Hospitality
The first weekend of the month always means a special emphasis on hospitality across our Parish Family. Please accept this invitation to spend a little time after Mass today and enjoy the company of your fellow parishioners. Thank you to all who help provide the hospitality each month – it is very much appreciated.
It all culminates on Thursday
This is the final week of preparation as 100 of our young boys and girls look forward to celebrating their Confirmation at Stella Maris this Thursday evening.
The journey towards the celebration of the sacrament began way back on 8 May when Jesuit theologian and author Fr Richard Leonard led a workshop for the parents which looked at the Church in Australia and a new appreciation of the Church that their children are being confirmed into. On the subsequent Monday evenings, the children and their parents have met at Stella Maris Church and reviewed their workbooks. This has allowed them to remember their Baptism and the Baptismal Promises made on their behalf as well as the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the symbols of Confirmation and the potential of the Holy Spirit has to dramatically change their lives and the choices they make. This Monday evening will be their last session and it will allow a review of their journey and a practice before Thursday evenings ceremony. Thank you to Carrolyn Watt and the teachers who helped guide us over these past 5 weeks, and to Bishop Brian Heenan who will confer the Sacrament. Please keep our young parishioners and their families in your prayers this week, and remember that there is no evening mass at Stella Maris Church this Monday.
It’s getting closer
Sunday the 18th of June is now just two weeks away and the plans for our Multicultural Mass are all falling into place. The liturgy committee held their meeting last weekend to run through the Mass and to coordinate the many groups who are actively involved in the liturgy – it will truly be an exciting and colourful celebration of our Universal Faith! Next Saturday morning at Stella Maris Church at 9.30am all the different coordinators of the post Mass food extravaganza are reminded of your meeting to finalise arrangements for the event. With the Multicultural Mass getting closer, there is an urgency to support the organisers who are coordinating the different stalls after Mass. Please accept this invitation to be involved.
Philippines – Maricel Morris
Latin America – Stella Passeggi and Maria Fry
Poland – Ursula Riggio
South Africa – Robert Baatjes
Nigeria – Fr Ejikeme
Brazil – Paula Rodrigues
Pacific – John Ioane
Matla – Terry Schembri (0401 030 039)
Indonesia – Daniel & Eva O’Connor
Hungary – Peter Kaszas (0412 000 012 )
Italy – Grace Richardson (0447 772 677 )
Croatia – Bernadette Bain
India – Molly Jain
Malaysia – Jane Chung and Peter Thien
UK & Ireland – Margaret Southon and Patricia Sweeney Fawcett
Can’t see your group? Would you like to help coordinate a table? Would you like more information – if so please get in contact with Fr Peter by parish email ([email protected]).
Our Multicultural Mass is inclusive of all in our Parish Family. If you can’t see a group or association that you fit into then perhaps you might join in the celebrations by bringing something Australian – ANZAC biscuits, lamingtons, jam drops – use your imagination!!!
Adoration
Next weekend is Corpus Christi and in honour of the feast we are coordinating 24 hours of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament beginning this Friday following the 9.00am Mass and concluding 24 hours later with Benediction at 9.00am. There are plenty of parishioners who have already signed up to be part of the 24 hours of prayer but there is always room for more! We are inviting prayer groups to host a particular hour block and pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the way you know best.
A Rosary and Divine Mercy will be prayed on Friday 9 June at 3.00pm-4.00pm and on Saturday 10 June from 3.00am-4.00am. Fr William will lead a Taize style of prayer from 7.00pm-8.00pm on Friday 9 June and on Saturday morning from 7.00 to 8.00am the El Shaddai group will lead a hour of prayer and worship. The other hours will be devoted to silence and meditation. It is not too late to be part of our preparation for Corpus Christi! The sign-up form is located at the entrance to the church so we know the Blessed Sacrament will be accompanied during the whole 24 hours.
Ordination
The Ordination ceremony is the Church celebrating at its best – a liturgy full of hope, joy and overflowing with the assurance of God’s abiding presence. Deacon Isaac’s Ordination to the priesthood will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St Stephen on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, on Thursday 29 June. We are organising a bus to go to the ordination which will leave Stella Maris Church 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 Church on Friday 30 June at 5.00pm followed by supper.
Sale! Sale! Sale!
Everyone loves a bargain! DON’T FORGET OUR PIETY STALL SALE NEXT WEEKEND AT STELLA MARIS— EVERYTHING ON SALE!
During all the weekend Masses at Stella Maris Church on the weekend of June 10/11th there will be tables of piety goods for you to grab a bargain! Great religious items and books at reduced prices!
Wizkids
Following the 9.00am Friday Mass this week our Technology for the Third Age group gathers in the function room to explore how to get the most out of modern technology. This Friday it is for android users. The following Friday (June 16) is for Apple users. The knowledge and answers are in the collective wisdom of the group, so if you are interested please come along. All welcome – tell your friends!
Celebrating and Remembering
We welcome into God’s Family, the Church, Harlow Lambert, Archer Minettand Lorenza Giraldo who will be baptised this weekend in our Parish.
We especially remember in our prayers the young boys and girls from our Parish Family who will celebrate their Confirmation this Thursday.
We prayerfully remember all those who have died, especially Vilma Johnston whose funeral rites will be celebrated on Monday 12 June. May Vilma’s soul, and the souls of all our departed priests, religious, parishioners and family members, through the rich mercy of God, Rest in Peace.
Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout on the Sunshine Coast
In support of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout on the Sunshine Coast, Marshall Morison of the St Peter’s Conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society at Coolum, and Nick Saunders from the St Gerard Majella Conference at Maroochydore will be taking part in the sleeping out at Maroochydore Beach on 22nd June. The aims of the Sleepout are to highlight the growing numbers of homelessness and those on the brink of homelessness; and to raise funds to assist. “ Because of escalating house prices and all-time low rental vacancies, across our Parish and the entire Sunshine Coast, we at Vinnies try to assist individuals and families in our community who can no longer afford to live in the region they called home. More and more are finding themselves struggling to find a place to live and some are forced to live in parks, on the beach or in cars.”
While they’re not CEOs, Nick and Marshall have registered for the Sunshine Coast Sleepout because they think this is an important issue.
If you would like to support this initiative, sponsor donations can be made at CEO SLEEPOUT – Marshall Morison or CEO SLEEPOUT – Nick Saunders
Feast of Corpus Christi invitation
Next Sunday is the Feast of Corpus Christi and once again there will be 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 at the Cathedral of St Stephen at 2.00pm (and conclude there), and feature prayers, rosary, hymns and Benediction with proceedings led by Archbishop Mark Coleridge. Find out more at www.corpuschristibrisbane.com
Date: Sunday 11 June 2023
Time: 2pm
Cost: Free
Location: Cathedral of St Stephen, Brisbane City
Pentecost Celebrations
Last Sunday’s Pentecost celebrations brought the Easter season, which began on Easter Sunday, to a close. For the 50 days of Easter our Parish community has been blessed with generous parishioners who have given their time and energy to prepare our sanctuaries and focus our liturgies with the appropriate symbols of the season. On behalf of the entire Parish, thank you for your ministry.
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.
New to our Parish family?
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!
