OLR welcomes new seminarian for 2023
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Parish will this week welcome a young seminarian on his vocational journey to the priesthood.
Sang Duc Bui will join our OLR Parish community this Wednesday 15 February. Sang will be with us for one year to complete his Pastoral Internship. Every seminarian completes an internship year in a parish – usually in their fifth year of studies – to gain much needed pastoral skills whilst, at the same time, continuing to discern God’s calling in their life.
Sang, who has called Australia home for approximately seven years, comes from Vietnam and is excited to live and work in our parish community. He will be involved in the pastoral life of our parish as much as he can in 2023. Sang will live with our priests in the presbytery, but will have his own car and would love to accept your dinner invitation. Please make Sang feel welcome in true OLR Parishioner style!
To find out more about a vocation to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, visit the Vocation Brisbane orHoly Spirit Seminary websites.
A new sanctuary for our Community
A new Garden in the grounds of Southern Cross Care will ensure a prominent open space for its residents, and the promise of a sanctuary for quiet time and reflection. The newly-constructed ‘Garden of Reflection’ was celebrated and enjoyed by residents of Little Mountain last Wednesday at the blessing and opening ceremony.
Residents and guests inspected the beautiful garden and surrounds which p. Mr Michael Hart, Chief of People and Mission at Southern Cross Care, Queensland and Ms Karen Wilson Manager of the facility said that the “beautiful garden” promises to be a quiet location for prayer and meditation.
Michael Stewart, retired Chaplain, (pictured third from the right) addressed all those gathered at Southern Cross Care, and together with Michael Hart, ‘cut the ribbon’ to officially open the ‘Garden of Reflection’.
“The small garden is destined to be a sacred place for the community,” Mr Stewart said.
Immediately after the blessing, two people from the OLR Parish, who had just graduated from the Academy of Chaplaincy, were appointed to pastoral care for the residents at Southern Cross. Up until May 2021, this volunteer group provided love and support for the residents. Kristie McManus, a parishioner at OLR, is now providing full-time pastoral care.
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Parish has been involved in the pastoral care at both hospitals and residents for many years as part of its outreach mission. Southern Cross Care was opened and blessed by Bishop Brian Finnigan in 2004.
In 2017, Fr Joseph was appointed as Chaplain to Southern Cross Care and Ozcare, Currimundi.
Annual Parish Women’s Retreat, strengthens women in faith together
The annual OLR Parish Women’s Retreat brought together more than 85 women from across three different parishes of Sunshine Coast and even from as far as Brisbane to spend a day in the presence of God.
The one-day retreat held at Our Lady of the Rosary Caloundra was facilitated by Evangelisation Brisbane, together with organisers Vivienne Cooper and Julie Gerhardt, who co-ordinate the Women’s Prayer and Friendship Group at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish.
The theme of the annual retreat was “An encounter with Jesus”.
The day unfolded with talks by Lisa McKerr and Chantale Wilson from the Archdiocese of Brisbane, presenting Scripture about prominent women, like Martha and Mary, and their response to God’s mercy and love, followed by mass celebrated by Fr Josh Whitehead.
“We spent time in reflection, discussion and personal prayer time, and were nourished spiritually and physically,” said Vivienne, who helped co-ordinate the event. “The faith building of the women of various ages present – the eldest being 95 – was almost palatable!”
Julie, who also helped co-ordinate the event, said it was an outstanding success.
“We came from all backgrounds and different stages of our faith journeys, but we gelled together in perfect harmony. We look forward to welcoming even more women next year in our annual retreat!” she said.
The catering was prepared by the Caloundra Women’s Prayer and Friendship Group and lovingly served by some husbands and several men from the parish Men’s Group. We were very grateful for the assistance as this allowed the woman to participate fully in the retreat.
OLR Caloundra is home to the Women’s Prayer and Friendship Group, an initiative of the parish community to connect women with each other and with existing women’s ministries and to support them to develop their unique gifts to build the ‘body of Christ’ for the Church and the world. The women’s prayer and friendship group meet every Tuesday at the Parish Centre to share in fellowship, prayer, Scripture readings and morning tea to support one another in their faith journey and community life.
Julie Gerhardt (left) and Vivienne Cooper
Support of the OLR parish Men’s Group
Aborginal Catholic Mass
Do you remember – even if you don’t – the historic celebration of a special Aboriginal Mass at the Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne in 1973?
Friday, 24 February 2023, marks the 50th anniversary of this remarkable event which was attended by some 30,000 people. Aboriginal singers and dancers from north and west of Australia took an active part in the original liturgy which broke new ground in the Church’s liturgical renewal.
To commemorate this occasion, Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral of St Stephen on Thursday, 23 February at 12.30pm. The Archbishop has granted special approval to use the revised liturgical texts from that original celebration. Please join us for this occasion.
Kingdom Youth Launch 2023
Calling all teenagers from Years 7 – 12 from around our community! Youth group is back and starts Friday 17 February from 6.00pm – 8:30pm at the Unity College Auditorium. Our theme this year is Jesus, Transform Me, as we focus on how faith and a relationship with Jesus can change our lives in the very best ways! Come along and make new friends and enjoy some donuts, pizza, slushies, fun games and more!
All those registered before the night will go in the running to win some cool prizes. Register here. For more information contact Felicity.
Joint Young Adults Social Night
hosted by Caloundra and Maroochydore parishes
All young adults (18+) are invited to join us for a fun night out with new friends from the Maroochydore Parish! Join us on Saturday 25 February from 6.00pm at The Savvy Squire, Mooloolaba. All are welcome, please bring friends! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to talk to Kath Ball or Felicity.
Preparing for Lent, Taizé style: Join us!
At this time of the year, we are often busy getting back into routine after a lengthy holiday period! In Lent, our parish offers a special evening of quiet prayer in the style of Taizé. Short mantra-like songs can refresh us in body, mind and spirit. Through gentle repetition, the meaning of the words gradually penetrates our whole being. In song and silence, we can listen more deeply. These simple chants allow us the light of Christ to shine on our lives as we journey together towards Easter.
Come and relax in this beautiful prayer at OLR this Tuesday 7 March at 7.00pm. All Welcome!
Children’s Liturgy
Every Sunday during the school term, all younger members of our Parish Family are invited to a special Children’s Liturgy of the Word, at the 9.00am Maleny and 9:30am Caloundra Masses. All are welcome.
Sacristans and Pastoral Care Ministers of Communion
Thank you for your assistance in updating our parish records during this past week. Each Sunday, after every mass throughout the parish, there will be a special folder containing a form for Pastoral Care Ministers attending that Mass to record your name, contact number and the name of the person/people to whom you are taking communion on any day of the week. We would greatly appreciate it if you would record this information when you perform this ministry until Sunday 25 February please. For any inquiries, please email [email protected] or call Vivienne on 0409 897 673 or Marg on 0459 998 824. Thank you, the Pastoral Care Team.
Date Claimer for Lenten Mini Mission – only 3 weeks away!
While we are still in the season of Ordinary Time, Lent looms large with Ash Wednesday on 22 February. As per the last two years, we have a top quality speaker coming to the parish to facilitate a Lenten Mini-Mission. Bishop Tim Norton, our new Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane, will lead us for three days – Monday 27th, Tuesday 28th February and Wednesday 1st March at 9.30am following morning Mass at OLR church. We will be sharing Bishop Tim with Maroochydore this year so while we only have him for a morning session, he will also be giving a 5.00pm session at Stella Maris church in Maroochydore on the same days.
The Little Black Books are back!
Next weekend we will have the little black books available for $2 each. They will be available in all the communities. The Little Black Books are a prayerful resource to help you pray through Lent.
The next Ladies Lunch
The next ladies lunch will be at 12 noon on Friday 17 February at Thai Lime Twist (24 Minchinton St Caloundra). Could you please contact Deborah (0410532901) by Monday 13 February if you would like to attend so we can confirm numbers. All ladies are very welcome!
Inspiring a Love of reading among children
Our Lady of the Rosary Primary school understands that reading is the foundation on which so many learning skills are developed. This year, the school community will continue to focus on developing solid reading practices across the school to ensure all children are improving their reading.
To support this, we are looking for volunteers to listen to students read as part of our ‘Read With Me’ initiative. If you have a spare 20 – 30 minutes in the morning (8:35 – 9:00am) or afternoon (2:30 – 3:00pm) and would like to listen to a child read at OLR School, please get in touch with Lisa Kearney or the school office to indicate your interest. Please remember, that to volunteer you must complete the online training on the BCE website and forward the form to the school office. Volunteers must also provide a copy of their current Blue Card or Exemption Card.
Into His Likeness
Dr Edward Sri’s “Into His Likeness” s a six-part, one-session per week course during the Lenten Season, calling us to examine the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, which will challenge us in our response to walking in His footsteps.
The course invokes the following questions:
- Do I desire a deeper relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and my Heavenly Father?
- Am I willing to re-commit my life to My Loving Saviour this Easter?
- Am I open to call upon the Holy Spirit’s help to heal aspects of my life?
- Have I grown spiritually in the last week, month, year, or decade?
Perhaps this course is the means to re-ignite your Christian calling and commitment.
Courses commence on Ash Wednesday, 22 February at OLR in the morning & evening; at Landsborough in the afternoon; and Thursday morning 23 June at Kawana GSC
Registrations to [email protected] Further details ph. John 0416 154 144
Interested in becoming Catholic?
Would you like to simply find out a bit more of what the Church believes?
Struggling to find answers to some of the bigger questions of life? The new journey for those who are interested in finding out a bit more of what we believe as Catholics will begin in March 2023.
If you would like to be involved or would like more information, please contact Fr Ejikeme
World Day of Prayer 2023 – Taiwan
This year’s World Day of Prayer ‘Taiwan’ will be held at Greenhouse – Kawana Life Baptist Church (Cnr Main Drive & Textile Ave Warana) on Friday 3 March at 9.30am.
Any enquiries please call Pamela Wright 0408 760 525 or email [email protected]
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In Transition
This weekend we welcome Caleb & Anneliese Walls who will be baptised in the OLR church this weekend.
We pray for Anthony Commerford who died last week and his funerals was at Gregson & Weight last Thursday. May his soul and all the souls of our deceased priests, religious and parishioners rest in peace.
Watch Mass live
Did you know that each day (except Wednesday) we live stream our daily Mass from Our Lady of the Rosary?
To watch mass live go to the Caloundra Catholic Parish Facebook page.
Our Parish’s mission
While we are still in the drafting phase of our Strategic Plan, there are certain aspects, such as our mission, which are worth publishing ahead of time:
Our mission is to be a vibrant community that actively accompanies people to encounter Jesus.
Safeguarding
The Safeguarding Commitment for the Archdiocese of Brisbane and Caloundra Catholic Parish is: Zero tolerance for all forms of abuse and strives to safeguard all who interact with its ministries & services. Special priority is given to the safety & wellbeing of children & adults at risk. In an emergency, please call 000 or information can be provided to STOPline anonymously. Phone: 1300 304 550 or Email STOPline