A HUGE Christmas Thank you

The Saint Vincent dePaul Conference of Campbelltown heartily thanks the Parishioners of Saint John's for their extraordinary Generosity. Our Christmas appeal has raised $7984. which is the most generous total ever! This generosity, and your donations of toys and food has made it possible to meet the needs of many needy neighbours during Christmas, and well into the new year. To say the least, we are overwhelmed! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all who have given so much.

Social Justice Thought For The Week

"The Greatest gift we can offer each other is the gift of ourselves, our love, our time and our prayers."

Christmas Mass Times 2008

Christmas Eve 24th December

  5:30pm - Children's Mass

  7:00pm - Vigil Mass

  9:00pm - Vigil Mass

Christmas 25th December

  Midnight - Midnight Mass

  7:30am - Christmas Day

  9:00am - Christmas Day

  10:30am - Christmas Day

There will be no evening mass on Christmas day

Social Justice Thought For The Week

"If Christian faith is not translated into love and concrete help for the poor, it is not real faith." Pope Benedict XVI

The power of G

Apropos our discussion at the FaithWorx Advent program on Sunday, I just received this message from a friend that I thought to share with you.

"...  Changing gears a bit, many of you have been telling me that you haven't heard from me in a while, and it's true. This is actually my 3rd edition to an update I've been working on and have finally come to the point of sending it out. There are many stories and things to share, but to be brief, these past few months has been a time where G has led me to a place where - one: I could let go of certain things and a relationship - two: I was simultaneously removed from things and relationships - three: I am being stripped down in heart and spirit - but four: embrace a deep passion.
       G is faithful.
       Last Tues., a bro called and told me he was thinking of me. He wanted to know how he could pr for me. One of the three things I told him was, "my spirit is broke, my spirit is broken right now."
       The next day, an elder couple I met with, who didn't know too much of the details of my situation started telling me about, "a broken spirit" and what J first said on the mount, "blessed are those who are poor in spirit". While the husband was talking inside that restaurant on the top floor, I was cracked to tears, "depleted" and "deleted" are descriptive of my state, yet feeling the immense love of G, and that He's in passionate pursuit of me. That's the good news. It's like you feel like a piece of poo, but G would call you "blessed".
       This past Sunday, a good brother from the States sent me a message, actually, it's a rap song interlude, called, "Theology of Brokenness". One line in the less than 2 minute interlude says, "listen, if you want to walk in the implications of the Gpsl, you're going to have to be married to the understanding of the principle of brokenness." My heart nodded in agreement to that so deeply b/c I knew it to be true. ("Thanks for sending that to me friend.") Recently, I have been even more grateful for the foreign brothers and sisters who have been a great support to me. At the same time, it's also been mutually refreshing to one another as we journey on amidst the spiritual scars and iron bars.

-Decision Making, "Turning" & Moving Forward-

... I've decided to explore something that I believe has been planted into my heart years ago. I'll be looking into various Chrstn (Sem.) schools. I hope to find growing up through solid training in formal settings in tandem with a church where I would be able to commit myself and serve for a long while. There is a quiet assurance to begin taking serious steps of faith towards this new direction, though outward circumstances such as finances, the economy, scarce jobs, etc. may say otherwise.

-Closing Thoughts & Remember-

       I ask for you pr's regarding this new direction I'm heading ... and for this city and country to be radically transformed by the life of JC through His Spirit living inside His people. My pr for you is that whether in cold, sunny, windy, rainy, dry or humid, good, bad, happy or sad conditions that you'll be able to experience a true "white Christmas" this season, where you can rest assured in heart and spirit that all your sins have been washed away, white as snow, once and for all by the precious blood of JC. Believe.
Thanks for standing with me. "

Social Justice Thought For The Week

We can’t help everyone.
But everyone can help someone.

Social Justice Thought for the week

"Never see a Need without trying to do something about it"
Blessed Mary MacKillop.

The Spirit of Christmas

Christmas is fast approaching. Its often a busy time for many of us. Organising this and that, presents, holidays, and more presents :)

As Christians, we understand that this time of year is a celebration of the birth of Christ. The below Youtube video is just a nice reminder of the spirit of the season, presented in a practical and welcoming way.

Its been a rough year for many, and for the world in general. Lets pray that even when events seem dark, that we stay mindful of God in our hearts and world. We can get there folks, lets pray for hope this Christmas.

God's always walking with us.

Faith(&)Worx - An interesting article

Hi -

Following our Advent discussion at FaithWorx last Sunday, I found the following article interesting and hope that you may, too.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=60244

Sean

New Diocesan Youth & Young Adult Coordinator

Bishop Peter is pleased to announce that Loretta Brinkman has been appointed to the position of Youth & Young Adult Coordinator for the Diocese of Wollongong. Some of you may know Loretta from her previous work in our diocese as the Youth & Young Adult Coordinator for the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Please find attached some information on Loretta. Loretta will be starting work in this role in early February 2009. There will be a commissioning for Loretta at the Diocesan Mass on the beach on this Saturday 6 December at 5.30pm at North Beach, Wollongong. Come along to the Mass and meet Loretta, and join us for fish and chips on the beach after Mass.

LORETTA BRINKMAN

Loretta lived in the Wollongong diocese for over twenty years before moving to Melbourne. She attended John Therry Catholic High School and then graduated from the University of Western Sydney (Macarthur) with a Bachelor of Arts. As a parishioner of Mary Immaculate Parish, Eagle Vale, she was involved in various ministries including Youth Ministry, a term on the inaugural Parish Pastoral Council and President of the Liturgy Committee. Loretta also travelled to three World Youth Day's (1997, 2000 and 2002) as part of Wollongong pilgrimage groups and was a member of the Diocesan Vocations Advisory Group.

After joining the St Vincent de Paul Society at high school, Loretta continued as a volunteer for many years, taking up a number of youth leadership roles culminating in being appointed as the NSW/ACT State Youth Representative. Following on from her volunteer involvement Loretta worked as the St Vincent de Paul Society's Youth and Young Adult Co-ordinator in the Diocese of Wollongong for over eight years before taking up a position as a Learning Facilitator for the Society's NSW/ACT Learning Services Department.

In 2006 Loretta moved to Melbourne to take up a position working for the Australian Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. This role was an opportunity for her to continue her work as a founding member of the national Oblate Youth Australia community, working as Project Officer for the International Oblate Youth Encounter (a pre-World Youth Day event) and as the Coordinator of Rosies Oblate Youth Mission.

Loretta has a firm belief that young people have a vital and unique role to play in our church, a role that they excel at when given the support and respect they deserve. Loretta is looking forward to coming home and is keen to meet and work with the young and the young at heart throughout the diocese.