DIOCESE OF PARRAMATTA. The Spotlight is on: St Monica, North Parramatta

Transcription

1 DIOCESE OF PARRAMATTA The Spotlight is on: St Monica, North Parramatta

2 From the Diocesan Youth Office: Diocesan Youth Leadership Breakfast - 8th May 2010 The Diocesan Youth Leadership Breakfast held on 8th May saw a large number of youth leaders and others involved in youth ministry attend the Social Justice and Child Protection Sessions held at St Patrick's Cathedral Hall, Parramatta. Thankyou to those who attended and a special thankyou to the presenters: Evan Ellis, Diocesan Social Justice Co-ordinator and to Paul Davis, Diocesan Child Protection Manager. Evan presented on Social Justice issues on a global and local level. He highlighted the importance which love plays in making change happen in the world today. Paul expanded on Child Protection issues in Social Networking and answered many questions regarding this. (A revision of the Youth Safety Manual, which will be issued from the Diocesan Youth Office later this year). Both topics are very relevant in today's society and so it was important to bring them to the forefront and raise awareness about these issues! Thankyou also to St Patrick's Youth Band from Blacktown who did a marvellous job in inspiring those present with their music and songs. Well done! It was also a wonderful opportunity to thank Anna Vercellone, who has just resigned as Diocesan Youth Co-ordinator for the Diocese of Parramatta. She has done wonderful work with the youth and certainly carried on youth ministry to greater heights after World Youth Day 08! Though she will be truly missed, we wish her all the best and God's blessings for the future! by: Annabelle Cauchi

3 Upcoming Diocesan Events: Diocesan Youth Mass: 25th June All Youth and Young Adults from Parishes, High schools, Groups and Movements are invited to the upcoming Diocesan Youth Mass! Where: St Patrick s, 59 Allawah St, Blacktown. Featuring St Patrick s SPY Youth Band and the African Choir. 6.30pm-7pm Reconciliation and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 7pm Holy Mass Supper following afterwards. Please RSVP by 21st June to youth@parra.catholic.org.au for catering purposes. For more info, contact: Annabelle on DIOCESAN YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS CAMP JULY Come on an ideal trip to relive the Emmaus experience; join us in: The journey with Christ The life of the Word Reconciliation The discovery of Christ in the Eucharist Meet other young people from different parishes, make new friends, share ideas & experiences, grow spiritually and more! Invite your friends to come The program will include a variety of inspiring talks, music, games and fun activities, reflection time. There will be daily Mass and the availability of Reconciliation. So what are you waiting for? Send in your Registration Form now! Early Bird Rates available till 14th June. Normal rate applies after 14th June. Click here to download the flyer and booking form Please let the Diocesan Youth Office know if you are taking part in the "Planted and Built Up Youth Volunteers Program" Going back to the Basics Faith Formation Nights: 24th June: Staying in touch - the Importance & Meaning of Prayer 22nd July: The Paschal Mystery and our response A series of 10 monthly sessions, taking us back to the fundamentals of the Catholic faith and how they relate to our private and communal prayer and worship. Julie Kelly, Diocesan Liturgical Formator will conduct interactive sessions leading to a powerful prayer experience. It s FREE & open to all ages especially youth & young adults! A certificate of attendance will be given at the end of the 10 months. Where: DAC (underneath the Institute for Mission), cnr Flushcombe Rd & Marion St, Blacktown, from pm. RSVP by the Tuesday before to: Diocesan Youth Office on , youth@parra.catholic.org.au or Julie Kelly on or for more information.

4 Notices: Sharing the Gospel of Life - The ethics of life issues - Saturday 5 th June 2010 Presented by: (Dr) Brigid McKenna (Brigid works at the Life, Marriage and Family Centre, a medical doctor and has completed her Masters in Bioethics from the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family in Melbourne. She s married to Michael and has 2 children) Many of us know what the Church teaches about life issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and IVF. But fewer of us understand why! Why is abortion always wrong? Surely there must be exceptions? Why not hasten the death of a suffering person? Why cant infertile couples use IVF to have family? Christians are called to be unconditionally pro-life, but what exactly does this mean? Pope John Paul II left us with clear answers to these questions and more in his encyclical letter, The Gospel of Life, (Evangelium Vitae). Unpacking this document through teaching, reflection and discussion can help us to be authentic witnesses to the sanctity of human life, from conception to natural death. Venue: Holy Spirit Church Cnr Moore Street and Todd Row, St Clair Time: 1.00pm 4.30pm Cost: Free / Enquiries: "Walk with Christ" Eucharistic Procession 2010 this Sunday! Date: Sunday 06/06/2010 (this Sunday) Time: 2.30pm pm Location: From St. Patrick s, 20 Grosvenor St, Church Hill (near Wynyard Station) to St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney. Description: Come and join thousands as we walk through the streets of Sydney with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. The procession with be led by His Eminence George Cardinal Pell. Host: Archdiocese of Sydney CREDO Office Cost: Free Transportation: Train to Wynyard Station Contact: CREDO Facebook Link: WalkWithChristSydney?v=info&ref=ts The Fullness of Truth 28th June-18th July International guest speakers Australian Tour: 3 Ex-Protestants and a Priest! Topics discussed: Sola Scriptura, Eucharist, Purgatory, Atheism, Early Church, Sexual Morality, Judaism, Pope, Islam, New Age, Freemasonry, Scientology, Family, Marriage and many more, inc Q&A!! Check out: for a short promo video about these events! Event is FREE entry.

5 SCENE - Sydney Congress Embracing the New Evangelisation Date: Monday 12/07/ Friday 16/07/2010 Time: 9am - 10pm Location: St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney & Sydney CBD Description: Due to last years great success, SCENE is on again for 2010! Come along and hear the best speakers talk on the gift of Evangelization and help us share how alive our Catholic faith is. Host: Archdiocese of Sydney CREDO Office Contact: SCENE Office Cost: $120 for adults and $75 concession Website: URGENT: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! from YCW Want to make a difference? Want to help young people? The time is NOW! The Parramatta Young Christian Workers are seeking volunteers to tutor high school students in our Parramatta Learning Centre. Contact Maria on maria.lastica@ycw.org.au, call or SMS on URGENT: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! from St Vincent de Paul Society SPARK is looking for over 250 volunteers to assist in 12 SPARK schools in Term 3. Please pass the below information on to your networks. Would you like to assist refugee children? - Here is your opportunity! SPARK is looking for volunteers to help support refugee children in schools. SPARK (St Vincent de Paul Society Assisting Refugee Kids) provides refugee children and their families with community, educational and social support through primary schools. The program runs every school term in primary schools in Auburn, Regents Park, Wentworthville, Parramatta, Pendle Hill, Granville and Girraween. SPARK is currently recruiting and training volunteers from high schools, universities and the local community to assist with the Bright Sparks program. Bright Sparks is a homework and activities club for Kindy - Year 6 Students, providing homework and English support. The program is run once a week for 1.5 hours after school from pm. FREE training to volunteer with SPARK will be held in Parramatta on Friday 9 th July and Saturday 17 th July. By volunteering with SPARK you will be part of a very rewarding program that provides much needed assistance to refugee children and their families. No teaching qualifications or experience are required, as training is provided. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, friendly and patient and who love working with children. For further information about this rewarding experience please visit To register your interest please contact or spark@vinnies.org.au.

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7 St Thomas More Feastday: June 22 Patron of Lawyers 1535 St. Thomas More, Martyr (Patron of Lawyers) St. Thomas More was born at London in After a thorough grounding in religion and the classics, he entered Oxford to study law. Upon leaving the university he embarked on a legal career which took him to Parliament. In 1505, he married his beloved Jane Colt who bore him four children, and when she died at a young age, he married a widow, Alice Middleton, to be a mother for his young children. A wit and a reformer, this learned man numbered Bishops and scholars among his friends, and by 1516 wrote his world-famous book "Utopia". He attracted the attention of Henry VIII who appointed him to a succession of high posts and missions, and finally made him Lord Chancellor in However, he resigned in 1532, at the height of his career and reputation, when Henry persisted in holding his own opinions regarding marriage and the supremacy of the Pope. The rest of his life was spent in writing mostly in defense of the Church. In 1534, with his close friend, St. John Fisher, he refused to render allegiance to the King as the Head of the Church of England and was confined to the Tower. Fifteen months later, and nine days after St. John Fisher's execution, he was tried and convicted of treason. He told the court that he could not go against his conscience and wished his judges that "we may yet hereafter in heaven merrily all meet together to everlasting salvation." And on the scaffold, he told the crowd of spectators that he was dying as "the King's good servant-but God's first." He was beheaded on July 6, His feast day is June 22nd. Article & photo provided by Catholic.org Reprinted with permission of Catholic Online First Martyrs of the See of Rome Feastday: June These Christian holy men and women are also called the Protomartyrs of Rome. They were accused of burning Rome by Nero, who burned Rome to cover his own crimes. Some martyrs were burned as living torches at evening banquets, some crucified, others were fed to wild animals. These martyrs died before Sts. Peter and Paul, and are called disciples of the Apostles... whom the Holy Roman church sent to their Lord before the Apostles death. Article provided by Catholic.org Reprinted with permission of Catholic Online