COMMUNITY PATHWAYS. Sharing And Caring In Portland And Surrounds. St. Vincent s Catholic Parish. December 2014

Transcription

1 St. Vincent s Catholic Parish COMMUNITY PATHWAYS December 2014 Children from local schools join together for the annual Advent Pageant Sharing And Caring In Portland And Surrounds

2 Welcome! We are in the country of the Wiradjuri peoples. We pay respect to their Elders, celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors. The parish of St. Vincent is serviced by six Mass centres consisting of: St. Vincent s Church Portland, Sacred Heart Church Wallerawang, St. Matthew s Church Rydal, St. Mary s Church Kirkconnell, St. Brendan s Church Cullen Bullen, St. Jude s Church Capertee As a service to our parishioners in the Portland Parish we are giving each household a newsletter with current and topical information on what s happening around our parish and district. As we approach this busy and Blessed time of Christmas, some of the information may also be helpful if you are having family and friends visiting over the holiday season. I hope you enjoy reading this information and experience a peacefilled and joyous Christmas season. May Jesus, born in Bethlehem, bless you and those who are dear to you. Fr Owen Gibbons Parish Priest I am a Sister of St. Joseph (Lochnivar) and have been in the Parish since As the Pastoral Associate my role is Pastoral Ministry to the people of the community which includes visiting people in their homes especially the sick, elderly and dying; hospital and nursing home visits; Special Religious Education at Wallerawang School and involvement in all aspects of Church life and outreach. As a model for this I look to St. Vincent de Paul, patron of our Parish who was born in 1581 in France. As a Priest he devoted his life to serving the poor and is the Patron Saint of Charities. The co-founder of the Srs. of St. Joseph was Fr Julian Tenison Woods who continually reminds us that where we see a need we should try to meet it as best we can. Which is how Vincent also lived. Sr Therese Patterson Pastoral Associate I extend a sincere and heartfelt welcome to all. I wish to congratulate St Vincent s Parish on their first Newsletter and thank everyone who has contributed. We are definitely one of the jewels in the crown of the Bathurst Diocese. As Principal of St Joseph s School for the past fifteen years I have experienced firsthand the existence of a wonderful relationship between St Vincent's Parish and the Parish school. We are very fortunate to have our wonderful Church located within the school grounds. St Joseph's fits beautifully in the framework of the parish, working with young families providing Catholic education and celebrating Catholic life in the township of Portland and surrounding communities. Teachers, students and parents contribute to a family-focused, caring environment by participating in liturgies, retreats, prayers and the Sacraments. We thank Fr Owen Gibbons who avails of his time each week to travel to St Vincent s Church where our Eucharistic community within the parish all regularly take part in Mass and share spiritual time together. Mrs Sue Kearns PRINCIPAL + Michael McKenna Bishop of Bathurst St. Vincent s Parish, Portland is a parish of the Catholic Diocese of Bathurst. PO Box 70, Portland, 2847 Contact: Sr Therese Patterson Ph: Fax: Parish Priest: Fr Owen Gibbons- St Patrick s Church, Lithgow. Office Ph: Fax: click Diocese click Parishes in our Diocese Portland or go to

3 On Thursday, 14 August, 2014 the Lithgow, Portland and Wallerawang Catholic Social Justice Group held a social evening at the Mary O Leary Centre in Portland looking at issues to do with homelessness in our community. Our guest speakers were Father Steve Sinn SJ and Sergeant Darryl Goodwin. Father Steve has recently moved to Bathurst and spoke about his work with those experiencing homelessness and disadvantage and what his ministry in Bathurst involves. Sergeant Darryl is currently based at Lithgow Police Station, and spoke about homelessness issues that he experiences in his police work. Homelessness in our Community Bob s Place, Wallerawang Every December the residents look forward to senior students from De La Salle Academy Lithgow making their Christmas visit. The students wrap gifts and write cards for the 31 residents. They then deliver and distribute the gifts at a special Christmas gathering. Carols are sung and many conversations held about the joys and fun of their Christmas celebrations. The gifts are donated by Wallerawang Saint Vincent de Paul Conference and the members enjoy attending the gathering with the students.

4 Sacred Heart Church Celebrates 50 Years The Sacred Heart Catholic Church Wallerawang celebrated the 50 th Anniversary of its opening on Sunday 7 th September Over 120 people gathered for Mass which was concelebrated by Bishop Michael McKenna, Parish Priest Fr Owen Gibbons and past parish priests Mons Pat O Regan and Frs Phillip Filby, Pat Ruane and Brien Murphy After Mass guests from the surrounding parishes, other local churches, family and friends were treated to a huge array of finger food provided by parishioners. The Anniversary cake, made and decorated by Dulcie Menchin was cut by Bishop Michael and Phyllis Neubeck our oldest and longest serving church member. Another highlight of the day was the detailed booklet complied by Anne Hayman. This booklet contains the history of the Catholic Church, in the area, its faith, its people, the clergy and much local potted history. A must read for all the history buffs. It is just $10 and available from the local Catholic Churches. The Catholic community of Wallerawang have kept the Catholic faith alive since They have worshipped in many places along the way. From the first Masses in Hartley Court House and St Bernard s, the Carrington Hall and in many family homes to its present location. Wallerawang was part of the Arch Diocese of Sydney until 1964 then transferred into the Diocese of Bathurst. At that time it was part of St Patrick s Parish Lithgow, then transferred to the Parish of Bowenfels, back to Lithgow and then to St Vincent s Portland.

5 Special Religious Education The most important ministry is the teaching of Scripture in State Schools and, every Tuesday a dedicated group of teachers from this parish and the Bible Church, Lithgow spend all afternoon at Wallerawang School. Based on a programme developed by the Anglican Church we bring the message of God s love and the life and teaching of Jesus to these children. (For more information contact Sr. Therese) Sacraments Sixteen families have had their children Baptised this year and we have celebrated First Eucharist and Reconciliation as well. Bishop Michael visited Portland in November and confirmed seven adults and young people and met families and parishioners during morning tea in St. Joseph s School Hall. Each month residents at Tabulam receive the Sacrament of Anointing during Mass. During Advent and Lent those at Sunday Mass at Wallerawang and Portland Churches are invited to receive Reconciliation and Anointing. Rosary Group The group has been praying together since They meet at Sacred Heart Church Wallerawang every Saturday at 3pm to pray the Rosary together for the sick, elderly, lonely, recently deceased, world peace and the many special needs of families and friends. Everyone is most welcome to attend or to ask for prayers to be said by the group. Cemetery Masses November is the month when we remember, and pray for, our deceased family members, friends and parishioners. This year we celebrated Masses for our dead at the Rydal, Kirkconnell, Piper s Flat and Portland cemeteries where we named those loved ones buried in each cemetery. Tabulam Cottage Parishioners from our parish also visit Tabulam most days of the week and mix with the residents and staff. They take Communion to the residents each Sunday; provide entertainment for the residents with music and singing; volunteer to take residents for medical appointments and to social events; participate in the annual Tabulam Memorial Service. Easter Festival In the weeks leading up to Easter a group of people from Fusion, and the Churches of Portland, meet to plan the yearly Easter Festival held on Holy Saturday at Saville Park. On Good Friday there is Stations of the Cross through the town. These two events help us to call to mind the suffering and death of Jesus and His rising to new life at Easter. St. Joseph s School Students from this year, dressed in Farmer attire, to raise funds for farmers experiencing hardship through the drought. 95 Williewa St. Portland Ph: (02)

6 Advent Pageants In late November or early December each year children from Portland and Wallerawang Schools bring to us the Christmas Story. Dressed in costume, and singing Christmas carols, they walk through the town s business areas asking if there is any room for Mary and Joseph to wait for the baby s birth. This is a simple means of reminding the community of Christmas being a celebration of the birth of Jesus.

7 BLAST The Diocesan Youth Festival for Years 6-9 Each year the Diocese hosts BLAST. BLAST is a festival of faith for young people in the age range of year 6 to year 9. It is a celebration and experience of an explosion of possibilities in their lives. BLAST is held at Ridgecrest Convention Centre overlooking the dam wall at Lake Burrendong. Each year our parish and school help to send local young people to participate in this event. They always return full of enthusiasm and excitement after the weekend. The participants attend workshops and are entertained by guest artists.

8 St. Vincent de Paul The St. Vincent de Paul activities in Portland continue to be to the forefront in the community, assisting the poor and disadvantaged with support through our conference work and support in many ways with visits to the Aged Care facility at Tabulam, as well as visiting a number of aged and frail in their homes. There are also occasions, when we are required to assist people in times of emergency or difficult situations. We are also appreciative of the hard work at our local Shop, which is also manned by volunteers, who are doing a great job raising much needed funds to help the society with its work and supporting the local conference. We are always on the lookout for more volunteers, the work is most rewarding and satisfying, further information can be obtained by contacting John on , or any of the conference members. The other arm of the Society in Portland is the Sister Mary O'Leary Centre, which operates as a Special Works and is utilised on many fronts, including the monthly morning tea and entertainment for our Senior Citizens and luncheons for the disabled in the district. We appreciate the support from the various entertainers along with our members and unaffiliated volunteers who make these activities possible. The Mary O'Leary Centre is well patronised, being used by the local craft group on a weekly basis and other functions throughout the year. Sacred Heart Conference in Wallerawang provides welfare assistance on Tuesdays at the Sacred Heart Church Wallerawang from 3.30pm -5pm Carols at Rydal Each December our Parish Carols are held in the village of Rydal. Community members are invited to come along and join in. Come along and join in the celebration! Christmas Mass Times St. Jude s Church, Capertee Thursday 18 th Dec 7pm St. Vincent s Church, Portland Wednesday 24 th Dec - 7pm Sacred Heart Church, Wallerawang Thursday 25 th Dec - 9am