Lenten Practices
RECONCILIATION
Forgiveness should be part of everyone’s Lenten journey. God’s mercy is unconditional! The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered every Saturday at OLR church from 8:30am to 9.00am. Our Communal Rite of Reconciliation takes place at 9.00am on 23 March. Please note, there is NO 9.00am Mass this day.
Introducing our Newest Staff Member:
Beth Davies, Mission Coordinator
I am Beth Davies and I am excited to be taking on the Coordinator of Mission role in the parish. I look forward to beginning my journey with Our Lady of the Rosary Parish next weekend for the Easter Ceremonies. While many of you don’t know me, I have been calling Caloundra my home away from home since I was a teenager, as my family would come for a yearly break in
the area. I worshipped in the old church and remember the tragedy of the fire that claimed that building. I also remember having Mass outside when the new church was still in construction. In the last few years, on my own holidays, OLR Parish has been a welcoming community to engage with, and a beautiful place to encounter Jesus. Now I find myself in the blessed position to call this parish and this town home.
I am born and bred in Brisbane and I have been active supporting and volunteering in Youth Ministry; engaging with those new to faith; and facilitating welcoming environments for worship and fellowship in Brisbane. Until this time, I have participated in the Mass at Emmanuel City Mission and draw life and strength from the joy and the challenge of worshipping alongside people from a diverse range of backgrounds. I am passionate about seeing people fully alive in their faith and embracing the ‘more’ that the Father has for us all, every single day. I
look forward to meeting many of you and learning about your vibrant and engaging community. I pray you all have a blessed Holy week.
Beth Davies
Alpha Retreat
The Holy Spirit was very much present as we celebrated our latest Alpha retreat day at the Mary MacKillop Centre in Beerwah.
55 people from three different Alpha’s, all running concurrently in the parish, came together to learn, laugh, eat, pray and encounter Jesus in powerful ways.
Thank you, Lord, for a wonderful day! Look out for our next season of Alpha commencing in April.
OLR Easter Rosters
The OLR Caloundra Easter Triduum rosters are in the church. Please put your name down if you are available to help at any of the ceremonies.
Harmony Day Weekend
Harmony Day is to be celebrated throughout the Parish on March 23 and 24. This is a great opportunity to celebrate multiculturalism throughout the country but particularly in our parish.
To celebrate this national event, we encourage you to get into the spirit by wearing something orange which is the traditional colour of the day.
Depending on your community, consider holding a hospitality event (e.g. morning tea after mass or dinner to share after mass) where parishioners bring home-made or bought food from your culture to share.
This year’s theme is “Everyone Belongs” which is also part of our parish vision.
Rehearsals for OLR Caloundra Easter Ceremonies
With Holy Week fast approaching, we will be holding Rehearsals. If you have volunteered to assist with the big liturgies at the OLR Caloundra church, see below rehearsal dates your attendance would be appreciated:
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- Holy Thursday – Friday 22nd March 2-3.30pm in the OLR Church
- Good Friday – Tuesday 26th March 2-3.30pm In the OLR Church
- Easter Vigil—Wednesday 27th March 2-3.30pm In the OLR Church
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Palm Cross Folding
Come along, meet other parishioners and fold palm crosses for the upcoming Palm Sunday. All are welcome.
2pm, Saturday 23rd March, OLR Parish Centre (Egan Room).
Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion is fully booked
Please do not come if you have not registered, we will put it on again next year.
Wanted Please
If anyone has any pyx, bibles or prayer books that they no longer require, could please donate them to the Parish.
These will then be distributed by Pastoral Carers for people in their homes and nursing homes.
Ecumenical Stations of the Cross
The annual Ecumenical Stations of the Cross organised by the Catholic and Anglican churches will be held at Mary MacKillop Centre in Beerwah on Good
Friday at 10am. Refreshments to follow. All are welcome.
Ecumenical Sunrise Service
On Easter Sunday, ministers from various denominations including our own Fr. Francis will be co-celebrating a Sunrise Service in the Park on Shelly Beach.
All who wish to share in the Easter dawn experience of St. Peter and St. Mary Magdalene are welcome! The service will run from 6am to 6:30am.
OLR Inaugural Book Club
Save the date for the OLR inaugural Book Club on Thursday, April 18th at 5-6pm in the Parish Centre.
Ensure you have your copy of “He Leadeth Me” by Father Csizek, either by purchasing your own or borrowing one of the limited copies available here by March 23rd.
Let’s gather to dive into the first two chapters and launch the club discussions.
Sign up using the OLR Linktree found at the What’s New section on our church website.
Parish Music Mass and Meeting
All those who are currently involved or would like to be involved in playing or singing at Mass are invited to a 9am Mass and Discussion at OLR church on Saturday, 6th April, next month. This Mass, during the Octave of Easter when we celebrate eight Easter Sundays in a row, will have a full music roster, led by the 6.30am Mass choir. The aim of this Mass is to offer music ministers an opportunity to be nourished without having to serve.
Afterward – and this is the secondary, but co-equally important, reason for gathering – we’ll move to the Egan Room for an opportunity for every single person to both share and listen. You will be invited to share your current experiences serving in this ministry, as well as hopes for the future – particularly with regards to the ways in which God is inviting us to grow in this ministry.
It is obvious that we need to be intentional about the future of music liturgy in our parish – evidenced by the dwindling number of musicians alone – and so lets begin the journey with a listening and dialogue session for all current and future volunteers of this vital ministry.
We’ll see your smiling faces on Saturday, 6th April, for 9am Mass at OLR church.
Encounter Catholic Kids
Our Parish is offering a one-day holiday program for Primary Schoolers in Prep to Year 6 on Friday 12 April.
The day will be held in the Parish Centre (Egan Room) from 9am-3pm with supervision available from 8:30am – 5pm.
Cost is $25 for one child, $40 for two children; 3rd child and any after are free.
Scan the QR code or visit encountercatholickids.com.au/caloundra for more information.
150th Anniversary of the Cathedral of St Stephen
As part of the celebrations for the 150th Anniversary of the Cathedral of St Stephen, on the weekend of 10/11 May 2024, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Umberto Clerici will perform Mass in C minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the Cathedral. There are three different shows and tickets are available from the QSO website:
https://qso.com.au/events/2024/special-events/special-event-mozart-mass
Monday Craft Group
Have you got free time on a Monday? Are you looking for something to do? Do you enjoy craft? Well, we have just the group for you!
Come along to the Monday craft group held in the Egan room of the parish centre every week, from 9-12noon. For more information, please call Helen McGlynn on 0409 050 722.
You are more than welcome!
A Year of Invitation
My Lord and my God, you never cease to invite me to know, love and follow your Son, Jesus.
Give me the grace and courage to be a channel of your love so that my “yes” to you becomes an invitation to others.
I offer up my entire self – heart, mind and will – to your purpose for me. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Explore Your Hidden Talent
Jude’s Art Class are back on every Wednesday 10.00am – 12.00pm in the Parish Centre (Egan room).
All are welcome, from beginners to advanced. Call Jude for further information on 0421 777 508.
Term 2 Confirmation
All baptised children from grade 3 or older are welcome to celebrate their Confirmation in Term 2.
The program starts on 23rd April at 5-6pm in the OLR Church, and runs for 7 weeks with the Confirmation ceremony on Friday 7 June.
You will need to attend all sessions to be able to celebrate the sacrament. Stella Maris Parish, Maroochydore, is running the same program a day apart so you are welcome to attend there or here.
To register please visit our website https://caloundracatholicparish.net/confirmation/
Complete the registration form signed by both parents and attach a copy of your child’s baptism certificate. Please note you will have to do it from your computer, as mobile phones don’t work. For any questions please contact the Parish office on [email protected]
On the Journey
We welcome Oscar Stegert & Emer Walsh who will be baptised at OLR this weekend.
We pray for Clare Pennisi & Marg Hillard whose funerals will be held on Tuesday the 26th of March 11am at OLR and Wednesday 27th March 1pm at Gregson & Weight Caloundra respectively.
May their souls and the souls of our deceased priests, religious and parishioners Rest in Peace.
