Book a Front Seat
Next Sunday everyone is invited to be part of multicultural celebrations beginning with Mass at 11.00am. All the different communities will be helping us celebrate through their distinctive expressions of faith. It promises to be a truly unique and uplifting Mass full of colour, movement and faith. Then afterwards on the grounds of Stella Maris Church the celebrations continue with food to be shared and culture to be celebrated. There has been a lot of planning behind the scenes to ensure it will truly be an exciting and colourful celebration of our Universal Faith! There is an urgency to support the organisers who are co-ordinating the different stalls after Mass so please accept this invitation and get in contact. Everyone’s help and involvement is appreciated
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
Indian – Molly Jain
Malaysia – Jane Chung and Peter Thien
UK & Ireland – Margaret Southon and Patricia Sweeney Fawcett
No one is excluded! Anyone who does not fit into one of the groups is invited to contribute by bringing along something Australian. It could be as simple as baking some ANZAC biscuits, lamingtons, coconut ice or jam drops – use your imagination!!! You can drop them off at Tierney’s Café, next to the function room, where Deacon Isaac (Hipster Barista) along with the young adults will be coordinating the Australian table and freshly ground barista coffee. Don’t miss out!!!
The start of another financial year
There is an old Greek saying that goes something like Society grows great when we plant trees in whose shade we know we shall never sit. In the same way your continued generosity to your Parish is very much like planting trees in whose shade we know we will probably never sit! It is always the next generation of believers who benefit from our generosity and sacrifices. As a Parish Family, we are enormously grateful for the generosity of everyone in our community who help fund our ongoing expenses. We rely on your help to run our liturgical life, administration, to maintain our facilities to save for the eventual purchase of land at Palmview. Through your commitment, under the guidance of the Parish Finance Committee, we are slowly but surely reducing our Parish debt of $1,679,637.79. There are many ways to support the Parish. If you use the weekly envelopes for your planned giving, then they are available on the tables after Mass this weekend. If you can’t see them let us know at the office because they may have gone to one of the other churches, and they’ll re-direct them for you.
DIRECT DEBIT: Since Covid many people have taken advantage of utilising Direct Debit to fulfil their pledge – it’s simple, easy and if you would like Direct Debit forms they are available at the entrance to the Church.
SMART TERMINALS: These are now in operation at all four of our churches. They are positioned on stands near the entrance to the Church. Its just a matter of “Tap N Go”
JOIN PLANNED GIVING: If you would like to join our planned giving program, please go to our website for all the information or contact Bev at the Parish office to get things organised for you.
However you choose to support your Parish, on behalf of the Finance Committee, a grateful Parish says thank you.
Sociable Seniors
With the Covid restrictions now behind us it is good to get back to enjoying life and each other’s company. On Wednesday, 5 July, we are organising a bus trip to the Eumundi Markets. The bus departs at 8:30am from Stella Maris Church and it is a chance to get together and enjoy the day. The cost is only $20 each and there are only a limited number of seats. To reserve your seat please contact the Parish Office. Why not invite a friend – it promises to be a great day out!
Ordination – getting closer!
Immediately after next Sunday’s Multicultural Mass Deacon Isaac begins his pre-ordination retreat as he prepares for his ordination to the priesthood 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 Church at 4pm, 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 this week. Deacon Isaac’s first Mass will be at Stella Maris Church on Friday, 30 June at 5.00pm followed by supper.
Sealed with the Holy Spirit
Congratulations to the 100 young parishioners who received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Thursday evening. The ceremony was a culmination of a journey of preparation guided by parents and supported by the Parish. A special thank you to Bishop Brian Heenan, Carrolyn Watt, and the choirs of Stella Maris and St Catherine’s and our dedicated and generous teachers.
Sale of the Century
We have plenty of religious items, CD’s and books on sale this weekend at Stella Maris Church. All items have been marked down so why not visit the table and grab yourself a bargain
Caution
Over the next 3 weeks we will be carrying out some renovations to the Parish Office and sacristy. The end goal is to provide our Parish Community with a larger meeting area and interview room. Please exercise caution and if you are visiting the Parish Office, please use the boardroom door for entry.
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, 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. Register now. This retreat is free of charge but you can make a donation.
Winter Appeal
Our two Parish St Vincent de Paul conferences will launch their annual Winter Appeal on the weekend of 24 and 25 June. On this weekend across our Parish Community there will be envelopes available for you to make a financial donation to support the work of our local Vinnies conferences. The money raised through the Winter appeal remains within our community helping directly those who are in need and who have come off second best in life.
Problem Solving
This Friday, 16 June, after the 9.00am Mass, we continue with our Technology of the Third Age gatherings at Stella Maris Church. It is a chance to gather and explore some of the tricks in dealing with our modern devices and together find solutions to those annoying problems that prevent us from getting the most out of them. Everyone is welcome – this week we will deal with Apple devices.
Celebrating and Remembering
We welcome into God’s Family, the Church, Samuel Otago, Hannah Otago, Luiza De Silva and Dominik Hira who will be baptised this weekend in our Parish.
We prayerfully remember all those who have died, especially Vilma Johnston and Irene Jobbings whose funeral rites will be celebrated this Monday. We also pray for Coolum parishioner and journalist Wayne Smith who died last week. May their souls, and the souls of all our departed priests, religious, Rest in Peace.
Christmas in July – save the date!
Plans are afoot to celebrate Christmas in July at the northern end of the Parish. Put the date in your diary now – Tuesday 25 July at St Peter’s Church, Coolum. More news next week!
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
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!
