Countdown
Immediately after this 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 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 this week. Deacon Isaac’s first Mass will be at Stella Maris Church on Friday, 30 June 30th at 5.00pm followed by supper. If you are joining us for Isaac’s First Mass on the Friday would you please consider bringing along a plate of savoury food, or a fruit or cheese platter, to share after mass.
Watch Isaac share his story of discernment in the video below, as he prepares for ordination
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!
Children’s sacramental news
Confirmation 2023 was a fabulous event with 95 candidates celebrating the Sacrament. Many people from our parish came together to make this event a huge success. Bishop Brian Heenan was an inspiring and wonderfully, warm presider – we thank him for leading this great celebration.
The Stella Maris Primary and Siena Primary School Choirs did an outstanding job of worshipping with their voices, we thank Inez Durrer and Gabby Khoury for their efforts in directing their respective choirs. The parish would like to acknowledge the efforts of Bernie Baillie, Kim Barret-Coade, Jennifer Davissen and Angela Woodriff for providing the candidates with the necessary catechesis. Thank you to the Knights of the Southern Cross who did the heavy lifting in setting up for our Monday evening sessions and the Stella Maris Community Team for helping out on the night. We are looking forward to the Sacrament of First Eucharist with registrations.
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. Baden Powell Street. Register here. This retreat is free of charge but you can make a donation.
Santa is Coming to town
In the North Pole Santa and all his helpers are busy preparing for Christmas. In the northern part of our Parish Family so are we!!! Tuesday, 29 July will mark exactly six months till Christmas and the St Peter’s Community are organising “Christmas in July”. More information to follow, but an invitation is extended to the entire Parish to mark 25 July in your diary and join us at Coolum.
Best practice
The protocol for all our Eucharistic Ministers who take Communion to our sisters and brothers who are sick, housebound or in hospital or nursing homes is before you place your pyx on the offertory table, please record your name and the names of those whom you are going to see (the folder is at the entrance of each church). This important ministry always takes place on the day, ideally following when commissioned at the end of Mass, and only commissioned Eucharistic Ministers are allowed to take the Blessed Sacrament from the church.
Winter Appeal
In the first five months of 2023, Maroochydore and Coolum Conferences of Saint Vincent de Paul have given over $81,000 of assistance to 1,300 local people seeking support to cope with rising cost of living, household bills, health impacts and domestic and family violence, and other stresses in their lives. Every day, individuals and families are helped by Vincentians with food and grocery items, essential furniture and white goods, travel and transport costs and payment of pharmacy prescriptions. Vincentians also offer their time, advice, advocacy and friendship which is not included in this dollar figure.
The annual Vinnies 2023 Winter Appeal will be held next weekend across our Parish. Historically, contributions from parishioners to our two annual appeals provide approximately 20% of the two Conferences’ combined income. This enables the Society to continue to assist the most vulnerable in our community.
All proceeds to the appeal remain in our parish when donations are made directly to
MAROOCHYDORE – BSB: 064-786 ACCOUNT: 100027046 REFERENCE: winter appeal
or
COOLUM – BSB 064786 ACCOUNT 100027007 REFERENCE winter appeal
Email your name for a receipt [email protected] or [email protected]
Next weekend, donation envelopes will also be available at all Masses. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. Thank you for your continuing generosity through these times that are difficult for so many.
A new financial year
Thank you to all parishioners who support the mission of the parish by utilising the envelopes as part of fulfilling your planned giving pledge. If you didn’t get a chance to pick up your envelopes yet, they are available at the entrance to the church. One of the outcomes of Covid has been our familiarity and confidence in using electronic means to pay bills and transfer money. Waiting in line at the local bank branch to get cash seems such a distant memory! Certainly in our Parish we have seen a move away from the use of weekly envelopes and the embracing of other forms of technology.
DIRECT DEBIT: Fulfilling your pledge to support the mission of the Parish via direct debit is simple and easy, and if you would like a Direct Debit form 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”
TO 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.
Instagrace – Sunshine Coast
INInstagrace is a 3-days teens retreat conducted by Jesus Youth for those in Years 10-12 and is aimed at helping youngsters to know and enrich their life in Christ. It supports our parish’s effort to create a community of young adults where our teens can forge friendships with their peers from similar faith backgrounds. If you are interested, please register here or contact Carrolyn Watt at the Parish Office on 07 5443 3488.
Date: 21 Jul 2023 (5.00 PM) to 23 Jul 2023 (3.00 PM) at Apex Camps, 171 Nojoor Rd, Twin Waters, The Parish will subsidise participants, reducing the cost to $100.
ARCHDIOCESAN MILESTONE 150th Anniversary of the Cathedral of St Stephen. The Archbishop has launched a year of celebration for the 150th anniversary of the Opening and Blessing of the Cathedral of St. Stephen. There will be a number of celebrations throughout the next twelve months. This month we will be celebrating the story of Ordinations in the Cathedral. Parishioners are invited to attend loam Mass on Wednesday 28 June at the Cathedral as we celebrate and acknowledge all those who have been ordained in the Cathedral throughout its history. Archbishop Coleridge will preside and refreshments will be provided afterwards. Stay tuned for news about more commemorations over the course of this year-long celebration.
Archdiocesan milestone
The Archbishop has launched a year of celebration for the 150th anniversary of the Opening and Blessing of the Cathedral of St. Stephen. There will be a number of celebrations throughout the next twelve months. This month we will be celebrating the story of Ordinations in the Cathedral. Parishioners are invited to attend loam Mass on Wednesday 28 June at the Cathedral as we celebrate and acknowledge all those who have been ordained in the Cathedral throughout its history. Archbishop Coleridge will preside and refreshments will be provided afterwards. Stay tuned for news about more commemorations over the course of this year-long celebration.
During this year of joy and thanksgiving, the Archdiocese of Brisbane celebrates with many events and festivities which honour the contribution of the Cathedral to both the local church and the city of Brisbane. In this video, the Cathedral of St Stephen is placed as the centre of the sacramental and liturgical life of the Archdiocese, promote the Cathedral as a cultural and civic icon, and engage in a renewed mission for the Cathedral community.
A Crafty Crowd
On the fourth Friday of every month the Parish Craft Group meets at the function room at Stella Maris after the 9am Mass — a warm invitation is extended to any new members would like to join the group. For more information please contact Olga Girle 0417 792 616.
Known by Name
One of the distinguishing traditions of our Parish Family is the wearing of name badges. We see each other each week and being known by name makes a big difference! Just imagine if we all had a name badge! With the Christmas rush and I crowds quickly descending upon us, being known by name is so important for our Parish Family. This week I have an offer you can’t refuse! If you want a name badge simply complete the form below and place it in an envelope and put it on the collection plate or return it to the Parish Office and we will get you a name badge — it is that simple!!!
Celebrating and Remembering
We welcome into God’s Family, the Church, Ton Knight and Ocea Anderson who will be baptised this weekend in our Parish.
We prayerfully remember Wayne Smith, Vilma Johnston & Irene Jobbings whose funeral rites were celebrated last week. 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.
Altar Server
An invitation to serve at the Altar. Any child who has received their Confirmation and First Communion and is interested in becoming an Altar Server at our parish’s weekend Masses is invited to contact your local Mass coordinator or talk to one of the priests.
Last chance to support our Vinnie’s CEO Sleepouts
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 this Thursday 22 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!
