Community Meal Thanks!
As many of you know, the parish hosts a Community Meal for the Homeless, Vulnerable and Disadvantaged. Such a ministry thrives on the goodwill of our volunteers and chefs who work hard at the end of an already long week. We want to acknowledge and congratulate all of them on their efforts. A special thanks goes to the Maroochydore Soccer Club for supplying trays of bread last week for our BBQ. May this ministry continue to meet those of our community most in need.
Christmas in July – spots are going fast
The sleigh bell sounds are getting closer! Everyone in our parish is invited to a “Christmas” lunch at Benny’s Bistro in the Mt Coolum Golf Club. Golf Club on Tuesday, 25 July at 11.30am for 12noon start. Two course meal is just $32.50. Everyone in the parish is invited. You need to pay when you book. Spots are filling up quickly so get a ticket. Bookings close this Tuesday 18 July, so ring the Parish Office on 5443 3488. Don’t miss out on this fun get together!
Lots of Goodies
Our friends across the road (St Peter’s Anglican Church) in Maroochydore are having Stalls in their Church Hall Sale on Friday 11 August from 8.00am – 2.00pm. There will be some great bargains with homemade cakes, jams, chutneys and much more. Enjoy browsing among their bargain books, plants, craft items and bric-a-brac then finish off your morning with Devonshire Tea or a light lunch.
Scam Alert – Beware!
Once again, scammers, purporting to be Fr Peter, have been phishing. There is currently a spam message going around the Archdiocese causing distress among Parishioners. The spam message reads something like this:
“Dear XXXX Can you set aside a minute? I’m trapped in a meeting and need you to perform a task for me. Cannot speak, need to meet now, so just write back here. Sincerely, Fr XXXX XXXX Parish Priest”
The spam message normally asks for money, however priests will never do this. Your priests will never contact you through non-official channels to ask for assistance (eg. text messaging or emailing from private email addresses). The only email address you may receive communication will end in @bne.catholic.net.au. Your priests will never ask for financial assistance using digital media.
The best way to deal with a message like this is to report phishing (example below) double-delete it (delete it from your Inbox and then go and delete it also from your Deleted/Junk box) .
Men ALIVE WEEKEND
Men ALIVE Weekend for Men. What are you doing on the 7th and 8th October? Could you benefit from a weekend, featuring talks, personal testimonies, opportunities for discussion, and space to reflect? Since Men ALIVE commenced in 2003, thousands of Catholic men have been encouraged and inspired at weekends across Australia.
Our parish’s Men ALIVE weekend is being organised in Stella Maris Primary School, conducted by experienced leaders from MAT (Men Alive Team). For more information contact Ross McNally (0418 962 837) or contact the Parish Office to speak with Fr Isaac.
Women’s Retreat
We warmly invite the women of our Parish to engage in this wonderful opportunity. Treat yourself to some quality time with God. Book now for the Way Retreat. The theme of the weekend is “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.”
The retreat will be facilitated by Sr Therese Mills (leader of the Missionaries of God’s Love Sisters) and Sr Judy Bowe (Missionary of God’s Love sister).
The retreat will be held from the 13-15 October at The Watson Park Convention Centre, 337 Old Gympie Rd, Dakabin.
For more information click here, call Rosa Montegrande on 0400 755 516 or email [email protected]
Instagrace – calling our young ones
We know it’s a busy time for our young people in the Parish, but we do want to offer this amazing opportunity to encounter Christ in an interactive and unique way. Instagrace is a 3-day 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. Instagrace starts this Friday 21 July and finishes on Sunday 23 July at 3.00pm. Please pray for all who are involved. If you are interested, please register here or email Carrolyn Watt or contact the Parish Office on 07 5443 3488.
Date: 21 Jul 2023 (5.00pm) to 23 Jul 2023 (3.00pm) at Apex Camps, 171 Nojoor Rd, Twin Waters, The Parish will subsidise participants, reducing the cost to $100.
Attention Apple users – Technology for the third age
There was a mistake in last week’s Newsletter. We called for Apple users but we were a week early. This coming Friday we invite Apple users (again) to be part of our Technology for the Third Age. The meeting will commence at 9:30am in the Function Room. We hope you’ve been learning new things regarding technology. We welcome anyone who would like to learn more about this strange and adventurous new world to be part of the community.
A social gathering
We hope to have more social gatherings as a Parish Community. To that end, we’re inviting those who are interested and available to get together for a social coffee at Barista on Baden cafe (they’re on the ground floor of The Avenue, 32 Baden Powell Street, Maroochydore – just down the road from the Stella Maris Church) on Tuesday 1st of August at 10:30am. This is a great way to connect with new people in the Parish. We look forward to seeing you there. Call Barista on Baden to book your space.
Parish Welcome night
It’s that time of the season where we host another one of our Parish Welcome nights. These nights have been a successful gathering of new Parishioners or new people to the area. We focus on our community being a welcoming and hospitable one for all people. Our next Parish Welcome Night will be on the 21 August at 6:00pm. If you’re new to our parish or have returned to the Church, please ask for a New Parishioner Form at the church entrance. Alternatively, you can complete the form online.
Grand Plans for grandparents
Soon the Church Universal will celebrate the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on the fourth Sunday of July. Pope Francis announced the institution of the celebration closest to the feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.
Evangelisation Brisbane will host a morning that celebrates the important role of our grandparents in shaping the faith of children and grandchildren. Grand Plans for Grandparents is a time together created to acknowledge, equip and empower you in this special role. Grandparents are invited to the Hanly Room (196 Charlotte St, Brisbane City) on Saturday 22 July from 9:15am-11:15am. The cost is $15 and registrations can happen via this link
Catholic Formation
Have you been feeling a call to engage and understand the Word of God more deeply? Maybe your imagination was sparked by something a priest said about the scriptures. The Archdiocese Centre for Catholic Formation has put together a course on Understanding, Praying and Living the Scriptures. This course is on offer over 10 weeks and will cover a range of topics around the Scriptures. The courses will run from Holy Spirit Seminary in Banyo. There’s an opportunity to set up a local/regional hub to save people travelling from the Seminary back to their place of residence. If we get enough interest, we’ll set up a local hub here in Maroochydore. The cost for an individual is $250 whereas for a group of 5+ it’s $150. If anyone is interested in being a part of this course, please contact Carrolyn Watt in the Parish Office.
First Communion
We begin preparation for the children on Wednesday with our Parent Information Evening for First Holy Communion, which means that we will see a few children and their families attending Mass over the next few weeks. We don’t have many opportunities to interact with our young families. So our goal is to give them a good experience of community, liturgy and faith; and, hopefully, they’ll return and be more involved in the Parish. If you see a family looking lost, trying to find a seat, make room for them next to you or maybe you can bake a nice cake that can help out with hospitality over the weekends. We’re blessed to have a welcoming and generous community as it is, so let’s extend that to our young families as they prepare to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church.
150 years of weddings
In this 150th year of the Cathedral of St Stephen, couples who have been married at St Stephen’s are invited to commemorate their years of marriage. On Saturday 30 September, the Archbishop will celebrate Mass in the Cathedral at 11.30am, followed by refreshments on its grounds. There will be a particular focus on Golden Wedding Anniversaries, however anyone married at the Cathedral or Chapel, is invited to attend. If you have photos or stories to share, please contact David Todd by 1 September. Email [email protected] Phone 3324 3030.
Register to attend the Mass and for catering purposes or phone 07 3324 3030. Please RSVP by Friday 22 September.
Celebrating and Remembering
We welcome into God’s Family, the Church, all who are being baptised into the Church this weekend.
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.
Congratualtions Bishop Ken
There was a grand roll-up of bishops, priests and laity at the Installation of Bishop Ken Howell. Here’s a news article from their local paper.
