Dear Bishop Michael,

This is a very different holy week. Instead of preparing liturgies, hymn sheets etc I am spending time at my computer establishing email lists and composing emails to send to people as one way of keeping in touch.

I have attached the first Keeping in Touch email that we sent out last Friday.  We will continue to do this each week.  Jan and Rita Sorbello also hand delivered  a copy to people’s letter boxes (those not on email) thus observing the social distancing regulation. 

I was talking with Jan this morning and she said how much she appreciated your homily yesterday and she has heard very positive comments from other people. We therefore would like to ask you for a hard copy that we can attach with our next email of Keeping in Touch.  Some people  may have missed it; others would appreciate being able to read “hear” it again.

Stay safe

Mary Anne Baillie

Monday 6 April 2020 was a milestone day in the evolution of our Mercy Health and Aged Care Ministry here in Central Queensland.

On this day a new Mater Brand was rolled out for our Mater Hospitals at Rockhampton and Mackay.

The new Brand Roll Out will take place at the Gladstone and Bundaberg Maters at a later date.  

Our Aged Care Facilities, Mercy Food Service and Mercy Linen Service will remain under their current branding for now.

As part of the new Brand Roll Out, our Hospitals in Rockhampton and Mackay will now be known going forward as the Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton and the Mater Private Hospital Mackay.

New Signage sporting the new Mater Logo were unveiled on Monday 6 April at those two Hospitals as the Brand roll out commenced.   

This new Mater Brand has been in place at Mater South East Queensland and Mater Health Services North Queensland for some time now.

Having the new Mater Brand in place at the Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton and Mater Private Hospital Mackay from Monday 6 April represents another step forward in the coming together of all Mater Hospitals in Queensland in a Single Statewide Entity that is scheduled to take place from 1 July 2020.

Photo 1: Sr Maria Jean Rhule rsm and Sue Thurbon (Executive Officer, Mater PH Rockhampton)

Photo 2: John Hustler (Long Serving Theatre Orderly Mater PH Rockhampton) and Sr Marie Riddel rsm 

In normal times to appropriately mark such a significant event in the life of our Healthcare Ministry as a new Brand Roll Out, we would have staged a celebratory event.  

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 this was not possible. However, it would be our hope that at some stage in the future, we would like to hold an event where we can gather to mark this historic occasion of the new Mater Brand Roll Out commencing here in Central Queensland.  

Everyone in our Central Queensland Mater Hospitals is very appreciative of the wonderful prayerful and practical support we receive from Bishop Michael, the Priests of the Diocese, the Sisters of Mercy, all the members of other Religious Congregations in our Diocese and finally the communities that our Mater Hospitals are privileged to serve.

Philip Bauman

Mission Coordinator

Mater Health

Dear Bishop, Monsignor, Father and Deacon

I write to let you know that Deacon Peter Olsen died on Palm Sunday morning after a long illness. Peter was from Ipswich and was the first permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese having been ordained in 2005.

Peter is married to Sharon, a well-known teacher and principal in the Ipswich district. Only recently Sharon retired as Principal of St Brigid’s Rosewood.

Peter will be fondly remembered in the Ipswich Parish where he was part of the ministry team for many years.

Owing to our current restrictions on funerals, Peter’s Commendation will be limited to family only.  A Memorial Mass will be planned for later in the year.

We extend our deepest sympathy and prayers to Sharon and their family, the Deacons of the Archdiocese and the Ipswich Parish and broader community,

Bishop Ken Howell

Auxiliary Bishop - Brisbane

The Catholic Foundation, who administers the financial campaign which supports the Seminary, requested a brief video for the very generous contributors who were enquiring about the welfare of the students in this current pandemic.  The Seminarians responded with the overview of life here at present (with the exception of reference to Mass which puts them in solidarity with the people of the parishes). 

One student house each day attends Mass whilst the other houses celebrate the Liturgy of the Word within their community.  On Sundays, each group attends Mass once every three weeks.  Several students also look at the Masses when live-streamed. Overall the Spirit in the Seminary is good.  

I am providing the link which you may wish to peruse.  I believe, though not professionally done, it is nonetheless admirable, and a fine tribute to those who prepared it.

Wishing you the grace of a peaceful Easter.

John Grace

The Good News Supplement for the local newspapers of CQ went out earlier this week.  Permission has been given to reproduce it electronically here.