The Census and People of Faith The latest tactic of the secularists is their campaign throughout the media is to get anyone who doesn’t regularly attend church to mark themselves as “no religion” in the Census this week. This is seriously misleading: we all know people with faith who practise only irregularly, or who connect to God and Church in ways other than Mass attendance. However much we would like to see them more at Mass, we would never describe them as having “no religion”. Not only is this present campaign deceptive, it will also reduces our ability to get reliable information on where our people are, and so where we should concentrate infrastructure such as Catholic Churches, hospitals, schools etc. as well as where best to target our welfare and other services. This will give a distorted picture of who we are and where we are and so the secularists hope to use the Census as another excuse to deny believers a voice in the public square. Please ask all your family and friends to write their true religion on their Census form this week !
The 18th Sunday this year falls on the Feast Day of Mother Mary of the Cross MacKillip, our Australian Saint. Because it is rightly a Solemnity here and in New Zealand, we were to hear the readings and pray the prayers of her Feast’s Mass this weekend. The rest of the Catholic world celebrates Saint Dominic on August 8th but we now celebrate him on a day close to this date. August 8th was chosen for St Mary as this was the date on which she died in Sydney in 1909. Most saints are celebrated on the day of their earthly death because this is the date of their birth into Eternal Life. It is from their place close to the Lord that they now urge us on with their prayers and the example of their lives. Mother Mary is remembered for her compassion for those in all kinds of need; for her forgiveness when unjustly treated; her trust in God’s providence and her faith in God’s abiding presence in everyone and every event of life. She travelled for decades across most of Australia, even as she became older and unwell. She went to NZ a few times and it was there that she suffered a serious stroke, debilitating but not stopping her for the rest of her life. Mary continued her lifelong practice of writing letters to keep in touch, even continuing this towards the end by asking a Sister to type her messages as she dictated them, lest she lose touch with all those she had led for decades, spread as they were across a vast land and NZ. Her letters have been published in recent years in various editions, arranged according to various groupings eg letters to her mother, Flora, until Flora drowned in a shipwreck; letters to her early companions on the mission; letters she wrote after her stroke etc. You can obtain these at the Sisters’ online store at www.sosj.org.au. Reading her letters is probably the best way of getting to know her as a person and indeed, a Saint. Here is an excerpt from a letter to the Sisters of St Joseph she wrote a few months before she died: ‘Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them cheerfully, remembering whom you are trying to follow. Do not be afraid. Love on another, bear with one another, and let charity guide you in all your life.’ You may like to pray the Novena Prayer for nine days. You may also like to follow a multi-media novena offered by the Sisters of Saint Joseph at www.sosj.org.au/nine-days-with-mary-mackillop-novena/. It is a series of short reflections, images and music to inspire prayer to this remarkable Australian woman. Let us keep very close to the Lord and to each other by prayer which overcomes all obstacles to a life of faith, hope and love that is well lived, as did Mother Mary MacKillop.
Masks are no longer compulsory from 6AM Thursday, April 15th, 2021. Masks are optional and people are encouraged to feel welcome to wear a mask if they choose.
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN DEFENCE OF THE UNBORN STARTS FEBRUARY 17: 40 Days for Life is an internationally coordinated 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and a peaceful all-day vigil in front of abortion businesses. In Brisbane, the Vigil will take place from Ash Wednesday, February 17 – March 28. The location is near the Bowen Hills Station, Abbotsford Road, Bowen Hills, over 150m from the Marie Stopes Abortion centre. To find out more, go to www.40daysforlife.com/brisbane. Every one can find a way to be part of this campaign against the tragedy which is ongoing in our own community: by prayer and fasting; community outreach and the peaceful vigil near the abortion businesses.
Saturday, December 19th, saw the launch of the new website for the Parish of Saint Kevin. Mr Barry Kearney worked closely with the Parish for some weeks and he did so voluntarily for gratis. We thank him for his time, his expertise and for doing all with humour and patience. It has been launched at this particular time to coincide with the 65th Anniversary of the Ordination of Fr Tim Norris.
In November, Mrs Belinda Kingston was appointed as Princioal of Saint Kevin;s School from January 1st, 2021. Mrs Kingston is presently Assistant Principal of Saint Brigid's School, Nerang. We welcome Belinda to our Community as we enter the 57th year of the School's foundation.