latest newsletter - Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish

Surfers Paradise Catholic Parish
ONE PARISH
three churches
Sacred Heart
50 Fairway Drive,
Clear Island Waters
St Vincent’s
40 Hamilton Avenue,
Surfers Paradise
Stella Maris
268 Hedges Avenue,
Broadbeach
(Under Construction)
PASTORAL
Very Reverend
Fr Tim Harris
Parish Priest & Dean
of South Coast Deanery
Fr Nicholas Okafor
Associate Pastor
Fr Regimon Gervasis MCBS
Associate Pastor
Sue Thomas
Pastoral Associate
Sr Mary Hansen PBVM
Pastoral Assistant
PARISH STAFF
Sonya Slater
Parish Manager
Marylou Ayres
Parish Secretary
Angela Williams
Atrium Coordinator
SCHOOLS
St Vincent’s School
Clear Island Waters
Phone: 5572 1746
P. Kerry Rowlands
St Kevin’s School
Benowa
Phone: 5539 4522
Acting Principal
Richard Grajczonek
St Michael’s College
Merrimac
Phone: 5530 2722
P. Michael Laidler
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time—Year B
14th / 15th February 2015
Dear Parishioners and Visitors,
ASH WEDNESDAY / THE SEASON OF LENT
This coming Wednesday is ASH WEDNESDAY which signals the beginning of
the Season of Lent. This will be the day when we receive the ashes on our
foreheads (from the burning of last years Passion Sunday palms).
On this occasion the Priest or minister will “sign us” with ash as these words are said: “Repent
and believe in the Gospel”. Then we will be “touched” by the ash or dust reminding us of our
salvation by entering a season that leads “beyond the stars” to the great hope and vision of
Easter.
For me, Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent puts everything into perspective. Yes we are
indeed dust or ash and it will be dust or ash to which we will return. This is sobering and powerfully reminds us of our need to get ourselves back on track once again. In so many ways we
all need to get back on track!
So the Season of Lent really is about starting again and going back to the basics of our life for
we can get distracted and worried about so many things in this life that we forget our true
Christian identity given to us at our Baptism.
But we can’t fully embrace our Christian identity by ourselves. We need the opportunities that
prayer, fasting and helping others bring about. These actions lead us to the Father who is in
heaven.
Jesus Christ of course shows us the way to the Father. Through prayer, fasting and helping
others during the weeks that follow we are preparing for Christ to again cast his holy Easter
fire upon our sometimes weak and forgetful discipleship, the dryness of our faith, and the
brittleness of our patience and peace.
In short, to ignore Lent is to ignore Christ and what he can do for us. Life is so short. We are 20
years old one day and 60 years old the next. At least this is how it can feel. It’s because of this
limited time on earth that we should all not waste one minute. Yes, we live life to the full and
we live life being faithful to the Gospel or good news of Jesus Christ.
The days and weeks that follow therefore are a challenging time, a seasonal reminder of the
intrinsically challenging nature of the Christian life. But Lent is not about the extraordinary. It’s
about the ordinary—the things that form part of our everyday life. Some of these things are
not life giving and we choose them because we are all sinners.
Lent then invites us to make a fresh start by trying again a little bit more earnestly, with
sincerity and honesty so that we can live up to the responsibilities and challenges of our
Christian lives.
I pray this Lenten Season that all of us will die to self so that literally a “new life” will grow in
us. The ashes on our foreheads will speak to this reality for it is out of ashes that we hope
Christ will raise us up with him. In this sense there can be no new life until our old life “repents
and believes the Gospel”. May our annual season of repentance bear fruit, fruit that will last.
We begin this season on Ash Wednesday. Masses celebrated as follows:
ST VINCENT’S SURFERS PARADISE @ 7.00am
SACRED HEART CLEAR ISLAND WATERS @ 9.00am and 7.00pm
May we celebrate well.
God’s abundant blessings , Fr Tim
FROM THE PASTORAL ASSOCIATE:
Readings: Leviticus 13: 1-2, 44-46; 1 Corinthians 10:31 – 11.1; Mark 1:40-45.
Feasts/occasions: Wednesday 18th February: Ash Wednesday.
Next week’s readings: 1st Sunday in Lent Year B: Genesis 9:8-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15.
Gospel reflection: “Brothers and sisters, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” –
1 Corinthians10:31. Do a quick check of your priorities. Where does God rank in that list? If God is not first, you have some
work to do. Putting God first in everything helps develop the attitude of “I am grateful for the gifts God gave me” instead of
“I want more”. For most people gratitude leads to generosity.
From http://archstl.org/stewardship/page/bulletin-inserts
LENTEN GROUPS commence meeting this Monday 16th February. 9.30am – 11.30am Parish Hospitality Centre. Tuesday 17th
February 10am – 11am, repeated 7.15pm – 8.30pm Youth Room (Sacred Heart end of Parish Office). Books available for
purchase at meetings. It would be helpful to let the Parish Office know you are attending.
LITURGY: In Lent, the Alleluia is omitted at Mass and at the Hours, even in celebrations of solemnities and feasts. Catholics are
obliged to receive holy communion at least once a year, in Australia and New Zealand between Ash Wednesday and Trinity
Sunday. A homily is recommended on weekdays, especially during the seasons of Advent, Lent and Easter. From Ash
Wednesday, ordinary Time is interrupted until after Easter Time. From ORDO 2015.
Thank you to those who attended the Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Prevention and Protections Policy
workshops last Saturday. This policy is a response of the Brisbane Archdiocese to the Royal Commission into institutional
Child Sexual Abuse. Over the next few weeks, I shall be sharing some information which came out of the workshop. I strongly
urge all parishioners to take part in one of the deanery workshops on offer over the next couple of months. This is an
important issue that we as members of the Body of Christ need to address to ensure we change our previous culture and
practice which enabled in the past the abuse of children and vulnerable adults to take place. The policy can be found online.
Go to http://brisbanecatholic.org.au/assets/uploads/safeguarding-children-and-vulnerable-adults-policy.pdf The workshops
offered by the Archdiocese are compulsory for paid employees and volunteers in parishes. We need to not only protect
children and vulnerable adults, but also ourselves in how we do what we do.
If you think you don’t work with children or vulnerable adults, please ask yourself these questions: are you a sacristan? As an
Extraordinary Minster of Communion, or Reader, do you find yourself in the sacristy with altar servers present? Do you take
communion to the sick or housebound? Do you volunteer as a helper in Children’s Liturgy of the Word? Assist with altar
serving with children? Are you a member of a craft group or a Men’s Shed? Do you find yourself sitting beside vulnerable
adults during Mass? Have you engaged in a conversation where someone has told you something and you have had a
sleepless night over it? Do you work/volunteer in a library, a coffee shop, or a place where children and vulnerable adults are
present? If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, the workshops are for you: Runaway Bay Parish 10.15am1.15pm Saturday 14th February; Burleigh Heads Parish 9am- 12md Saturday 7th March in the Doyle Centre at Marymount
College; St Brigid’s Nerang 10.00am to 1.15pm Saturday 14th March 2015; Surfers Parish 6.30-9.30pm Wednesday 22nd April
Parish Hospitality Centre, Clear Island Waters. Surfers Parishioners, please RSVP to the Parish Office 5572 5433 email
[email protected]
Thank you to those parishioners who have been sending contact details through regarding their availability for the liturgy
rosters. Keep them coming! We have a number of new people who will be included in rosters at Stella Maris. This will allow
a sharing of coordinators and sacristans roles as well as increasing our numbers of readers and extraordinary ministers of
communion.
We are still seeking roster coordinators for the Stella Maris 5pm Saturday, 7am Sunday and 8.30am Sunday Masses. Please
contact me via the Parish Office if you are interested.
PLEASE NOTE: The WCCM Meditation Reflection Day on Saturday 28th February at Clear Island Waters has been cancelled.
Apologies for any inconvenience.
Peace and grace in the coming week. Sue Thomas Pastoral Associate.
St
ASH WEDNESDAY MASS TIMES: Wednesday 18th February
Vincent’s Church, 40 Hamilton Avenue, Surfers Paradise: 7.00am
Sacred Heart Church, 50 Fairway Drive, Clear Island Waters:
9.00am and 7.00pm
TUESDAY MEDITATION GROUP WILL BE HOLDING THE LENTEN
PROGRAMME AT 10AM IN THE YOUTH ROOM. All Welcome!
Come and join us on Thursday (19th of Feb) for an awesome
movie night! It'll be a great opportunity to just sit back and
socialise with your friends; where there will be laughs, popcorn
and not to mention pizza! Bring along your mates and even a
cushion or two. It'll be at the Hospitality Centre, starting at
6:30pm. Like us on Facebook to keep up with our events at:
https://www.facebook.com/Venireyouth or for further info call
the Parish Office on 5572 5433.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
The Catholic Women's League of Surfers
Paradise will be hosting this year’s WORLD DAY
OF PRAYER, on Friday 6th March. This is a
world-wide movement led by Christian women
of many traditions and is held around the
world on this day in over 170 countries. We are the host Church this
year and we would love to see as many people as possible attend the
service. The service has a special annual theme and this year it is
written by the Bahamas World Day of Prayer Committee. In this way it
is possible to experience the richness of the Christian faith as it grows
deeper and broader in an international expression. Through World Day
of Prayer, Christians around the world affirm their faith in Jesus, share
their hopes, fears, joys, sorrows, opportunities and needs. After the
service you are welcomed to the Parish Hospitality Centre for morning
tea and fellowship. Any inquiries please phone Irene Ross 5562 1260.
Would all members of the CWL please bring a plate of food to share.
PRAYING THE ROSARY: The statue of Our Lady will be
at the home of Madeline Muller of Emerald Lakes, for week
commencing Monday 16th February 2015. Please phone
Maxine or Pat Sela on 5539 9539 and offer to have the
statue in your home for a week. All you are invited to do is
to say the Rosary to Our Lady. It is not necessary to invite
people to your home. If you are unable to collect the statue due to
transport problems we can deliver the statue to you.
Thank you for your support, Pat and Maxine Sela
CATHOLIC WOMENS LEAGUE
FRIENDSHIP DAY
10am to 2.00pm
Thursday 19th February in the
Parish Hospitality Centre, Clear Island Waters
Usual Fun and Cards of your choice—$5 entrance includes
Raffle and Lucky Door Prizes
All Welcome
Contact Irene Ross 5562 1260 for more information
CWL MEMBERS ARE REMINDED THAT THEIR FEES ARE NOW DUE
ATTENDANCE TO THE OPENING: What a wonderful
response to the opening of the new church. On Thursday
12th of February the RSVP’s have closed. A total of 750
attendees have responded. Thank you to all those who
called and let us know you can come and be part of the
opening and dedication Mass. We want to make the
night as comfortable as possible for everyone. The parish
has hired a marquee with sound and large monitors to
cater for those who cannot be seated within the church.
WORK SITE: It has come to our attention that a number
of parishioners are pulling into the driveway of the site
and having a look at the building. This has caused issues
with the builders. Any unauthorised visitation could stop
the project for a week. If you would like to have a look at
the building you are very welcome to park and stand in
the park on the opposite side of the road.
Please don’t enter the site.
WEEKEND MASSES AT STELLA MARIS: We have
not yet been told by the builders when we will be able to
re-commence the weekend Masses at Stella Maris. As
soon as we are told Fr Tim will announce this to you.
CAR PARKING: The best parking on the night will be on
the Broadbeach State School oval. Try to car pool where
you can. The best entry is from Old Burleigh Road. Use
Alexandra Ave and turn left onto Old Burleigh Road.
Avoid driving past the church to park your car unless you
have a mobility problem. We are discussing a drop off
area with the GCCC traffic management department.
Cost – a gold coin donation (given directly to the
Broadbeach State School for their fundraising.
With thanks for your cooperation, Sonya Slater
← Oval Entry
LIBRARY NEWS: In the Library are several handsome Family
Bibles; The Divine Office in three volumes and an old set of the
Catholic Encyclopaedia, which are for sale. Take a look and make
an offer! First come, first served!
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP GROUP will be having
lunch at Broadbeach Bowling club on Thursday 26th February at
12 noon. All Welcome. Inquiries to Leona 5538 7070.
WANTED: DONATIONS OF 8PLY KNITTING WOOL for Ladies at the
Cypress Gardens Nursing Home. Please call Parish Office 5572 5433 .
← Alexandra Ave
MONDAY
TUESDAY
7am
7am
ST VINCENT’S
ST VINCENT’S
9.00am
9.00am
SACREDHEART
HEART
SACRED
NORMAL
SUNDAY
NORMAL
SUNMASS
DAY TIMES
MASS
TIMES
(ANOINTING
ANOINTING
MASS
3RD
3RDMARCH
MARCH2015
2015
NO 9AM MASS
11.00AM)
THAT
DAY
NO 9AM MASS
WEDNESDAY
ASH WEDNESDAY
ASHSTWEDNESDAY
VINCENT’S
ST VINCENT’S
7.00AM
7.00AM
SACREDHEART
HEART
SACRED
9.00AM
9.00AM
7.00PM
7.00PM
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
8.30am
8.30am
SACRED
SACRED
HEART
HEART
7am
7am
ST VINCENT’S
ST VINCENT’S
9am
9am
SACRED HEART
SACRED HEART
RECONCILIATION
5pm RECONCILIATION
SACRED HEART
5pm ST
SACRED
HEART
5.15pm
VINCENT’S
5.15pm ST VINCENT’S
SACRED HEART CHURCH
Saturday evening 6pm AND Sunday 7am, 9am & 6pm
HEART
CHURCHSaturday
Saturday
6pm
AND8am
Sunday
7am, 9am & 6pm
STSACRED
VINCENT’S
CHURCH
evening evening
6pm AND
Sunday
& 10am
ST VINCENT’S CHURCH
Saturday evening 6pm AND Sunday 8am & 10am
FOR MORE PARISH GROUPS, PLEASE REFER TO OUR WEBSITE
MIGRANT CHAPLAINS / COMMUNITIES:
Polish: Sunday 11.30am Sacred Heart
Fr Bernard Bednarz 5504 6297
Italian: Sunday 4.00pm Sacred Heart Church
Fr Michele Cagna CS 0423648736—Pastoral Support
Giovanna Santomauro 55 395 528—General Info.
Filipino: 1st Sunday 1.00pm Sacred Heart
Fr Terence Nueva 5510 2222
Hispanic: 1st & 3rd Sundays 5—7pm St Vincent’s
Fr Ignacio Gutierrez 0481 118 521
Email: [email protected]
Baptisms: Please contact the Parish Office 5572 5433
Art & Craft: Wednesday 9am PHC
Book Club: 3rd Tues 12noon. Parish Hospitality Centre
Bridge: Monday 12.30pm. Parish Hospitality Centre
CWL: Meeting 12.30pm 1st Tue. Hospitality Centre
Friendship Day 3rd Thurs 10am-2pm
Parish Choir Practice: 9am 3rd / 4th Saturday,
Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters.
Youth Choir: Youth & Young Adult Ministry—Venire
Playgroup: Wednesdays 9.30am Casey Hall, Fairway Drive,
Clear Island Waters (School Term) Iovanah 0420 595 404
Yoga: Tuesday 10.45am $10/Session. Hospitality Centre
Zumba Gold: Friday 9.15am Casey Hall. Beginners and
Intermediate Levels. Susana Pozzi 0421 607 397
Marriages: Please contact Parish Office 5572 5433 (6months notice required)
Benediction: 1st Friday 7.30am St Vincent’s Church, Surfers Paradise
Children’s Liturgy of the Word: Sunday 9am Mass Sacred Heart. (In Recess)
Christian Meditation: Tuesday 10am (Youth Room) Shirley Daly
Tuesday 6pm (Youth Room) Sue Thomas
CFC Australia: 1st Sunday—Phone Butch & Mini 0424 583 168/9
Exposition:
Monday & Friday 6am St Vincent’s Church, Surfers Paradise
Tuesday 9.30am Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters
Thursday 9.45am St Vincent’s Church, Surfers Paradise
Friday 7pm Sacred Heart Church, (1st Friday 7pm to 12am)
Rosary: Sunday 7.30am St Vincent’s Church
Monday & Friday 6.30am St Vincent’s Church
Tuesday & Friday 8.25am Sacred Heart Church, before Mass
Wednesday 7.55am Sacred Heart Church, before Mass
Sacred Heart Prayer Group: (In Recess)
Lenten Discussion: Tuesday 10am (Youth Room) CIW Shirley Daly
Spiritual Direction: Bernadette Kavanagh-Stewart 5520 7242
St Joseph’s Prayer Group: 1st Wednesday 9.30am Sacred Heart Church
Youth Led Mass: 4th Sunday 6pm Sacred Heart
RECENTLY DECEASED: Mark Connell, Tom Dalton, Keith Woodhead, Sr Christine Hesel, Charles Cassar, John Pascoe, Sr Bridie
Fennessy RSM, Clare Foster, Sid Ellington (UK).
ANNIVERSARIES: George & Gloria McLeod, Jeff Brightwell, Ted Bartlett, Bob Grace, Maria Luna Gandiongco, Gino Cappalazzo.
THOSE WHO ARE SICK: Carole Stratigos, Ray Dunn, Dimi Gimouras, Marie Boulougouras, Poppy, Victoria, Deanna, Phyllis
Watkins (USA), Vivien Dreise, Eden McNamara, Shelly Conway, Denise Darwin (Syd), Tilda Liappas (Greece), Patrick Bolton,
Raphael Verkest, John Ashby, Theo Farr, Frank Foslen, Betty-Anne Hillesheim, Dylan Kinnimont, Tracey Burgess, Alfia Harrop,
Moira Roberts, Fiona Mecca, Elaine Pitchell, Emile Van Deurse, Ron Mooney, Alan Wilson, Peter Townsend, Zenaida
Osborne, Donna Cassin, Samir Moussa, Percy Jordan (Melb.) Yvette Litchfield, John Rohr, Earl Brierty, Maureen Fitzgerald,
Annette Anning, Sam Newton, Margaret Miller, Jeff Doyle, Marnie Lee Rose, Joe Sheehy, Angela Ferguson, Denise Tracey,
Michelle Pritchard, Rosaria Zammitt, Giovaninna Vitale Freda, Monica Bailey, Mary Mullahy, Ron Perry, Patrick Cannard, Paul
Kiely, Rose Crane, Mary Carniel, Baby Charlie Francis, Fr Ray Wells (Hobart), Leiha Carlson, Pat Lazaro, Kaylene Swan
(Launceston), Lesley Cruse, Peter Verhaze, Margaret Webber, Ricardo Pereira, Warren Potter, Sheryl Abrahams, Susan
Richmond, Ronnie Bourke, Norm Mullins, Eleanor B Nascimento, Shirley Heath, Mary Coy, Mary Fraser, Natty Massina, Danny
Osmund, Marlise England, Stephen Zannett, Jacqui Caughey, Baby Eva Cassidy Abad, G. Nicholas, Bruno Andreetta, Julieta
Alvero, Margie Savage, Joanne Burge, Shirley Day, Leo Domingo, Bernie Wall, Rosalia Roque, Michael Kearney, Josephine
Maybury, Monica Clifford, Clare Martin, Reg Spillane, Gerrard Theron, Mary Kerr, William Sheehan, Kate Needham, Margaret
Guillesser, Barbara & Mike Farrell, Justin King, Anna Wheeler, Emma Winks, Una Parkinson, Nathan Clarke, Pat Burton, Gus
Reeves.
Become a Part of the PARISH PLANNED GIVING PROGRAM to help your parish grow.
We thank most sincerely all parishioners who contribute to the Planned Giving Program. Your ongoing commitment and contribution
assists the responsible budgeting for the operating expenses of the Parish (wages, rates, electricity, building maintenance, etc) as well
as pastoral planning for Parish growth (faith education, sacramental preparation, resources, etc). To obtain Planned Giving envelopes,
please complete this form and place on the Collection Plate, or contact the Parish Office on 5572 5433. Planned Giving Contributions
are not Tax Deductable. SURNAME:_____________________CHRISTIAN NAME:_____________________PHONE: _________