Look out Silicone Valley!

The inaugural Technology for the Third Age self-help parishioner gathering last Friday after the 9.00am Stella Maris Mass was a packed room!

It was a chance to gather and together solve some of the annoying challenges technology brings and in the process make our smart phones and tablets work for us – and not the other way around! The group will meet on the second Friday of each month, and the next gathering will be on Friday 14 April after the 9.00am Mass – all most welcome!

This Friday, 24 March, is our first Craft Group meeting for the year at the Stella Maris function room. If you are interested, please accept this invitation and come along – we will gather for morning tea after the 9.00am Friday Mass at Stella Maris.

Ministry to the Sick, the Hospitalised and the Housebound

As we move beyond Covid and try to re-establish the normal routine of our Parish life over the next couple of weeks we will be concentrating on our ministry to the sick, the hospitalised and the housebound. Each week Holy Communion is taken from our Masses to those who cannot be with us to celebrate the Eucharist – this is an important ministry and we are grateful to all the Communion Ministers who are part of this ministry. Over the next couple of weeks we will host several short meetings with ministers to confirm that we are following best practice in our ministry and to ensure that there are no gaps in our ministry to the sick and housebound.

The first meeting is on next Saturday, March 25 at 9.30am at the Parish Office and it is for all parishioners who would like to be on a roster and bring Holy Communion to the patients of Buderim Private Hospital.

The next meeting will be on Saturday, April 22 at 9.30am at the Parish Office. It will be an initial enquiry meeting for parishioners who would like to be part of the pastoral care ministry at the Buderim Private Hospital. This is different from bringing Holy Communion to patients but rather is focused on the spiritual wellbeing of all patients at the hospital. A formation programme, offered by the hospital, is part of the preparation for this ministry.

The final meeting is on Saturday April 29 at 9.30am, at the Parish Office, and is for all parishioners who take Holy Communion to the housebound and to aged care facilities. It is an opportunity for our Parish to ensure that all aged care facilities are being visited, that best practice is being followed and all safeguarding protocols are in place.

Children’s Sacramental program

Confirmation for all baptised children from Year 3 or older are welcome to make their confirmation in Term 2. Enrolments for students in year 3 and above, for the Sacrament of Confirmation are now open. Please enrol online via our parish website.

Confirmation Parent Information night will be held at Stella Maris Church Maroochydore on the 26 April from 5.00-6.00pm. If you can’t make that night then you also have the option of attending the same information night the following evening at Our Lady of the Rosary Church Caloundra on 27 April from 5.00-6.00pm. By our two parishes combining our resources, we want to ensure that all families and children have the opportunity to be part of the Confirmation programme and celebrate the sacraments.

For baptism for older children, aged 8 and above, there will be an enquiry session held in the function room next to the parish office on Sunday 23 April at 10:15am . Any further information please contact Carrolyn Watt at the Parish Office.

Southern Cross

This Wednesday at the 7.00am St Mary’s Mass at Buderim the members of our local Knights of the Southern Cross will gather for their local Founder’s Day Mass. It is our opportunity to pray for the members of the Knights of the Southern Cross and remember and celebrate the good work they do in our community.

Celebrating our Unity in the Midst of our Diversity

On Sunday 18 June we are planning a multicultural Mass at Stella Maris Church which will be a great celebration of faith, culture, unity and diversity. At the conclusion of the 9.00am Mass we want to invite everyone to a giant morning tea where we will celebrate and taste the unique and delectable national cuisine of the many communities that make up our Parish Family. At the start of our planning, we want to identify the many different groups and we would appreciate if you are involved in a group could you please contact the Parish Office by email or phone 07 5443 3488.

Catholic Encounter Kids Day 2023

Let Encounter Kids inspire your child with their one-day school holiday program filled with games, activities, crafts, fun and faith. Whether your child likes puzzles or playing Tug-O-War, it’s the ultimate environment to meet new friends and take part in immersive play and prayer designed to give children a positive and powerful experience of the Catholic faith.

Encounter Kids is the perfect playground for kids to burn off some energy in the school holidays, master some true friendships and encounter faith that might yet lead them to their best friendship ever with Jesus!

Open to all primary school aged children aged between 5 and 12 years across the Sunshine Coast, this one-day program creates a welcoming and fun space for children to connect with Jesus and grow in faith.

As a parent who’s doing your best to pass on the faith to your child, don’t miss out on this one-time event hosted in collaboration with Stella Maris by our neighbouring parish, Our Lady of the Rosary Caloundra, on Friday 14 April from 9.00am to 5.00pm  Register now

Vinnies 3-day Book & Plant sale

The annual St Vincent de Paul fundraising event will be held at the Kawana Catholic Community Centre, (opposite the Kawana Library) on:

• Friday 24 March from 8.00am-3.00pm
• Saturday 25 March from 8.00am-3.00pm; and
• Sunday 26 March from 9.00am – 1.00pm.

There will be fiction, non-fiction and children’s books galore, many by popular authors, as well as DVDs, CDs, jigsaw puzzles and much more. For those wanting to start up a new garden or freshen up an
existing one, we have many beautiful indoor and garden plants ready to brighten up your home. Grab yourself a bargain!

ALL proceeds go to assisting the St Vincent de Paul Society in continuing to support and give a hand up to those going through difficult times due to homelessness, domestic violence, continued increase in cost of living and high rental costs. Thank you for your support.

Gifts Workshop

Stella Maris parishioners are invited to discover the charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit in a special workshop that will be run by the Mission Team of Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) Brisbane next Saturday 25 March at neighbouring parish Our Lady of the Rosary Caloundra from 9.30am-4.00pm, following the 9.00am mass. For more information about the workshop, view the full program: Gifts Workshop Program – Caloundra March 2023

Come to the Summit

We’re looking for people interested in going to the principal gathering of the Archdiocese of Brisbane – Summit 2023. The Summit is a three-day event for all who belong to the faith community of the Archdiocese and is intended to empower, inspire and equip.

Early-bird registrations close on the 31 March. The Summit begins on the evening of 18 May and will finish in the late afternoon of the 20th May. If you’re interested in going please email Fr William or through Stella Maris Parish Facebook.

Celebrating and Remembering

We welcome into God’s Family, the Church, Oliver & Dylan Siney, Nathalia Esperanza, Bhavya Patel, Zilvani Fair, Corbin Knight, Bowie & Hallie Brighty, Bailey & Brooklyn Howell and George Pettett who will be baptised this weekend in our Parish.

We pray for all those who have died, especially Clorine Richards, Kellie Beale and Bernie Stormonth whose funeral rites were celebrated last week, and Magda Prout whose funeral will be this Wednesday. 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.

Good Friday screen play – join us!