 December 2005
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Dear Volunteers in
Action
Good to catch up with you. I wish you a peaceful time of preparation during Advent. It's hard to raise our sense of expectation and hold it there, without rushing ahead to Christmas. Waiting with expectations high, though, can be more meaningful, because it makes us consider what's important to us in terms of relationships, prayer, life and our own calling. What's coming is greater than we can imagine. The power of Christmas is that it brings us back home; not home in the sense of your street address, but  home in the sense of who you really are, who you were called
to be, a home that asks whether you have chosen the right gods to fill your
life. For Christmas asks not only "what happened came to me?" but Christmas
gives the answer: whatever happened, whatever you've become, whatever your
motive for coming home, there is a God so madly in love with you that this God
could not tolerate any distancing but came to dwell among us, took on our human
condition and not only taught us how to live by being compassionate, forgiving
and self-sacrificing, but showed us the way. As Catholic Christians we are challenged on many fronts: Labour pushing legalised abortion, even late-term; John Howard allowing a 'conscience vote' on RU 486 an abortifacient that kills babies up to nine weeks, while at the same time deploring the downward trend in the birthrate and the lack of responsibility in the young. The new Industrial Relations Bill disadvantaging low-income earners; pastoral needs of priestless parishes and countries and the struggle of divorced Catholics, all cry out for the prophetic voice of John: "Prepare the Way of the Lord."
The peace that Christ brings is active,
We are having a
planning meetings have been November 4th,
10th
PALLOTTI COLLEGE Fr Dean writes: "It has been a busy time at the College over the last three months. Bookings have been heavy and remain so until mid-December. There has been a bit of fluidity with numbers on the team - some have been overseas (most notably at the UAC Congress in Poland), some have spent some time in hospital - but everyone pulled together and we are looking forward to the end of the year. We must also thank the many people who helped us out in various ways during this time." Christmas Eve Mass,
8.30pm at the College, followed by supper. The College will close until
the end of January.
Fr Seamus Freeman known to many of you as Rector General of the Pallottines is now parish priest of St Vincent Pallotti parish, Pietralata in Rome. He is also President of the UAC General Coordination Council in Rome.
UAC (UNION OF CATHOLIC APOSTOLATE) NEWS On November 12th the new UAC Secretariat Centre at Pallottine Community, 85 Studley Park Road was blessed and opened, followed by a barbecue. Wally Vandenberg was responsible for the renovation. The place looks fantastic and is open for visitors. Fr Eugene San and Pat Heywood (executive officer) have been developing Kew as a centre of UAC formation and Pallottine spirituality. If you would like to help or volunteer in any way contact Pat on 9855 0211 or Fr Eugene on 9853 8506. A great boost to the UAC was the Congress in Konstancin Pallottine Retreat Centre in Poland. 150 participants represented 24 countries: the Argentine, Australia, Austria, Belize, Belarus, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, England, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uruguay and the USA. Eleven went from Australia and made contact with their counterparts throughout the world. The UAC has councils on the local, national and international level to coordinate apostolic activities, to support and be open to new initiatives. The General Coordination Council based in Rome is preparing for the first General Assembly, December 27 - 30. Anne Dowling and Fr Ray will attend.
The Pallottine Community at Kew will host the Christmas Eve Mass at 8.30 followed by a light supper. Taize Night is on the first Friday of every month (except January) led by Bill and Maryanne. Every Friday at 4.00pm there is a half-hour Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for Pallottine vocations, followed by rosary, chaplet of Divine Mercy and Mass at 5.00pm. UAC Recollection Days open to all will begin next March 7th with Eucharist at 11.00, shared BYO lunch, input at 1.00, quiet time, Adoration at 3.00pm concluding with afternoon tea at 3.30pm.
A Vocation Discernment Weekend will be held at Casa Pallotti on April 21st - 23rd Fr Eugene’s contact Tel. is 9853 8506.
Sr Joy’s Sunday School came to a very successful conclusion with a party and echo pantomime. Leaders, parents and children learned their faith in small age groups. Those who had been confirmed took on junior leadership roles and became sharers in faith.
CASA PALLOTI The
Casa Committee under Richard Gooden, with Phil and Kerry and the kids,
has continued to upgrade Casa, but also to develop new programmes and
initiatives. Initiatives include a log splitter which helps meet the
demand for firewood which is heavily consumed over the winter; new
mattresses and protectors now replace the old; gutter guard is now on
all buildings; a termite eradication programme is in place; a new
fireplace; instant boil facility and a drink fridge have been installed.
The dormitory walls, ceilings and floors are being repainted. Two
planned projects are water storage for fires and accommodation for
staff. Congratulations to the team for these achievements. Programmes this year: Richard and Jim McIvor conducted a camp for primary school kids from disadvantaged areas which was a great success; training weekends for corporate groups as well as school and youth / adult camps. Casa has been booked solidly throughout the year. Wider support is sought by the Committee, such as finance, promotion for Casa, getting bookings, working bees to maintain Casa. If you can help, please ring Richard on 5966 2416.
We await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will reshape the body of our lowliness after the shape of the Body of his splendour- temperately, justly, reverently. Let us live in this world awaiting the blessed Hope and Advent of the glory of the great God - EMMANUEL.
St Christopher’s Syndal St Christopher's is blessed with the quality of its Music Ministry teams. Our Contemporary Music Group (Trinity) has cut a CD of its music and will launch it on the 18th of December. The musical talent is emerging in many groups and is of a high standard. Music has been part of the parish since Fr Hennessy's time back in '61. As you can see there’s enthusiasm and joy in what they do. We had a Pallotti Festival on October 23rd with 10.30 Eucharist on Pallotti, then sausage sizzle, jumping castle, face painting for families, followed by a Battle of the Bands for older youth. The rain held off for a beautiful day. Parishioners and children enjoyed the earlier part of the day and then young adults from various parishes and schools and even outside people took part. It promises to be even better next year!
November 13th Blessing and Opening of our school extension. Bishop Mark
Coleridge concelebrated 10.30 Eucharist with Frs Ray, Dean, John
Hennessy blessed four new and roomy classrooms. Parents and children and
all of us were delighted.
And then on November 19th the Parents Association organised a fantastic Carnival-fete with activities for the children, merry-go-round, jumping and climbing castles and a rocket slide, plate smashing, food, craft and produce stalls, wine and coffee, an entertainment and a stage with singers and dancers. The Association made $14,000.00 which will go to improve the school and grounds. What has worked well this year was Advent workshops on the four Sundays of Advent after the 10.30 Mass. The children are enthusiastic and the crafts are simple and enjoyable. We also had a Carols Night on November 27 . Christmas Eve Masses are at 6.00pm and midnight and on the Sunday morning 8.30 and 10.30.
YADYM (Young Adult Deanery Youth Mobilisation)
comprising our two youth ministers Maria Grazia and Jessica, Frs Eugene
and Pat and Sr Joy, have begun a ferment in the Waverley Deanery. We
recently held our 3rd Deanery Youth Mass on December 2nd in Holy Family,
one of the seven parishes in the Deanery. Young adults and youth from
these parishes attended a leadership Camp II for Yr 10-Uni (June 26-30),
and a Crossroad Connections Camp for Grades 5-8 (Sept 25-28), both camps
had grown considerably since last year. Maria and Jess have initiated a
monthly Youth Mass; "Big Nite In" for 10-14 year olds, assist in the
weekly Antioch group and much more. Both very gifted people.
Many parents have a great heart for the young, running netball, tennis and footy teams, a Surf Camp at Lorne (December 10-11), Children's Liturgy, & anointing Masses for the elderly and the sacramental and other programmes conducted by the school. We are very blessed with the life that a school brings to the parish through our dedicated teachers. Recently, on December 13th, all those involved in ministry in the parish came together for a Thanksgiving Gathering. All ages and groups met one another in a very congenial atmosphere with the table laid with goodies, candlelight and a brief prayer service to begin the evening. Our aim for the parish is Pallotti’s vision of renewing faith and re-enkindling love.
In the West, Fr John Flynn has completed the renovations at the new parish centre; the Epiphany Centre has a new executive team - two Singaporeans and an Indian. Work continues unabated as the demand is great. Fr Bryan Tiernan went to India for the 50th anniversary of the now enormous school he was part of founding at Raipur.
Tardun News Our
Pallottine Brothers, John, Gunther and Wim continue at Tardun with some
Lay Missionaries. The Harvest is complete, with a good crop, thanks to
our Brothers, which helps finance the Region’s works.
Prayer Guides is conducted at St Christopher’s. A very prayerful and skilled community has grown, steeped in spirituality and in care for one another. It is held on the third Saturday of the month 2.00-4.00pm. The Gippsland Outreach The Family of God group sets out every second Saturday of the month to take the spirit of Pallotti and share it with other Pallottines in Gippsland. Men’s Breakfasts at Kew and Syndal begin February 2006. The Kew group picks up again on the second Wednesday of each month at 7.00am and Syndal once a month at 7.30am. Hope to see you there! As
you continue this road to Bethlehem to the birth of our Saviour, A happy and holy Christmas to you all. Fr Pat
E-mail: Fr Pat Jackson sac Syndal Parish Website Casa Pallotti Website
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