Latest Parish News

Sisterhood Weekend

Last weekend the parish hosted the “Sisterhood” retreat at Stella Maris Primary School. Over 100 ladies gathered from around the region to connect with other women of faith in the area and hear from our guest speaker Karen Doyle. Congratulations to the women and men who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this event possible. Check out more photos from the weekend in our photo gallery!

Announcement about Fr Will

By now, many of you are aware that Fr William will leave our parish in the new year. His official appointment begins on 29 January 2023, but his last weekend will be 20-21 of January. Again, we thank Fr Will for all that he has done in the parish and wish him all the best in his new appointment.

Ecumenical carols at St Peter’s

We all enjoy a good carol or two. Come along to the Ecumenical Carols happening on 14 December at St Peter’s Church, Coolum Beach at 5:30pm. Bring a friend along to this wonderful occasion. Whether you can hold a note like Celine Dion or have no ear for music, come anyway!

We look forward to seeing you there.

Vinnies Christmas Appeal

A reminder from the St Vincent’s Conference at Coolum that the Christmas Appeal has well and truly begun. Envelopes will be provided on the pews over the weekend, we invite all parishioners to take the time to donate if possible.

Alternatively direct donations can be made to:
MAROOCHYDORE – BSB 064-786 ACCOUNT 100027046 Reference : Christmas Appeal

or

COOLUM – BSB 064786 ACCOUNT 100027007 Reference : Christmas Appeal

Email your name for a receipt to [email protected] or [email protected]

On behalf of our local conferences, thanks again for your generous support.

Happy birthday Fr Geoff from the St Catherine’s Community

BEWARE – SCAM ALERT

Unfortunately, it’s returned! Scams are currently circulating the Parish again so please be aware of messages asking for money or gift cards.

No priest in the Archdiocese should be asking for personal funds in any way, shape or form.

The spam message reads something like this:

“Dear XXXX Are you busy? I have a discrete request… Send me an email when you get this. Sincerely, Fr XXXX XXXX Parish Priest.

The best way to deal with a message like this is to double-delete it (delete it from your Inbox and then go and delete it also from your Deleted/Junk box). You can also use the report Phishing tool.

OFFICE CLOSURE next week

The Parish Office will close early on Wednesday 6 December. If you would like to get in contact with the parish, send an email to [email protected], or if you have an emergency follow the prompts on the parish voicemail and call the parish Emergency Phone.

Flowers please

The women who work tirelessly setting up our environment at Stella Maris Church Maroochydore are currently looking for blue hydrangeas and blue agapanthus flowers. If anyone has access to these flowers and are willing to donate some, please contact the Parish Office on 5443 3488.

Parish Nativity play

We all know the story well, but come and see it in action when the parish hosts it’s Nativity Play 6:30pm on Wednesday 13 December at the Stella Maris Church. All are welcome to come and watch. Smaller children can come dressed as angels or shepherds. We are seeking students interested in performing in the play, as actors, singers, dancers, or musicians. They will need to be available to attend all the following rehearsals:

Monday 11 Dec 10:30am-12.00pm
Tuesday 12 Dec 10:30am-12noon
Wed 13 Dec 9:00am 11:00am
and the performance at 6:30pm.

If you are interested, please contact Bernie Baillie or phone the parish office on 5443 3488.

FUN DAYS WITH GOD

All primary school aged children are invited to “Advent Adventures” the parish holiday activity day, to be held next week on Tuesday 5 December from 9.00am – 3.00pm in the Stella Maris Church Function Room.

Children bring their own morning tea and lunch. There is a cost of $10.00 per child for the day. (Maximum of $20.00 per family)

Places are limited so you must register. For more information and to obtain a registration form please email Bernie Baillie or phone the parish office on 5443 3488.

Sisters of Mary Morning Star

On Sunday 10 December (next weekend on the 2nd Sunday of Advent), we will host the Sisters of Mary Morning Star at Stella Maris, Maroochydore. The sisters of Mary Morning Star are a contemplative order of sisters who live a monastic life-style. Some might remember hosting them here two years ago.

We have a full day with them on Sunday 10 December where we will spend time in prayer, fellowship and formation. We invite all Parishioners to join us for the Sunday.

The sisters rely on Providence to support their living in community, so if parishioners would like to donate to the sisters, they would be most appreciative. We’ve asked them for things they would use, and they’ve provided us with a list:

Olive oil
Oats or Weetbix
Vegemite
Instant noodles
Vinegar (Balsamic or Apple Cider)
Cans of tuna, beans, corn, olives, tomatoes
Sugar
Rice
Tea (black and herbal)
Honey
Flour
Peanut Butter (sugar free)
Coffee (instant and for brewing)
Buscuits
Some UHT Milk

Small amounts, for special occasions only:

Nutella (or other fancy spread)
Wine (a couple of bottles for Christmas dinner)
Dark Chocolate
Granola or other fancy cereal
Cleaning products: liquid laundry detergent, WC cleaner, shower cleaner
Stationery: ballpoint pens, notebooks, glue sticks, A4 paper

Young adults Christmas party

Come along to the Young Adults Christmas party on 8 December at 6.00pm. This year’s Christmas party will happen in the Presbytery. Bring your board games and enjoy some good food with friends as we farewell 2023 in style.

Baptism preparation class

toddler baptized

Our parish has seen so many Baptisms this year and we’re proud to be a parish that regularly welcomes new children into the family of God. This coming Thursday we have our next preparation class for parents (the last one for the year). Children are Baptised into a faith that is entrusted to the parents to teach and model. For those preparing to have their children Baptised, we look forward to seeing you this coming Thursday.

Christmas Mass Times

With Christmas around the corner, we want to provide Parishioners with every opportunity to prepare for our Christmas Masses. This year will be slightly strange because Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday which means that the Vigil Mases on Saturday 23rd and morning Masses on Sunday 24th will be the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Masses celebrated from 4pm onwards on Sunday 24th will then be Christmas Eve Masses.

Saturday 23 December

4:30pm St Peter’s, Coolum
6:00pm Stella Maris, Maroochydore

Sunday 24 December

6:30am Stella Maris, Maroochydore
7:30am St Peter’s, Coolum
8:00am St Catherine’s, Sippy Downs
9.00am Stella Maris, Maroochydore 9:30am St Mary’s, Buderim

Christmas Eve 24 December

4.00pm Stella Maris, Maroochydore
5.00pm St Peter’s, Coolum
5.00pm St Catherine’s, Sippy Downs
6.00pm Stella Maris, Maroochydore
12.00am Stella Maris, Maroochydore

Christmas Day Monday 25 December

6:30am Stella Maris, Maroochydore
7:30am St Peter’s, Coolum
9.00am Stella Maris, Maroochydore
9:30am St Mary’s, Buderim

You can find these times under our Mass Times webpage Christmas Mass Times

Celebrating and Remembering

We welcome into God’s Family, the Church, Ivy Murphy, Stella Murphy, Caleb Nielsen, Ayla Jorgensen, Charles Polsen, Oliver Polsen, Harrison Gilbert, Aidan Blennerhasset and Sydney Blennerhasset who will be baptised this weekend in our Parish.

We prayerfully remember all those who have died. Especially Patrick Clifford whose funeral will be on Monday 4 December and Patrick McDonnell whose funeral will be on Tuesday 5 December.

May the souls of all our departed priests, religious, parishioners and family members, through the rich mercy of God, Rest in Peace.