability and perseverance. We are surviving, quite well in some cases, but will there be an end or will we be living with the pall of uncertainty for the rest of our lives?
Of course, the recent flooding in southeast Queensland and New South Wales, just added to the feeling of helplessness. Watching people struggling to comprehend how their possessions and livelihoods may never be the same, and not knowing where to turn and where to start.
The task of recovery is very confronting and disarming. The immensity of it all affected all of us, even those of us who were high and dry. A little touch of survivor guilt takes hold and powerlessness is front and centre. And yet we can make a difference, no matter how small, when we respond to appeals for assistance. We are not powerless when we decide to put our own desires to one side for a time.
However, the issue that has become for me the most significant event of our day is the Russian invasion of Ukraine almost two weeks ago. At first, I thought about this as an “over there” concern. Nothing to see or do here. But see we did, and greater minds than ours tried without success, to stop the carnage. It will sort itself out and surely diplomacy will end this child-like grab for more than is ours.
I presumed that the era of the despotic megalomaniac went with the Second World War, yet I realised that there have been many such power-hungry leaders in the not so distant past in Romania, Cambodia, Uganda and right up to the present day in North Korea and Syria.
Naively, I assumed that with a world superpower like Russia, there would be structures in place to stop the leader of the Government from taking what does not belong to them. Surely this is the mediaeval method of usurping smaller countries out of greed and a thirst for power. Perhaps we are not the civilised world that we are led to believe we are, and the adage of “absolute power corrupts absolutely” is being lived out before our eyes.
As Archbishop Coleridge said, it is not simply the peace of Ukraine that has been shattered, it is the peace of the world that is being threatened.
I’ve been trying to imagine how I would react if such an invasion were to happen here in Australia. I suspect that I may be one who would run for cover at the first gunshot, preferring safety over a bullet or a bomb.
As I watch the horror each night on the television I wonder what gives the people of Ukraine such courage to stay and defend not just their country, but their freedom to live peacefully. What have they to hope for and where can they find the strength to resist a force as mighty and terrible as the invading Russians?
It seems clear that there is a massive imbalance in fighting power, so can the knockout blow be far away? What will our world look like when the fighting stops? What will the devastation look like and what will be the cost in lives? Will we ever be able to feel safe from leaders who can grab what they want, unchecked by their own laws and citizens? And what about those children who will spend their formative years fleeing from a danger they cannot see or understand?
Peace has never felt so fragile in my lifetime and the shadow of helplessness to assist or support those being oppressed is constantly with us.
And so the only thing we have left is to hope. Hope that goodness really does beat evil, hope that greed will eventually swallow the aggressor and hope that the meek really will inherit the earth and that God helps us to find a way to restore peace in a troubled world.
Fr Peter Dillon PP
THANKYOU MESSAGE FROM JEANNIE KASSULKE
Please accept my heartfelt thanks to the friends of Stella Maris for making my 90th Birthday such a joyous occasion. It was wonderful to celebrate the milestone surrounded by family and friends. I will always treasure precious memories of the day.
I feel truly blessed to share the special gift of music with you at our 5 o'clock Mass.
May peace and blessings be with you always.
Love & friendship
from Jeannie Kassulke
SAINT VINCENT de PAUL FLOOD APPEAL
Heavy rain has left a trail of destruction as floods have wreaked havoc on homes and businesses across southeast Queensland. As I write this on Thursday afternoon, I hear of reports of more extreme weather belting down with even more water. No doubt this will hamper the clean-up efforts and cause greater anxiety for devastated Queenslanders.
https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-qld/vinnies-disaster-appeal-qld-2022
You’ve been a kind and generous supporter of Queenslanders doing it tough - through flood, fire, drought and a global pandemic - and for this, I thank you.
But right now, Queenslanders need you again.
That's why I'm emailing you today. 15,000 homes are estimated to have been gutted by the swiftly rising waters, many unable to be insured for flood damage. Families have been evacuated and many are homeless. Local businesses, already devastated by the impacts of Covid, are now taking another blow.
Please will you urgently help us support those families and businesses impacted by the Queensland floods by making a gift to the Vinnies Queensland Flood Appeal?
Your gift will allow our volunteer members to provide flood impacted families with emergency food, clothing and material aid to keep them going through this extraordinarily difficult time.
Vinnies volunteers are on the ground, living and working in flood impacted communities. Your support of them means not only will they help with the immediate emergency relief efforts, but also assist with the long-term recovery efforts of rebuilding homes and lives after the flood waters have subsided.
And we know rebuilding efforts will take many months and years. In Brisbane at least, the current floods are estimated to be worse than the 2011 floods. The short and long term impact on the lives of Queenslanders will be felt for a long time to come.
With your kind donation today, our volunteers are able to support the thousands of families, small business owners and vulnerable Queenslanders impacted by this unprecedented event.
Do you know what a donation today could do? Your gift of:
$50 can provide emergency food for a family who have been forced to evacuate their home.
$150 can provide a fresh set of clothing to an individual who fled their home with nothing but the clothes on their back.
$300 can help re-equip a home with appliances and household basics when a family is forced to leave everything behind.
$1,100 can provide direct financial aid to allow a family to pay rent while they repair or rebuild their destroyed home.
I know you would like your support to reach those impacted as soon as possible. The fastest way to make that happen is to donate online now. Alternatively, you can ring our emergency appeal hotline on 13 18 12 and make a gift over the phone or inquire for our bank account details.
As a proud Queenslander, I truly believe that we are incredibly resilient in the face of adversity. Your gift today will offer much-needed hope to families impacted by this devastation.
https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-qld/vinnies-disaster-appeal-qld-2022
Thank you,
Dennis Innes
State President
St Vincent de Paul Society Qld
THANK YOU, most valuable cleaning volunteers, check-in attendants and everyone who helped attend to the covid safety practices over the last two years.
It is with great pleasure that we announce that many of the requirements have now ended.
Cleaning of the pews is no longer required after every Mass! Neither is checking in or wearing masks unless you need to or want to.
A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for being so generous with your time and muscle in helping keep us all safe since the Covid pandemic began.
We have truly appreciated your help - you are the quiet heroes of the Parish. If you would like to detour to other areas on the roster, please let the coordinator for your mass know.
Naturally, the rule about mask-wearing does not forbid people from wearing masks but simply does not require them to be worn. So people are very welcome to keep wearing masks if they choose. People should not feel the need to explain and apologise for continuing to wear masks and we ask that people respect their choices and needs. The risk of covid has not entirely vanished and there are still vulnerable people in our community and so using hand sanitizer and reasonable social distancing where possible is still highly prudent. (Check in may still be needed in some places throughout the wider community and masks and vaccination status may be required in specific locations in the community, and mask wearing may be highly advisable in other situations).
Lenten Resources for Adults
Lenten Meditations for Married Couples 2022 (Marriage in Christ) 20 Minutes/Day! Prayers, conversation starters and tips for how to love your spouse.
NEW! Lent 2022: Season of Hope Weekly reflections, suggested journal prompts, discussion opportunities, and doable action steps (Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish, Jefferson City MO)
Forty Lenten Ideas (Janet Schaeffler, OP) Lent approaches each year, our minds turn to, “what will we do; what will we give up?” Instead of giving up, why not put something in ... something that will take hold and stay with us for the rest of our lives – since Lent is about change/conversion. Remember that real penance is to live life well: to be the mercy and peace of God toward others. Perhaps one or two of these ideas will be helpful.
Living Lent Daily - 40 Hours to Inspire Your Journey through Lent (Loyola Press) Each year, Lent is celebrated by millions of Catholics throughout the world. But what is truly at the heart of Lent, and how can each of us participate fully in this special season of the church year? Let Fr. James Martin, Fr. William Barry, best-selling author Vinita Hampton Wright, and many others lead you to a deeper appreciation of your faith through the Living Lent Daily series.
Lenten Reflections from Fr. Robert Barron (Word on Fire) Fr. Barron sends daily Lenten reflections right to your inbox.
Live Lent: Things to Do (Renew International)
Live Lent: A Forty-Day Challenge (Renew International)
USCCB Lent 2022 Resources (USCCB)
Lenten Stations of the Cross (USCCB)
Lent with the Saints: Do You Want to be a Saint?(Franciscan Media)
Meditation Stations on Jesus' Forgiveness (Renew International)
New! My Lenten Plan (Diocese of Des Moines) For Adults and Teens
PROJECT COMPASSION FOR LENT
When you believe that you can’t contribute to your community or provide for your family, feelings of shame and inadequacy can be debilitating. Biru grew up living with a disability in a remote village in eastern India, with low expectations for his future. He had little self-confidence and was ashamed that he had to rely on looking after his neighbour’s cattle in exchange for food.
With your generous support, Biru was able to access an entrepreneurship and livelihoods development program, run by Caritas Australia’s partner, Caritas India. He gained the skills, support and encouragement he needed to establish his own bicycle repair business.
Now, Biru is able to provide a good life for his family – and essential service to his community. He has discovered a sense of pride, confidence and hope which has inspired others living with a disability and paved the way for future generations.
Biru, 30, lives in a rural village in Jharkand State in India’s east. He lost mobility in one of his legs, after contracting polio as a child, which makes it difficult for him to walk. He managed to complete his education until grade six but was always dependent on his parents to get him to school because he was unable to walk so far on his own.
A member of India’s Ho ethnic minority population, Biru started to work as a shepherd from a young age, looking after other people’s cattle. He continued this work after he married his wife, Budhni and had four daughters, even though keeping up with the cattle was a challenge.
“The problem was that I couldn't walk in mud, I used to fall and the grazing cattle would sometimes make me run, I could not handle them. I also used to face psychological challenges,” Biru says. “Looking at others who did not have a disability, I wondered what it was like to be them. I was wondering how to look after my family”.
Over 26 million people who have a disability in India also live in poverty.[1] A further, 69 per cent of the population living with a disability reside in rural areas which makes access to support services, education and employment an even greater challenge[2]. Discrimination can further limit job opportunities and lead to social exclusion.
Although he had taught himself to repair bicycles, by watching other people, Biru never dreamed of using his skills to start his own business.
Then in 2016, Caritas India’s staff saw Biru struggling to walk along with the cattle and invited him to join its Community-Led Development and Governance (Gram Nirman) program which is supported by Caritas Australia. The program works with tribal communities and vulnerable groups, such as people living with a disability, women and the elderly. It supports them to develop small businesses; to improve farming and financial management skills, which helps them to increase their incomes; and assists them to access government entitlements.
Biru became involved in one of the program’s community support groups which encourage members to draw on their resources to improve their incomes and quality of life.
He participated in group meetings which he says turned his life around, as he gained the courage to tackle his many challenges. Caritas India also helped Biru to apply for government disability and housing schemes which he had not known were available nor had the skills or confidence to apply.
“I was motivated by the team, my life started changing after I entered the program,” Biru says. “I didn’t know that I had the skills to manage a shop, but after receiving the support, I started with cycle repairing, then I realised I can manage other skills too, like repairing motorcycles.”
His new business received an enthusiastic response. People started coming from kilometres away to get their bicycles fixed. They would also offer to travel to nearby towns to access bicycle parts for him.
Before, Biru had felt like a burden. Now, his community has a better understanding of how people living with a disability can participate in community life and decision-making. “Now members of my community have started listening to my opinion. I am getting appreciation and recognition,” Biru says.
Biru is now able to provide a better life for his young daughters, all aged under eight - and the whole community is benefitting from his skills. From a shy man lacking confidence who felt defeated by his circumstances, Biru has become a beacon of energy, skill and hope for future generations.
Around 100,000 people have benefitted from this program so far, including over 15,000 families who have increased their incomes by between 40 and 50 per cent.
“Biru is one of the bright, upcoming entrepreneurs in his village,” says Nikhil Ritesh Sanga, Caritas India’s Program Implementation Lead. “He motivates others, in particular those with disabilities, to become self-dependent and self-reliant. He overcame all odds to build an enterprise that is of benefit to himself and the community.”
Biru is keen to build his business, as well as a better house for his family, and he is eager for his children to receive a good education.
However, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on villages and businesses across India, like Biru’s, over the past year. With your support, Caritas Australia has been working with Caritas India to
[1] https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html
Project Compassion - PRAYER OF INTERCESSION - We pray for all those who live with a disability, especially those who are stigmatised in any way. That all people do everything possible to support their flourishing as truly equal participants in the human family.
https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/
HOSPITAL CALLS - AROUND THE DEANERY
Robina Hospital - Burleigh Heads Parish on 5576 6466
Pindara Hospital - Surfers Paradise Parish 5572 5433
John Flynn Hospital -Coolangatta-Tugun Parish on 5598 2165
University & Gold Coast Private Hosp-Southport Parish 5510 2222
MASS TIMES: SURFERS PARADISE MASS TIMES
You are no longer required to scan the Check-In Qld app when entering the church for Masses, funerals or baptisms. You do, however, need the Check-In App for weddings and for use in some locations like hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants, bars, etc.
A VOCATION VIEW:
Second Sunday of Lent - C
After the transfiguration, Peter, John and James wanted to stay up the mountain. But Jesus said, "Move," with the knowledge that ships are safe in harbours but not meant to stay in harbours.
To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
APPEAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE
Emergency Relief to aid Refugees
Salesian Missions Australia has launched an Emergency Appeal to aid our Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB’s) in Ukraine and surrounding communities to bring aid to refugees.
In the Ukraine SDB’s are working tirelessly, caring for orphans as well as providing shelter and relief to those in need. Salesian Communities in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are actively working with local agencies to protect and take care of as many Ukraine refugees as they can, arranging transport and emergency shelter; providing food, baby formula, clean water and generators for heat and cooking; procuring and distributing medical supplies, blankets and personal hygiene items; and so much more.
UNHCR, the U.N. Refugee Agency, has said that more than 660,000 refugees have fled Ukraine for neighbouring countries, the majority of whom are women, children and the elderly. Families have been torn apart as fathers, husbands and brothers have remained in Ukraine to fight. The U.N. has estimated the conflict could produce as many as 4 million refugees.
In addition, Salesians in Ukraine are sheltering minors and their families who have remained in the country. Father Chaban Mykahylo, said, “This situation continues to be tragic. We do not know how long this war will continue, and we must be ready for a long period. There are many victims among the soldiers, but also among civilians. Throughout Ukraine, there is a danger of bombing. Our capital, Kyiv, is suffering a lot, as well as the areas bordering Russia. People are fleeing their homes and are in need of our help.”
To use Givenow: https://www.givenow.com.au/salesianmissionemergencyrelief
United in prayer, Tina Newton,
Director – Salesian Missions Australia.
To help support refugees you may wish to donate to the Salesian Missions Australia via:
Mail : Salesian Missions Australia, P O Box 264, Ascot Vale, Vic. 3032
Our website : https://salesianmissionsaustralia.org.au/donate/ukrainian-refugee-crisis
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION
“I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as a possession.” (Genesis 15:7). Just as the Lord gave Abraham, Moses and the Israelites a land to possess, He has also given each of us a home. Whether your home is grand or humble, it is a gift from God. Abraham prepared a great sacrifice to the Lord in gratitude for the home God gave him. How do you show your gratitude to God for the home He has given you? Do you make a sacrifice of any kind? Do you return any of your finances to God, investing equally in your eternal home just as you invest in your earthly home? The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous and accountable for what each has been given.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Sandii Wall, Hans Gringel, Kath Kiely, Joanne Mooney, Therese Mullins, Michael Connell, Zeb Deane, Miriam Hill, Jayani Antony, Amando A. Mirasol Jr., Gus Reeves, John & Molly Robinson, Laila Mikael, Jean Di Benedetto, Anthea McMullan, James Goodwin, Scott Mitchell, Malcolm Ward, John O’Brien, Ludwig Mueller, Kent Vince, Colleen Grehan, Carmelita Dulu, Sr Mary Teresa, John Davis, Bobby Courtney, Lisa Mangan, Robyn Skein, Kye Oh, Michael James, Bill Gilmore, Olga Hamshari, Roy Ferraro, Margaret Haerse, Rosalind Lee, Milka Barac, Mary Ashton, Rodney & Norma McLennan, Lois & Doug Wood, Duncan Dawson, William Franklin, Maria Mihalic, Annie Scicluna, Anne Logan, Margaret & Louise Thompson, Patricia Moor, Helen Bohringer, Peter O’Brien, Angela Duvnjak, Rachel Raines, Savannah Ayoub, Baby Maeve Lombard, Rosslyn Wallis, Arthur Haddad, Michael & Denise Tracey, Joanne Parkes, Michelle MacDonald, Mary Kerr. And all suffering from Covid-19 and its effects.
RECENTLY DECEASED: Romano Del Bianco, Pamela Rawlings, Leisa Holman (née Mullins), Susie Chu (sister of Joan Miau), Barry Townsend (Casino, NSW), Pauline McCudden, Melinda Craig, Judy Alexander, Barbara Joan Degiovanni, Mike Trad, Rose Refalo, Bobby Joseph Caspersz, Carmel Bright, Rita Stower, Sue Crossdale, Bette Edwards, Mark Behan, Stan Nalepa, Naurelle Cahill, Laurie Pope, Peter Cotton, Maurice Attard, Wendy McLachlan, Leonard Forbes, Terrence McEvoy, Ken Walker, Barry Owens, Michael Samuel, Marie Ashby, James Perry Saunderson, Donna Maree Faulkner, Dell O’Neill, Martin James Kerlin, John Terrence McGillan, Malcolm Holmes, Francee Beckman, Margaret Paterson, Nicole Summons, Fred Hocking, James (Jim) Kirk Snr, Fr Norman Ronald Birch, Margaret Kelly, Stephen Baker, Tony Tongue, John William Maddocks, Veronica Smith, Keiran Davey (Ireland), Lourdes Abelardo.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: Marija Vaculik, Gloria Hart, Francesco Lacopo, Dionne (Nino) Civitella, Yvonne Helen Mitchell, Jeannette Giblin, Peter Butler, Kath Browning, Arkley Debnam, Barry Geary, Mario Di Martino, Mary Madonna Hodge, Giovanni Scalcione, Racquel Leisa Carruthers, Maurice James McNamara, John Delich, Margaret Eileen Young, Virgil Klaassen, Ferdinand Paul Kiely, Rae Maree Colahan, Maria Gafa, John Gardner, Vincent Letizia, John Anthony O'Leary, Annunziata (Tina) Morabito, Mr John Lawrence Maher, Vera Ryan. And also: Tony Wienand, Iris Scharenguivel, Austin Smith, Brenda Scantlebury, Monique Mary Felsman, Malcolm Leslie (Mal) Flannery, Francis Vernon Maunder, Benjamin Anthony Kyle, Kathleen Jackson, Kathryn Matthews, Kazimierz Tadeusz Ważny, June Hilda Curtis, Josephine Nosti, Mary Theresa Ford, Gerald Francis (Gerry) O’Reilly, Ronald Patrick (Ron) Chapman, Dawn Milgate, Norma Claire Quinlan, Giorgia Teresa Micallef-Vinall.
A Columbarium Question -
Due to a large number of enquiries and consequent reservations of columbarium niches, we will soon be looking at adding several new walls to accommodate future needs. In preparation for these new walls, we are interested to know how many parishioners or others are considering reserving a niche for themselves or family members. If you wish to express an interest or simply want to inquire about what is involved, then we ask you to call the parish office in the next few weeks so that we can plan for a sufficient number of places. (A columbarium is an area used to store the ashes of the deceased who have been cremated. Those ashes are kept in urns and the urns are placed inside “niches”, or compartments, within the columbarium. The columbarium itself can be either a wall or significant structure that will be open to loved ones to visit the deceased person at any time. Our parish columbarium is located at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters overlooking the lake., between the Church and the Hospitality Centre)
MARIAN VALLEY
Please come and join us at the Marian Valley for the feast of Our Lady Of Fatima on 13.03.2022. The bus will be picking up sharp at 8.15 am, at the Sacred Heart Church. Clear Island Waters. The Cost for the bus is $22.00 return and Meals are available at the church canteen( Morning Tea and Sandwiches for Lunch. You can secure your seat with a contact name and contact phone number with Xavier Solomon 0404 843 260, Madeleine on 0405 252 367 or 5529 1573.
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH: A Heart-warming Witness
She was divorced—twice. Mary Clarke Brenner (1926-2013) lived in Beverly Hills: not an address associated with holy living. Yet this remarkable woman would go on to become the “Prison Angel," dedicating her life to criminals in a maximum-security jail. Mother Antonia, as she was later known, didn't just visit the incarcerated; she moved into the jail and lived among them for years. Others sought to imitate her generous spirit and formed the Eudist Servants of the Eleventh Hour—mindful that any of us might need saving in the end. "Warm the coldest heart," was her prayer. Pray for prison ministries.
(Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 - “Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness”). SIGN UP FOR "TAKE FIVE" DAILY - www.takefiveforfaith.com/subscribe
BAPTISM for Children in Surfers Paradise
Baptism is the first of three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Surfers Paradise Parish follows the policies of the Archdiocese of Brisbane as it welcomes each person into the family of the Church through the waters of Baptism.
Infants and children are baptised at the request of parents. Within the Baptism ritual, parents promise to accept the responsibility of training their children in the practice of the faith and to raise their children to understand and live God’s commandments. Parents can request baptism for their child by filling out an enrolment form, available on our parish website www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au Once the online baptism form has been received, the Parish Office will email details for preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism and confirm the online booking.
Sacrament of PENANCE - Reconciliation 2022
In the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Reconciliation follows the Sacraments of Initiation. That is, Reconciliation, also known as Penance, follows the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the receiving of your child’s First Communion. Currently, 70 children from our Surfers Paradise Parish are completing their “At Home Program for Reconciliation.” The children will celebrate the First Rite of Reconciliation on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at 6:30 pm. Please keep these children and their families in your prayers at this time, as together they continue to learn and grow in God’s abundant love and forgiveness.
Sacrament of EUCHARIST - First Holy Communion 2022
Children who have been baptised and confirmed and are in Year 4 or greater in 2022 are invited to prepare to receive their First Communion. If parents have previously completed an online application for enrolment in the Surfers Paradise Sacramental Program, they do not need to complete a new online form to continue. The Parent Meeting for First Communion Preparation will be held on April 26 at 6 pm or April 27 at 6 pm. (Parents can choose to attend one of these meetings but do not need to attend both. Only children who are represented by a parent at one of these meetings will be included in the First Communion Preparation Program.) The Preparation for First Communion Program will be similar in format to the At Home Preparation for Confirmation Program. There will also be a Final Meeting (including rehearsal) in the week prior to the Celebration of First Communion either Monday, June 6 at 6 pm or Monday, June 13 at 6 pm.
First Communion will be celebrated on Sunday, June 12 at 11:00 am and Sunday, June 19 at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Church (Children will be included in one of these celebrations, not both.)
The Sacramental Team will email a reminder to parents during the Term 1 holidays. If you have not received an email by the first week of Term2, please indicate your interest by emailing our Sacramental Coordinator, Cathy Anderson, andersoncm@bne.catholic.net.au
Sacrament of CONFIRMATION 2022
Baptised children who are in Year 3 or greater are invited to be included in the 2022 Preparation for Confirmation group. Parents are asked to go to the parish website at www.surfersparadiseparish.com.au and complete an online enrolment application. Please use the drop-down menu under Sacraments and click on Confirmation (under Sacraments). Then scroll down to and click on CHILDREN’S SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM APPLICATION FORM (in the blue box). Once you click on SUBMIT, you will receive an automated response so that you know that your completed application has been received.
Parents who have completed and submitted the online form will receive an invitation email several weeks prior to the Parent Meeting which is to be held either Monday, July 11 at 6 pm or Tuesday, July 12 at 6 pm in Sacred Heart Church. (Parents are asked to choose to attend one of these meetings but do not need to attend both. Only children who are represented by a parent at one of these meetings will be included in the Confirmation Preparation Program.) After the Parent Meeting, parents will be emailed copies of the At Home Preparation for Confirmation Program to be completed by the child and their parent/s, and then returned to the Sacramental Team. The Final Meeting which includes the rehearsal for Confirmation will be held on Monday, August 29 at 6 pm or Tuesday, August 30 at 6 pm (Children and parents are required to attend one of these meetings, not both.)
The Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation will take place in Surfers Paradise Parish on Friday, September 2, 2022.
Pope’s Consultation on Synodality - Hurry! Last days to have your say!
Until March 13 2022 (the date was recently extended by an extra week), all Catholics are invited to have their say about their experiences of ‘synodality’ – of walking together as a Church.
All submissions received nationally will help the Australian Bishops develop a report to support the global process leading to an international gathering in 2023. This is not to be confused with the Australian Plenary Council which is running concurrently with the Synod. The Plenary Council focus is on the Church in Australia. The Synod is focused on the Church globally.
Your voice matters, and it could be as simple as getting together with family, friends or fellow parishioners and having a “Coffee Conversation”. This short video offers encouragement on how easy it can be to have your say: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrgZ-N79Kf0.
You can make your submission here: https://www.catholic.org.au/synodalchurch
The submission process for feedback for the Roman Synod of Bishops: (Australia): Individuals and groups are asked to submit their summarised reflections directly to the National Centre for Pastoral Research. See link here: https://www.catholic.org.au/synodalchurch
The consultation period with local churches runs until Sunday, March 13, 2022.
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL -
This weekend's gospel of the Transfiguration of the Lord is a wonderful reminder that God's glory is around us all the time; in the people and events of life. But, it is not always as obvious as this moment that Jesus experienced, where his face literally shone like light.
We have probably all had "high-point moments," when something extraordinary and special happens to us; and it is as though "the veil between this life and the next" is temporarily parted, and we glimpse Heaven - and we gain a sweet taste of God's glory and wonder - but then those moments are gone and we are back to the everyday events of life. But, those high-point, (mountain-top), moments stay with us long afterwards and spur us on; reminding us that God's glory is always present.
The spiritual writer Thomas Merton puts it this way: "every one of us walks around the streets of this town shining like the sun; if only we knew it…. "
Yes indeed! If only we realised this! The Glory and grace of God, shines in and around all of His beautiful creation, mostly lost under the cover of everyday bustle.
Saint Augustine, in his writings, describes a fascinating and beautiful moment; which in many ways is like a little 'taste' of 'transfiguration' in his own life story…….
It happened when Saint Augustine and his mother Saint Monica were just talking together while they stayed in a villa at the seaside port of Ostia in Rome, Italy. They were deep in discussion; sharing their faith and their hopes……..
Augustine writes:
"My mother and I were alone, leaning from a window which overlooked the garden in the courtyard of the house where we were staying at in Ostia. . . .Our conversation led us (to speak of many things)…….... And when we spoke of the eternal Wisdom, longing for it, and straining for it with all the strength of our hearts, for one fleeting instant we reached out and touched it. .......Then with a sigh... we returned to the sound of our own speech, in which each word has a beginning and an ending - far, far different from your Word, Oh Lord, who abides forever, yet never grows old and gives new life to all things."
This beautiful little incident is like an echo of the Transfiguration of Our Lord on the mountaintop, where Jesus' divinity shines through for an instant in its fullness, and then everything returns to normal, and seems as ordinary as it was before……… But those who experience it are really never quite the same again. They are profoundly moved, to the depth of their being, by a deep experience of God's eternal grace.
This glimpse of glory is truly beautiful….
God gives us these occasional glimpses of his glory…… a divinity which, (by the way), actually surrounds us always, but we cannot always see it. Most times we do not recognize God's glory in the midst of ordinary life.
If God is not present and active in the ordinary moments of our lives, then it makes no sense. So thank goodness that this is precisely where God IS found.
And similarly, the GLORY of God in Christ was AS present and active when he was walking a dusty path between towns, looking just like any other ordinary traveller, as when he shone with pure light on that mountain top. This whole transfiguration incident is God's way of saying. "See this profound experience of Glory... Good! now go back to the usual programme,..... but remember,...this man is the Holy One.... he has my complete confidence and blessing... This is my Son... This glory is IN him always..!! ..... at every moment.. even in the mundane ...... even in the boring and tedious moments.... and even ultimately as he suffers and dies on a cross, seeming like just another common criminal. But, Look deeper .. look beyond appearances. See the reality.
Equating a good spiritual life with only a continuous or even fairly regular "25,000-volt epiphanies" ignores the fact that we live our lives at the very effective "240-volt" level for everyday usage.
We must that God will give us what we need in due time and in the ways and times of God's choosing. If we only go around looking for the dramatic mountaintop experiences of spiritual life, (or for that matter, the extraordinary moments in life), we would miss the countless little moments of ordinary grace that fill up even the most ordinary or seemingly unexceptional day.
There are also many saints in the life of the church, who went years... sometimes decades... without any exceptional spiritual consolations, but continued to live the ordinary moments of graced life in exceptional devotion, faith, and good works.
God is constantly reminding us of what Augustine himself wrote as well….…. despite that wonderful moment of grace he described in his writings… he also wrote something even more profound…. "Loving God…….You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."
God does not always act in ways according to our own expectations. God is in charge. We are humble servants whose "eyes are always on the hand of our master; waiting for the slightest movement, so we might leap up and answer whatever is requested…
and... at all times... "Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!"
-To listen to the whole Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, please visit this link: Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https:- soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks.
(References: FR. PAUL W. KELLY; MISSION 2000 – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR C. BY MARK LINK S.J; 2010 – A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS. BY ALICE CAMILLE; THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF LUKE. (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY; From Saint Augustine: Confessions (Book nine, chapter 10). [Augustine. Confessions. Trans. R.S. Pine-Coffin. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1961, page 197 (paperback edition).
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St Patrick
“I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me; God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me afar and anear, alone or in a multitude.”
“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouths of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”
St Cyril of Jerusalem
“Let us then, my brethren, endure in hope. Let us devote ourselves, side-by-side with our hoping, so that the God of all the universe, as he beholds our intention, may cleanse us from all sins, fill us with high hopes from what we have in hand, and grant us the change of heart that saves. God has called you, and you have your calling.”
“Be still, and know that I am God, saith the Scripture. Excuse thyself from talking many idle words: neither backbite, nor lend a willing ear to backbiters; but rather be prompt to prayer. Shew in ascetic exercise that thy heart is nerved. Cleanse thy vessel, that thou mayest receive grace more abundantly. For though remission of sins is given equally to all, the communion of the Holy Spirit is bestowed in proportion to each person’s faith. If thou hast laboured little, thou receivest little; but if thou hast wrought much, the reward is great. ”
The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden for God is light, very light. Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as the Spirit approaches. The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, and to console.”
“Great is the Baptism that lies before you: a ransom to captives; a remission of offences; a death of sin; a new birth of the soul; a garment of light; a holy indissoluble seal; a chariot to heaven; the delight of Paradise; a welcome into the kingdom; the gift of adoption!”
POPE FRANCIS: MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR LENT 2022
“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all” (Gal 6:9-10)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Lent is a favourable time for personal and community renewal, as it leads us to the paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For our Lenten journey in 2022, we will do well to reflect on Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Galatians: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity (kairós), let us do good to all” (Gal 6:9-10).
1. Sowing and reaping
In these words, the Apostle evokes the image of sowing and reaping, so dear to Jesus (cf. Mt 13). Saint Paul speaks to us of a kairós: an opportune time for sowing goodness in view of a future harvest. What is this “opportune time” for us? Lent is certainly such an opportune time, but so is our entire existence, of which Lent is in some way an image. [1] All too often in our lives, greed, pride and the desire to possess, accumulate and consume have the upper hand, as we see from the story of the foolish man in the Gospel parable, who thought his life was safe and secure because of the abundant grain and goods he had stored in his barns (cf. Lk 12:16-21). Lent invites us to conversion, to a change in mindset, so that life’s truth and beauty may be found not so much in possessing as in giving, not so much in accumulating as in sowing and sharing goodness.
The first to sow is God himself, who with great generosity “continues to sow abundant seeds of goodness in our human family” (Fratelli Tutti, 54). During Lent, we are called to respond to God’s gift by accepting his word, which is “living and active” (Heb 4:12). Regular listening to the word of God makes us open and docile to his work (cf. Jas 1:21) and bears fruit in our lives. This brings us great joy, yet even more, it summons us to become God’s co-workers (cf. 1 Cor 3:9). By making good use of the present time (cf. Eph 5:16), we too can sow seeds of goodness. This call to sow goodness should not be seen as a burden but a grace, whereby the Creator wishes us to be actively united with his own bountiful goodness.
What about the harvest? Do we not sow seeds in order to reap a harvest? Of course! Saint Paul points to the close relationship between sowing and reaping when he says: “Anyone who sows sparsely will reap sparsely as well, and anyone who sows generously will reap generously as well” (2 Cor 9:6). But what kind of harvest are we talking about? The first fruit of the goodness we sow appears in ourselves and our daily lives, even in our little acts of kindness. In God, no act of love, no matter how small, and no “generous effort” will ever be lost (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 279). Just as we recognize a tree by its fruits (cf. Mt 7:16, 20), so a life full of good deeds radiates light (cf. Mt 5:14-16) and carries the fragrance of Christ to the world (cf. 2 Cor 2:15). Serving God in freedom from sin brings forth fruits of sanctification for the salvation of all (cf. Rom 6:22).
In truth, we see only a small portion of the fruits of what we sow, since, according to the Gospel proverb, “one sows, while another reaps” (Jn 4:37). When we sow for the benefit of others, we share in God’s own benevolent love: “it is truly noble to place our hope in the hidden power of the seeds of goodness we sow, and thus to initiate processes whose fruits will be reaped by others” (Fratelli Tutti, 196). Sowing goodness for the benefit of others frees us from narrow self-interest, infuses our actions with gratuitousness, and makes us part of the magnificent horizon of God’s benevolent plan.
The word of God broadens and elevates our vision: it tells us that the real harvest is eschatological, the harvest of the last, undying day. The mature fruit of our lives and actions is “fruit for eternal life” (Jn 4:36), our “treasure in heaven” (Lk 12:33; 18:22). Jesus himself uses the image of the seed that dies in the ground in order to bear fruit as a symbol of the mystery of his death and resurrection (cf. Jn 12:24); while Saint Paul uses the same image to speak of the resurrection of our bodies: “What is sown is perishable, but what is raised is imperishable; what is sown is contemptible but what is raised is glorious; what is sown is weak, but what is raised is powerful; what is sown is a natural body, and what is raised is a spiritual body” (1 Cor 15:42-44). The hope of resurrection is the great light that the risen Christ brings to the world, for “if our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are of all people the most pitiable. In fact, however, Christ has been raised from the dead, as the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:19-20). Those who are intimately united to him in love “by dying a death like his” (Rom 6:5) will also be united to his resurrection for eternal life (cf. Jn 5:29). “Then the upright will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Mt 13:43).
2. “Let us not grow tired of doing good”
Christ’s resurrection enlivens earthly hopes with the “great hope” of eternal life, planting the seed of salvation in our present time (cf. BENEDICT XVI, Spe Salvi, 3; 7). Bitter disappointment at shattered dreams, deep concern for the challenges ahead and discouragement at the poverty of our resources, can make us tempted to seek refuge in self-centredness and indifference to the suffering of others. Indeed, even our best resources have their limitations: “Youths grow tired and weary, the young stumble and fall” (Is 40:30). Yet God “gives strength to the weary, he strengthens the powerless… Those who hope in the Lord will regain their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles; though they run they will not grow weary, though they walk they will never tire» (Is 40:29, 31). The Lenten season calls us to place our faith and hope in the Lord (cf. 1 Pet 1:21), since only if we fix our gaze on the risen Christ (cf. Heb 12:2) will we be able to respond to the Apostle’s appeal, “Let us never grow tired of doing good” (Gal 6:9).
Let us not grow tired of praying. Jesus taught us to “pray always without becoming weary” ( Lk 18:1). We need to pray because we need God. Thinking that we need nothing other than ourselves is a dangerous illusion. If the pandemic has heightened the awareness of our own personal and social fragility, may this Lent allow us to experience the consolation provided by faith in God, without whom we cannot stand firm (cf. Is 7:9). No one attains salvation alone, since we are all in the same boat, amid the storms of history; [2] and certainly no one reaches salvation without God, for only the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ triumphs over the dark waters of death. Faith does not spare us life’s burdens and tribulations, but it does allow us to face them in union with God in Christ, with the great hope that does not disappoint, whose pledge is the love that God has poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 5:1-5).
Let us not grow tired of uprooting evil from our lives. May the corporal fasting to which Lent calls us to fortify our spirit for the battle against sin. Let us not grow tired of asking for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, knowing that God never tires of forgiving. [3] Let us not grow tired of fighting against concupiscence, that weakness which induces selfishness and all evil, and finds in the course of history a variety of ways to lure men and women into sin (cf. Fratelli Tutti, 166). One of these is an addiction to digital media, which impoverishes human relationships. Lent is a propitious time to resist these temptations and to cultivate instead a more integral form of human communication ( ibid., 43) made up of “authentic encounters” ( ibid., 50), face-to-face and in person.
Let us not grow tired of doing good in active charity towards our neighbours. During this Lent, may we practise almsgiving by giving joyfully (cf. 2 Cor 9:7). God who “supplies seed to the sower and bread for food” (2 Cor 9:10) enables each of us not only to have food to eat but also to be generous in doing good to others. While it is true that we have our entire life to sow goodness, let us take special advantage of this Lenten season to care for those close to us and to reach out to our brothers and sisters who lie wounded along the path of life (cf. Lk 10:25-37). Lent is a favourable time to seek out – and not to avoid – those in need; to reach out – and not to ignore – those who need a sympathetic ear and a good word; to visit – and not to abandon – those who are lonely. Let us put into practice our call to do good to all, and take time to love the poor and needy, those abandoned and rejected, those discriminated against and marginalized (cf. Fratelli Tutti, 193).
3. “If we do not give up, we shall reap our harvest in due time”
Each year during Lent we are reminded that “goodness, together with love, justice and solidarity, are not achieved once and for all; they have to be realized each day” (ibid., 11). Let us ask God to give us the patient perseverance of the farmer (cf. Jas 5:7), and to persevere in doing good, one step at a time. If we fall, let us stretch out our hand to the Father, who always lifts us up. If we are lost, if we are misled by the enticements of the evil one, let us not hesitate to return to God, who “is generous in forgiving” (Is 55:7). In this season of conversion, sustained by God’s grace and by the communion of the Church, let us not grow tired of doing good. The soil is prepared by fasting, watered by prayer and enriched by charity. Let us believe firmly that “if we do not give up, we shall reap our harvest in due time” and that, with the gift of perseverance, we shall obtain what was promised (cf. Heb 10:36), for our salvation and the salvation of others (cf. 1 Tim 4:16). By cultivating fraternal love towards everyone, we are united to Christ, who gave his life for our sake (cf. 2 Cor 5:14-15), and we are granted a foretaste of the joy of the kingdom of heaven when God will be “all in all” (1 Cor 15:28).
May the Virgin Mary, who bore the Saviour in her womb and “pondered all these things in her heart” (Lk 2:19), obtain for us the gift of patience. May she accompany us with her maternal presence, so that this season of conversion may bring forth fruits of eternal salvation.
Rome, Saint John Lateran, 11 November 2021, Memorial of Saint Martin, Bishop.
FRANCIS
(image: vatican official website - https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/biography/documents/papa-francesco-biografia-bergoglio.html )
SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS
Stations of the Cross:
Seminarian Bradley Davies will lead The Stations of the Cross at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters from 6 pm each Friday of Lent, starting Friday the 4th March
MEDITATION PRAYER GROUP
In the Morris prayer room Tuesdays from 10 am to 12 noon. The Meditation Group would very much like to welcome new members. All enquiries please phone Pam Egtberts 0428090703”
ART AND CRAFT GROUP - Every Wednesday in the PHC from 9 am until 12noon.
The Group meets in the Parish Hospitality Centre on Wednesdays, 9 to 12. Activities include art, (watercolour, oils, acrylics, pen and ink drawing etc), as well as various kinds of Craftwork (Knitting, Embroidery, Crocheting, Cardmaking, Sewing etc.), making Rosary Beads (later sent to the missions), and any other activities that individuals may have an interest in. We come together to enjoy each other's company in a relaxed environment. New members, both men and women, are most welcome to join. For further information, phone John 0412 759 205, or the Parish Office.
Praying the Rosary - Our Lady’s Statue in the Parish
The hosting of Our Lady’s statue has been going on within our Parish after a brief stop at the start of Covid for the last one and a half years.
The Statue has been around the Parish with brief notices in the newsletter
Listed below is the roster of people having the statue for the next four weeks. I would like parishioners who have not had the statue previously,
to take our lady into their home, say the rosary and have her for at least a week
The statue can be picked up from the Parish office on a Monday and then returned to the Parish office the following Monday. You may have a special day in the next few
months that you would wish the statute to be at your home. You can book the week in advance. Please phone Maxine Sela on 0421 051 193 if you wish to have the statue. .
14/3/2022 Blanche Braganza Benowa
21/3/222 Coutinho Family Broadbeach
28/3/2022 Coutinho Family Broadbeach
Worldwide Marriage Encounter:
A weekend experience for married couples, priests and religious, away from the distractions of everyday living. Take time out of your busy schedule, to invest in your most precious asset and revitalise your Sacrament. This is a unique opportunity to reconnect, rekindle and refresh your relationship. It gives you the opportunity to grow in your relationship with your spouse or your community.
Our COVID-SAFE live-in weekends will be held from Friday evening 13 May to Sunday afternoon 15 May and Friday evening 14 October to Sunday afternoon 16 October (including Mass) at Santa Teresa, Ormiston. Our live-out weekend will be held at Siena College, Sippy Downs from 1 to 3 July – going home on the Friday and Saturday evenings. For bookings/details contact Maria and David Murphy: 0481 307 821 qldbookings@wwme.org.au Watch Archbishop Mark Coleridge’s support video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o_Wp6qGB44
Information website: www.wwme.org.au
EXERCISE CLASS - LOW IMPACT - FOR HEART HEALTH -
Spring has sprung! Join Rochelle for a fun functional exercise class at Casey Hall. Low impact cardiovascular exercises for heart health, improve strength and balance- an all-around fitness class for over 65’s. Stretch and strengthen the whole body, make new friends and feel great. Tuesday mornings @9.30 Beginners welcome. Contact Rochelle for further information on 0438 333 308.
THE SACRED HEART BRIDGE CLUB-
(20 Years Young)-
Meets at the Sacred Heart - Parish Hospitality Centre, Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters.
Playing Bridge keeps your brain active and increases your social network! So why not give us a try?
Learn to play Bridge at “Our Friendly Club” - Free Lesson. “Introduction to Bridge”
Easy to learn format, no previous card playing experience necessary. All are welcome.
For more information and to enrol, Please phone: Cheryl 5538 8821 or Mob 0417 772 701
YOGA AT THE PARISH HOSPITALITY CENTRE-
Come join us for our friendly class in the Parish Hospitality Centre next to the Parish Office. Classes run every Tuesday at 10:45 am. Learn to relax, yet gain greater flexibility, inner strength, body awareness and concentration, all while increasing your breath support and general wellbeing. Ruth is an IYTA accredited instructor with wide experience and runs a caring, carefully monitored one-hour session costing $10 (new attendees need to arrive by 10.30 am to prepare adequately for class). For more information, call Ruth on 0421338110.
Saint Vincent’s Primary School Enrolments-
We are currently processing Prep 2023 enrolment applications. If you have a child that is turning 5 before the 30th June 2023 please go to our website and complete an online enrolment application.
(please click the above St Vincents School link for enrolment link)
ST KEVINS PRIMARY SCHOOL INFORMATION:
St Kevin’s Catholic Primary School at Benowa has a limited number of vacancies in certain year levels, so we encourage those families still considering their schooling options for 2022 to make contact with the school via phone -55394522 or to go to the website for further enrolment information www.sk.qld.edu.au
St Kevin’s is one of three of our valued Catholic Primary Schools within our parish bounds for 2022.
NEW PRIMARY SCHOOL (2022) - WITHIN OUR PARISH
Star of the Sea - Merrimac - Initially Prep to Year 3, and then extending after that -
Website: Star Of The Sea Merrimac and Facebook Page: Star of the Sea
REJOICE - MORNING PRAISE - Two episodes
from Fr Paul FROM SHALOM MEDIA ONLINE TV.
SHALOM TV is an online catholic resource that has wonderful programs for praise, meditation and reflection. Also, some excellent programs on family and faith. There is a program called Rejoice, which comes on every morning and has prayer and song to God at the start of the day. Fr Paul was invited to share two editions of Rejoice, featuring two of the hymns he wrote. Here are the links:
And -
ONLINE BENEDICTINE LENTEN RETREAT
It's almost time for Lent. We would like to invite your parishioners to our upcoming online retreat titled High Horses, Scapegoats and Donkeys: A Lenten Odyssey. Here's a little description of it.
"This retreat takes us into the realm of tears, the tears of compunction that St Benedict talks about in his chapter on Reverence in Prayer (RB 20). It is a calling forth of ourselves to a new and more authentic living; a dive into the deep; a naming of the truth of who we are before God. It is not a fear-based compunction that we will enter into, but rather a compunction based on a deep desire to be in oneness with God."
Below is a link to our brochure. We would be very grateful if you could share this with your parishioners, perhaps by putting a copy of the brochure on your notice board or mentioning it in your bulletin. Thank you and God bless.
With our prayers for your parish, Benedictine Nuns of Jamberoo Abbey
Download Brochure (Benedictine Nuns online Lenten Retreat)
Position Vacant – Parish Secretary - Alexandra Hills and Capalaba -
Applications are open for the above position at the Alexandra Hills Capalaba Parish. The position is part-time 18 hours a week over 3 days per week (Wed, Thurs & Fri) 8 am to 2.30 pm.
The Parish Secretary will manage the parish administration along with the parish finances.
For additional information, please visit the Archdiocese of Brisbane website https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/ and to careers. Applications close: 20 March 2022
Position Vacant – Pastoral Associate- Toowong
Applications are open for a position at the Toowong Catholic Parish. The position would involve coordination of the Sacramental Program and some special events such as Easter and Christmas which will from time to time involve availability outside normal work hours. This is a permanent part time position working 20 hours per week which would include covering the Office on a Monday during work hours.
https://clientapps.jobadder.com/68451/aob-internal-career-opportunities/453534/pastoral-associate-toowong-parish - Application close: 23 March 2022
Position Vacant – Clayfield - Children and Families Minister and Sacramental Coordinator
Applications are open for a position at the Clayfield Catholic Parish. Clayfield Parish is requiring a person who is able lead and manage ministry to Children and families in the Parish. This is a causal for approximately 15 hours per week.
Application close: 27 March 2022.
The Archdiocese of Brisbane has standards of conduct for workers to maintain a safe and healthy environment for children. Our commitment to these standards requires that we conduct working with children checks and background referencing for all persons who will engage in direct and regular involvement with children and young people (0 - 18 years) and/or vulnerable adults. The organisation is fully committed to child safety and has a zero-tolerance for abuse of children or vulnerable adults.
Acknowledgement of Country - This is Kombumerri Country - The Traditional Custodians of this region.
We respectfully acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First People of this country. We pay our respects to the Kombumerri people, who are the traditional custodians of the land, waterways and seas upon which we live, work and socialise throughout this Catholic Parish of Surfers Paradise. We acknowledge Elders, past and present and emerging, as they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of our Indigenous people. We pay tribute to those who have contributed in many ways to the life of the community. We affirm our commitment to justice, healing, and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
Commitment To Child And Vulnerable Adult Safety
“The Archdiocese of Brisbane holds that children and vulnerable adults are a gift from God with an intrinsic right to dignity of life, respect and security from physical and emotional harm. They are to be treasured, nurtured and protected from any harm.” As a Parish Community, we pray for a change of heart, that we respond to our grief by reaching out to one another in truth and love. For more information and resources on Safeguarding our community, please see: https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/safeguarding/
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