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October 2006
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Dear Volunteers in
Action It's quite a while since I wrote. I hope you are
well and enjoying this beautiful spring weather. How are you all? The
time has simply flown. "The years went by on velvet feet. We did not
hear them go". (John O’Brien). So many exciting and challenging things are on the
boil that I just had to get in touch with you! World Youth Day (WYD) has begun with Regional Meetings around
Melbourne hosted by Bishop Prowse, Br Mark 0'Connor and the Catholic
Youth Ministry office. An informative and lively DVD on the coming event
was shown. Since then we have launched World Youth Day in the parish of
St Christopher's. It was during our Pallotti Festival at each Mass, the
Saturday 6.00pm which was followed by a "beaut" Bush Dance, led by the
band "Five and a Zak"'. On Sunday morning after the 8.30 Mass we had a
special morning tea and then after the 10.30 Mass we had a sausage
sizzle, drinks and song by John Cooney. Pallottine Overseas Pilgrims. Fr Dean, Fr Eugene and I are a coordinating team
for a Pallottine Youth Encounter for the many pilgrims who intend to
come. Christophe Scheppe from Germany wrote first with 35
prospective pilgrims; Fr Zenon Hanas, Vice-General in Rome has 200 from
4 countries; and Fr Derry Murphy from the General Secretariat of the UAC
mentions "lots of Pallottine youth with a keen interest to participate." Accompanying this Newsletter are two forms: One a
"Pre-registration of expression-of Interest in the Pallottine Youth
Encounter 2008" and another for Australian Pallottines mainly regarding
the formation of "Sub-Committees." These can also be downloaded from
www.syndalcatholic.org.au our Pallottine parish website.
WYD Pallottine Youth Encounter Meeting. As we wrote in our Parish Bulletin: "We are
beginning our preparations for a Pallottine Youth Encounter which will
link in with the Deanery and Diocesan `Days in the Diocese.' WYD is
going to be bigger than Ben Hur. If we are not part of it we will miss out. It's the
flow-on after WYD that we must plan for young adults involved in
mission. A first meeting of young parishioners and
Pallottine friends was on Thursday 21st September. We met to
prepare ourselves to welcome 400 interstate and overseas Pallottine
pilgrims. The World Youth Day DVD enthused and challenged us. We want to
form leaders, one for ten pilgrims, to grow in scripture, to know Jesus,
to spread his love and grow in the Pallottine charism. Our next meeting
is on Sunday 8th October at 2.30pm at St Christopher's, 5 Doon Ave,
Syndal. If you want to share in the Pallottine Youth Encounter come and
join us. Pallottine News Fr Roger McGinley and Fr Joe Keamey celebrated their 60th anniversary of priesthood, at Pallotti College and at Carmel Monastery, Kew. Great Celebrations! Fr Kevin McKelson was farewelled in Broome and from his La Grange -Bidyadanga Community bringing to a close 105 years of Pallottine ministry in the Kimberley, with the task of building up the church with and among our Aboriginal brothers and sisters. Fr Kevin had given nearly fifty years of service. He continues his language studies at Rossmoyne. This year twenty-five Aboriginal young adults received Pallottine Aboriginal Scholarships in the areas of health, education, science, social work, arts and engineering. Applicants were mainly from W.A. with two from Queensland. Fr John Flynn celebrated his 40th anniversary of priesthood at Queen of Apostles, Riverton, and twenty parishioners from St Christopher's received a great welcome at the Mass and the beautiful sit-down meal in the new hall. Fr John has recently made known his desire to retire as parish priest. Fr Paul Manikathan will take up that role in late November and leave the parish of Warburton / Yarra Junction where he has served for three years.
Fr Michael Gitner is studying in London prior to taking up a new mission in Singapore. He received a great tribute from the boys at Aquinas College where he was chaplain for a number of years. We wish his new venture every success. Fr Roger will retire to Corpus Christi Nursing home
in Clayton with Br Pat Bicknell, much to Br Pat's delight. The work that
Fr Roger and Dorothy Ward "generously did at Montserrat is being
continued by Andre and Ellen Roberts.
Tardun. After much negotiation between the Pallottines and the Brothers, Wandalgu has been incorporated into the Christian Brothers College and will open next year as a co-educational college, with equal numbers of Aboriginal and white students. Vocational Education Training (VET) is being trialled, enabling students to do apprenticeships at the College. Brothers John and Ludwig continue to run the farm with other lay missionaries. Br Ludwig celebrates his 50th anniversary as a Pallottine Brother in November 30th. Our Rector General, Fr Fritz Kretz will visit
Australia in 2007. He will be in the West from April 22nd with a final
Mass at Riverton parish on the 29th, and from 30th April until 7th May
he will be in Melbourne, with a final Mass at Syndal on May 6th.
The Pallottine Regional Assembly will be held January 2007 with both SAC and UAC members participating. Sr Bernadette Keating PBVM will be the facilitator at our Assembly. The UAC Assembly will run from 19-22 January 2007; the SAC Assembly from 22-25 January. Please pray for us. If you have issues you would like presented at the Assembly you can let Fr Ray, Fr Dean or Fr Eugene know. With the recent deaths of Fr Eddy Wehrmaker and Maureen Rath, both with a history of and wisdom about the UAC, Mark Brolly has been elected as the new chair of the Local Coordination Council of the UAC. The Union of Catholic Apostolate, the charism of St Vincent Pallotti, is being established throughout the world. Cheryl Sullivan, of the Mariana Community has been elected to the General Coordinating Council in Rome. Incidentally, her 60th birthday is being celebrated 14 October 7.OOpm at Kew. A Mini-Fete at Pallottine Community, Kew, will be on 29th October, 12.00-300pm. Come along and enjoy yourself. The UAC Secretariat is open Monday and Wednesday mornings. Pat Heywood and team have one group at Kew in their second year of formation. The aim this year is to develop both their spirituality and commitment to their apostolates. A spirituality team are available to assist the spirituality of UAC members. A prayer circle for the apostolate also invites you to join.
The ecumenical initiative at Pallotti College has had to cease due to lack of funds from the Uniting Church. Thanks to Robin and Bronwyn Pryor for the wonderful work they did and the spiritual input they brought to Pallotti College.There have been a number of joint bookings between the College and Casa Pallotti. Bookings continue strongly at both centres. St Christopher's parish retreat, led by Fr Dean Bradbury, 6-8 October. Pallotti welcomes volunteers for a wide variety of things to be done. Contact Maryanne or Br Lindsay on 5966 2585. Also on this date, Jane, Joan and Anna are conducting a Women's weekend at Casa Pallotti, focusing on work, family and life balance. The Casa team have built the front verandah at the white house, Regina Apostolorum. Paul Keating a volunteer worked like a trojan to finish it by the weekend. Future plans are to build a 5 metre verandah alongside the dining room. If a plumber or electrician is able to volunteer time and skills, please let Richard know. Phil and Kerrie who create a great feeling of welcome at Casa also request sturdy armchairs and lounges in good condition for the camp. Next working bee at Casa 20-22 October.
Syndal Parish. The Father’s Day celebration run by the school, with mums cooking breakfast for dads and kids, followed by 9.15 Mass was a great success. The kids were as proud as punch. Prayer Guides continue every second Saturday. Gippsland Outreach by the Family of God continues every first Saturday of the month. The Cenacle Night of prayer and healing on 22nd each month with a theme, song and guided meditation before the Blessed Sacrament. Trinity, our music group, under the direction of John Cooney, has produced its second CD, Christmas Carols. It is a ripper and should be ready by November. Call Phil Eales (9884 4561) if you wish to obtain a copy.
Carols Night at St Christopher's on Sunday November 26th at 7.OOpm. The YADYM (Young Adult Deanery Youth Mobilisation) team, including Maria, Loredana, Chris, Tanny, Fr Eugene and myself, and a team of leaders, conducted a leadership camp (June 19th -22nd ) and a younger camp (September 25th -27th )Both camps were very well run. Much work and planning by all the team went towards very creative and challenging camps. YADYM reaches out to the Waverley Deanery and operates from our Youth House at St Christopher's in which the Deanery office also resides. The next Deanery Meeting is 17th October 7.45pm at Good Shepherd parish, Mulgrave. Men's Breakfast / Women's Dinner at Pallottine Community Kew Nov 24th at 7.OOpm. If you can come please contact Joe Drago 9859 3656 / 0425 706452
The coming months hold surprises for us. The waiting for the One who comes again to be with us, who redeems our humanity and shares our wounds in his hands and feet. He brings us peace.
God Bless you all You will be in our prayers and Masses, Fr Pat E-mail: Fr Pat Jackson sac Syndal Parish Website Casa Pallotti Website
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