PDF version of this parish newsletter *PDF here*:
You can also access an online -web- copy of the newsletter *Webcopy here*
FATHER BRADLEY DAVIES ANNOUNCEMENT
Last week, we announced that Fr. Anthony has been appointed Parish Priest of Saint John’s Wood, The Gap, Parish in North Brisbane, effective January 13th, 2025. Our prayers are with Fr. Anthony as he prepares for this new ministry. We are grateful to have Fr Anthony with us until he takes up this new role.
In further news, the Archbishop has appointed newly ordained priest Fr Bradley Davies as Associate Pastor here from January 2025. Fr Bradley will be known to many, as he did his Pastoral Placement year here in the parish with us at the parish. We congratulate Fr Bradley on his appointment.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” [Mark 12:30-31]
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Image: https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/86B8oGfPfzUJan5YJiMe?ru=Paul-Evangelion
Saint Vincent’s Catholic Primary School News
Mr David Sewell, the Principal of St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School at Clear Island Waters has announced that he is leaving this role at the end of this year. David has accepted a new role in Brisbane Catholic Education. We are sorry to farewell David, as he has been an excellent, and well respected leader of this wonderful school. Mr Sewell leaves with mixed emotions as he loves the school and his role here, but this new opportunity for leadership and a new challenge is an opportunity that feels right for him to accept at this time. We wish David all the very best for his future, and give heartfelt thanks for his leadership and ministry here at Saint Vincent’s. The process for finding his successor begins promptly. God bless him and our school and parish community.
Message from Mr David Sewell - Principal of St Vincents:
Dear Staff, Parents, Caregivers, and Students of St Vincent’s Primary School,
It is with mixed emotions that I write to you today. As you are now all aware of, I have been appointed to the role of Senior Leader - School Progress and Performance, starting from the beginning of 2025. This is an opportunity that I felt I had to have a go at and while I am excited about this new chapter, it is incredibly hard to say goodbye to a community that I have come to love deeply.
The last four years at St Vincent’s have been the best of my twenty-year career as a Principal. The warmth, dedication and spirit of this community have made every day a joy and a privilege. I will dearly miss you all and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the support, collaboration and friendship that you have extended to me.
I am confident that I leave St Vincent’s in great shape for the next leader to step into this most privileged of positions. The school is thriving and I know it will continue to do so under the capable leadership of Yolanta Hamilton, who will serve as Acting Principal for the next six weeks. Alongside her, Amy Sherburd (APLT), Gina Kelly (APRE), and Jehan Byrne (Acting APA) will lead with poise and professionalism through to the end of Term Four. Their dedication and expertise will ensure a smooth transition and continued excellence in our school community.
Please know that I will be back to visit over the next six weeks as the 2024 school year comes to an end.
I look forward to seeing you all and sharing in the final moments of this year together.
Thank you once again for the incredible journey we have shared.
St Vincent’s will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart.
Kind regards,
Dave
#ProudandTrue
NEW PRINCIPAL FOR ST KEVIN’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, BENOWA
Congratulations to current acting-principal of St Kevin’s, Mr. Leigh Mirto who has this week been announced as the full- time Principal of St Kevin’s. We wish him all the best and look forward to working with him. Mr Mirto previously was the Principal of Mother Teresa School, at Ormeau. God bless him and the staff, students, and families of St Kevin’s.
PASTOR’S POST -
NOVEMBER MASS ENVELOPES AND THE BOOK OF LIFE REMEMBRANCES
When you place a request in a November Mass Envelope for a Mass to be offered for your deceased loved ones, the priests will take these Special Intentions to the Masses they preside over. Names from November Mass Envelopes are not read out individually in the Prayer of the Faithful or mentioned individually at Mass by the Presider. The names that are listed in the Book of Life Remembrances are remembered as a group in the Prayer of the Faithful. All Masses in all Churches for November will be offered with the Souls of the Departed as their Special Intentions.
November Mass Envelopes, along with the Book of Life Remembrances, can be found at the back of all the Churches. These envelopes enable you to add the names of your deceased loved ones and friends.
(L'Osservatore Romano)
In this Month of Holy Souls (November), it is fitting to think about how we reverence our loved ones, particularly how we farewell them, commend them to God, and dedicate a sacred space for their earthly resting place.
Traditionally, Catholics have buried their dead in cemeteries immediately after the funeral. Since 1963, the Catholic Church has allowed cremation, which has become common practice. There is no ban on our Catholic dearly departed from being cremated.
In Catholic funeral rites, the body of the deceased is the most important symbol of the person whom we farewell and commend to God’s mercy and for whom we pray. We treat the body with reverence, sprinkling it with water and venerating it with incense. After the Catholic funeral liturgy, in the presence of the body, our care for the dead takes us from the church to the place of burial or cremation.
When the body is cremated, preferably after the funeral, Catholic practice is to treat the ashes as we would the body, namely as a primary symbol of the person, and so with due honour and respect. After cremation, the human remains are buried or placed in a columbarium.
In August 2016, Pope Francis gave permission for the publication of a clarification on the conservation of the ashes of the deceased. Some confusion has arisen in recent years as cremation become a popular choice.
In December 2023 the Vatican issued a clarification on this 2016 declaration which somewhat relaxed the rules further.
In order, firstly, the 2016 statement affirmed that cremation was an acceptable option. It also added that “the conservation of the ashes of the departed in a domestic residence is not permitted. ..and the ashes may not be divided among various family members. It is also not permitted to scatter the ashes of the faithful departed in the air, on land, at sea or in some other way, nor may they be preserved in mementos, pieces of jewelry or other objects.
The 2023 statement further declared: Relatives may ask for "a minimal part of the ashes of their relative (to be stored) in a place of significance for the history of the deceased person".
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said this would be on condition that anti-Christian practices such as pantheism or naturalism are "ruled out" and that the remaining part of the ashes is kept in a sacred place.
The office said keeping ashes in a sacred place "ensures they are not excluded from the prayers and remembrance of their family or the Christian community" and prevents the departed "from being forgotten, or their remains being shown a lack of respect."
The 2023 statement, signed by the Vatican's doctrinal chief, Argentine Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez and approved by Pope Francis, was a response to questions posed by the head of the Italian Catholic Church, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.
It also said the ashes of the dead may be mixed in a common urn, rather than kept separately, as long as the identity of each deceased is marked "so as not to lose the memory of their names".
Many churches have established a columbarium to receive the ashes of the deceased in or near the church. Like the graveyard of old, this preserves the remains and names of those we love at the heart of the praying Christian community of the parish. We have a truly beautiful columbarium, located just outside the Blessed Sacrament chapel at Sacred Heart Church, and located in a peaceful garden overlooking the lake. There is a special committal ceremony for the interment of ashes into these sacred spaces.
In the wider community, so-called “private ceremonies” or even the complete absence of any funeral rites, seems an increasing phenomenon. The Christian tradition sees death as something that engages not only the immediate relatives, but also all the brothers and sister in Christ, who make up the wider Christian family. No Christian funeral is every truly private. Some family members may be unaware of the close bonds their loved one had with fellow parishioners, friends and neighbours, who would dearly appreciate the opportunity to attend a Christian funeral.
Over the years, I have been surprised on occasions when a long-term member of a Catholic community, (who was a regular and devout Mass attender) is buried or cremated without any ceremony because their immediate family were unaware of the centrality of a Catholic funeral for their loved one. It is vital that people let their families know of desire a funeral prayer service in a Catholic Church and make this wish known clearly and broadly, (preferably in writing and kept with other important documents; readily accessible to those who will be responsible for carrying out the arrangements). If people attending are unfamiliar with the mass responses and are not regular participants in Eucharist, a funeral prayer service might be most appropriate rather than a Mass.
Fr Paul, (Quoting “Ad resurgendum cum Christo”, Liturgy Lines, and blocked_content_www.artofdyingwell.org/what-is-dying-well/catholic-funerals-cremations/burial-or-cremation/ )
Fr Paul
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FANS and DOORS in OUR CHURCHES
It's that time of year again. Please note that we have a policy regarding fans, windows, and doors in the church.
DURING CHURCH SERVICES - FANS IN THE CHURCH DURING the HOT WEATHER ARE TO BE LEFT ON PLEASE AND DOORS TO BE LEFT OPEN PLEASE FOR AIR CIRCULATION AND BREEZES! Please Don't Ask The Coordinator To Turn Them Off. And no one has permission to touch or switch the fan settings except our coordinators. Also, please do not close the doors (or windows) of the church,m as we need a flow of fresh air for the well-being of others. The same applies if it starts raining outside. Please do not shut doors and windows, as almost all of these are protected by balconies and verandahs, and there is virtually no chance of rain getting in. Even when it is raining, it can still be hot and humid, and closing things up and turning off fans worsens the situation. Coordinators are following Church Health and Safety directions. It may be necessary to relocate to another seat that suits your needs better or bring something warm to put on. As you can imagine, we cannot adjust these large spaces to meet everyone’s personal needs, so we need to set them for general conditions, and individuals can then bring whatever they require for their individual needs. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Creative Christmas Market - (Hospitality Centre - 7/12/24)
Saturday, December 7th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Art, craft, jewellery, plants, candles,
So much more from local artisans.
All works are done with meticulous art and love.
“Everything must be new.”
Place: Hospitality Centre, Sacred Heart, near the Sacred Heart—Sacred Grounds coffee shop, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters. Applicants interested in selling their creativity are welcome to apply.
Contact: Grace Greenhouse
0475 134 414 or 0410 006 484. Plants Boutique and Gifts
An INVITATION FROM TOM BLACKHURST AND FAMILY
We have booked our youngest, Hannah, in to be baptised on Sunday, 17 November 2024. at 10.30 am Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters.
Since the Parish and its members have become like family to us over the last 5 years and there are so many we'd like to invite but they are all across the churches in the parish and go at different times. I would love, if possible, if you could put an announcement in the newsletter inviting all to celebrate with us who would wish to come.
We're very excited for Hannah's special day and can't wait to celebrate.
Kind regards
Tom Blackhurst
Fr Dan Ryan’s PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY IN THE 2025 JUBILEE YEAR
2025 - Holy Year Pilgrimage In Italy.
Would you like to go to Italy with Fr Dan Ryan next May for the Holy Year?
I have organised a Pilgrimage to Italy from May 9th to May 24th.
We will spend 4 nights in Assisi and 4 nights in Rome.
The Pilgrimage will go from Venice to Rome via Florence, Padua, Siena, and San Giovanni Rotonda (Padre Pio).
There will be brochures at the front of the church next week, or you can go to
https://bookings.harvestjourneys.com/pv2569 - for more information. Or you can contact Harvest Journeys on 1800 819 156
Fr Dan Ryan.
FREE COPY OF LITURGY NEWS
The spring edition of Brisbane Archdiocesan Liturgical Magazine “Liturgy News” is now available. Please click the link below for interesting information and articles.
For a PDF copy of Liturgy News, please click the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VhDSyMjKFf3JbT8UDASdU3bEXYYhkzLa/view?usp=drive_link
CAROLINE MOULDEN ASHES PLACED IN COLUMBARIUM
Last Thursday, 31st November, on the date of the Wedding anniversary of Caroline and Rod Moulden, we blessed the ashes of late beloved parishioner Caroline Moulden and placed them in their resting place at the Sacred Heart Columbarium. May she rest in peace. Amen.
Annual Irish Community November Remembrance Mass
Our Annual Irish Community November Remembrance Mass will be celebrated this year: on Sunday 3 November at 11.30am
in St Joseph the Worker Church, 44 Imperial Parade, Labrador. Please note the change of church from Guardian Angels, Southport
All are invited. As Catholics, we believe that in death life has not ended but has changed. The departed individual becomes a part of the Communion of Saints, as we eagerly anticipate the moment when we will all be reunited in the heavenly kingdom of God.
Our annual Remembrance Mass provides then a poignant means of honouring and praying for the peaceful repose of departed family members and friends.
And what better prayer can we pray than the great prayer of the Church - our Mass.
And so, please take this opportunity to pray for all those for whom you may be grieving and mourning.
We also invite and encourage you to stay for the tea/coffee afterwards - where you can renew old acquaintances and meet new friends.
Please help us with the catering for the tea/coffee etc., by letting us know if you will be attending, by text to 0407410041
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The Café - “Sacred Grounds” - Located at the Former Atrium Building near the Sacred Heart Church.
The café outside the Sacred Heart Church has been a wonderful gathering place for parishioners, school parents, staff, and the wider public. The feedback has been that the café is a great idea, but its location in the front of the church is not ideal. The café has now re-opened in the old Atrium building. This will allow community building whilst giving the church the space it needs for its Masses, Weddings, Baptisms and solemn Funerals. Please support this excellent continuation of the parish vision. Chris and his staff are delighted to welcome you.
THE BIBLE TIMELINE – THE STORY OF SALVATION
ADULT FAITH FORMATION BIBLE STUDY
From One Holy Couple (Creation) to One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church (Today)
WHEN: On the last Sunday of the Month. The next Session No. 3 will be held on 27 October.
WHERE: in the Parish Hospitality Room - (next to Sacred Heart Church), 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters
Queensland 4226, on Sundays from 10 am – 12 pm.
There is no cost; however, to participate, you will need to purchase The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation Study Set, which can be obtained from Ascension Press or Garrett Publishing. The Study Set will contain The Bible Timeline Study Book, Chart and Bookmark - https://ascensionpress.com/ https://garrattpublishing.com.au/
Around seven years ago, we looked at Unlocking the Mysteries of the Bible. This study program is the complete study version, an In-depth Exploration of Salvation History, which will require considerable pre-reading monthly of various sections of the Bible, and that is why we will do it monthly to ensure we allow ourselves sufficient time to give this Study our full participation. This way, we will get the most from the sessions, and once we see the big picture of the Bible, we will be able to understand Scripture in a whole new way. The Mass readings will make more sense. You will see how our beliefs as Catholics are rooted in Scripture, your prayers will come to life, and you will know how you are part of this remarkable story.
The Bible Timeline® study program takes you on a guided journey through salvation history. Presenter Jeff Cavins shows you how fourteen of the Bible’s narrative books tell the biblical story from beginning to end and gives you the keys to understanding the amazing story woven through Scripture. Using a unique colour-coded chart, you will learn the Bible's significant people, places, and events and discover how they all come together to reveal the remarkable story of our Faith. Bookings can be made by ringing the Parish Office (new): (07) 5671 7388 (9 am – 1 pm Mon-Fri). We’re excited to be able to present this resource, so please join us.
MASS TIMES: SURFERS PARADISE MASS TIMES
GO CASHLESS DONATIONS -
AVAILABLE AT THE ENTRANCES OF THREE CHURCHES - tap once to donate $10, tap and other higher denominations now available on the new devices.
Anointing Mass – Mass of Healing FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH (February-November Inclusive)
10 am Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Final for the year. Tuesday the 5th of November (5/11/24) - Followed by morning tea. Please let others know who would love to come along.
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on each First Friday, 1/11/24, at Sacred Heart Church from 7 pm to 8.30 pm. All welcome. Enquiries: Helen 0421935678. "Could you not watch one hour with Me" Mt 26:4
FIRST SATURDAY MASS AND BENEDICTION
First Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters. 9 am Saturday 2/11/24. Followed by adoration and Benediction. {This is a votive Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary}.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Please also pray for the following who are ill. (Alphabetical)
Lindsay Allan, Robert Andreas, Joseph Antony, Milroy Antony, Tricia Baumann, Nellie Bellinger, Graham Bousen, Tim Brown, Margaret and Tony Buckingham, Vicky and Andrew Campora, Nadia Che, Tina Conidi, Helen Cooper, Shirley Croft, Christopher Cunningham, Mary Curmi, Christopher Eid, Lorraine Gallagher, Ellanie Gonzalez, Jenny Haines, Mary Hirst, Andrew Janice, Sr Elisabeth Keane, Leona Kelly, Marjorie Kennedy, Kath Kiely, Jan Kristenson, Dannielle Therese Larney, Nathan Lepp, Veronica Lubowski, l McGuigan, Phil and Anne McGuigan, Joanne Mooney, Maryann Moore, Michael & Leslie Murtagh, Margaret Orme, Letty O’Sullivan, Kevin Owen, Carmela Parente, Clare Perera, Lesley Petroni, Rachel Raines, Bob Rogers, Betty Taylor, Leonardo Torcaso, Denise Tracey, Paul Trad, Billy Webb.
RECENTLY DECEASED: (Chronological - Most recent first):
Giuseppe (Joe) Currenti, Alfonso Covino, John Carey, Tommy Harris, Rosa Maria Tassone, Antonius Bennik, Mary O’Leary, Patrick O’Hagan (Canberra), Gilda Jennings, Alexis Ann McCoy, Brenda Stewart, Peter Kane, Helen Nugent, Olympia Georgiou, Cristina Salinas, Caroline Moulden, Frank Anthony Armanasco, Ma. Cristina Cruzada Lenihan, Colleen Williams, Merle Maiden, Bill Brewer, Damian Mullins.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: (Alphabetical)
All Holy Souls, including those in the Books of Remembrance. & Robert Aouad, Ronald George Blacker, Zelimir Bresic, June Butler, Mariana Camilleri, Fr Thomas Carroll, Miguel Charvet, Michael James Conlon, Michael Connaghan, Beryl Margaret Davidson, Fr Martin Doyle, Fr David Edwards, Joan Mary Enright, Bridget Finn, Graham Irwin, Marianne Lila Kyle-Little, Fr Vincent Landener, Dean Parker Leigh-Smith, Joannes Maas, Margaret MacLennan, Fr Terry Madden, Gertrud Marschner, Moira Winnifred McLellan, Paul Mott, Reggie Naidoo.
And Also: (Alphabetical):
Frank Alaba, Myrene Rose Bartlett, Mavis Beryl Boland, Peter Laurence Britten, Fr Alan Brown, Josip Burda, Lawrence Francis Byrne, Fr Patrick Clifford, Shirley Marie Day, Shane Desira, Andrew Keith French, Elisa Guzzo, Dorothea Hay, Kevin James Hilliard, Mary Margaret Holden, Fr Raymond Kearney, Fr Brian Kelly, Glennis Ann Lamb, Leo & Thelma Lampago, Mons James Lynch, Shirley McEvoy, Dr Raymond Arthur Miles, Margaret Murphy, Judith Ann Oakes, A/Bp Patrick O'Donnell, Varkey Padayallil, Margaret Acushla Patton, Clive Pearce, Claude Wilfrid Rene, Mello Scharenguivel, Eamonn Damien Sherrard, Pascual (Pacquing) Tantengco Jnr, Fr Anthony Treacy, Urbana Villagomez, Helen Wood, Mary Wylie.
HOSPITAL CALLS - AROUND THE DEANERY -
HELP THE PRIESTS OF THE DEANERY RESPOND TO URGENT CALLS EFFECTIVELY BY CALLING THE FOLLOWING PARISHES' FIRST RESPONDERS TO NEEDS WITHIN THE HOSPITALS LISTED.
To efficiently and speedily deal with the pastoral needs around the Catholic parishes of the Gold Coast, the parishes within this Deanery have the practice of having the first call for emergencies go to the priests of the parish where the hospital is located. Here is a helpful guide to the hospitals and their attendant priests. A nursing home call also follows this procedure, where the first priest to call is a priest from the parish within which the Nursing Home is located. Please help us service the region effectively and help prevent delays in response by calling the nearest parish.
Robina Hospital - Burleigh Heads Parish. 5576 6466
Pindara Hospital - Surfers Paradise Parish. 56717388
John Flynn Hospital - Coolangatta-Tugun Parish. 5598 2165
University & Gold Coast Private Hosp.- Southport Parish. 5510 2222
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
Daily Mass Books, 2025 Columban Calendars, Christmas cards, as well as the Advent Reflection book all available now.
ADVENT REFLECTION RESOURCE -
Arrived available in the shops now
SACRED HEART ROSARY PRAYER GROUP
Please join us to pray the Divine Mercy and Rosary each day at 8:15 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church before 9 a.m. Mass, Monday through Friday, including First Saturdays.
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on each First Friday, 1/11/24, at Sacred Heart Church from 7 pm to 8.30 pm. All welcome. Enquiries: Helen 0421935678. "Could you not watch one hour with Me" Mt 26:4
FIRST SATURDAY MASS AND BENEDICTION
First Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters, 9 a.m. Saturday, 2/11/24. This will be Followed by adoration and Benediction.
{This is a votive Mass for the Blessed Virgin Mary}.
Anointing Mass – Mass of Healing FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH (February-November Inclusive)
10 am Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Tuesday the 5th of November - last for the year (5/11/24) - Followed by morning tea. Please let others know who would love to come along.
ART AND CRAFT GROUP
The Group meets in the Parish Hospitality Centre on Wednesdays from 9 am to 12 noon. Activities include
Art (watercolour, oils, acrylics, pen and ink drawing, etc.)
Various kinds of Craftwork (Knitting, Embroidery, Crocheting, Card making, Sewing, etc.)
Making Rosary Beads (later sent to the missions)
And any other activities that individuals may have an interest in, or you can bring in your ideas
A very relaxing and social environment - meet new friends! You are most welcome to join.
For further information, phone the Parish Office.
THE SACRED HEART BRIDGE CLUB-
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” - It is Easy to learn the format. No previous card-playing experience is necessary. All are welcome. For more information and to enrol, please phone Cheryl at 5538 8821.
YOGA AT THE PARISH HOSPITALITY CENTRE -
Join us for our social class in the Parish Hospitality Centre next to the Parish Office. Classes run every Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. Learn to relax yet gain greater flexibility, inner strength, body awareness and concentration while increasing your breath support and general well-being. Ruth is an IYTA-accredited instructor with wide experience and runs a caring, carefully monitored one-hour session costing $10 (new attendees, please arrive by 10:30 a.m. to prepare adequately for class). For more information, please emailsurfers@bne.catholic.net.au.
OUR LADY’S STATUE -
Praying the Rosary - Our Lady’s Statue in the Parish -
Details of the Statue of Our Lady are going around the Parish.
If you want her in your home and say the Rosary,
Please contact Maxine or Pat. For more information, please email: psela@bigpond.com
or surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
Our Lady’s Statue details for the next several weeks are:
4/11/24 Lilly Leongue & Family Varsity Lakes
11/11/24 Luciana Lang & Family Robina
18/11/24 Luciana Lang & Family Robina
25/11/24 Suzanne Joseph Robina
2/12/24 Suzanne Joseph Robina
9/12/24 Julio & Eileen Camera Nerang
16/12/24 Julio & Eileen Camera Nerang
EXERCISE CLASS - LOW IMPACT - FOR HEART HEALTH -
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 more information, please email: surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
BIBLE STUDY/PRAYER GROUP - ST VINCENT’S CHURCH, SURFERS PARADISE.
Cancelled 30th October and 6th November. The Bible Study Prayer Group meets every Wednesday from 5-6 pm at St Vincent’s Church,
(40 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise). Come along and read/study Break Open the Word
weekly from 5 pm to 6 pm. For further enquiries, please contact the Parish Office. surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
MEDITATION PRAYER GROUP
The meditation group meets in the Morris prayer room on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. It would very much like to welcome new members. For more information, please email: surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
PRAYER GROUP - SPANISH SPEAKER
Jesus de la Misericordia. Invites you to participate every 2nd Saturday of the month from 11 am to 2 pm. Place: Hospitality Room. Sacred Heart Church. “We praise, We praise, We grow spiritually from the Word of the Lord.” For more information, please contact Grace. For more information, please email:grace.flowers.art@hotmail.com or surfers@bne.catholic.net.au
MARIAN PILGRIMAGE
Please come and join us at the Marian Valley Church 13.11.2024 Our Lady of Fatima's Feast. The bus will be picking up Sharp at 8.15 am at the Sacred Heart Church Clear Island Waters. The Cost for the bus fare $25.00 return. You can secure your seat with contact name and contact phone number with Xavier Solomon 0404 843 260, Madeleine on 0405 252 367 or 5529 1573, Chris Raynal 0451 302 674, all are welcome.
YEAR OF PRAYER - RESOURCE
Daily Prayer For The Holy Souls
Immortal God, holy Lord,
Father and Protector of all You have created,
we raise our hearts to You today for those
who have passed out of this mortal life.
In Your loving mercy, Father of all,
be pleased to receive them in Your heavenly company,
and forgive the failings and faults
they may have done from human frailty.
Your only Son, Christ, our Saviour,
suffered so cruelly that
He might deliver them from the second death.
By his merits may they share in the glory
of His victory over sin and death.
For all the faithful who have died we pray,
but in particular for those dear to us,
parents, relatives and friends.
nor do we forget all who did good to us while on earth,
who helped us by their prayers, sacrifice and example.
We pray also for any who may have done us harm,
and stand in special need of Your forgiveness.
May the merits and prayers of our Virgin Mother,
Mary, and those of all the Angels and Saints,
speak for us and assist them now.
This we ask in Christ's name.
Amen.
Source: https://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=555
https://evangelisationbrisbane.org.au/year-of-prayer/
A VOCATION VIEW: Vocation Awareness Week
Love of God and love of neighbour are not mutually exclusive but rather are mutually enriching. Demonstrate the love you have for God by acting in service to your neighbour in Christ. (Mark 12:28-34)
We pray for the souls gone before us, priests, religious and lay – those who have taken their vocation of Christian service seriously. May the Lord’s merciful love purify them completely, that they may look upon the face of God and rejoice forever. A Vocation dwells within us, with the powerful possibility to transform our lives and make us saints.
To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP - November 3, 2024 -31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
“And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (MARK 12:33)
Of all the gifts that God gives us, the one He wants the most is our heart. He wants us to share out of our love for Him, not out of obligation. Using our talent in parish ministry and contributing money to support our parish mission is important, but it’s more important to spend time in prayer with God daily and discern how He is calling us to be generous with all of our gifts. Not just the visible ones, but the invisible ones like love, mercy and forgiveness.
The vision of Stewardship speaks in every aspect of life, inviting everyone to be thankful, generous, and accountable for what each has been given.
TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH - Silly love songs?
Love is all you need. So, say every generation’s love songs since the biblical Song of Songs was put to papyrus. When asked to choose the primary commandment, Jesus chose the love of God and neighbour. Love is clearly that fundamental. But it’s far more than a feeling. The mandate to love doesn’t dictate our emotions but rather our priorities. How do we put God and neighbor first, in each decision, with every expenditure of time and resource? If love begins to routinely triumph over self-interest, how might worship, family, society, and the world be transformed?
“To love [God] with all your heart . . . is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:28b-34
HOMILY: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.
Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/AawYmGTNbTRz0KzI8nyn?ru=Paul-Evangelion
GOSPEL THIS WEEKEND
Homily: Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time.Year B - Sunday, 3 November 2024
we are all extremely fortunate that Our Lord summed up all of God's Law and the message of the Prophets in two simple commandments, which are really different sides of the one coin: Love God and love neighbour. [FHL]
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In the Bible, and particularly by the time of our Lord's ministry on earth, there were literally hundreds and hundreds of rules, regulations, practices to be observed for all faithful Jewish people to try and keep as best they can. If anyone wanted to be considered perfect at rights with God, then they were expected by the experts of their day to observe each and every one of the many rules, laws and practices set down. They weren't just the Ten Commandments, but there were also many extra detailed rules and regulations to keep on all sorts of parts of life.
These included requirements related to ritual cleanliness. So we're all extremely fortunate that our Lord summed up all of God's law and all of the message of the prophets in two simple commandments, which are actually different sides of the same coin: Love God and love our neighbour.
Which also means we actually show our love for God by how we show love and concern, care, mercy and compassion for our neighbour, if we found ourselves in the same situation as our neighbour. The complete gospel is this, love of God, complete love of God and love of our neighbour as ourselves. And the common denominator to both parts is, of course, love.
It's the meaning and heart of the gospel of Jesus. Jesus Christ is love. The Father is love.
The Holy Spirit is love. God is love. People who act lovingly to everyone, even those who don't wish us well, or who want to do us wrong.
We act in and through love because we are relating to God, whose very nature is love itself. Our Sunday worship is deeply mysterious and sacramental, and it's an expression of our weekday lives. And our weekday lives must be an application of what we proclaim and express on Sunday.
We all can fall short of our basic beliefs in our ability to walk that path of holiness. We can fall short in moments of stress or trial, and we might at times fail to recognise the holiness of those with whom we meet, with whom we work and live. We can all possibly fall into that trap of not practically applying the principles that we do truly believe and strive to live.
But again, that's what's so beautiful about Jesus' commandment. Love. It's not about driving ourselves with mechanical intensity to treat others like we would treat God, or else we've failed and failed horribly.
It's about loving ourselves, being gentle on us, and gentle on others, and allowing that love and gentleness to flow out to everyone around us. Allowing God to put that love in our hearts and with our cooperation. If we fall short, it is love, not harshness, that is there to put us back on our feet again.
Because the goal is not about grabbing the crown of victory like a ruthless person who grabs the prize because it's owed them. But no, it's about growing into the most loving person we could possibly be, being completely united to God, who is the true source of all love.
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References:
Homily – Fr Paul W. Kelly
McCarthy, Flor. 1984. Sunday & Holyday Liturgies Cycle B. Dublin: Dominican.
Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/AawYmGTNbTRz0KzI8nyn?ru=Paul-Evangelion
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To listen to the 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
Also found at - https://tinyurl.com/FHLpwk
https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/careers/
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 conducting 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) or adults at risk. The organisation is fully committed to child safety and has zero tolerance for abusing children or adults at risk.
INSPIRATION FROM THE SAINTS:
St Charles Borromeo (1538 – 1584):-
"Be sure that you first preach by the way you live."
If we wish to progress in the service of God, we must begin every day of our life with new eagerness. We must keep ourselves in the presence of God as much as possible and have no other view or end in all our actions but divine honour. We must meditate before, during and after everything we do. The prophet says: “I will pray, and then I will understand.” This is how we can easily overcome the countless difficulties we face day after day, which, after all, are part of our work. In meditation, we find the strength to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and others. If a tiny spark of God’s love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out. Keep the stove tightly shut so it will not lose heat and grow cold. In other words, avoid distractions as well as you can. Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head. Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter.
“You must pray not only for yourself but also for those whom you are guiding.” (Med 187.2 - feast of St Charles Borromeo)
“Behold, Jesus Christ crucified, who is the only foundation of our hope; He is our mediator and advocate; the victim and sacrifice for our sins. He is goodness and patience itself; The tears of sinners move his mercy, and he never refuses pardon and grace to those who ask it with a truly contrite and humbled heart.”
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica - 9-Nov - Feast
The Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, was dedicated to Christ the Saviour in the fourth century. The anniversary has been celebrated as a feast of the Latin Church on this date since the twelfth century. It honours the local Church of Rome as a link with the earliest Christian tradition and as a sign of our communion in Christ.
“What was done here, as these walls were rising, is reproduced when we bring together those who believe in Christ. For, by believing they are hewn out, as it were, from mountains and forests, like stones and timber, but by catechising, baptism and instruction, they are, as it were, shaped, squared and planed by the hands of the workers and artisans. Nevertheless, they do not make a house for the Lord until they are fitted together through love”. St Augustine (354-430) Doctor of the Church – Sermon 36
“Today’s feast, brothers, ought to be all the more devout as it is more personal. For other celebrations, we have in common with other ecclesiastical communities, but this one is proper to us so if we do not celebrate it, nobody will. It is ours because it concerns our church, ours because we are its theme. You are surprised and even embarrassed, perhaps, at celebrating a feast for yourselves. But do not be like horses and mules that have no understanding. Your souls are holy because of the Spirit of God dwelling in you, your bodies are holy because of your souls, and this building is holy because of your bodies.” St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Church.
“Is not this an image of today’s event? The ancient generations came up to this place, generations of Romans, generations of bishops of Rome, successors of St Peter, and they sang this hymn of joy, which I repeat today with you. I join these generations: I, the new Bishop of Rome, John Paul II, Polish by origin. I stop on the threshold of this temple, and I ask you to welcome me in the Lord’s name. I beg you to welcome me, as you welcomed my Predecessors throughout the centuries, as you welcomed John Paul I only a few weeks ago, so beloved by the whole world! I beg you to welcome me, too. The Lord says: “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (Jn 15:16). This is the only appeal I can make – I am not here by my own will. The Lord has elected me. In the Lord’s name, I beg you, therefore – welcome me!” [St. Pope John Paul (1920-2005) - RITE OF POSSESSION OF THE CHAIR OF THE BISHOP OF ROME. HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II. Basilica of St John Lateran. Sunday, 12 November 1978].
THE POPE
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Stock Photo ID: 320362841. WASHINGTON, USA - SEP 24, 2015: Pope Francis greets the people at the Congress Building during his visit in USA. Editorial Use Only.Photo Contributor:
Anton_Ivanov
Pope Francis Address to U.S. Congress: September 24, 2015
Mr. Vice-President,
Mr. Speaker,
Honourable Members of Congress,
Dear Friends,
Pope Francis - CongressI am most grateful for your invitation to address this Joint Session of Congress in “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. I would like to think that the reason for this is that I too am a son of this great continent, from which we have all received so much and toward which we share a common responsibility.
Each son or daughter of a given country has a mission, a personal and social responsibility. Your own responsibility as members of Congress is to enable this country, by your legislative activity, to grow as a nation. You are the face of its people, their representatives. You are called to defend and preserve the dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics. A political society endures when it seeks, as a vocation, to satisfy common needs by stimulating the growth of all its members, especially those in situations of greater vulnerability or risk. Legislative activity is always based on care for the people. To this you have been invited, called and convened by those who elected you.
Yours is a work which makes me reflect in two ways on the figure of Moses. On the one hand, the patriarch and lawgiver of the people of Israel symbolizes the need of peoples to keep alive their sense of unity by means of just legislation. On the other, the figure of Moses leads us directly to God and thus to the transcendent dignity of the human being. Moses provides us with a good synthesis of your work: you are asked to protect, by means of the law, the image and likeness fashioned by God on every human face.
Today I would like not only to address you, but through you the entire people of the United States. Here, together with their representatives, I would like to take this opportunity to dialogue with the many thousands of men and women who strive each day to do an honest day’s work, to bring home their daily bread, to save money and –one step at a time – to build a better life for their families. These are men and women who are not concerned simply with paying their taxes, but in their own quiet way sustain the life of society. They generate solidarity by their actions, and they create organizations which offer a helping hand to those most in need.
I would also like to enter into dialogue with the many elderly persons who are a storehouse of wisdom forged by experience, and who seek in many ways, especially through volunteer work, to share their stories and their insights. I know that many of them are retired, but still active; they keep working to build up this land. I also want to dialogue with all those young people who are working to realize their great and noble aspirations, who are not led astray by facile proposals, and who face difficult situations, often as a result of immaturity on the part of many adults. I wish to dialogue with all of you, and I would like to do so through the historical memory of your people.
My visit takes place at a time when men and women of good will are marking the anniversaries of several great Americans. The complexities of history and the reality of human weakness notwithstanding, these men and women, for all their many differences and limitations, were able by hard work and self-sacrifice – some at the cost of their lives – to build a better future. They shaped fundamental values which will endure forever in the spirit of the American people. A people with this spirit can live through many crises, tensions and conflicts, while always finding the resources to move forward, and to do so with dignity. These men and women offer us a way of seeing and interpreting reality. In honoring their memory, we are inspired, even amid conflicts, and in the here and now of each day, to draw upon our deepest cultural reserves.
I would like to mention four of these Americans: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.
This year (2015) marks the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, the guardian of liberty, who labored tirelessly that “this nation, under God, [might] have a new birth of freedom”. Building a future of freedom requires love of the common good and cooperation in a spirit of subsidiarity and solidarity.
All of us are quite aware of, and deeply worried by, the disturbing social and political situation of the world today. Our world is increasingly a place of violent conflict, hatred and brutal atrocities, committed even in the name of God and of religion. We know that no religion is immune from forms of individual delusion or ideological extremism. This means that we must be especially attentive to every type of fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other kind. A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms. But there is another temptation which we must especially guard against: the simplistic reductionism which sees only good or evil; or, if you will, the righteous and sinners. The contemporary world, with its open wounds which affect so many of our brothers and sisters, demands that we confront every form of polarization which would divide it into these two camps. We know that in the attempt to be freed of the enemy without, we can be tempted to feed the enemy within. To imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take their place. That is something which you, as a people, reject.
Our response must instead be one of hope and healing, of peace and justice. We are asked to summon the courage and the intelligence to resolve today’s many geopolitical and economic crises. Even in the developed world, the effects of unjust structures and actions are all too apparent. Our efforts must aim at restoring hope, righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus promoting the well-being of individuals and of peoples. We must move forward together, as one, in a renewed spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating generously for the common good.
The challenges facing us today call for a renewal of that spirit of cooperation, which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the United States. The complexity, the gravity and the urgency of these challenges demand that we pool our resources and talents, and resolve to support one another, with respect for our differences and our convictions of conscience.
In this land, the various religious denominations have greatly contributed to building and strengthening society. It is important that today, as in the past, the voice of faith continue to be heard, for it is a voice of fraternity and love, which tries to bring out the best in each person and in each society. Such cooperation is a powerful resource in the battle to eliminate new global forms of slavery, born of grave injustices which can be overcome only through new policies and new forms of social consensus.
Here I think of the political history of the United States, where democracy is deeply rooted in the mind of the American people. All political activity must serve and promote the good of the human person and be based on respect for his or her dignity. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776). If politics must truly be at the service of the human person, it follows that it cannot be a slave to the economy and finance. Politics is, instead, an expression of our compelling need to live as one, in order to build as one the greatest common good: that of a community which sacrifices particular interests in order to share, in justice and peace, its goods, its interests, its social life. I do not underestimate the difficulty that this involves, but I encourage you in this effort.
Here too I think of the march which Martin Luther King led from Selma to Montgomery fifty years ago as part of the campaign to fulfill his “dream” of full civil and political rights for African Americans. That dream continues to inspire us all. I am happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of “dreams”. Dreams which lead to action, to participation, to commitment. Dreams which awaken what is deepest and truest in the life of a people.
In recent centuries, millions of people came to this land to pursue their dream of building a future in freedom. We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners. I say this to you as the son of immigrants, knowing that so many of you are also descended from immigrants. Tragically, the rights of those who were here long before us were not always respected. For those peoples and their nations, from the heart of American democracy, I wish to reaffirm my highest esteem and appreciation. Those first contacts were often turbulent and violent, but it is difficult to judge the past by the criteria of the present. Nonetheless, when the stranger in our midst appeals to us, we must not repeat the sins and the errors of the past. We must resolve now to live as nobly and as justly as possible, as we educate new generations not to turn their back on our “neighbors” and everything around us. Building a nation calls us to recognize that we must constantly relate to others, rejecting a mindset of hostility in order to adopt one of reciprocal subsidiarity, in a constant effort to do our best. I am confident that we can do this.
Our world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since the Second World War. This presents us with great challenges and many hard decisions. On this continent, too, thousands of persons are led to travel north in search of a better life for themselves and for their loved ones, in search of greater opportunities. Is this not what we want for our own children? We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their situation. To respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal. We need to avoid a common temptation nowadays: to discard whatever proves troublesome. Let us remember the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt 7:12).
This Rule points us in a clear direction. Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves. Let us help others to grow, as we would like to be helped ourselves. In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us. The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development.
This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes. Recently my brother bishops here in the United States renewed their call for the abolition of the death penalty. Not only do I support them, but I also offer encouragement to all those who are convinced that a just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation.
In these times when social concerns are so important, I cannot fail to mention the Servant of God Dorothy Day, who founded theCatholic Worker Movement. Her social activism, her passion for justice and for the cause of the oppressed, were inspired by the Gospel, her faith, and the example of the saints.
How much progress has been made in this area in so many parts of the world! How much has been done in these first years of the third millennium to raise people out of extreme poverty! I know that you share my conviction that much more still needs to be done, and that in times of crisis and economic hardship a spirit of global solidarity must not be lost. At the same time I would encourage you to keep in mind all those people around us who are trapped in a cycle of poverty. They too need to be given hope. The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on many fronts, especially in its causes. I know that many Americans today, as in the past, are working to deal with this problem.
It goes without saying that part of this great effort is the creation and distribution of wealth. The right use of natural resources, the proper application of technology and the harnessing of the spirit of enterprise are essential elements of an economy which seeks to be modern, inclusive and sustainable. “Business is a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and improving the world. It can be a fruitful source of prosperity for the area in which it operates, especially if it sees the creation of jobs as an essential part of its service to the common good” (Laudato Si’, 129). This common good also includes the earth, a central theme of the encyclical which I recently wrote in order to “enter into dialogue with all people about our common home” (ibid., 3). “We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all” (ibid., 14).
In Laudato Si’, I call for a courageous and responsible effort to “redirect our steps” (ibid., 61), and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity. I am convinced that we can make a difference and I have no doubt that the United States – and this Congress – have an important role to play. Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a “culture of care” (ibid., 231) and “an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature” (ibid., 139). “We have the freedom needed to limit and direct technology” (ibid., 112); “to devise intelligent ways of… developing and limiting our power” (ibid., 78); and to put technology “at the service of another type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more integral” (ibid., 112). In this regard, I am confident that America’s outstanding academic and research institutions can make a vital contribution in the years ahead.
A century ago, at the beginning of the Great War, which Pope Benedict XV termed a “pointless slaughter”, another notable American was born: the Cistercian monk Thomas Merton. He remains a source of spiritual inspiration and a guide for many people. In his autobiography he wrote: “I came into the world. Free by nature, in the image of God, I was nevertheless the prisoner of my own violence and my own selfishness, in the image of the world into which I was born. That world was the picture of Hell, full of men like myself, loving God, and yet hating him; born to love him, living instead in fear of hopeless self-contradictory hungers”. Merton was above all a man of prayer, a thinker who challenged the certitudes of his time and opened new horizons for souls and for the Church. He was also a man of dialogue, a promoter of peace between peoples and religions.
From this perspective of dialogue, I would like to recognize the efforts made in recent months to help overcome historic differences linked to painful episodes of the past. It is my duty to build bridges and to help all men and women, in any way possible, to do the same. When countries which have been at odds resume the path of dialogue – a dialogue which may have been interrupted for the most legitimate of reasons – new opportunities open up for all. This has required, and requires, courage and daring, which is not the same as irresponsibility. A good political leader is one who, with the interests of all in mind, seizes the moment in a spirit of openness and pragmatism. A good political leader always opts to initiate processes rather than possessing spaces (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 222-223).
Being at the service of dialogue and peace also means being truly determined to minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our world. Here we have to ask ourselves: Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade.
Three sons and a daughter of this land, four individuals and four dreams: Lincoln, liberty; Martin Luther King, liberty in plurality and non-exclusion; Dorothy Day, social justice and the rights of persons; and Thomas Merton, the capacity for dialogue and openness to God.
Four representatives of the American people.
I will end my visit to your country in Philadelphia, where I will take part in the World Meeting of Families. It is my wish that throughout my visit the family should be a recurrent theme. How essential the family has been to the building of this country! And how worthy it remains of our support and encouragement! Yet I cannot hide my concern for the family, which is threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and without. Fundamental relationships are being called into question, as is the very basis of marriage and the family. I can only reiterate the importance and, above all, the richness and the beauty of family life.
In particular, I would like to call attention to those family members who are the most vulnerable, the young. For many of them, a future filled with countless possibilities beckons, yet so many others seem disoriented and aimless, trapped in a hopeless maze of violence, abuse and despair. Their problems are our problems. We cannot avoid them. We need to face them together, to talk about them and to seek effective solutions rather than getting bogged down in discussions. At the risk of oversimplifying, we might say that we live in a culture which pressures young people not to start a family, because they lack possibilities for the future. Yet this same culture presents others with so many options that they too are dissuaded from starting a family.
A nation can be considered great when it defends liberty as Lincoln did, when it fosters a culture which enables people to “dream” of full rights for all their brothers and sisters, as Martin Luther King sought to do; when it strives for justice and the cause of the oppressed, as Dorothy Day did by her tireless work, the fruit of a faith which becomes dialogue and sows peace in the contemplative style of Thomas Merton.
In these remarks I have sought to present some of the richness of your cultural heritage, of the spirit of the American people. It is my desire that this spirit continue to develop and grow, so that as many young people as possible can inherit and dwell in a land which has inspired so many people to dream.
God bless America!
[SOURCE: Vatican]
Commitment to Child Safety and Adults at Risk. We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all members of our community. Please see the pages below for more information. ………………..
Acknowledgement of Country -
This is Kombumerri Country, the traditional custodian 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, 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 our Indigenous people's memories, traditions, culture and hopes. We pay tribute to those who have contributed to the community's life in many ways. We affirm our commitment to justice, healing, and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. (See further: The Kombumerri People and https://kombumerritogetherproject.com/digital-resources/yugambeh-language/)
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** The significance of the ancient Catholic Blessing Symbol. “20 C+M+B 24”
An ancient medieval practice that developed in the Catholic Church was to bless one’s home with blessed chalk at the yearly epiphany. On the door or the lintel will be this symbol:
This means that 2000 years ago, after Christ’s birth, Wise Men visited and gave homage to the Lord and were welcomed into the hospitality of the Holy Family’s abode. We dedicate the present year of this century, ‘24, to the protection of the Lord. May the Lord bless this abode.
The letters C+M+B represent Caspar, Bathasar and Melchior, the three Wise Men. CMB is also the initials of the Latin phrase “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” - “May Christ Bless this dwelling place.”
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ST VINCENTS CATHOLIC SCHOOL - PROUD AND TRUE DIRECTORY
Dear St Vincent’s Parents and Caregivers,
Get Onboard!
After fantastic responses over the last few years, we are preparing for the St Vincent's Primary Proud & True Business Directory 2025 Edition.
If you have a small business, work for a small business, are a tradie and thinking about your marketing plans for the 2024/2025 Financial Year, you may like to take up a special offer to advertise to our broader school community in our St Vincent’s business directory.
Whether it’s as a landscaper, accountant, solicitor, plumber, electrician, coffee shop owner… just to name a few – this could be for you.
In Australia 86% of people rely on word-of-mouth recommendations! This is all our community businesses packaged into a one stop word of mouth shop.
Our parents and members of our broader school community want to support each other and ensure we are spending our money locally and helping businesses continue to operate and grow. The Proud & True Business Directory will be distributed widely to all staff and families at St Vincent’s.
If you would like to advertise your business in this directory, please contact Ben Ryan on 0432545995 or email ben@advcollab.com.au
St Kevin’s Catholic School, Community business directory: https://www.sk.qld.edu.au/Pages/Rainbow-Connection.aspx
Each Parish in the Archdiocese of Brisbane has a Local Safeguarding Representative who is responsible for:
Making sure that the whole parish is aware of the importance of safeguarding children and adults at risk.
Promoting safe practices, including articulating for others what is appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, and
Assisting the Parish Priest and staff in the implementation of the Archdiocesan Safeguarding Children and Adults-at-risk Policy in the Parish
The Archdiocesan Safeguarding Children & Adults-at-risk Prevention & Protection Policy can be found at: https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/support/safeguard
WAYS TO REPORT A SAFEGUARDING INCIDENT OR CONCERN OR TO GIVE FEEDBACK REGARDING SAFEGUARDING
Here is how you can report an incident or concern, or contact someone to talk about a safeguarding matter or get more information:
Talk to the police (Emergency: '000' Non-emergency: 131 444) or KidsHelpLine (1800 55 1800 or www.kidshelpline.com.au)
Through the anonymous STOPline (1300 304 550 or AOB@stopline.com.au)
talk to our Local Parish Safeguarding Representative
Fill out a Safeguarding Incident Report and send it to safeguarding@bne.catholic.net.au or GPO Box 282 Brisbane Qld 4001
VOLUNTEERS - Parish Ministries, Groups etc.
The Archdiocese of Brisbane has implemented standards of conduct for voluntary church workers to maintain a safe and healthy ministry environment. Our commitment to these standards requires that we have a record of your Blue Card and conduct background referencing for all who intend to engage in voluntary ministry, having direct and regular involvement with children, young people and adults at risk.
SAFEGUARDING TRAINING
The Archdiocese of Brisbane has the following safeguarding training packages, Safeguarding Induction, Applied Safeguarding Training and Training for Local Safeguarding Representatives, which can be viewed here: https://brisbanecatholic.org.au/safeguarding/safeguarding-training
BLUE CARD - ‘No Card, No Start’
Individuals must have a valid blue card before starting paid work or volunteering. All cardholders must apply to renew their blue card before it expires to continue working/volunteering. If an individual lets their card expire, they must cease work until they obtain a new valid blue card. For further information about the Blue Card Application process, please click here >>
SEE ALSO
‘Police Check’ can now be completed online using InterCheck. Volunteers can do this via the Volunteer Portal, http://archbne.org/welcome, which will inform them whether they need a Police Check for their ministry.
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