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“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21)
Image Credit: PaulEvangelion - via NightCafe
PASTOR’S POST - Fr Bradley
One thing I remember about listening to different seminarians sharing their vocations stories was that everyone’s story was different. Each year in the Seminary, we would have the opportunity to share a 20 minute presentation of our lives and upbringings. We didn’t have to share strictly about our journeys to the priesthood, but this element inevitably came up somewhere as we each shared.
Every story in some way involved the same God, in different ways, speaking to each of us personally, and calling us all to serve God and God’s people in priestly ministry. Some wanted to be priests since they were young children, some were inspired by priests who they looked up to. Others had strong Catholic roots from their parents and grandparents, which inspired them to embrace the priesthood.
This was not so for me. I had no thought or desire for the priesthood, until I received an invitation to the Archbishop’s Annual Vocations Dinner for men considering priesthood when I was 21. I don’t know who put my name forward, but this was the moment where I began to consider exactly what God wanted me to do and how God wanted me to serve with regards to how the same God had created me. I struggled a lot with my discernment. I really wanted to get married and have children, which is one reason why I became a primary school teacher. I had experienced the call to something more, and thought that teaching was the right step in that direction.
My desire for married life and children never left me, but neither did God’s voice asking me from deep within, if I would consider something else. Would I, despite my natural human desires, pursue the priesthood, so as to live out a calling that God, and not me, had planned? Would I allow God to not so much suppress, but utilise my given desires and gifts to serve in this way, and do so much more living in God’s will and grace?
In the end, I said “yes.” After much wrestling and considering if I could live this way, I accepted this calling to do and be what I am with you in this community. As we begin National Vocations Awareness Week, let us pray that more young men and women may consider calls to the priesthood and religious life. I pray that you, if you have not yet entered one state of life or another, may be open to God’s will for your life, and let God take you on an adventure of a lifetime – to serve God openly and freely in whatever our loving God calls you to do.
Fr Bradley
YOUNG PEOPLE’S GATHERING
Are you in high school? Uni? Finished school? Or are you a young person looking to learn more about your faith by connecting with others your age who are asking the same questions?
Come along to our first youth gathering on 3 August, 7pm in our Hospitality Centre (This Sunday after 6pm Mass), for pizza, games, and get to know other people your age who are also want to grow in their relationship with God. Fr Bradley Davies
National Vocation Awareness Week
is a crucial opportunity to promote the importance of vocations and discernment in the Church, allowing people to explore their calling, and encourage their next step in following the call of God. How will you respond to God’s call this week? How will you encourage others in their call?
Prayer for Vocations
Loving God, With one voice we lift up our hearts to thank you today for our lives, our vocation and all your gifts to us. Inspire us all to know and live our vocation. Give courage to young people, to listen and follow the call,
to serve you in the Archdiocese as your priests,
religious and lay ministers.
Bless us, your family of Brisbane. Help those you call to listen to what your Holy Spirit is saying to us. Guide them to serve in your vineyard, that they may fulfill your holy will and make all things new.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen
2025 Annual Catholic Campaign! [upcoming- 23rd and 24th of August 2025]
Each year, your efforts support significant ministry in our local church.
• Support the journey of Seminarians at Holy Spirit Seminary
• Help those in vulnerable situations through Centacare services
• Provide for our unwell and retired priests through The Priests Foundation
• Help children in need access Catholic education via the Mary Mackillop Bursary Fund
• Help fund grassroots ministry through the Annual Grants Program.
The campaign is scheduled for next weekend - the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time on the weekend of the 23rd and 24th of August 2025. The Archbishop’s video homily has been prepared to reflect the Sunday Gospel for the 24th of August.
Correctional Centre pastoral visitation - a deeply meaningful volunteer opportunity with Centacare.
If you are seeking a way to witness to your faith in an active way, and have a gift to talk easily and kindly to people from very diverse backgrounds, this opportunity may offer a pathway to a deeper engagement with Jesus through the hope that your witness can bring to many in prison, who through their experience, have hearts just waiting to hear the transformative message of God’s love and mercy.
A weekly commitment is required with current options available on either a Tuesday or Saturday at the Wacol Correctional Centre precinct or Friday at Woodford Correctional Centre. Your training will be supported by a team of Catholic men and women currently serving as pastoral visitors to residents of the Correctional Centres.
The contract to provide faith visitation in the Correctional Centres is managed by the State Chaplaincy Board for Prisons in Queensland in conjunction with Heads of Churches with Centacare as the Catholic Service Provider.
To know a bit more or to register your interest please contact the Director, Pastoral Ministries on 33243193, or email: judy.norris@bne.centacare.net.au
An Expression of Interest evening can also be offered to parishes which would be attended by current pastoral care workers in correctional centres to answer all your questions.
MULTICULTURAL CELEBRATION
Each year we celebrate the Multicultural Mass with the cultural communities of the Archdiocese to mark the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR). The theme chosen by Pope Francis for this Jubilee year is "Migrants, missionaries of hope", highlighting the courage and resilience of migrants and refugees who, despite many challenges, bear witness to faith and bring life to their new communities. This year we will celebrate the Multicultural Mass at the Queen of Vietnamese Martyrs church in Inala on Sunday 24 August 2025 at 2:00pm.
Refreshments and cultural performances will follow the Mass. I invite you to join in the celebration at Inala. The Mass begins at 2pm and registrations were available at tinyurl.com/MCMass25.
The celebration of WDMR is an opportunity to embrace the wonderful diversity of the Archdiocese and to give thanks for the great gifts God has given the cultural communities for the good of the whole Church.
For further information, enquiries, you might email Liliana Ortiz at ortizl@bne.catholic.net.au. You can also find additional WDMR resources available at the Holy See's website at https://tinyurl/com/WDMR25
As always in the Lord,
The Most Reverend Mark Coleridge
Apostolic Administrator
HOSPITAL MINISTRY
Be the Hands of Christ: Visit the Sick in Hospital
Do you feel called to bring comfort, hope, and companionship to those who are ill and to the dying? Join Centacare’shospital pastoral carers community and share Christ’s love through this simple, yet powerful Ministry of Presence.
We are looking for compassionate individuals to visit Catholic patients in hospital — offering prayer, a kind word, and giving your undivided attention to another person in difficult times, which is the purest form of generosity (Simone Weil).
Training and support and ongoing formation provided.Available placements at The Prince Charles, RBWH and The Wesley
“I was sick and you visited me.” – Matthew 25:36
To find out more please contact Centacare
Phone: Director of Pastoral Ministries, 33243193
Email: judy.norris@bne.centacare.net.au
Working with Children and a police check required along with Archdiocesan Safeguarding and Mandatory Trainingrequirements.
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Please pray for our newly appointed archbishop Shane McKinlay,
who will assume his position on September 11th this year. Also, our prayers of gratitude and for health and blessings for the next chapter of our emeritus archbishop, Mark Coleridge, who is administering the archdiocese until bishop Shane begins his ministry here.
EXPLORING OUR FAITH - Politics and Religion
“Churches should stick to their prayers and keep out of politics.” Ever heard that or similar words? One hears it often.
Since the Catholic Church is universal by nature, recognising that its membership comes from the many different political backgrounds and perspectives, it would be inappropriate for the church to take a stand that was too partisan to one particular political party thereby effectively identifying itself to a political party against another.
Politics is about addressing life questions, and religion is about the same too. Naturally, there is an enormous overlap. The Church should have a say in any significant human or social issues affecting people's lives or their environment. So it is perfectly appropriate that the Church and its members are involved in the big questions facing our society and our country.
The voices that suggest the churches should stick to prayer might like to go back and learn that 1) prayer can be active as well and involved in how we live our daily lives and 2) just because THEY would like churches to be passive irrelevancies who harmlessly while away their time praying, does not mean that people should oblige in this narrow view.
Vatican Council II (1962-1965) puts it very nicely: “The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well. Nothing that is genuinely human fails to find an echo in their hearts.” (Joy and Hope [Gaudium et Spes], 7/12/1965).
It adds: “The church… is not identified with any political community nor is it tied to any political system. It is at once the sign and the safeguard of the transcendental dimensions of the human person. The political community and the church are autonomous and independent of each other in their fields. They are both at the service of the personal and social vocation of the same individuals, though, under different titles….. (GS).
So, the church must acknowledge that politicians and church leaders are in different fields of expertise, but there is much overlap. The church has a right and duty to proclaim aspects of its belief and faith as they pertain to matters affecting people. Even if others label those matters ‘political’ they remain human issues to be dealt with and spoken about.
Many years ago, Prime Minister John Howard questioned whether there really was a ‘catholic’ or ‘Anglican position’ on certain political matters. Certainly, the church has general principles on which it evaluates important social and moral questions and values. So, it could be broadly said to have a ‘catholic’ perspective on matters. However, there is often room for discussion about the specific application of such principles in any given situation. Nevertheless, the dialogue, the discussion and the speaking out need to continue.
This gives a neat segue into this next article……. Laudato Si - Encyclical by the late Pope Francis…..
II. THE ISSUE OF WATER
27. Other indicators of the present situation have to do with the depletion of natural resources. We all know that it is not possible to sustain the present level of consumption in developed countries and wealthier sectors of society, where the habit of wasting and discarding has reached unprecedented levels. The exploitation of the planet has already exceeded acceptable limits, and we still have not solved the problem of poverty.
28. Fresh drinking water is an issue of primary importance, since it is indispensable for human life and for supporting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Sources of freshwater are necessary for health care, agriculture and industry. Water supplies used to be relatively constant, but now in many places, demand exceeds the sustainable supply, with dramatic consequences in the short and long term. Large cities dependent on significant supplies of water have experienced periods of shortage, and at critical moments these have not always been administered with sufficient oversight and impartiality. Water poverty especially affects Africa, where large sectors of the population have no access to safe drinking water or experience droughts, which impede agricultural production. Some countries have areas rich in water, while others endure drastic scarcity.
29. One particularly serious problem is the quality of water available to the poor. Every day, unsafe water results in many deaths and the spread of water-related diseases, including those caused by microorganisms and chemical substances. Dysentery and cholera, linked to inadequate hygiene and water supplies, are a significant cause of suffering and of infant mortality. Underground water sources in many places are threatened by the pollution produced in certain mining, farming and industrial activities, especially in countries lacking adequate regulation or controls. It is not only a question of industrial waste. Detergents and chemical products, commonly used in many places of the world, continue to pour into our rivers, lakes and seas.
30. Even as the quality of available water is constantly diminishing, in some places there is a growing tendency, despite its scarcity, to privatise this resource, turning it into a commodity subject to the laws of the market. Yet access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Our world has a grave social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity. This debt can be paid partly by an increase in funding to provide clean water and sanitary services to the poor. But water continues to be wasted, not only in the developed world but also in developing countries that possess it in abundance. This shows that the problem of water is partly an educational and cultural issue, since there is little awareness of the seriousness of such behaviour within a context of great inequality.
31. Greater water scarcity will lead to an increase in the cost of food and the various products that depend on its use. Some studies warn that an acute water shortage may occur within a few decades unless urgent action is taken. The environmental repercussions could affect billions of people; it is also conceivable that the control of water by large multinational businesses may become a major source of conflict in this century.[23]
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Saint Vincent de Paul Society Reflections
THANKS FOR SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL SAINT VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY -WINTER APPEAL
To donate to our local Winter appeal, you can still donate. The annual winter appeal to help support those locals in need of extra help. For more details on the conference's activities, please contact Conference President Wendy Webb at wendy.webb@svdpqld.org.au
Eighteenth Sunday Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, 3 August 2025
18th Sunday Ordinary - C
THIS WEEK...
“Go to the poor you will find God” St Vincent de Paul
PRAYER
Lord, help us to serve with hearts open to true accompaniment, free from judgment, and full of your grace. Amen
ACCOMPANIMENT TO THOSE WE SERVE
Eccl 1:2,2:21-23
Col 3:1-5,9-11
Lk 12:13-21
In this week’s gospel, we see Jesus responding to a man seeking help in a dispute over inheritance. Rather than being an authority here, Jesus simply warns against greed and the illusion that possessions bring security. To go further into this, He shares a parable of “the rich fool” who stores up wealth for himself but neglects his relationship with others.
As Vincentians, this piece of scripture invites us to reflect on how we accompany those in need. It is not easy to stay out of judgement of others. And we are often supporting those who struggle with poverty, those who may seem to be in this cycle, or even those who, like the rich man, place their trust in material wealth. Yet we are called to something deeper: to journey with people, not from a place of superiority, but from a heart of compassion and humility.
True accompaniment means seeing the dignity in those we serve, walking alongside them without judgment, and recognising that their struggles whether financial, emotional, or spiritual are not for us to measure but to offer hope and support wherever we can. Our Patron, St. Vincent de Paul modelled that service must come from the heart, not from a place of charity alone, but of true solidarity.
May we always be mindful that our mission is not simply to give but to be present, to listen, and to serve in hope. Let us not store up treasures of self-importance, power or pride but instead cultivate hearts rich in mercy, presence, and humility.
(Reflection by Corinne Lindsell)
How have you been able to accompany someone in deep need?
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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.
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on each First Friday, 1st August 2025, at Sacred Heart Church from 7 pm to 8.30 pm. All are 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 the 2nd of August 2025. 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 August - Followed by morning tea. Please let others know who would love to come along.
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. 5558 0120
Pindara Hospital - Surfers Paradise Parish. 56717388
John Flynn Hospital - Coolangatta-Tugun Parish. 5598 2165
University & Gold Coast Private Hosp.- Southport Parish. 5510 2222
CHILDHOOD SACRAMENTS 2025 Please use the tables on the following pages to guide you, as you plan your child/ren’s Sacramental Journey in Surfers Paradise Parish. Please remember that your child and your family are often included in our prayers at mass and in the personal prayers of many parishioners. We all look forward to supporting you in this sacred work. The Sacramental Team 🙏😃🙏😇🙏
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, Phil Bawden, Gregory Bechly, Nellie Bellinger, Mary and Leon Brosnan, Tim Brown, Margaret and Tony Buckingham, Vicky and Andrew Campora, Gerard Carroll, Danielle Cavielli, Nadia Ceh, Terry Collins, Tina Conidi, Helen Cooper, Diane Coorey, Jamie Creed, Shirley Croft, Christopher Cunningham, Mary Curmi, Bernie Delaney, Christopher Eid, Judi Farrow, John Fox, Lorraine Gallagher, Maralyn Gow, Jenny Haines, Betty Hannon, Alan Robinson (Ireland), Jenny Johnson, Kevin & Francis Junee, Leona Kelly, Marjorie Kennedy, Kath Kiely, Gregory Kittelty, Jan Kristenson, Robert Lahey, Dallas Laine, Steve Land, Dannielle Therese Larney, Alvin Lee, Nathan Lepp, Maureen Lloyd, Veronica Lubomski, Sharyn Lucas, Victoria MacDonald, l. McGuigan, Phil and Anne McGuigan, Leonie McMahon, Anthea McMullin, Gene Monteiro-Ferdinand, Carmel Mooney, Joanne Mooney, Maryann Moore, Frances Much, Michael & Leslie Murtagh, Eileen O’Mara, Margaret Orme, Tommy Osborne, Kevin Owen, Colin Paterson, Sarah Pawley, Clare Perera, Lesley Petroni, Rachel Raines, Gus Reeves, Melba Rentoul, Bob Rogers, Neil Rogers, Jens Ryan-Raison, Marnia Ryan-Raison, Angela Sannen, Miranda Santi, Alf Schembri, Maureen Scott, Betty Taylor, Gary Thompson, Krystal & Winter Tongue, Leonardo Torcaso, Denise Tracey, Paul Trad, Iris Ware, Marcus Ware, John Zappa.
RECENTLY DECEASED: (Chronological - Most recent first):
Mary Patricia Kerr, Conor Keane (teenager from Galway Ireland), Richard Holborow, Paul Loonam, Barry Humphrey, Marth O’Boyle (Ireland), Robert Parry, Leah Mackay, John Newton, Brian Joseph Bermingham, Maria Lucarelli, Colin Leslie Wythe, Serina Castellaro, Roslyn Mathews (Tmba), Christine Mulligan, Mary Costello, Michael Kent, June O’Donnell, Lucyanna Markovic.
ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH: (Alphabetical)
Barbara June Arthurson, Aleksandra Bodziak-Zbierowska, Fr Brian Bolton, Jack Burrow, Mons Francis Burton, Nea Mary Butler, Fr Dan Carroll, Gail Cheryl Casey, Mons Vincent Cleary, Fr Mark Cosgrove, Eileen Coyle, Lyn Daly, Pamela Mary Davis, Joan Degan, Gloria June Louise Diamond, Wayne John Egan, Vera Endrody, Roslyn Mary Fisher, Stewart Gallagher, Paolo Mario (Paul) Giacomantonio, Margaret Gore, Shirley Ann Hishon, Fr Liam Horsfall, Brian Edmund Jones, Bozo Kardum, Nicholas Anthony Kyle, Vincent ‘Tiger’ McCormick, Fr Francis McKinlay, Bruce Milgate, Patrick Needham, Fr Arthur O'Brien, Fr Arthur O'Keeffe, Eileen O'Reilly, Fr Peter Schultz, Reg Sheehan, John Martin Joseph Thomas, Edgar Triffett, Fr Hilary Turner, Luigi Valdarchi, Joe Vella.
And Also: (Alphabetical):
Giuseppe Joe Alba, Marjorie Veronica Bates, William John (Bill) Burroughs, Raymond Moran Byrne, Peter Michael Casserly, Fr Bill Taylor Cm, Lumen Concepcion, David D'arcy, Janis Degano, Rachel Desira, Fr Maurice Duffy, Marie Doreen Emslie, Josephine (Joyce) Farrugia, Denis Frederick Fletcher, Elizabeth Josephine Gagiero, Santo Giardina, Fila Jones, VF Joseph, Mavis Joseph, Fr John Kelly, Patrick Kelly, Alan King, Fr Raymond Lyons, Patrick McKenzie, Norma Mary McLennan, Herbert Ernest Mitchell, Helen Therese Moffat, Len Murphy, Fr Basil Nolan, Daniel Charles (Dan) Quinn, Dennis John Rowan, Eileen Scharenguivel, R. Michael Smith (Kuranda), Fay Sorensen, Maurie Taafe, Ralph Paul Tobiano, Fay Virtue (Nee Tierney) Tyrril, Vittoria Ulliana, Diane Van Der Valk, William Cecil (Bill) Wall
The Café - “Sacred Grounds” - is Located at the Former Atrium Building near the Sacred Heart Church.
The café near the Sacred Heart Church is 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 old location in the front of the church was not ideal. The café has now reopened in the old Atrium building. This allows 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.
SACRED HEART CHURCH PARKING
A special notice - when parking, please leave the emergency and taxi pickup “yellow painted area” clear for ambulance or brief taxi drop off and pickup and the disabled parking areas are only for disability permit persons - thanks for your assistance in ensuring this important compliance]
RELIGIOUS GOODS SHOPS - SACRED HEART AND ST VINCENT’S CHURCHES
Wrist bands available at both stores only $2. Each
St Mary of the Cross (Mary Mackillop) statue available at St Vincent’s Church
Eftpos available.
WCCM - WORLD COMMUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN MEDITATION
This meditation group meets each Tuesday in the Morris Prayer Room located at 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters at 10am to 11am. This is followed by a Scripture Study of the following Sunday’s Mass readings from 11 am to 12 pm. You are welcome to attend both or either one. If you are new to meditation, we will assist you in learning about WCCM and the practice of Christian Meditation. The meditation group invites you to prepare for Easter by attending a Lenten program to be held in the Morris Prayer room as well. For more information, please contact Pam Egberts 0493 742 670.
SACRED HEART ROSARY PRAYER GROUP
Please join us to pray The Stations of the Cross, The Divine Mercy and The Rosary each day at 8:00a.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, 1st August 2025, at Sacred Heart Church from 7 pm to 8.30 pm. All are 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 the 2nd of August 2025. 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 August -
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-
Sacred Heart Bridge Club - Join Our Bridge Club! - Meet, Play, and Enjoy the Game of Bridge. Looking for a fun, social, and stimulating activity? Whether you're a returning player or a Beginner wanting to learn, our Bridge Club welcomes players of all levels!
Where: Hospitality Room
When: Monday and Wednesday from 1.00pm
Contact: Cheryl on 0417 772 701
✔ Friendly Atmosphere ✔ Lessons for Beginners ✔ Weekly Games ✔ Tea, Coffee & Good Company! Come for the cards, stay for the camaraderie!
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 email surfers@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:
28/7/25: Juliette & Abdul Speir, Nerang
4/8/25: Michelle Burda, Merrimac
11/8/25: Michelle Burda, Merrimac
18/8/25: Lilly Lingue, Varsity Lakes
25/8/25: Lilly Lingue, Varsity Lakes
1/9/25: Luciana Leong & Family, Varsity Lakes
9/9/25: Luciana Leong & Family, Varsity Lakes
15/9/25: Susan Joseph, Robina
22/9/25: Susan Joseph, Robina
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 or call 07 5671 7388.
BIBLE STUDY/PRAYER GROUP - ST VINCENT’S CHURCH, SURFERS PARADISE.
The Bible Study Prayer Group meets every Friday from 5pm-6pm 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
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 -
ALTAR SERVING in SURFERS PARADISE PARISH
Would you like to become an Altar Server in Surfers Paradise Parish?
Our church family has many ministries or roles available for people who wish to help the celebration of the mass to be as reverent and joyful as possible. For children, one of the best ways to contribute to the mass is to train to be an altar server.
There are lots of things to learn about the job of altar serving so if you are interested in finding out about this special ministry please read on.
Who can become an altar server: Any person who is a fully initiated Catholic can be an altar server. That is, someone who has received the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation and has celebrated their First Holy Communion.
Children who wish to become altar servers will be taught by Fr Bradley and the Sacramental Team. When you feel confident, you will be asked to serve on the altar with other experienced servers.
How to find out more about Altar Serving Ministry: Ask one of your parents to ring the Parish Office (5671 7388) and leave your full name and contact details. Please direct all enquiries and volunteering through the Parish Office. Then Fr Bradley and the Sacramental Team will contact your family and invite you to a training workshop. Fr Bradley meeting some future altar servers at St Vincent’s
To tune in to Our parish Podcast of the Mass for Sundays and Solemnities, please visit regularly the following link: 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://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en/pellegrinaggio/calendario-giubileo.html}
MARY, MOTHER OF HOPE
Message of the Prior General on the occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (16th July)
Brothers and Sisters,
Once again, we have the great joy of celebrating the solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as a celebration of the Church and the whole Carmelite Family throughout the world.
We do so this year as part of the Jubilee Year, an event that gives added significance to our novenas, processions and liturgical celebrations because this year, the late Pope Francis asked us to look at the hope that is in our lives and at the foundations of that hope, Jesus Christ and Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
Because of them and what they represent, we are able to live in hope with a hope that cannot disappoint. Jesus is the Incarnate Word of God. Mary is the handmaid of the Lord, ever obedient to his Word. Jesus, hanging on the Cross is the promise of resurrection, the victory over all that could hold us back. Mary stood and understood and without knowing what was happening, remained in hope and did not turn away as she saw her Son dying of crucifixion.
In this Jubilee Year, that sees us all as pilgrims of hope, our faith and hope are being tested. Each day we hear news of war in different places. The news from Gaza each day tells of 20, 30, 60 or even 90 people, men, women and children who can die in one attack. Each attack is the result of careful thought and planning and uses the best of human talent to make the attack possible.
I think of what it must be like to begin the day in Gaza, or in Kiev. It is hard to think that the people have slept but even so the new day has to begin. What will the new day bring, more death, more destruction, more rubble, and again the cry, when and how will it all end? What does one do when surrounded by rubble, when the home that was there yesterday is now a total ruin and the blood of one’s family has turned the stones to red? How often people must feel, we are lost, we have no hope, there is no one to save us?
The tragedy of war saddens us. News of natural disasters also saddens us. While we speak of natural disasters, we know that in many cases, so-called natural disasters can be prevented, or if not prevented, their consequences can be less severe. We believe that because of our advances in science there is a lotmore we can do.
While the human heart must suffer deeply seeing what is happening, we still have hope and that hope does not disappoint. The Jubilee is an occasion for giving thanks to God, the author of life, listening deeply to his Word and putting things right in our relationships with God, with one another and with the earth that is ourhome, a home made for every child of God, and child of Mary.
Today we can give thanks because we have reason to hope. Every time we turn to the Gospel we discover again the reason for our hope and we give thanks. The Gospel speaks of Jesus revealing the love and mercy of the Father. The Gospel speaks of Mary receiving that word and putting it into practice. The Gospel speaks of a way of life that is all about love and treating every other human being as our brother and our sister.
This is the world that the Gospel offers to us. It is not just a pious thought. It is not merely an unreachable dream. It is a reality that we are able to achieve and it has been achieved by people who put their faith in Jesus Christ as Mary did, and sought to live a simple life of love and service to others. This is the life that millions of people strive to obtain, for themselves and for their families, but something has gone wrong. There is a part of our society that has let us down. It is that part that does not see human beings as brothers and sisters to one another, does not see other people as their sisters and brothers but rather as rivals, competitors, servants of their ambition, fodder for their greed. People with that mentality, preaching their gospel of power and exclusion of opulence and greed, have somehow convinced, captivated or corrupted too many leaders in this world, giving them permission to make laws that serve themselves and to turn away, exclude, and punish the masses who are the victims of this power game and who begin to feel there is no use in opposing this power and therefore the only thing to do is to accept it and become part of it. “If you cannot beat them, join them”.
In the days of the prophets the situation was much the same. Again and again true prophets had to rise up and condemn the oppressive ways of the bad shepherds and restore the hope of the people in the shepherds who were dedicated to their people. Elijah arose like a fire. He abhorred what the idolatry of Ahab and Jezebel was doing to the people, removing the identity of the people, taking away their reason for hope and taking the food out of their mouths to feed it to the horses.
Elijah rose like a fire. Elijah was there to defend the dignity of the human person and the true image of God. How often today the name of God is used to support the most inhumane of causes!
In her time Mary could see the same truths. She saw that God raised up the lowly and removed the mighty from their thrones. She saw that God fed the starving and sent the rich away empty. She saw that God is faithful to his promises, as the small community began to take shape around her and she treasured the words spoken byJesus from the cross, “Woman, behold your son”. She knew that all that her Son had said was true, because all his words were words of salvation.
When he spoke of how blessed are the poor, the peace makers, the pure in heart, the prophets of justice, all of those words were words of salvation and they were true for that reason. When He spoke about building our house on a rock and not on sand all of that was true and when He spoke of coming to serve and not to be served that too was true and when He spoke of loving God with our whole heart and soul and strength and our neighbour as ourselves, that too was true. All of these words are true because they are words of salvation. Now, today, we are deceived and disorientated by many words, spoken to defend causes that should not be defended because they offend the dignity of the human person and are not words of salvation.
The psalmist has a word for us, “My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word. My soul is longing for the Lord, more than watchman for daybreak” (Ps 130). Do we find this confidence in ourselves, in the way that Mary found it, and does it give us the kind of hope that is as sure and safe and reliable as the dawn that will surely follow the night, as every watchman knows?
Where then is our hope, that sure hope that will not fail us and that we are encouraged to discover in this Jubilee year? That hope is in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, in Mary, the Mother of the Incarnate Word, always obedient to that Word. That hope is also in our sisters and brothers who have believed in that Word. We are not alone. As we ponder each year that story of Mary standing at the foot of the cross, we can think of the generations of people who received Mary as their mother and took Mary into their lives and their homes as her Children. We are not alone. When we pray for peace, we are in union with thousands of people worldwide, whose humanity is still alive and well, who have not bent the knee to Baal or any other cruel and hard-hearted idol. We are not alone.
Elijah once thought that he was all alone, that all the prophets had been killed and he alone was left, and they wanted to kill him too (I Kg 19,18). Then he had to discover that no, he was not alone, there were seven thousand other prophets who had not bent their knee to Baal.
Today we have to look around us in this Jubilee Year and see the vast array of people, of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, who cherish the humanity they have received from the Creator and long only to live in peace and harmony with their neighbour, have space and dignity for their families and play their part in building a world where there is space and dignity for all.
What must it be like to be homeless, to have small children that you cannot protect, to hear the sound of the enemy in the sky and seconds later see the destruction that one bomb, not mind a thousand, can wreak in a matter of seconds. What words, ideas, messages, ambitions, and obligations are in the minds of the men and women who give the instructions, and the men and women who carry them out?
The Jubilee year comes to us as a time to give thanks to God and to build new relationships where the former relationships were not built on being brothers and sisters to one another. There is no limit to the number of sons and daughters that Mary received at the foot of the cross, and there is no limit to the men and women who can accept Mary into their home as her children. Here we create a new humanity in which we recognise that the mother and brothers and sisters of Jesus, in life, on the cross and in the resurrection are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice. These are the people who hear words of salvation, cherish those words and make them their own. They can filter out and reject the words of violence and destruction, words of hatred and revenge, words of greed and ambitions to lord it over others.
Now in the world, we hear some of our leaders saying that we must be prepared for war, that it would be naive to think otherwise. We hear again that so-called wisdom that says, “If you want peace, prepare for war”. We hear words that say to us, You have to bully others into peace: peace comes through strength, there is no other way. Peace through strength is true, but what kind of strength? Our faith in Jesus Christ will always say, our real strength is in our ability to rely on God’s word and to reach out with that same word to touch the hearts of men and women who themselves have been touched by the love of God and long in the depths of their heart, there where the cry of humanity is loud and clear, to forgive one another and build new relationships of sisterhood and brotherhood for the good of all.
Now we must pause and see, what hope can do for us today. Our hope is in Christ Jesus and that hope does not disappoint but is it right to lose hope in humankind, in our sisters and brothers. The Psalmist tells us (Ps 117), “do not put your trust in princes, put your trust in the Lord and he will save you”. Yet it cannot be right not to hope in our brothers and sisters, in human beings. If we did that we would be playing the game of those who would take away from us our vision of God and our understanding of the dignity of the human person, only to replace it with a very poor and sometimes disgusting image of the human person. God has put so much of God into humanity that we can see one another are true children of God, brothers and sisters to one another.
Our way of understanding is based on the Gospel, on the law of love, on the revelation of God and of God’s love that has been given to us as exemplified in Mary and our saints, as exemplified in the ProphetsElijah and Elisha and given to us from the moment that we were called to live in allegiance to Jesus Christ.
Is there any way we can share that message with the world in a way that will convince minds and changehears, so that those who have all the power will use it to serve and not to be served and those who do not have power will give that power to one another by receiving all that comes from God, and sharing it freely, so that that no one is left in need.
No one should be left in need of anything that is necessary for the human person to live a life of dignity in a world in which the dignity of every person is respected to the full. “Woman, behold your son, Son behold your mother”. It is in these words coming from the mouth of the Son of God hanging dying on the cross we learn to hope in God and in one another, because of the truth of these words, because they are wordsof salvation. From these words we learn how much God has done for us and how much more he will do for those who turn to him and learn what it is to be meek and humble of heart. It is the same Son of God who says, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are those who work for justice, blessed are the meek.
I pray that our celebrations of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in this Jubilee Year, may renew our hope, increase our joy and lead many others to find that hope and joy in Jesus the Incarnate Word, in Mary the Mother of Jesus ever obedient to his word, and in the people who adorn each day of our lives, as brothers and sisters, pilgrims of hope.
Fr. Míċeál O’Neill O.Carm – Prior General
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THE BIBLE TIMELINE – THE STORY OF SALVATION
ADULT FAITH FORMATION BIBLE STUDY
CONTINUES on LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH 2025
In the Parish Hospitality Centre - (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/
A VOCATION VIEW:
Jesus calls us to be generous with the gifts that he has given. When we share our treasures with others, we will have a true treasure in heaven. (Luke 12:12-21)
To talk to someone about your vocation, contact Vocation Brisbane: 1300 133 544. vocation@bne.catholic.net.au and www.vocationbrisbane.com
STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION -
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Luke 12:15
The Gospel message is contrary to modern culture that continually tries to convince us that our joy comes from the material things we possess. That the more we acquire, the happier we will be. Jesus shows us that our true joy comes from our “invisible” gifts like love, mercy and forgiveness. True joy comes from “emptying” ourselves, giving of ourselves rather than always taking. We are called not to hoard but to share. True joy comes from living a grateful and generous lifestyle; becoming more “God-centred” and less “self-centred.”
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: Dizzy yet?
“For what profit comes to [us] from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which [we have] laboured under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23).
Do you ever feel like the world is spinning out of control? You're not alone: Pope Francis has called this effect of modern culture "rapidification." It's not just you: Things really are happening, progressing, and becoming obsolete faster—including what many of us do for a living. We're not unlike the tragic lamplighter in Catholic author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's classic, The Little Prince. The lamplighter's planet is turning faster, but he still operates at the same mortal speed. He must now respond to 1,440 sunsets where there used to be just one. Now more than ever, we need to honour our Sabbaths and take our rest.
SIGN UP FOR "TAKE FIVE" DAILY - www.takefiveforfaith.com/subscribe
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.
THIS WEEKEND’S GOSPEL - -To listen to the whole Sunday Mass each week (including homily) from Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish, including the Easter Mass - please visit this link:
Liturgy for you at Home (by SPCP) - https:- soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks.
Homily: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C - Sunday, 3 August 2025
Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/sjoqDJ8kniw9KjrdwMBY/first-century-palestine-the-parable-of-the-rich-man-who-stores-all-his-grain-in-barns-only-to-die-th?ru=Paul-Evangelion
PROLOGUE
What are we putting all our effort and time and energy into? That's a very good question and its message comes through clearly in this weekend's readings. The gospel parable is meant to snap us out of our apathy and lack of focus and bring us back into reality to get our priorities right. Some of the things we can spend an enormous amount of time and energy and resources on will produce limited fruits and some very questionable quality.
So what are we putting our real focus on, and is it really on the kingdom of God? [FHL]
Homily
In some ways, today's gospel contains a similar theme to the gospel of a couple of weeks ago, with Mary and Martha. Just like that gospel, it's quite possible to be working very, very hard and keeping extremely busy, hardly ever stopping. But at the same time, it's possible to be busy and distracted by many things, but that doesn't make those things important.
They may not be the best use of our time. It's possible to be so busy that we don't focus on the things that are actually of vital importance. We might be worrying and focusing on eventualities that never happen, while missing out on those things that are already happening.
This weekend's reading makes a timely point. Some of the things we spend an enormous amount of time, energy and resources on are going to produce very limited fruits and some with very questionable quality. In the parable today, God intervenes to show the man, the rich man, how foolish and misguided his plans for the future are.
This doesn't mean that in the next life he's condemned to hell. It doesn't necessarily suggest that. Rather, the point here is to be clear about the priorities that we make in this life, so that we respond to the meaning of life itself.
Jesus rejects the accumulation of riches for oneself because it's not following God's will of selfless and generous loving service towards God and others. In setting our priorities, we're encouraged to keep that always in mind. The rich man thinks only of himself.
He even talks about himself and to himself. This man also works for himself and stores food for himself. It's a mean, lonely and distorted worldview where he's trapped in a very selfish and isolated world all of his own.
Jesus reminds us that we're in union with others around us. They are our brothers and sisters. We're all part of God's family.
We are actually diminished as people that God has created us to be if our purposes and actions go no further than self-satisfaction. This foolish man, named so by God himself, lets his fear and self-focus absorb him completely. And so the man has a bad and unexpected ending.
In a way, we already know what a good ending to this parable would be. The rich man has a good year and is so happy that he himself and those around him. What a wonderful year.
God has blessed me. God has blessed us. Quickly, tell others to come along and take some of the grain.
Let's share in it. What I want for all of us is to celebrate in this wonderful blessing and share in it so we might all have something and a bit left over for a rainy day for all of us. Now, it may very well be that this good soul might still pass away at the same time as the foolish man that same night.
He isn't being taken because he did the right or the wrong thing. But then God will say to him, not, you fool, but, well done, my good and faithful servant. You've made yourself rich in my sight and in the sight of your brothers and sisters whom you have helped now enter into your heavenly inheritance.
And what a beautiful inheritance you have left behind. We know that God will do this because other kingdom parables show that same kind of situation and this vision fills our hearts with joy. This is how the man could have made himself rich in the sight of God and win lasting praise from people of goodwill everywhere.
Whether he had a short life or a long life, his gratitude, his generosity, his service, his care for others would flow out into graciousness, care and compassion. May we use our gifts for the good of all and for the greater good of God's kingdom.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
**SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.
Image Credit- https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/sjoqDJ8kniw9KjrdwMBY/first-century-palestine-the-parable-of-the-rich-man-who-stores-all-his-grain-in-barns-only-to-die-th?ru=Paul-Evangelion
THE WISDOM OF THE SAINTS:
Saint JOHN VIANNEY, PRIEST.
Persistence is a virtue. Sometimes a vocation comes packaged with obstacles. Perhaps it is God’s way of testing our resolve. In any case, John Vianney, born in revolutionary France in 1786, modelled persistence in his determination to become a priest. His religious training was disrupted by the anticlerical reign of terror unleashed during the French Revolution. Priests in hiding who risked their lives to administer the sacraments became Vianney’s heroes, and once the church was reestablished, Vianney entered seminary. Today we know him as the patron saint of parish priests. May his story inspire us to overcome obstacles that keep us from our God-given vocation, whatever that might be. (Matthew 16:13-23 (410). “You think not as God does, but as human beings do”).
MEMORIAL OF THE DEDICATION OF THE BASILICA OF MARY MAJOR
At home in a house church
Christians first gathered in homes, or “house churches,” before there were dedicated religious buildings. Remember the “upper room” where the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit? It was likely one of the first house churches. As Christians could express their faith more freely, churches were built. The Basilica of Mary Major in Rome is one of the most historic and significant churches. It was built from Mary's deep love and significance in salvation history. It holds many important relics, works of art, and the sacred experiences of pilgrims since the fifth century. What is a church that has been especially meaningful for you?. “See, upon the mountains there advances the bearer of good news, announcing peace!” (Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7)
St Dominic, Priest. 03 August. Memorial.
Born at Calaruega (Spain) about 1170. Died at Bologna (Italy) on 6 August 1221. An Augustinian canon noted for prayer, penance, and an exemplary life. In a time of violent crusades he sought the reconciliation of Albigensian heretics through instruction and prayer. Established the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) to revitalise the Church through study, teaching, preaching, and prayer. Remembered as a preacher, organiser, and patron of learning.
Arm yourself with prayer rather than a sword; wear humility rather than fine clothes.
We must sow the seed, not hoard it.
I would tell them to kill me slowly and painfully, a little at a time so that I might have a more glorious crown in heaven. (When asked what he would say if faced with martyrdom).
A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule them or be ruled by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.
I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God.
You are my companion and must walk with me. For if we hold together, no earthly power can withstand us. (Words addressed to St. Francis of Assisi, his good friend).
I feel a longing and a need to be a Saint. I did not know it was so easy to be one, but now I see that one can be holy and happy too. I feel I simply must be a Saint.
If I do not become a Saint, I am doing nothing.
Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death, and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life.
Saint Dominic and the Rosary: In a vision, Our Lady appeared to him and showed him a rosary-shaped wreath made of roses. She advised him to teach the true faith to everyone who would listen, and say the rosary every day, and eventually the true faith would prevail. The rosary was actually invented before Dominic, although he is frequently given credit for its invention. Dominic did, however, popularise the rosary and use it to deepen his own spiritual life. Below are quotes from Saint Dominic on the power of the Rosary.
One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world.
The Holy Rosary is the best artillery against demons and their followers.
Whoever devoutly serves the Blessed Virgin through the recitation of the Rosary will infallibly receive blessings according to their spiritual and temporal needs.
You see the wonderful results I have had in preaching the Holy Rosary. You and those who love Our Lady must do the same; through the holy devotion of the Rosary, you will attract all to the true science of the virtues.
one who perseveres in devotion to the Holy Rosary will be condemned.
FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 in the morning, an atomic bomb exploded above Hiroshima, Japan, dropped from an American B-29 bomber. In an instant, some 70,000 souls were incinerated by the 10,000-degree fireball generated in the blast. By the end of the year, injury and radiation doubled the total number of deaths. Seventy-five years later, Pope Francis declared using atomic weapons, even possessing such devices, immoral. Reflect on the transfigured Christ who stands in solidarity with the suffering and the dead of all crimes against humanity. Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Luke 9:28b-36 (614). “While praying, his face changed in appearance, and his clothing became dazzling white.”
Saint Teresa of Kolkata
There is a beautiful reflection, attributed to Saint Teresa of Kolkata, (which was actually written by an American man named Kent M. Keith and published in a 1968 College Pamphlet. However, a framed copy of this reflection was kept on the wall in one of Mother Teresa's Orphanages). It goes like this: "People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centred; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you; be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others may destroy overnight; Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous; be happy anyway. The good you do today will often be forgotten; do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it may never be enough; give your best anyway. (Kent M. Keith. "The Paradoxical Commandments: Finding Personal Meaning in a Crazy World." October 25, 2001." (ISBN-10: 1930722052).)
The Wisdom of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)
"Do not accept anything as love which lacks truth."
"All those who seek truth, seek God, whether this is clear to them or not."
"To suffer and to be happy although suffering, to have one's feet on the earth, to walk on the dirty and rough paths of this earth and yet to be enthroned with Christ at the Father's right hand, to laugh and cry with the children of this world and ceaselessly sing the praises of God with the choirs of angels—this is the life of the Christian until the morning of eternity breaks forth."
"Intellect is the light which illuminates its path, and without this light, emotion changes back and forth. In fact, if emotions prevail over the intellect, it is able to obscure the light and distort the picture of the entire world…. Emotional stirrings need the control of reason and the direction of the will." "At first, after her conversion she thought she would have to renounce all that was secular and live totally immersed in God, but then she realized that, even in the contemplative life, you cannot sever all connection with the world, that the deeper you are drawn into God, the more you must go out of yourself to the world in order to carry the divine life into it." (https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/82877.Edith_Stein).
POPE LEO REFLECTIONS -
Image Credit- Shutterstock Licensed. Image details -Asset id: 2639231525- Vatican City, Italy June 8, 2025:Pope Leo XIV leaves the square. Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost, in St. Peter's Square celebrates Pentecost Sunday, Holy Mass - Jubilee of Movements, Associations
Pope Leo XIV:
Seek grace to pursue path of unity and fraternal charity
At Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV received Greek Orthodox, Byzantine Catholic, and Latin Catholic pilgrims from the United States who are taking part in an ecumenical pilgrimage to Rome, Constantinople, and Nicea.
By Christopher Wells
A joint Orthodox-Catholic pilgrimage to Rome, Constantinople, and Nicea “is one of the abundant fruits of the ecumenical movement aimed at restoring full unity among all Christ’s disciples,” Pope Leo XIV told participants in the pilgrimage on Thursday, as he welcomed them to the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.
The pilgrimage “From Rome to New Rome” comprises fifty Greek Orthodox, Byzantine Catholic, and Latin Catholic pilgrims from the United States, and is being led by the Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.
In his greetings, Pope Leo noted that the pilgrimage is intended “to return to the sources”: to Rome, where Sts Peter and Paul were martyred; Constantinople—now Istanbul—associated with St Andrew; and to Nicea, the site of the first Ecumenical Council 1700 years ago this year.
The Pope went on to highlight the common celebration of Easter in 2025, observed on the same date by those who follow both the Gregorian and Julian liturgical calendars, which allowed all Christians to proclaim together the Easter Alleluia, “Christ is risen! He is truly risen!”
Those words, Pope Leo XIV said, proclaim the passion and resurrection of Jesus, “the Lamb that was slain” to redeem us from “the darkness of sin and death.” The redemption won by Christ “inspires us with great hope” while also calling us “to be witnesses and bearers of hope,” recalling the motto of the Jubilee Year, pilgrims of hope.
“It is my hope that your pilgrimage will confirm all of you in the hope born of our faith in the Risen Lord!” Pope Leo said.
Looking ahead to the group’s visit to Constantinople, the Pope asked the pilgrims to convey his greetings to the Patriarch Bartholomew, saying he hoped to meet him again in person during the ecumenical commemoration of the anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
The Holy Father went on to describe the group’s ecumenical pilgrimage as one of the many signs that “already manifest the theological progress and the dialogue of charity that mark recent decades,” especially since the Joint Declaration of Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras removing the mutual excommunications that followed the break in relations between Rome and Constantinople in 1054.
“For our part,” the Pope said, “we too must continue to implore from the Paraclete, the Consoler, the grace to pursue the path of unity and fraternal charity.” Looking ahead to the two-thousandth anniversary of the Redemption, Pope Leo said, “Spiritually, we must all return to Jerusalem, the City of Peace,” where the Apostles received the Holy Spirit before going on to bear witness to Christ “to the ends of the earth.”
Pope Leo concluded his address with the prayer, “May our return to the roots of our faith make all of us experience the gift of God’s consolation and make us capable, like the Good Samaritan, of pouring out the oil of consolation and the wine of gladness on today’s humanity.”
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 25”
An ancient medieval practice that developed in the Catholic Church was to bless one’s home with blessed chalk at the yearly Solemnity of the Epiphany. On the door or the lintel will be this symbol:
20 + C + M + B + 25 *
*”Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar” (the traditional names of the Three Wise Men)
And also representing the prayer: *Christus Mansionem Benedicat
May Christ bless this home.
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, ‘25, of this century to the protection of the Lord.
May the Lord bless this abode.
The letters C+M+B represent Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior, the three Wise Men. CMB is also the initials of the Latin prayer “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” - “May Christ Bless this dwelling place/ abode/ home.”
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Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary (Never Known to Fail)
O Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel,
Fruitful Vine, Splendour of Heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.
O Star of the Sea, help me and show me here you are my Mother.
O Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Queen of Heaven and Earth,
I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in this necessity
(make your request here).
There are none that can withstand your power.
O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times)
Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands. (3 times)
Amen.
SYNOD 24 - ARCHDIOCESE OF BRISBANE - ACTION PLANS
BASED ON THE PLENARY COUNCIL DECREES
The Action Plans for the 8 Decrees that came out of the National Catholic Plenary Council initially, which we as a Parish participated in very enthusiastically, have now been through the process of SYNOD 24 for the Archdiocese of Brisbane and can be found by clicking on the link below or for those of us who are challenged in this area, we have also repeated below. We look forward to your respectful comments and meaningful discussion as to how we as a Parish go forward. Remembering we cannot do everything but can take one small step at a time. Once again we will call on the Holy Spirit to guide our decision making.
Synod24-Decrees-Document-web.pdf
PLENARY COUNCIL DECREE 1 - HEALING WOUNDS, RECEIVING GIFTS
The focus here is on the need for a new engagement of the Church with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, beginning with a new kind of listening in the belief that we all can and must learn from the first inhabitants of the land
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD ACTION PLANS
*** That, building on the Archdiocesan Reconciliation Action Plan, the Archdiocese develop and implement an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander truth-telling, professional learning and formation plan that provides opportunities for all those within parishes, communities and agencies to come to a deeper recognition, appreciation and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures and spiritualities
** That the Archdiocese develop and distribute culturally appropriate resources to assist parishes, communities and agencies to include aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, traditions, spiritualities, ritual and symbol in prayers and liturgies
** That the Archdiocese develop culturally specific learning and formation opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
PLENARY COUNCIL DECREE 2 - CHOOSING REPENTANCE, SEEKING HEALING The focus here is on addressing sexual abuse in the Church, making amends for failures in the past and working to ensure that the Church is a safe place for all, but especially for the young and the vulnerable
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD ACTION PLANS
*** That in dialogue with survivors, the consequences of physical, sexual and spiritual abuse by Church personnel be addressed within the Archdiocese through truth-telling and story-telling sessions in safe spaces that may give survivors and their family members a voice to be heard and honoured, and support for research and programs related to trauma-informed spiritual care and the long-term impact of spiritual harm
** That a Sunday of the liturgical year be set aside within the Archdiocese to focus upon safeguarding and healing, with a reassessment of Safeguarding Sunday looking to rename, refocus and resituate it, with the preparation of appropriate ritual and resources, including an annual commissioning of local safeguarding people
** That the Archdiocese, in dialogue with survivors, implement processes that seek forgiveness for historical failings, recognising and addressing their needs. This could include a formal apology to survivors and their families, symbolic plaques and/or artwork in significant locations, theological reflection on sexual abuse within the Church which ought to be a place of refuge and safety, retreats and days of prayer that can foster healing, and the training of appropriately gifted people to undertake a ministry to survivors and their families.
PLENARY COUNCIL DECREE 3 - CALLED BY CHRIST, SENT FORTH AS MISSIONARY DISCIPLES
The focus here is on the Church as a community of welcome for all, but especially for those who have been marginalised or excluded, listening to their stories and creating safe and hospitable spaces for them within the Church
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD ACTION PLANS
*** That an Archdiocesan family and intergenerational ministry working group be formed to develop and implement a holistic, intergenerational and inclusive approach to family faith-formation across educational and other Archdiocesan agencies in order to foster lifelong missionary discipleship
** That this working group explore ways of strengthening partnerships between parishes, schools, communities and agencies, develop and implement sacramental resources for children with diverse learning needs and disabilities, including training for sacramental coordinators and volunteers to use the resources, develop a safe and supportive network for parents and carers of children and young people who may need additional support to feel welcome, offer advice upon request at decision-making tables at all levels of Archdiocesan governance.
* That there be in self-nominated Mass centres the Eucharist and other liturgical celebrations catering for diverse needs within the community, provided with resourcing around mentorship, formation, training and succession-planning for self nominated clergy, religious and laity
*** That the Archdiocese provide facilitated listening sessions, workshops and forums for safe and supportive story-telling, truth-telling and dialogue, in order to raise awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by those who are marginalised and disenfranchised
** That with the support and mentorship of the Archdiocesan Council for Ecumenism and Interreligious Relations, Queensland Churches Together and the Queensland Faith Communities Council, a co-responsible deanery approach to ecumenism and interreligious relations be developed and implemented, including short courses on ecumenism and interreligious relations, formation of individuals for work in ecumenical and interreligious relations, ecumenical retreats and pilgrimages, ecumenical and interreligious youth summits
*** That a strategic approach to mission in the digital environment be developed and implemented, focusing on the creation of digital media within a Catholic context, formation and training of people to work in the field, and including research into the possibilities and challenges of engaging the sacramental life of the Church through digital platforms such as live-streamed liturgies
** That the Archdiocese develop a pastoral ministry in sport, including formation and support programs and research into best practice and recommended qualifications, training and study pathways for sports chaplains.
PLENARY COUNCIL DECREE 4 - WITNESSING TO THE EQUAL DIGNITY OF WOMEN AND MEN The focus here is on ensuring that the Church is a place where the equal dignity of women and men is respected and where the gifts of both women and men are identified and allowed to flourish for the sake of leadership within the Body of Christ
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD ACTION PLANS
* That, if the universal law of the Church were modified to admit women to diaconal ordination, the Archdiocese examine how best to implement it in the context of the Church in Brisbane *** That a fulltime role of Executive Officer for Participation be established to design, implement and resource a plan for the full co-responsible participation of lay women and men in the life and mission of the Church ** That a reference group be established to explore options for the use of inclusive language in prayer, liturgy, scripture and all Archdiocesan communications * That a research project be established to explore the theological foundations of diverse understandings of women in the Church, leading to an assembly on co-responsibility of all the baptised in the life and mission of the Church *** That a pilot program be established to financially support the postgraduate education and formation of lay women and men in various areas of interest and importance to the Church, with the Archdiocese providing the initial funds with a view to establishing a foundation. A transparent application process would be overseen by the Archdiocesan Synod Council (see Action Plan 7) and approved finally by the Archbishop.
PLENARY COUNCIL DECREE 5 - COMMUNION IN GRACE, SACRAMENT TO THE WORLD
The focus here is on the need to identify and foster the charisms given by God and to encourage new forms of ministry to supply the needs of the Church not only internally, for the sake of worship, but also externally, for the sake of mission
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD ACTION PLANS
** That a ministry of front-of-house hospitality be developed and implemented for secretaries and other administrative staff in parishes and communities, recognising and formalising what is often happening, offering training and networking opportunities to those engaged in the ministry, devising processes of recruitment and care of those called to the ministry, and developing resources to help those engaged in the ministry
*** That the Archdiocese explore fully the possibilities of the ministries of catechist, lector and acolyte and consider what other ministries, open to all, instituted or not, might be needed to meet new needs
*** That the Archdiocese establish a Ministries Discernment Committee to oversee the recruitment, formation, commissioning, institution and continuing education of those preparing for or carrying out such ministries
** That the Archdiocese support and provide resources for lay-led liturgies where appropriate, particularly for parishes and communities without regular access to clergy
** That the Archdiocese give permission for lay people to preside at Catholic funerals and baptisms, indicating the circumstances in which this would be permitted and providing both discernment process and training programs for those involved in this ministry
** That the Archdiocese give permission for lay people to preside at Catholic weddings (in line with Chapter III of the Order of Celebrating Matrimony), indicating the circumstances in which this might occur and the process of delegation ** That the Archdiocese promote the participation of lay people in the ministry of preaching within the Sunday Mass and elsewhere, identifying the situations in which a lay person might offer a reflection during Mass, providing adequate training and support which would include sessions on how to run a Scripture study group, how to write and deliver a Lectionary-based reflection on the readings, how to make best use of the Directory for Masses with Children, drawing upon the resources of Archdiocesan agencies and organisations
*** That the Archdiocese develop and implement a project supporting the integration of families into parishes and communities in order to promote their sense of belonging and engagement in the life of the Church, providing resources to facilitate the incorporation of families into the community both before and after the sacraments of initiation and resources to support family catechesis when preparing children for the sacraments
** That the Archdiocese establish a network of groups working in marriage education and enrichment, including marriage preparation for engaged couples and ongoing accompaniment for married couples
*** That the Archdiocese develop and implement a formation strategy on the sacrament of penance and the many ways in which God’s mercy is experienced in Christian life and liturgy, providing resources and examples, such as ritual outlines for the celebration of the sacrament of penance, including the second rite, offering retreat opportunities for different age groups to enable them to experience the sacrament of penance, and revising the current sacramental policy on the provision of first penance for children.
PLENARY COUNCIL DECREE 6 - FORMATION AND LEADERSHIP FOR MISSION AND MINISTRY
The focus here is on providing in a variety of ways the formation needed for ordained and non-ordained leadership in the Church, so that leaders will be properly equipped for the ministry to which they are called
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD ACTION PLANS
*** That the Archdiocese develop a plan for ministry and leadership formation, including a working group representing key people in formation and developing resources and programs on missional and synodal leadership such as podcasts, online modules and retreats, particularly for emerging leaders who have skills and qualifications equipping them for governance, leadership and other decision-making roles
* That the Archdiocese develop and implement opportunities for lay people to be engaged in ongoing spiritual growth beyond the liturgical context, including in small groups that meet regularly for prayer, bible study, reflection on Church documents, and spiritual accompaniment
* That parishes and deaneries offer formation events drawing upon experts to reflect on key topics such as prayer, scripture, sacraments, marriage and family, mission, care for our common home and inclusivity. SYNOD24
** That pathways for greater lay involvement in the ongoing formation of clergy and the formation of seminarians be identified, providing avenues for accompaniment of clergy by lay people and assisting pastors to work with a small group of lay people to provide regular feedback on homilies, based on an agreed criteria matrix
*** That the Archdiocese develop and implement a road-map for a mission focused Church that is synodal and co-responsible, including localised and ongoing conversations in the Spirit as a regular part of planning, decision-making, pastoral care and community-building
** That the Archdiocese teach simply and systematically the discipline and method of conversation in the Spirit as a way of discernment, attempting to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit in listening to each other.
* That the Archdiocese produce podcasts and digital media resources exploring what it means to read the signs of the times in the light of the Gospel
*** That the Archdiocese, at a time when the ethnic profile of the Catholic Church is changing both locally and globally, organise forums on interculturality in a missional, synodal and co-responsible Church.
*** That a SYNOD24 Formation and Implementation Plan be developed and implemented, providing opportunities for formation in all eight Action Plans and including resources and workshops in areas such as how to share faith with friends, how to engage with scripture, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island spirituality, integral ecology, sacraments and sacramentality, inclusive theology, the role of women in the Church, ecumenism and interreligious relations.
*** That the Archdiocese offers workshops and practical resources on how to implement the SYNOD24 Action Plans in parishes, communities and agencies across the Archdiocese.
PLENARY COUNCIL DECREE 7 - AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION, PARTICIPATION AND MISSION: GOVERNANCE
The focus here is on the governance of the Church in a synodal key, looking to synods as a regular feature of Church life and to synodality as the characteristic of all aspects of Church governance for the sake of mission
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD ACTION PLANS
*** That the Archdiocese commit to celebrating Synods on a regular basis, so that this key element of synodality become a normal part of Archdiocesan life
*** That the Archdiocese establish a Synod Council which will meet regularly through the year between the Synods, members committing to formation in and practice of conversation in the Spirit as a key element of meetings and to formation in the nature and purpose of the Council
** That the Council commit to diverse representation including a mix of lay women and men, religious and the ordained.
** That the Archdiocese prepare Statutes for the Council ARCHDIOCESAN SUMMIT 2023 2 4 / ARCHDIOCESE OF BRISBANE SYNOD24 Action Plans
** That the Archdiocese develop and implement a project to operate at deanery level to identify lay people who are women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, persons with a disability or from a cultural community, and who seem suitable to serve on councils and committees in the parish or the Archdiocese with the right kind of mentorship, accompaniment and formation, especially in the areas of synodality, co-responsibility and mission
** That the Archdiocese develop and implement a parish handover process that includes consultation with members of the parish, especially the Parish Pastoral Council, and the preparation of a statement of what the parish expects of a pastor.
* That there be in the Archdiocese regular performance reviews of pastors to identify areas of strength and areas for growth, with ongoing professional supervision to foster growth.
PLENARY COUNCIL DECREE 8 - INTEGRAL ECOLOGY AND CONVERSION FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COMMON HOME
The focus here is on the need for ecological conversion in the life and mission of the Church, understanding that the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are the one thing, and that ecological conversion must lead to action
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD ACTION PLANS
*** That an integral ecology formation strategy be developed and implemented for clergy, community leaders, agency staff and parishioners, to be revised every three years, helping them to grow in understanding of integral ecology and its impact on our behaviour and drawing where appropriate on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wisdom, and engaging with already existing eco-spirituality resources
* That all organisations, parishes and schools writing a Laudato Si Action Plan include a framework for measuring and reporting emission reduction that leads to a considered net zero pathway that includes commitment and timeframes.
* That, in addition to the emission reduction strategies, Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities be developed in the Archdiocese with a view to assisting all agencies, parishes and communities to embed measurable ESG outcomes into their future Laudato Si Action Plans. SANTA TERESA SPIRITUALITY CENTRE.
*** That an Ecological Ministry Strategic Plan be developed and implemented to support ecological ministry throughout the Archdiocese, recruiting deanery representatives to create hubs that support ecological ministers overseen by a coordinator employed by the Archdiocese to support action in parishes and communities
* That intergenerational and family initiatives be developed to promote the call to care for our common home
* That parishes, communities and agencies share their activities in the area of ecological engagement at events and through avenues of communication, and that cross-agency collaboration in this area be coordinated and encouraged throughout the Archdiocese.
*** That the Archdiocese produce guidelines and resources for parish clergy and liturgy coordinators indicating ways in which a commitment to integral ecology can be integrated into liturgical celebrations.
CLOSING REMARKS
Some of these action plans already have currency in one form or other in the Archdiocese, or at least in some parts of the Archdiocese. The task will be to give greater impetus and focus to those that already have currency, but also to set in motion the processes to which others look. Not all the action plans will be able to be implemented immediately, but none of them can be delayed indefinitely Therefore, priorities will have to be set in the hope that the action plans will have been implemented within five years. Budgeting will also need to be considered, as will the question of who has carriage of the various initiatives. There will need to be a group to oversee the implementation of the action plans, the Synod Council will also be charged with oversight of a broader kind, and the Archdiocesan Synods will monitor progress. Yet this is a document not just for some. It is for everyone; and I urge all parishes, communities, agencies and individuals to read and reflect upon the action plans and to be as creative as possible in implementing them. These action plans are comprehensive but not exhaustive. There are things not mentioned in this document which are important for the future of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. For instance, we will certainly need to consider restructuring our parishes and even our schools, looking not so much to amalgamation but more to building a “community of communities”. How to engage young people more energetically in the life of the Church is another question not prominent in these action plans but essential for the future of the Church. How to be more effective in teaching prayer as a way of life, the art of listening to God in prayer and the contemplative eye upon the world: this is another. The list could go on. This is another way of saying that these action plans should be read in conjunction with my own document “With Lamps Ablaze” which sets out a number of what I called apostolic priorities for the Archdiocese. These interweave with the action plans found here. I direct that these synodal declarations and decrees which I sign in accord with can. 466 be published to the entire community of the Archdiocese and that a copy be forwarded to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference as required by can. 46 I thank all who have been part of the Synod journey, having heard the Lord’s promise to “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). I commend these action plans to the grace of the Holy Spirit from whom this process has come forth and to the intercession of Mary Help of Christians, St Stephen and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. May God who has begun the good work in us bring it to fulfilment (cf Philippians 1:6)
Mark - Archbishop of Brisbane - November 2024
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.
Surfers Paradise Parish Mission Statement.
We, the Catholic community of Surfers Paradise, guided by the Holy Spirit, strive to live the mission of Jesus through the spirituality of stewardship.
We are all brothers and sisters in the family of God, and we believe in the inherent dignity, reverence and sanctity of all humans as lovingly created children of God.
Centred in the Eucharist and nourished by word and sacrament, we proclaim by faith and action the love of God for all.
We seek in our daily lives and actions, and in our wider community participation, to live consistently and practically each day of the week, what we proclaim in worship of God on Sundays.
In the spirit of gratitude, we live out this mission by
· Committing to be prayerful disciples of Jesus Christ.
· Recognising and sharing our gifts and talents.
· Active involvement in the life of the parish, for the sole purpose of promoting the honour and glory of God, through our care and love of our neighbour
· Hospitality, charity, justice and compassion in practical ways.
· Nurturing our young people.
Sacred Heart Church and Parish office - (directions and location)
50 Fairway Drive. Clear Island Waters. Queensland 4226
(The best entry is the southern entrance off Fairway Drive, nearest to Santa Cruz Boulevard).
map: -
Please see below for a photo of the Catholic Parish office ……(with the name “Glendalough - Parish Office” written on a sign over the door - Glendalough is pronounced “Glenda-lock” and is named after a famous Irish location where Catholic Saint Kevin lived- one of our schools in the parish is named St Kevin’s in honour that patron saint).
below is a picture of the Sacred Heart church which is located on the same grounds - (to the left of the parish office)
