How long have you been a parishioner?

More than 40 years! We first arrived in Caloundra in May 1983, with 4 young children and soon after, my fifth child was born in 1985.

I was away from the parish for about 12 years (from 2008 – 2019), looking after my parents in England, and then helping out my daughter in Melbourne.

Where is your place of worship?

I attend OLR on Saturday evenings, and also try to get to Mass during the week.

What is your favourite prayer/devotion?

Mass is my favourite prayer – and I will acknowledge one good thing that came out of covid: when we couldn’t attend in person, I really appreciated being able to attend Mass online at home each day. When we finally were allowed to come back to church, I had a hunger to go daily (or as often as possible).

How do you practice your faith and what would you like to share of your experience of God’s love?

I have found that my faith has grown amazingly in the small groups I have attended over many years, bible study, prayer group, Alpha and RCIA groups, and that has also had the added bonus of giving me really good friendships who have been incredible support for me when I have gone through difficult times. It was in a prayer group in around 1990 that I had a really powerful experience of the Holy Spirit pouring out God’s love on me that I would consider the time when I changed from knowing about God, to knowing Him deeply in my heart. It truly changed my life and gave me a real thirst to know Him through His Word, which is why I love helping with bible study groups.

What do you most enjoy about being a part of the parish community?

I love the sense of community and the sense of deep faith among the congregation, and the joy that is palpable. I think Alpha has been instrumental in bringing people to this joy and desire to work together to bring God’s Kingdom among us.

The most important thing for me (apart from Mass, obviously!) is helping out at Alpha, and bible study groups and seeing how people grow in faith.  If anyone wants to find out more about looking at God’s Word in our lives, I thoroughly recommend meeting up with some friends and doing a bible study – there are heaps to choose from, and we will also be starting some in the church in 2024.