Getting ready for Lent – only 10 days away!
Believe it or not, the start of Lent is only 10 days away with Ash Wednesday this year falling on 22 February. Over these next 10 days we have a great opportunity to think ahead and plan on how you are going to live these 40 days; otherwise you run the risk of squandering the opportunities that are unique to your Lenten journey. An excellent complement to your Lent this year is the Little Black Book which contains daily reflections and meditations. It is published in America and once you see past some of the American themes, it has the potential to be a great companion. The challenge is to find 6 minutes each day during Lent. The daily reflections begin from next Sunday so in preparation for Lent the Little Black Books are available from today. We ask for a gold coin donation to help cover the cost of the books. Thank you.
Another opportunity this Lent is our Lenten Mini Mission.
Bishop Tim Norton, as a missionary priest, provincial and retreat master, brings to our community a wealth of experience and unique spirituality. Bishop Tim will lead us over 3 sessions on Monday 27 February, Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 March at Stella Maris from 5.00-6.00pm. Everyone is encouraged to make the Parish Mini Mission part of your Lenten journey this year and invite a friend!
One of the Lenten traditions has been to meet in groups across the parish and reflect on the suggestions contained in the Archdiocesan Lenten programme. This year the programme is titled From Ashes to Hope and if you are going to form a group please let the parish office know. There are already two groups formed and you
are welcome to join them:
St Catherine of Siena Church meets every Wednesday night during Lent from 6.30-7.30pm, starting Ash Wednesday 22 February.
For details, contact Helen 0403 617 512.
El Shaddai group – St Catherine of Siena Church, meets every Saturday during Lent from 2.00pm- 3.000pm, starting Saturday 25 February.
For details, contact Ellie 0415 522 289.
Technology for the third age
Technology is changing so quickly and the pace of change can overwhelm us. Upgrades happen without our knowledge and suddenly things on our smartphone or tablets have changed or moved. When change happens simple tasks become difficult and frustrating. It’s okay for teenagers who have grown up with computers and whose lives are fully consumed by them – but what about the rest of us? How do you find an app, operate the calendar, organise photos, access podcasts?
On the second Friday of the month, following the 9.00am Mass at Stella Maris Church, we are organising a self-help Technology for the Third Age gathering where we will explore and find solutions to some of the technology challenges that frustrates us. Our first gathering will be on Friday 10 March. All welcome. If your are interested, contact the parish office on 5443 3488.
Craft Group
Stella maris is re-establishing a Craft Group to meet every fourth Friday of the month following the 9.00am morning Mass in the the function room. Everyone is welcome! Before Covid struck there were many groups within our community and being a part of all those groups kept us connected and engaged.
We have two lovely ladies co-ordinating the Craft Group. If you would like to be part of the group please give the parish office a call on 5443 3488.
Young Adults meeting
Save the date – Saturday, 25 February – and come down to The Savvy Squire, Mooloolaba, for the first Social event for our Young Adults’ Group for those aged between 18-40years at 6.00pm. Bring a friend! All welcome! We will be joined by the Caloundra Young Adults Group. If you need some courage or would like some encouragement contact Fr Will or Deacon Isaac.
Become a Pastoral care volunteer
Do you want to become equipped with the skills to provide pastoral care and support to people in aged care and hospitals? The Volunteers CARE Essentials Course is a basic introduction to Christian pastoral care where you will learn the foundational skills needed to get started on your pastoral care volunteer journey.
The programme is run on Friday 18 February and 18 March from 9.00am -5.00pm each day. If you are interested or would like more information please get in contact with Fr Peter through the Parish Office.
World Day of Prayer
The origins of World Day of Prayer date back to the 19th century when Christian women of the United States and Canada initiated a variety of cooperative activities in support of women’s involvement in missions at home and in other parts of the world.
In 1927, Queensland and New South Wales led the way to the introduction and establishing of Women’s World Day of Prayer in Australia. The other states soon followed. Each year a different country prepares the programme. Australia was given the privilege of preparing the Order of Service in 1958 with the theme ‘Bread of Life’ and again in 1986 with ‘Choose Life’.
This year the people of Taiwan have prepared the order of service. The theme is God’s promise, in the letter to the Ephesians, which invites us to active listening to build a foundation in our praying. Following the example of the letter (Ephesians 1:15-19), where the author praises the church for their faith in Jesus and love toward all the saints, the worship service contextualises the witness of the saints with the stories from Taiwan.
On Friday 3 March, you are invited to join your fellow Christians for World Day of Prayer and this year the host churches are:
St Mary’s Catholic Church Buderim: 10.00am
St Peter’s Anglican Church (Cnr Church Street and Beach Road), Maroochydoore: 10.00am
Holy Spirit Anglican Church (25 Beach rd), Coolum: 9.30am.
The Catholic Leader
Catch up on all the latest Church news each week for free. The Catholic leader has gone digital and is now online!
New Podcast series
A new podcast series, Great Characters of the Bible, hosted by Archbishop Mark Coleridge, reflects on fascinating human characters in the stories of scripture including Abraham, Moses and Mary Magdalene.
Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify streaming platforms to receive each episode directly to your device. To listen click here
Support your parish family
Your generous and continued financial support of your parish is very much appreciated and not taken for granted. You may place your donation on the collection place or utilise the “Tap & Go” facilities at the entrance to the church. Another way to support your parish is to make a donation here. However you decide to support your Parish, thank you! Your ongoing donations will continue to provide valuable pastoral activities in our Parish and create sustainable value for the communities we serve.
Celebrating and Remembering
We welcome into God’s Family, the Church, Riley Peat, Zoe Stuart and Charlotte Styles (Stella Maris Church) and Declan Smith and Koa Hickey (St Catherine of Siena Church) who will be baptised this weekend in our Parish.
We pray for all those who have died, especially Colleen Brady (whose funeral will be 10.00am Tuesday 14 February at White Ladies Chapel, Nambour), Kevin Ryan (whose funeral will be 10am Thursday 16 February at St Mary’s Church), Dr Daniel Lane (whose funeral will be 10.30am Friday 17 February at Stella Maris Church), and Connie Graham (whose funeral will be 11.30am Saturday 25 February at Stella Maris Church).
May their souls and the souls of all our departed priests, religious, parishioners and family members, through the rich mercy of God, rest in peace.
New to our parish?
We live in an extremely mobile society and especially here on the Sunshine Coast, where people are always coming and going. If you are new to our Parish, or if you are reconnecting with the Church, we would love to welcome you more formally to our Parish Family. You will find “welcome packs” at the entrance of our churches, or feel free to complete the I’m New form online. We will get in touch with you when the forms are returned. Once again, Welcome!
Latest Parish News
The best way to keep up-to-date with news, information, and upcoming events, including mass and prayer times in our parish family, is to visit the latest parish news on our new parish website. Here you can find mass times and other key events planned across the parish in The Week Ahead. Subscribe to our weekly E-newsletter to get these updates in your inbox weekly, or download the weekly parish bulletin.
Safeguarding in our parish
…for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
Mark 10:14
Children, young people and vulnerable adults are a gift from God with an intrinsic right to dignity of life, respect and security from physical and emotional harm. They are to be treasured, nurtured and safeguarded.
This means that everyone in the church must ensure that the fundamental right of children, young people and vulnerable adults are respected. This will be achieved through the development of respectful relationships and a commitment to safety embracing appropriate boundaries, behaviours for Employees and Volunteers who work in service of the Church as well as adherence to the legislative imperatives of the State. (Extract from the Archdiocese of Brisbane’s Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Prevention and Protection Policy. Version: 17 March 2017)
The Safeguarding Commitment for the Archdiocese of Brisbane and Stella Maris Catholic Parish is: zero tolerance for all forms of abuse and is committed to safeguarding everyone involved in its activities, ministries, and services. The safety and wellbeing of children and adults-at-risk is paramount.
In an emergency, please call 000 or information can be provided to STOPline anonymously. Phone: 1300 304 550 or Email STOPline
