Youth and Young Adults Ministry
Our youth group, Kingdom Youth, finished for the year on Friday 24 November. Over 50 teenagers joined us for a fun night of laser tag around Unity College as we celebrated another wonderful year together. A huge thank you to all parishioners who have donated their resources, time, and effort to support our youth group. An equally big thank you to everyone who has prayed for us, and who continues to pray that the young people within our community encounter Jesus. Additionally, on Sunday 26 November we had six teenagers receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion. It was a wonderful celebration of faith and community with their families and sponsors. In the past two years, Kingdom Youth has celebrated the Sacraments of Initiation with sixteen teenagers. It has been a joy to journey and grow in faith alongside them. Please pray for them as they continue to discover God’s will for them. Finally, our young adult ministry will continue until just before Christmas. Recently, the group gathered to celebrate the friendships made this year. Please reach out via email for more information on youth or young adult ministry. Have a blessed Advent season and I pray the joy and peace of Christmas may be with each of you and your families!
Thank you, Felicity Jones
Alpha@OLR Celebration Dinner
Our Parish is celebrating three years of Alpha with a dinner at Dom’s Restaurant, Kings Beach, on Wednesday 13 December at 6.00pm. If you are one of the nearly 150 people that have either done an Alpha at OLR, supported an Alpha through catering or leading a group, prayed as an intercessor for our Alpha programs or if you haven’t done an Alpha and are thinking you might like to, we would love to see you at the Alpha@OLR celebration dinner. We will hear some testimonies from participants, and Fr Josh will be speaking on our future plans. Please come along!
Dinner and a welcome drink are included at a cost of $20 pp.
Please complete the RSVP at Linktree or contact the parish office.
Linktree
We are always looking for new ways to improve access to the Parish and its events for all our Parishioners. With this in mind we have developed a ‘one stop shop’ enabling you to RSVP to different events and even order your name badge.
You can access the link here or scan the QR code in the bulletin with your phone’s camera at Mass this weekend, it will take you to a page that looks like this:
If that all feels a bit too much, we have set up an iPad in the office. Our wonderful Office staff and volunteers are able to support you if needed.
4-Week Advent program
A Call to Action
Pope Francis released his exhortation Laudate Deum on St Francis’ Feast Day, 4 October, 2023. It is an anguished and passionate cry for communal action towards a better future. Its purpose is to enable society to face the reality of our climate crisis and ignite greater action. From 1st to 3rd December, Pope Francis is attending the meeting of world leaders at COP28 to address them.
The Service & Outreach page on the parish website has more information about the letter of Pope Francis and its importance.
In accord with the Parish Strategic Plan, the Service &Outreach Ministry Team is establishing a Laudato Si Action Group (LSAG) to respond to what Pope Francis has written in both Laudato Si -On Care for our common home (2015) and Laudate Deum (2023).
Those wishing to join the LSAG or desiring more information are invited to email Trish Harding (Ministry Team Leader)
The Gospel according to Mark
2024 is year B in the three-year Gospel cycle, the year of Mark. Although the new liturgical year begins on the first Sunday of Advent, 3 December this year, not much will be heard of Mark in coming weeks because stories from Matthew, Luke and John that are not in Mark’s Gospel are read during Advent and Christmas.
Mark’s account is succinct and fast-moving. Unlike Matthew and Luke, it does not begin with the birth of Jesus but with his baptism as an adult. Mark’s Gospel is so brief, there is not enough material to ‘fill up’ the entire year. For five weeks, from the 17th to the 21st Sunday, it is supplemented with passages from chapter 6 of the Gospel of John.
Matthew is the first gospel in the bible because when the New Testament was formed it was believed to be the oldest of the four. Since the Gospels of Matthew and Luke clearly draw heavily on the text of Mark, it is now accepted that Mark’s Gospel was written first.
Mark’s main interest is the person of Jesus himself. He follows Jesus through his public ministry in Galilee, outside Galilee and finally in Jerusalem immediately before the passion. The question “Who is this Jesus?” dominates the first half of Mark’s Gospel. Mark depicts Jesus as a teacher with a special type of authority, a miracle worker, and a healer, someone who is the fulfilment of the ancient promise of a Messiah, though different from what his contemporaries expected of a Messiah.
Communing with God Retreats – 15 – 17 December 2023
12 – 14 January 2024
The Annuals are in!
Christmas Dinner for the 30-45 year-old Ladies Group
We’ll have our final catch up of the year on Friday 8 December at 6:30pm in the Egan Room together with lots of laughing, chatting, smiling and bring a small plate to share. We’re excited to meet you there. RSVP Jill on 0402 742 920.
Advent Program – Maleny
If Caloundra is too far to travel, please join other like minded, local people in a short 3-week discussion group as we explore the Sunday readings and discover the richness of the Advent season.
This Group will be led by one of our local parishioners, Julie, on each Tuesday afternoon until Christmas from 1:30 to 2:30pm in the Pat Daley Centre. Please RSVP Julie on 0412 692 343.
St Vincent de Paul Society Annual Christmas Appeal
On the weekend of the 16 and 17 December, Vinnies will be having their annual Christmas Appeal. The local conferences rely heavily on your ongoing support to assist those in need in the local area. Sadly, there has been a steady increase in the number of requests for assistance. Your kind donations will also allow us to provide some Christmas cheer for families doing it tough. God Bless.
Taizé prayer
Some of you may have visited the village of Taizé near Maçon in Western France. During WWII, Brother Roger established a community there to shelter Jews fleeing from Nazi persecution. This is a special place of reconciliation and welcome. The Brothers pray very simply through chant. There is a focus on youth who flock to Taizé to reflect on their lives and join in the sung prayer.
Experience this beautiful prayer for yourself at OLR on Tuesday 12 December at 7.00pm.
For more information visit: https://www.taize.fr/en
Lectio ‘EUCHARIST’ Bible Study: Discovering the Mass in the Bible
The 10-Thursday-session video & discussion bible study course presented by Dr. Brant Pitre commences on 18 Jan 2024 at Kawana’s Good Shepherd Centre (opposite Centrelink & Kawana Library) Nanyima St, Buddina (off Pt Cartwright Dr) from 8am-9:30am.
The presentation is free but participants are requested to donate $15 towards offsetting the cost of the extensive Bible Study Guide for those that can afford it.
This Study of the Old and New Testaments scriptures will enlighten your understanding of liturgy and Jesus’ real presence in our Eucharistic celebration. This will enable you to more fully participate and appreciate our worship/thanksgiving time together.
Registrations & enquires are open. Please contact John Manion on 0416 154 144 or
email: [email protected]
Course numbers are limited to 16. The first 39 enquires will receive a copy of Bishop Robert Barron’s latest book, ‘This Is My Body – A Call to Eucharistic Revival’.
OLR Saturday Rosary prayer group
A wonderful, devoted group of parishioners pray the Rosary and other prayers each Saturday after the 9.00am Mass. The common prayer is their love of the Rosary and devotion to Our Lady. Some parishioners are new, while others have been coming to this prayer group for nearly 20 years. Please come along and join. All welcome!
Back row: John Try, Paul Hardess, Anne Saunders.
Front row: Anu, Barbara Barry.
In Transition
We welcome Pasqualina Bellantoni & Patrick Cunningham who will be baptised at OLR this weekend.
We pray for Lenore Griffith, Eve Mahon & Angela De Zen who died last week. Their funerals are at OLR on the 5 December at 11.00am; Sacred Heart Maleny on the 7 December at 11.00am; and OLR 8 December at 11.00am, respectively.
May their souls and the souls of our deceased priests, religious and parishioners Rest in Peace.
Safeguarding in our Parish
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 the Police 000 or information can be provided to STOPline anonymously.
Phone: 1300 304 550
Email: [email protected]
Online:www.bnecatholic.stoplinereport.com
Or Brisbane Safeguarding 07 3324 3752
Our Local Safeguarding Officer: Judy Moir 0421 873 060
Centenary of the first Catholic Church in Maleny
The Maleny Sacred Heart Church community invites Parishioners to celebrate the Centenary of the first Catholic Church in Maleny in February 1924. A Centenary book is being compiled and will be available at the celebrations on Sunday 4 February 2024 to purchase.
RSVPs and enquiries to Anna [email protected]
or Danielle 0419545711