PARISH NEWS
BAPTISM FORMATION
Baptism Formation meeting will be held on Monday 6th Feb at 7:00pm in church.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
If you can help with serving on the Piety Store once a month after your regular Mass, please contact Bev Jones on 9749-2388. Thank you.
PIETY STORE
Last chance to get your Columban Calendar. Help the Missions and keep up to date with saints' feast days, etc. $9 each. Calendars must be sent back after the weekend of 4th/5th February. Only 11 left.
CHILDREN ENGAGING IN THE GOSPEL
Children’s Liturgy of the Word will be starting again for the year on Sunday 5th February at the 10:30 mass. It is held every 2nd Sunday during the school term. Children are given the opportunity to come together to engage in the gospel of the Sunday at their level. We are currently in need of more helpers to assist in the running of Children’s Liturgy. No experience required and all material will be provided. The commitment is only 6-7 sessions a year. It is a requirement that you have a Working with Children’s Check. There is no fee in obtaining the Working with Children Check for volunteers in the parish. Contact Josephine at the parish office on 9749 4300 to apply for one. If you are interested please contact Ayesha on 0422685779.
VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
The next Meeting of the Hoppers Crossing Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society will be on next Tuesday night, the 7th February, at 7:30pm in the Parish Community Centre. We are in need of new Members available to go out on Visits on one day Tuesdays to Thursdays. If you can spare the time (1.5 - 2 hours each week), please feel welcome to come to a Meeting.
CHILDREN SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM –SUNDAY SCHOOL
Enrolment times and dates for our Sacramental and Religious Education classes for Children attending Non Catholic Schools, are: Sunday 5th and 12th February, 9:30am to 11:00am. Classes start on 19th February from 9:15am to 10:25am.
If you have Children or Grandchildren whom you wish to receive Sacraments, please come and see us. You will find us by following the arrows on the walls of the school buildings near the undercover car park. Enquiries to Bernice on 9749-2812.
POPE’S INTENTION FOR FEBRUARY 2017
That all those who are afflicted, especially the poor, refugees and marginalized, may find welcome and comfort in our communities.
TWEET FROM POPE FRANCIS
Nothing is impossible if we turn to God in prayer. We can all be builders of peace.
READERS AND EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF COMMUNION
Availability Forms for Easter Ceremonies are in the Hall. Please pick your copy and return the completed form at the earliest. Ash Wednesday is on the 1st March.
LETTER FROM ARCHBISHOP DENIS HART
Please check the noticeboard for a letter from the Archbishop on the final hearing involving the Catholic Church at the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE PARISH
| Every Sunday | Youth & Young Adults Group 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Come and join the Brothers & Sisters of Two Hearts as they help you grow in your faith journey with prayer, fun, games, music and pizza. |
| 6 Feb 2017 | Baptism Formation 7:00pm in church. |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Ash Wednesday |
| 3-5 Mar 2017 | Our Lady of Fatima Centennial Celebrations. More information to come. |
OUR LADY OF FATIMA – CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS
Our Parish is pleased to announce that we will be hosting the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima from Friday the 3rd of March through to Sunday the 5th of March to mark the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady in Portugal. This Statue is one of six which has been blessed by Pope Francis to travel the six continents. Please keep these dates free. Further information regarding special events planned in our Parish will be released in the coming weeks.
CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL: 50 YEARS COME CELEBRATE!
Mass St Patrick’s Cathedral 26 February 2017 at 2:00pm
Archbishop Denis Hart will celebrate Mass at 2:00pm and launch the Jubilee Cross on Sunday the 26th February to begin its journey over Victoria. To celebrate the great gift of the Holy Spirit the Cross will be carried to 40 parishes in 40 weeks to show God’s love for ALL people.
MACKILLOP COLLEGE ENROLMENTS FOR 2018 will close on 17th February 2017
THE "CATHOLIC GUY" AT ST ANDREW’S PARISH 27-31 MARCH 2017
Five Inspiring Sessions at St Andrew’s Parish from 27th March to 31st March, please check flyer in the hall for details.
PRAYERS FOR VOCATIONS
Very soon the students for the priesthood will recommence their studies at Corpus Christi College, our seminary in Carlton. It is anticipated that there will be eleven new students for the Melbourne Archdiocese this year. Please keep them in your prayers, and pray for more vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Perhaps God is calling somebody from our parish or family.
RECENTLY DECEASED
We pray for all who died recently.
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
We pray for Kevin Waters, Joshua Gano, Tessie Lawrence, Noel Lawrence, Mary Miller, Gilbert Williams, John Vella Sr., Albert Gil Estrada and all whose anniversaries occur at this time.
PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
We pray for Anthony Cooray, Janet Gill, Frank Fazio, Lydia (Aleida) Van Susteren, Peter McGlade, Molly Wilson, Gary Spotswood, Stan Walkden, Diane Cameron, Sean Donaldson, Aiden Catherall, Vera Fernandez, Vic Pagunsan, Edith Street, Georgette Maalouf, Carmen Mifsud, Bob Meehan, Dominic D’Lima, Cynthia Middleton, Milton Roberts, Elizabeth Slee, Liam Parr, Veronica Gomes, Lynne Worsley, Luis Farrugia, Lisa Hassan, Fillipo Amore, Mary MCMinn, Kristian Romios, Greg O’Keeffe and all who are ill in our Parish.