HOLY SPIRIT PARISH. As a Parish community we seek to...

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1 HOLY SPIRIT PARISH Welcoming parishioners from the suburbs of Amaroo, Nicholls, Ngunnawal, Palmerston, Harrison, Jacka, Franklin, Gungahlin, Forde, Bonner, Crace, Casey, Moncrieff and Hall. And the school communities of Holy Spirit, Good Shepherd, Mother Teresa Catholic Primary Schools and St John Paul II College As a Parish community we seek to... Welcome new parishioners and invite them to share their gifts Engage the wider parish community through our parish schools Support those interested in learning more about the Catholic faith Welcome and include non-catholic partners and family members Celebrate our cultural diversity Share our faith, in prayer and as we celebrate Eucharist together Seek to be people who are generous, kind, friendly, honest, listening and forgiving

2 GETTING INVOLVED We welcome and encourage all parishioners to share their gifts and participate in parish life. Holy Spirit Parish, is a growing and vibrant community covering the Gungahlin region and Hall Village. We are gifted with diversity in age, social demographic and culture and strive to be welcoming to everyone. You might be new to the parish. There are many ways to get to know people and feel a part of the community. If you are new to the area or haven t been involved in parish life for some time we encourage you to share your gifts and talents within the community. You can do this by helping on the weekend at Mass or by your involvement in parish events such as the Multicultural Evening, Trivia Night or the fundraising and social activities group. Sharing our faith with others also builds community and there are opportunities to join a number of prayer groups including, MenAlive, Call to Connect, the Novena and other seasonal faith formation activities. To learn more about these visit our website or look for the contact details of leaders in the bulletin. For Young Families Children s Liturgy Sunday at 9:30am Mass If you have young children you may like them to join Children s Liturgy. This is held at the 9:30am Mass during school term time. Children are able to learn about Jesus in language they understand, to form friendships and come to know they are an important part of the community. You are very welcome to help them settle in. Weekend Mass Ways you can share your gifts Music Ministry Do you play an instrument or like to sing? Each of our weekend Mass music groups welcome new comers. Young people may also like to share their gifts in this way. Family Involvement You may like to help with the collection, operate the PowerPoint, bring forward the gifts at the Offertory, welcome parishioners as they arrive at Mass, help at Children s Liturgy or with morning tea. Special Liturgical Ministries If you would like to become a reader of God s Word, Special Minister of the Eucharist, Mass Coordinator or Altar Server, special training is required. You will need speak to the Pastoral Associate or Parish Priest.

3 For Youth Youth Group is a great way for young people in Years 7-12 to be a part of our parish community. Activities are held 2-3 times per term and are generally held in the Good Shepherd school hall. Details on our parish website. Seniors Are you retired and interested in meeting other members of the parish community during the week? Seniors meet monthly after the anointing Mass on the last Thursday of the month. This is a good opportunity to form new friendships. Once or twice each year the group gathers for lunch. Keep the Grounds and Buildings Neat and Tidy Anyone can be involved in church cleaning and grounds maintenance. A great way for your family to do something together for our parish community. Outreach through St Vincent de Paul The whole community can contribute to the work of St Vincent de Paul by bringing items of non-perishable food to Mass each weekend. Children will see this as a very practical example of caring for others the way Jesus did. Helping the Parish through your Financial Donations We also welcome your involvement in the parish planned giving program which allows the parish to provide outreach services, pastoral care, staffing and pay current loans on the church, office and presbytery. Involvement in Parish Life If you would like to become involved in our parish we would love to hear from you. Visit our website holyspiritgungahlin.org.au. You ll find information about parish ministries and an online sign up form under the Our Parish tab. A great parish has inclusiveness and different kinds of people, and lives out what Jesus prayed, That they may be one. Parishioners have a sense of being together, not like being at separate tables in a restaurant, or being anonymous people at a theatre, but people who smile and are together. Parish histories can never tell the greatness of the people who cared, who believed in God, who welcomed, who included people, who went out to people in need in need of someone to talk to or in need of money or in need of food and helped them. Excerpt from

4 SACRAMENTS A Life Long Journey of Faith Assisting one another to grow in love and compassion, and to seek a deeper relationship with God. In our parish community we seek to accompany one another through the many stages of life. Part of our journey as a Catholic community is the celebration of these stages through the sacraments. We hope to share many family milestones with you, such as marriage or the arrival of a new baby, starting or graduating from school and much more. Life can also throw us challenges; unemployment, marriage breakdown, illness or other family crisis. The parish pastoral team are always available to help you through these times. We are all strengthened as we celebrate Christ together in the sacraments of the Church. They sustain and strengthen us in our life's journey in faith. Marriage If you would like to marry at either Holy Spirit Parish Church in Amaroo or Saint Francis Xavier in Hall you are invited to contact the parish office to make your booking. You will need to meet with the priest and attend a marriage preparation course. Anointing of the Sick A Mass of anointing is held on the last Thursday of each month. This Mass is an opportunity for the senior members of the community to gather. Morning tea is served after Mass in the church meeting room.

5 Sacraments of Initiation Adults and children are welcomed into the life of the parish through Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Becoming Catholic Adults interested in learning more about the Catholic faith are invited to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Sessions are held weekly during school term time. This is an opportunity for you to learn about the Catholic faith and discover God s presence on your journey. Everyone is welcome including Baptised Catholics who have not received the sacraments of Eucharist, Reconciliation or Confirmation. Expressions of interest can be ed to Maureen Hilton. Baptism: The first Sacrament of Initiation How do I prepare for the Baptism of my child? Call the parish office to organise a date, then register your details on our website. Baptisms are generally celebrated on the first three Sunday s of the month at 11:00am and 11:45am in a communal ceremony involving up to four families. Baptism Information Session: If this is your first child or you have not previously had a child baptised at Holy Spirit, you will need to attend one of these sessions, held monthly in the parish office. See our website or parish bulletin for dates. Presenting Your Child to the Parish Community: As part of the Baptismal ceremony, all parents are asked to present their child at Mass in a short ritual where we will welcome you and share our support. Baptism of older children: You will need to speak with the Parish Priest or Pastoral Associate to discuss your child s preparation for Baptism.

6 Parish Sacramental Preparation Children receive their most important example of faith through their parents. Through your words, actions and involvement in parish life, they will come to know God who is revealed in our everyday experiences. Children in Year 3 or above, who are baptised Catholic, are invited to enrol in preparation for the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, and in Year 6, for Confirmation. If your child attends Holy Spirit, Good Shepherd or Mother Teresa Catholic Primary Schools, they will learn about the sacraments through their involvement in parish life and reflection with their parents at home and teachers at school. Children attending non-catholic schools receive instruction at weekly preparation classes provided by the parish and held over a 6-8 week period. First Reconciliation Reconciliation is sometimes referred to as Penance or Confession. Through this sacrament, children and their families experience the love, compassion and forgiveness offered by God within a Christian community. Children will generally celebrate this sacrament for the first time in Year 3 as part of their preparation for First Eucharist. All Catholic families are encouraged to attend the sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year. The sacrament is available on Saturday afternoon or in a community celebration in Advent and Lent. First Eucharist (Holy Communion) For Catholics the sacrament of the Eucharist is a sacred meal where we break bread and share the one cup. It is a sign of our unity with and in Christ. Children in Year 3 or older are invited to prepare to receive the sacrament of Eucharist for the first time. Confirmation Confirms and strengthens the new life received at Baptism through the power of the Holy Spirit. Children who are baptised Catholic and in Year 6 or above are invited to recommit to the promises made at their baptism by their parents and godparents, through Confirmation. Information Sessions Dates will be available in January. Details are announced in the parish bulletin and on our website

7 PARISH SCHOOLS We seek to engage the wider parish community through our parish schools The parish school communities are an integral part of parish life. School and parish gather as one throughout the year to celebrate Mass and other faith and community building activities including Pentecost, the Trivia Night, fundraising for St Vincent de Paul through Mini-Vinnies and the Four Schools Community Day. We hope that you will join us. Holy Spirit Parish: School Community Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School Kelleway Ave, Nicholls Tel: Tel: E: Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School Burdekin Ave, Amaroo Tel: Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School Mapleton Ave and Wimmera St, Harrison Tel: (Primary School) (Early Learning Centre) St John Paul II College 1021 Gungahlin Drive Nicholls Tel: E: School websites can be accessed via the parish website.

8 CONTACT INFORMATION Parish Office and Presbytery 93 Burdekin Ave, Amaroo Tel: Website Facebook Page Holy Spirit Catholic Parish, Gungahlin Parish Priest Fr Mark Croker Assistant Priest Fr Jiss Sunny Pastoral Associates Maureen Hilton General Enquires Magda Baraniecki Tuesday - Friday (9am to 3pm) E: office@holyspiritgungahlin.org.au Planned Giving Gayle Jeffries (7:30am 3:30pm Tues ) E: giving@holyspiritgungahlin.org.au Sacramental and Baptism Enquiry Pastoral Associate Marriages By Appointment Weekend Mass Times Holy Spirit Church, Amaroo Saturday 6:00pm Sunday 8:00am, 9:30 am, 5:30pm St Francis Xavier, Hall 2nd and 4th Sunday at 8.30am Weekday Masses Tues 9:15am see bulletin for location Wed 7:00am at Holy Spirit Church Thurs 9:15am at Holy Spirit Church Fri 7:00am at Holy Spirit Church Anointing Mass Last Thursday of the month Reconciliation Sat 5:15-5:45 pm Parish Bulletin Is produced each week and is available on our parish website Sacramental Information Sessions If your child is a baptised Catholic and you would like them to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, First Eucharist (Holy Communion) or Reconciliation this year, we invite you to attend one of the information sessions. See the website or parish bulletin for details. Confirmation (Year 6 or above) Eucharist and Reconciliation (Year 3 or above)