Another week along the journey of faith
Last Monday evening young parishioners and their parents gathered at Stella Maris Church for the second night of preparation for Confirmation. At our Masses last weekend they were officially enrolled in our Sacramental Programme. It was a chance to remember the baptismal promises made on their behalf and how on the night of their Confirmation they will have the opportunity to renew their baptismal promises by themselves. Their preparation continues this Monday when the focus will be on the chrism and the anointing that takes place during the ceremony – what does it mean – what does it signify? Please keep them in your prayers, and remember during this preparation programme there is no Monday 5:30pm Mass at Stella Maris.
Love is in the air!
When did you last spend time really investing in your relationship? Regardless of whether you’ve been together for only a few months or several decades, whether your relationship is thriving or facing challenges, the Marriage Course offers practical, online sessions to help strengthen your most important relationship. No group sharing, just time together for you and your partner. Be supported and encouraged with seven online sessions in the privacy of your own home covering topics from the art of communication, to resolving conflict, to the power of forgiveness. Time: 7:30pm to 9.00pm
Date: Wednesday nights beginning 31 May 2023 (for seven sessions)
Where: Online Zoom link will be shared after registration. Cost: Course is free. Option to purchase journals at $50 per couple or to download the PDF version for free RSVP: Wednesday 24 May. Find out more and register now
Celebrating and Remembering
We welcome into God’s Family, the Church, Riley Lambe, Lucy Varendorff and Grace Friend who will be baptised this weekend in our Parish. We prayerfully remember all those who have died. May the souls of all our departed priests, religious, parishioners and family members, through the rich mercy of God, Rest in Peace.
Feast of Corpus Christi invitation
In preparation for the Feast of Corpus Christi on the weekend of 10/11 June we are organising 24 hours of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. The adoration will begin after the 9.00am Stella Maris Mass on Friday, 9 June and conclude with Benediction on Saturday morning at 9.00am. At the entrance to the church you will find a sign-up sheet where you can indicate what time you would like to commit to during the 24 hours of adoration.
Also, the Feast of Corpus Christi (June 11), you can join over 4000 other Catholics making a public testimony of faith by walking in a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Brisbane city. It will be a colourful display as groups gather from all across the Archdiocese of Brisbane to represent their parish or cultural community.
The Corpus Christi Procession will start and end at the Cathedral of St Stephen and feature prayers, rosary, hymns and Benediction with proceedings led by Archbishop Mark Coleridge.
Bus transport is available. Keep your eye on this website for more details as they become available.
Date: Sunday, 11th of June
Time: 2pm
Cost: Free
Location: Cathedral of St Stephen, Brisbane City
Thank you
A very practical way of showing our solidarity with fellow believers who live in countries around the world where life is cheap and often each day is a struggle for survival is through the annual Project Compassion appeal that runs through Lent. Through your financial sacrifice you stand with and support those on the fringe of life and your commitment does make a difference. This year, through your generous support, our Parish Family raised $10,433.40 which makes a difference in the lives of many fellow believers.
Eucharistic Ministers New Guidelines
Our Eucharistic Ministers who take Holy Communion to our fellow parishioners who are in hospital, retirement homes or are housebound fulfil a vital ministry within our community and we are grateful. To support this ministry and provide the respect and ensure the importance of this ministry we have introduced new guidelines which include:
- Only designated Eucharistic Ministers are permitted to take Holy Communion from the Church.
- The ministry takes place on the day and preferably the Eucharistic Minister is commissioned at the end of Mass.
- Before Mass starts the Eucharistic minister records their details so that there is a record.
Once again, we are blessed as a community to have so many generous parishioners who are willing to give of their time to fulfil this important ministry. If you would like to join this ministry please contact Fr Peter or Fr William.
Dinner with the Archbishop
The Archbishop’s Dinner for Women is an evening event that provides a space for women who are discerning their vocation to gather and connect with each other. This year’s dinner will be held 6.00pm on 1st June in Brisbane. Archbishop Mark Coleridge will share his personal journey of vocation to help those present gain insight and wisdom into their own discernment and the questions they’re currently facing. This is an opportunity for women to be inspired, ask questions, and continue their discernment journey. If you know of any young women who are seriously discerning their vocation, please extend this invitation to them. To express interest in attending, email [email protected] by 22 May.
A journey ends – a new adventure begins
The final steps to ordination are never easy and seemingly slow. For the past six months we have been blessed with the presence and ministry of Deacon Isaac Falzon. While not official, he is due to be ordained at the Cathedral of St Stephen on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul – Thursday 29 June. We are organising a bus to go to the ordination which will leave Stella Maris at 4.00pm and then leave the cathedral for the return trip at 9:30pm. The cost is $20 and there are only limited seats available so to reserve your seat on the bus please contact the Parish Office. Deacon Isaac’s first Mass will be at Stella Maris on Friday, 30 June at 5.00pm followed by supper.
Faith on Fire
Next Sunday is Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit. As we prepare for Pentecost, the Children and Families Team at Evangelisation Brisbane have put together some great resources to engage children and families.
When we think of Pentecost we usually think of fire and the colour RED. To show that you have prepared for Pentecost next Sunday why don’t you wear something RED when you come to Mass? In preparation for Pentecost, if there is anyone who wishes to donate flowers – especially RED flowers –from their garden for the Pentecost Mass please contact Maricel on 0418 726 777 .
Retreat Opportunity
If you have a desire to deepen your relationship with God and find God’s presence in your everyday life, why not consider joining this retreat? The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola are a means of opening oneself to the work of God in one’s life. Ignatius, a Basque nobleman of the late 15th and early 16th centuries, underwent a powerful spiritual conversion in his late twenties. The experience of his own conversion led Ignatius to share what he learned with others and, eventually, refine his personal prayer journal into what we now call the Spiritual Exercises. There are no special requirements to attend – come as you are!
Monday 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 July from 9.30am to 11.00am at “The Avenue” Conference Room, 32 Baden Powell Street, Maroochydore Retreat
Givers: Marie and Eric (Trained and Certified Givers of The First Spiritual Exercises) Just go to to register. This retreat is free of charge. You may gift any amount towards the ongoing support of the First Spiritual Exercises Ministry when you register.
A Crafty Crowd
Every Friday there is something going on at Stella Maris!
This Friday, following the 9.00am morning mass, the Craft Group gathers in the function room. It is a great social gathering! A warm invitation is extended to anyone who would like to join them – for more information please contact the coordinator, Olga Girle, on 0417 792 616.
Polish Mass
A reminder that the monthly Mass in Polish is next Sunday, 4:00pm at St Mary’s, Buderim— tell your Polish friends !
New Principal at Siena Catholic College
Last week Ms Sharon Collins was announced as the new Principal of Siena Catholic College, Sippy Downs. She will take up her appointment at the start of the 2024 school year and she succeeds Dr Michael McCarthy who has taken up the Senior Leader School Progress & Performance role for Cluster 7.
Sharon is currently the Acting Principal at Our Lady of the Southern Cross Catholic College, Dalby, and is the substantive Principal at St Saviour’s College, Toowoomba. Her other senior leadership roles include Assistant Principal – Religious Education St Mary’s College, Toowoomba; Education Officer: Faith and Life, Toowoomba Catholic Diocese and Foundation Assistant Principal – Religious Education, Xavier Catholic College, Hervey Bay.
Sharon’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Applied Science, Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), Masters of Educational Leadership, Cert IV in Christian Ministry and Theology, Cert IV in Training and Assessment, Master of Theology and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. We look forward to welcoming Sharon to our Parish Family.
With Lamps Ablaze
This weekend the much anticipated Archdiocesan Summit concluded when representatives from across the archdiocese reflected upon the document “With Lamps Ablaze: Apostolic Priorities for the Archdiocese of Brisbane from 2023” which over the past weeks we have been publishing outlines of the seven priorities for the Archdiocese. Fr William represented our Parish Community at the Summit. You can Read the Document here
New to the neighbourhood
We live in an extremely mobile society, and especially here on the Sunshine Coast there are always people 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, and if you complete and return the form we will be in contact with you. Alternatively, you can complete the form online.
Once again – welcome – we are glad you have joined our Parish Family!
QUEENSLAND CARE ALLIANCE
Message from the The Queensland Care Alliance: a non-religious volunteer group. We have members of diverse religious faiths, and members with no religious faith. Current members include experienced doctors and palliative care nurses. We think it is inevitable that voluntary assisted dying (VAD) will reduce the quality of palliative care in relieving the suffering of most dying people, unless we take action. Queensland Care Alliance is working towards the vision that every Queenslander with a life-limiting illness will be valued, protected and able to receive high quality palliative care to relieve suffering.
We ask that people joining our group share our vision, and attend regular online meetings. More and more people are joining the Queensland Care Alliance, with a range of skills welcomed, including legal, IT, fundraising, organisational and health professional skills. If you are interested in helping improve palliative care to ease the suffering of Queenslanders at the end of their life, please join our group. For more information, please email [email protected].
