A Zoom meeting of people from all over our diocese was the highly effective medium used for the first meeting of the newly formed Diocesan Pastoral Council on Saturday 20 June.

With members from Jundah in the Far West, to those on the Capricorn Coast and from Mackay to Bundaberg and everywhere in between, the council gathered after being called from their communities and invited by Bishop Michael.

The agenda looked primarily at the reports from the Diocesan Assembly (March 2019) task groups with feedback from council members which will help prepare the Pastoral Plan for the diocese. 

The members have now been commissioned by Bishop Michael and we will introduce them to you over the coming weeks.

Such an exciting time to be involved in the mission of the church in our diocese.

Joy Phillipi

Good News 8 page supplement for the last time in Newscorp’s CQ newspapers, out June 25th. 

It is an end of an era throughout central Queensland with the Newscorp announcement that from the beginning of July they will be becoming a completely digital newspaper in the region. The diocese has been contributing a quarterly Good News supplement. We will be providing the Good News Bulletin for one last time, June 25th, in one of the last printed editions of Newscorp’s Central Queensland papers. Be sure to get a copy as this edition will feature Bishop Michael’s timely message to the faithful as we emerge out of this COVID period. This edition will also highlight various good news stories of the Body of Christ in action around the diocese during this time.

Nathan Harding

Thursday 11 June 2020

The Sisters of Mercy have made a decision to vacate Loreto Convent at 38 Agnes Street, Rockhampton which was built in 1968 for the purpose of providing accommodation for retired Sisters. This property adjoined the former St Anne’s Novitiate at 40 Agnes Street which was sold in 1999 and is now a private residence. Here is an account of the decommissioning ceremony of the chapel which was held on 11 June 2020.

A reflection about the chapel and its place in the lives of the Sisters of Mercy

Together with Frs Bryan Hanifin and Frank Gilbert,  Sisters gathered to say ‘good-bye’ and to decommission the chapel on the site of the former novitiate at 40 Agnes Street, Rockhampton, a sacred place, central to the lives of many Sisters of Mercy. From this centre, young Sisters have moved out to various local communities or aged Sisters have sought respite and refreshment from many years of being ‘on mission’.

The first St Anne’s Novitiate was the large white building opposite St Joseph’s Cathedral which the Sisters of Mercy purchased from the diocese in 1937. With an increase in vocations, mainly from Ireland, the novitiate at the Range Convent became overcrowded so the newly named ‘St Anne’s’ in William Street provided a spacious home to many postulants and novices.  

The building at 40 Agnes Street, known as ‘Belmont’, had been purchased from the Harris family in 1924 by Bishop Joseph Shiel. ‘Belmont’ became Bishop Shiel’s home and the home of his successors, Bishops Romuald Hayes and Andrew Tynan. It was Bishop Tynan who recognized that the expansive ‘Belmont’ property would be a suitable area for a Novitiate. Consequently, the property changed hands on 24 October 1949 with the ‘White House’ or St Anne’s, opposite the Cathedral becoming a presbytery once again and St Anne’s Novitiate transferring to 40 Agnes Street.

Familiar to many Sisters, the original chapel was located in a front room on the right-hand side of the main hallway but once again, with an influx of postulants and novices, this space proved to be too small. A search to find the written record of the opening and blessing of the new brick chapel has been unsuccessful but oral tradition says it was 1959. The Range Annual of that year has two references, firstly to a Profession ceremony on 31 May 1959 ‘in the beautiful chapel at St Anne’s Novitiate’. The Sisters professed were Amabile Speranza and the late Irene Tyrrell. Later in the year, on 20^th October, in the same Range Annual, there is a description of the yearly St Anne’s Fete and the comment: ‘Those who had not seen the new chapel before were charmed with it – especially the beautiful marble altar’. So from 1959 till the end of 1976, this chapel was central to the lives of more than seventy young women who came to St Anne’s to discern their vocation. Many of the Sisters present were professed in this chapel, fashioned in monastic style with its two rows of choir stalls along the side walls and the highly polished parquetry floor and empty space in the centre.

In the late 1960s when Mother M Fabian Connell was Mother General, she and her council saw the need to provide comfortable accommodation for our aged and retired Sisters. For this purpose, Loreto was built on the novitiate tennis court and spare land, opening on 23 November 1968. The presence of our aged and retired Sisters sharing this sacred space with younger Sisters was a mutually enriching experience. Over the years, Loreto has been home to almost one hundred Sisters and the interior of the chapel was refurbished to cater for their comfort and changing needs.

Back row: Fr Frank Gilbert, Sr Bev Whitton, Fr Bryan Hanifin, Srs Beryl Amedee, Margaret Schofield, Joanne Molloy, Mary Badger, Brenda Moss, Mary Wildie, Marie Riddel, Anne Slattery, Stancia Cawte, Justina Bedford, Maria Jean Rhule, Margaret Dixon

Front row: Srs Pat Wood, Grace Bartolo, Desma Clarke, Regina Camilleri and Bernadette Mary Reece.

During the decommissioning ceremony, sacred objects were honoured and reverently carried out in procession by the Sisters. The text from Chapter 3 of Ecclesiates is very real: ‘For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven’.  It is time for taking leave of this sacred space. Many and varied memories and emotions surfaced for those present – memories to be treasured or maybe commended to God for healing. Above all, the Sisters have gratitude in their hearts for this place of peace and serenity, a place of Divine presence, where endless graces and blessings have been freely given and received.

Joanne Molloy

Central Highlands gets dedicated Community Care Coordinator

Central Highlanders will be able to get access to more support with the addition of a dedicated Community Care Coordinator at CentacareCQ Emerald and Blackwater.

In addition to the organisation’s local teams of support workers, Community Care Coordinator Georgina Sutton will be on the ground in the Central Highlands region, working out of the Blackwater and Emerald offices.

Her role will focus on assisting new and existing clients with case management with a range of support services including Home Care Package, Queensland Community Support Scheme (QCSS), Commonwealth Home Support Programme and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

A former resident of the Central Highlands for more than 10 years, Georgina said she was excited to return to the region to help the community.

“For me I feel it’s important that we serve the community, from within the community. I think our clients will really appreciate that they are dealing with someone in and from the region and not just calling through to Rockhampton,” Georgina said.

Georgina has become a local favourite among CentacareCQ clients – her passion has been expressed by many clients who have been supported by her.

One particular client, Shirley Andrews, is very impressed by the help she has received from Georgina and the CentacareCQ team.

If not for the assistance of the CentacareCQ team, the Home Care Package client would not be able to remain living at home – a notion she is values very strongly.

Earlier this year, Shirley was taken to hospital with a fractured hip after an accident in her bathroom.

During her recovery in hospital, she told her family that she would not be able to live safely and comfortably in her home without CentacareCQ’s assistance and care.

Meanwhile her Case Manager organised an Occupational Therapist from CQ Health to perform a home visit to check the rooms and implement rails along the wall of the bathroom and toilet.

 “I feel much safer at home now,” Shirley explained.

In addition to the new rails, Shirley has also acquired a new light-weight wheelie walker to move around the house with confidence.

Shirley said she had she had been a client of CentacareCQ since 2009 under the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP); in 2017, she became a Level 4 Home Care Package client.

Shirley Andrews and Georgina Sutton

In a 12 month review, conducted by Case Manager Georgina, Shirley explained how much she enjoyed the company of the staff who assisted her in her services.

“Without them, I would not be able to remain at home,” she said.

Shirley said she received a range of services including domestic assistance, support services, home and yard maintenance and minor repairs.

Not Earth-Shattering but so Important

When asked to give updates on the Emu Park Maintainence Team, David Bowman, wrote in his covering lettering, " As I typed it, I thought this isn’t earth shattering …. but then again what is in this  mad world at the moment??. In truth, they are a lovely bunch of men, back each other up, utterly reliable and generous as well!! When I looked at our Church roster (pre COVID) I note that all of the Maintenance team and their wives are sprinkled across the roster …. They are a good bunch as indeed our whole parish!! 

Like many, I have missed our public practice of our faith and the people we worship with … hopefully tomorrow, we will return to Mary Immaculate!!"

So much in this newsletter isn't earth-shattering but it is important because it is kind.  

Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, Emu Park  Maintenance Team

Routine Maintenance of the Church and surrounds is carried out by a dedicated group of parishioners including Dave Bowman, Alroy Eden, Paul Jaeger, Peter Maloney and Tom Searles.

Working bees are primarily held on a Thursday morning so that the Church is well presented for weekend services but in recent times this practice has varied somewhat due to illness of various team members, travel, and the impact of COVID 19 restrictions. Nonetheless, despite the limitations in place at present, team members contact each other and ensure that the maintenance is completed satisfactorily. We at Emu Park appreciate the assistance and support from our Yeppoon “brothers” when we are faced with significant issues.

We look forward to a post COVID world!!

Activities of the Sacred Heart Gardening and Maintenance Team, Yeppoon

With maintenance of lawns, gardens, repairs and minor painting, and construction jobs at Sacred Heart, Mary Immaculate, beach house, Monastery, Presbytery and some aged parishioners’ homes – coupled with a Parish Priest who has extra time during lockdown - we are kept busy.

The Sacred Heart team and their areas of expertise is: Steve Egan, gardens; Peter Conaghan, electrical and public relations; Lyal Page, columbarium internments and installations; Ray Tamassy, banking, Presbytery lawns;  Darrell Slade, carpentry, general repairs; Rob Rohig, heavy lifting, installation of LED lights; Phil Cranny, hedges, general maintenance; Maurie Conway, heavy lifting, maintenance of leucaena patch; John Halberstater, organising and general whipping boy.

Most important are the scones supplied by Mary Quinn every Thursday, over which many problems of the world are solved.

The “Geriatric Gardeners”,   average 74,   have continued necessary maintenance observing social distancing.  Our social contact, usually once a month with our partners, has suffered.  We look forward to the lifting of restrictions. 

John Halberstater

Life at Capricorn Coast Adventist Village

 No one realised that the announcement of Covid 19 would change our lives so drastically---- perhaps forever!

The Nursing Home at Capricorn Adventist Village in YEPPOON went into " lock down" on 18/03/20. Residents in Independent Living were advised to " stay home" by Management & the Queensland Government. This was serious stuff! We were asked to keep in touch with our friends by phone.

Our children were more aware of the health danger than we were and solicitous on our behalf. They did grocery shopping for us which we appreciated. However, writing a list for groceries was a new  "experience" for those used to shopping for themselves for at least 50 years.

We had consultations with our doctor by phone!

The most alarming concern was being unable to physically attend Mass and receive Holy Communion. Eucharistic Ministers could not bring Holy Communion to the sick. All Liturgies of Word & Holy Communion were suspended. We really missed bringing Holy Communion to our friends in Care. We know that those in care love our visits and derive strength and consolation in their various illnesses from receiving Jesus in Communion. Food for the journey is so necessary when we are unwell & elderly.We miss visiting these wonderful people of Faith with whom we share Encouragement, Faith, Hope and Love as we journey towards our reward (we hope) in Heaven.

Quite a few older people do not have computers, IPads  so are not able to access Mass live from our Cathedral each day or even on Sundays. Those who have this technology are enjoying the experience. We have been surprised at the presentation of many Religious moments available to us. We have prayed with Catholics from all over the world at Mass, praying the Rosary and listening to talks on subjects which interest us. Facebook has been a reminder each day of our " belonging" to our Parish. Father Matthew's messages keep us in touch and as well as special thoughts for the day we also receive a good joke to keep us smiling or even laughing out loud. This is good medicine!

Denis Murphy, who co- ordinates Liturgy of Word & Holy Communion to the sick in our High Care Residences, delivers a PDF to Lifestyle Co-ordinators each week. At C.A.R.V. our people are assembled each Friday morning in Rose Cottage to watch Bishop McCarthy's celebration of Mass.

Being able to attend Mass once a week, if we register our names, is a blessing. However, we miss seeing members of our Congregation because of limited numbers. Phones and emails have been used more often to keep in touch with everyone.

We feel that we will be more grateful to God when we eventually gather to praise and worship Him as a Community.  We will not take such occasions for granted. We realise that we need each other in every way on Life's Journey. We look forward to praying & worshipping together.

May God bless & heal our World. Glory be to God forever!

Marie Weekers

Resident, Independent Living Units, CARV Village, Yeppoon

Digital Technologies at St Benedict's School

Digital Technologies, STEM, higher order thinking, collaboration, innovation and creativity are vital elements within the Australian Curriculum.

St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School Yeppoon (Qld) made the decision to adjust their teaching and learning program, specifically targeting these areas in 2020. The school, in partnership with their Parents and Friends Association, purchased a range of robotics and digital equipment to compliment the implementation of the program.

St Benedict’s has, for a number of years, conducted Robotics and Coding Clubs during lunch periods. The school wanted to build on these initiatives and student interest to further promote the use of technologies within the classroom setting. In 2020, with support from the Catholic Education Office (Rockhampton), the school committed to providing classes with the opportunity to participate in a ‘Genius Hour’ each fortnight.

Robotic skills and programming are explicitly taught through the ‘Genius Hour’ to ensure students are familiar with the workings of particular robots and related equipment. This allows classroom teachers to build on this familiarity and confidence, and to use equipment in other areas of the curriculum.

Mrs Robyn Finch, Information and Communication Technology Consultant, from the Catholic Education Office, Rockhampton, assisted with advice on allocating robots across classes according to their level of complexity and alignment with the Digital Technologies Curriculum. Along with the fortnightly Genius Hour, an extra five days over a period of five weeks was devoted to teaching the explicit skills for each type of robot. Students’ learning and collaboration was extended through challenging tasks, building upon prior knowledge and steadily developing skills. 

After this intense program, St Benedict’s will maintain and build on these skills throughout the year, across the curriculum. Professional development with existing and new equipment will build confidence in using the resources. The Parents and Friends Association have recently purchased two 3D printers adding to the school’s repertoire of technological equipment. The program will incorporate their use and all classroom teachers and classes will engage with this technology. The very successful lunchtime clubs will also continue to operate, building a learning environment which continually engages technological thinking and innovation. 

Meet the People of Bundaberg

Our weekly production of “Church Chat” has proven to be a great way to meet some of our parishioners from across all Mass communities. In the last month we’ve met Bill, who’s been a part of Bundaberg and St Patrick’s community for a long time, and who now enjoys the ministry of pastoral care to the sick and housebound and as a hospital chaplain. We’ve met Roy and Margaret, an inseparable older couple who have been married for 65 years and whose faith in God is at the core of their life. Anita, one of our Filipino ladies, shared her story of life in the Philippines, her journey to Australia, and her family. We’ve met Madonna, the principal of St Mary’s; Jana, the catechist of the Atrium of the Good Shepherd; Joe, the chair of our Planning Group; Mick, one of our friendly musicians who knows every second person in Bundaberg – Bill knows the other half; some young people, some older people; Ann, our darling Scottish lady; and we hope to meet many more long after the shutdown has finished.

If you would like to meet some interesting folk from Bundaberg go to our website and watch Church Chat

Opening up the Churches

After months of being closed to the parishioners our churches are open, to a degree. In readiness for their opening, months of dust had to be removed. Cleaning began.

During this time St Patrick’s Church had a complete face-lift.  After many years of faithful stewardship at St Pat’s, Frank and Lea Pippia decided it was time to retire their gardening, maintenance and cleaning gear. A landscaping project was begun, with Frank’s blessing, in which the large palms that surrounded the church, as well as Frank’s nursery behind the church, were cleared and replaced by two simple garden beds at the front.

A call-out to MenAlive last week saw a good response for a working bee to wash and clean the exterior and interior of the church. It now shines.

Parish Planning

The Parish Planning Group has been engaged over several months in formulating a Parish Plan. The Church Chat with Joe McCorley is an excellent means of understanding the basis of the plan. The Church Chat can be seen by visiting the Parish website https://www.bundabergcathholic.net.au or YouTube channel 

Church Chat

The goal of the Parish Planning Group (PPG) is to raise awareness, and the engagement of all Parishioners, in a project to develop “A Vision and Revitalisation Plan” for the future of the Bundaberg Parish. The PPG engaged an experienced facilitator in church planning and development, Mr Craig Farmer, Sydney, to assist us in the achievement of our goals. The first stage of the plan will involve several consultations and workshops of different groups within the Parish/Faith community, as well as groups not involved in the parish.

It is the decision of the PPG to engage a wide spread of parish representatives in all the different stages of the planning process. The process of communication at this time of the Corona Virus has been difficult, but with Zoom, all things are possible, and the first level of consultation has begun.

Youth Hub

Corona, COVID, Pandemic. Phrases that have overtaken our everyday life. While the current health crisis has affected each of us in many ways, for “The Youth Hub” here in Bundaberg it has been a blessing in disguise.

Our youth coordinators and Youth Ministry Team set to work completely renovating the youth centre, planning over a months’ worth of content and reimagining our youth brand. The renovations of our youth centre were enormous! We completely transformed the top floor of the old presbytery into a modern, multifunctional space. We repainted the yellow wall into a bright white, replaced the carpet with beautiful wood inspired vinyl flooring and self-painted murals and a feature wall. We added plants, new furniture and pious goods collected from around town.

Most importantly the time spent together as a Youth Team was vital. It allowed us to invest time that we could never have dreamed of having to create a youth ministry we were proud of. Since finishing the renovations and with restrictions lifting, we have had two young adults’ nights and they have been an incredible success. The inviting nature and relevance of the space works! Although at first we were heartbroken to have to cancel our ministry, the time we were made to have, to slow down and reassess, has not only given us full confidence to relaunch but allowed our youth to grow beautifully into a faith driven, relational ministry. Check out the transformation via this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIwQvVy4s44

Life in a Time of Covid

Shirley Pitts, a parishioner, shared with Bishop Michael her life during this time of isolation.

I am in isolation because of my age with my family delivering my food etc.  I had my flu shot and other medical attention. I am joining in with Zoom for our prayer meeting, mass on YouTube and I am enjoying the parish chats.

I have been doing little visits to my RI room to count books, check orders and supply teachers with their necessary books when they go back to school. The school chaplains invited me to pray with them for an hour a week on Zoom, which is very powerful.  They have included the RI teachers in their prayers.

I am doing gardening and sewing.  I enjoy the pictures; I have made them from my scraps.  I will have them ready for charity when everything starts up to help with fundraising.  They are for CWL, Blanket Buddies, LifeLINE, Pensioners, ROTARY, CWA, and St Vincent de Paul.

I can relax because it is all done.  The Lord has blessed me in Aged Care. I have had a ramp to help me with my walking and they have adjusted my bathroom to my needs, two months ahead of time. It has brought me great happiness. Praise Jesus!  He is so KIND and COMPASSIONATE.

GOD BLESS YOU. I will look forward to your visit when we get back to normal.

Shirley Pitts.

During this time of COVID19 as with all Retirement Places, Montcler has been in lockdown since early March. The students of St Joseph’s are taking turns each week to let the residents know that they are thinking of them. Last week the Preps with Miss March sent their little gifts. This is the reply they received with photos of some of the residents holding their gifts.

Dear wonderful Prep Class at St Josephs,

The Residents at Montcler received your beautiful cards, flowers, photos and stories today. They have asked me to pass on their THANK YOU to you ALL!

It really made their day! They said to say "Thank you for the beautiful flowers and cards. They appreciate your time to make them and send them on.

They said it was really enjoyable to receive these lovely gifts. They loved to hear all about the new playground and thought it was wonderful that you get to have your own area. It was great to hear about the news at the school and to see the photos that you so kindly shared with us."

"We are doing OK but everyone is really missing their families, friends and missing being able to get out and about. It really is a hard and a strange time for everyone. Hopefully things might get back to normal soon",

"Thank you again, it was the best part of our day! We really hope you can visit us again in the very near future. We really love your visits and enjoy getting to spend time with you all."

Take care and be safe

All our love

The Residents at Montcler

xx

World Enviroment Day 

The Cathedral College (TCC) Rockhampton celebrated World Environment Day (6 June) and the ongoing work that Mercy International devotes to stewardship and environmental care and awareness. 

Anklets were the symbol that TCC Boarding Students selected to highlight the day this year and Boarding Staff got to work making them to celebrate World Environment Day and the need for good stewardship of the environment. 

The Anklets, not part of the college uniform, were blue and green and as well as being the TCC colours also represent our planet’s oceans and green spaces.  The beads are made from recycled materials representing the need to save our planet by reusing and recycling God’s resources. 

Assistant Principal: Boarding, Mr Ron Armstrong said he wished to convey a special thank you to Sr Margaret Dixon rsm for her continued guidance and support in educating and creating awareness with the TCC Boarders around the work of Mercy International.

2020 National Simultaneous Storytime

Year 1 students at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Park Avenue recently participated in the 2020 National Simultaneous Storytime which was held across Australia on Wednesday 27 May.

The day is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and is a colourful, vibrant, fun event which aims to promote the value of reading and literacy using an Australian children’s book while exploring key learning areas of the National Curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 6.

This year’s book was Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas by Lucinda Gifford, so the creative Year 1 teachers at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Park Avenue, North Rockhampton, decided to make some chicken masks for the Year 1 students and spend some time with the school’s very own Chicken Divas, the pink and blue chickens. 

Not to be outdone, the St Joseph’s Catholic Kindy Kids saw through the fence what was happening and decided to visit and join in the fun.

Deanne Senini, Assistant Principal Curriculum, said the whole event provided an enjoyable and fun learning experience of the both the Year 1 students and kindy kids.

Filipino Prayer Brigade dedicates Rosary for Bishop’s 6^th Year Anniversary

The Prayer brigade has now grown into 3, and as one community, we all pray the nightly Holy Rosary. We also have Fr. James participating in one brigade and Fr Marcel in the other.

Through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, we constantly pray for our families, victims of COVID19, the Frontliners,  and express our thanksgiving for all the blessings we received.​

The community has dedicated our prayer of the Holy Rosary on the occasion of Bishop Michael’s 6^th Anniversary of his ordination as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton. The community is grateful for his prayers and wisdom, and for Bishop’s leadership in ensuring safety within the community in addressing the challenges brought by COVID 19.

We welcome other members of the community to join us in honouring our Blessed Mother Mary through praying the Holy Rosary, at 8.00 p.m. every night.

Linda Esquerra

Opening of the St Vincent de Paul Support Centre and Distibution Warehouse

On Tuesday the 9^th of June, the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Our Lady Star of the Sea, Gladstone Conference, had an official blessing of their new Support Centre building and the extension of the Gladstone Distribution Warehouse. The blessing was conducted by Parish Priest, Fr Andrew Chase, and attended by the Conference President, Members of the Conference, Local Vinnies Volunteers, the Diocesan President, the Diocesan Treasurer and the Rockhampton Executive Officer. The project was funded with grants from the Federal Governments Building Better Regions Fund and The Gladstone Foundation. The blessing was a beautiful action for the local conference. The building will be very well used and helpful to their conference works in supporting the locals in their needs.”

If anyone is interested in the works of the Society and how to be a Member, please contact Naomi Schick, naomi.schick@svdpqld.org.au, 0437 673 356.

Childrens' Liturgy Online

There is no doubt that the current COVID-19 situation has transformed our way of communication. Today institutions, schools, offices and religious establishments have wholeheartedly embraced the tools of digital technology to enhance our communication with each other. Our Parish at Star of the Sea, with its nascent FB page and emerging YouTube Channel is no exception. When the word of God could be communicated to the faithful masses every weekend and weekday, Star of the Sea Parish had the idea to stage a Children’s Liturgy segment as well. The segment can be viewed from the Parish’s YouTube channel aswell as Facebook page. Our multi-cultural mix of ministers were part of running the ministry every Sunday on a rotary basis during school term. The COVID restrictions meant stepping up and finding another avenue which the ministers willingly welcomed.  Each segment features prayers, the Gospel reading for that Sunday, a simple explanation and an activity. Posting Children’s Liturgy electronically also allows for a permanent online resource that can be utilised for religious learning by anyone anywhere.  The positive response from our Parishioners has been encouraging with over 300 views for each piece.  We look forward to producing and posting more resources that will inform and enrich our young parishioners while also being a light and helpful mode of learning about our Faith and God’s love for us.

Maria Cabral Fernandes

Reflections and Sharings from the Gladstone Mercy Associates

Here in Gladstone, luckily, we have been spared of the COVID-19 virus.  Our last census in 2016 recorded just over 33,000 people, so I am sure in 2020 we have many more people living here.  From all these people, only one lady has been reported as positive to the virus.  Having said that, we are subject to all the restrictions, just like anyone else.

Grandmother assisting with home schooling:

My daughter and son-in-law have their own business, and so my daughter was able to work from home and take care of her three school aged children – Year 1, Year 6 and Year 10.  At first it was a novelty with alarms going off at various times for scheduled face to face lessons with their teacher and other online students.  Then it was a matter of who was able to use the computer first – who has had access the longest and then the ever-increasing calls for help.  I think the most challenging day was when the child in Year 1 had to sing a song whilst clapping to the beat, then recording it and uploading it to the teacher.  I must say that the Year 6 student also had a challenging task where he had to make a cartoon strip of the Annunciation using modern day language and downloaded comic pictures of Mary and angels.   He opened with Mary saying “You’re kidding I’m having a baby?”  The angel said “Yep, you sure are”.   All of the changes brought about by this terrible pandemic have been huge but out of it all, I think most parents have a greater admiration for the teaching profession.                                                                                          

Annette P

Discovering the Benefit of Technology:

When Mass has always been available, it is easy to take it for granted.  When suddenly it stops being available in the Church, we seemed lost – Sundays seemed very empty.  We live in an age of digital phenomena and to find we can click onto Mass and other services on our computers, phones or television screens, is amazing.  Connecting to Mass celebrated in our own Parish, other Parishes and Diocese or even by the Pope in Rome seemed unreal.  Initially, I found it difficult to get any real “feel” for this new way.  I then realised we all should be grateful for this experience but there is nothing like actually being there.  We can hear the Word of God, we follow the actions of the Priest but nothing replaces being physically present at the precious moment of the Consecration.                                                                                                    

Delma J

An Associate who lives alone:

I feel I am not worthy of writing ‘something’ for the Newsletter at the moment that is prayerful and uplifting…..  Other than the physical side of lockdown – cleaning walls, tidying drawers and pantry, washing curtains and general house work, I spend time talking to my God but I cannot put into words how I feel to describe, the help I feel I receive in return.

I sincerely hope that someone will thank our priests for continuing with the Mass each day.  It has been a great comfort but it is weird not being with other people.  Maybe, it will not be for much longer, all though I doubt whether things will ever be back to the way they were, with the constant threat of a second wave, if we are not careful.                                                                                               

Jean R

Corona Virus and Me 

It was back in the middle of March when life changed dramatically.  COVID-19 and all its implications had reached Australia, and the likelihood of a long period of social isolation was predicted by our governments and health authorities.  Selfishly, my first panicky reaction was “Oh no. At my age I don’t want to lose six months or more of my life this way.”

The warnings were especially dire for those over seventy, and those whose health was compromised in some way.  At first I couldn’t settle, being quite anxious about not joining my friends for coffee or a meal, not able to attend Mass or religious gatherings, and not able to help at St Vincent de Paul welfare.

Gradually, I overcame this initial angst and began to embrace those things I am able to do, and to be thankful for these abilities.  I can use a computer (to some degree) and so I can attend Mass online.  I was able to stream all the Easter services, either locally or from our cathedral. Email, Face Book, Instagram and Messenger all ensure that I am in touch with my friends and share reassurances.

I opened up my sewing machine and resolved to finish some projects (UFO’s) that I have been too “busy” to get back to.  Our local Member of Parliament put out a call for sewers to provide calico bags for the health workers, so I was able to give to the community this way.  I’ve even made some clothes, and finished some knitting and crocheted articles.

Throughout all this, I’ve even done cleaning and sorting, (but without any method) and there’s plenty more of that to go should the urge take me.

I try to do some regular exercise, having downloaded some programs to follow and I use Spotify, a free music app.  Gladstone has some wonderful walking paths, and a late afternoon drive to Spinnaker Park to walk by the ocean is invigorating and fills us with awe at nature’s beauty.

Right now, as restrictions are gradually being lessened, I’m starting to feel anxious about life returning to “normal”, and questioning how much of the hustle and bustle do we really need in our lives.  Some people are never satisfied you may very well be concluding, so……..

Stay well everyone. Smell the flowers and look up at the night sky.

Marie-Ann M

The Plenary Council of the Catholic Church in Australia 

The Plenary Council was to be held to address the questions:- What is God asking of us in Australia at this time? What are we called to do?  Who are we called to be? How do we need to change?"

The first session of the Plenary Council had been scheduled to take place in Adelaide in October 2020, but the COVID-19 virus scare has led the Australian Catholic Bishops to decide that answering those questions must wait until next year. The first assembly session will now take place in Adelaide from 3 to 10 October 2021 and the second session in Sydney from 4 to 9 April 2022.

"Mindful of the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, it was felt that delaying the first assembly by a full year would provide some certainty that travel and social distancing guidelines will have been lifted for the assembly," said  Plenary Council president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.  "Just as importantly, we believe that period of time will allow for an adequate period of preparation for the delegates and the Catholic community," he added. "The postponement was an unfortunate speed bump on the Church's path to the Plenary Council assemblies, but we are committed to using this extra time wisely." 

Plenary Council facilitator Lana Turvey-Collins said the continuing preparation for the Council will take on some new characteristics, shaped by the experience of the pandemic.  “A program of webinars, podcasts and other multimedia projects will be rolled out in the latter half of 2020 to help the People of God explore and share about how they respond to the Spirit and live out their own call to mission – as individuals and collectively,” she said. 

“These papers are the fruits of communal discernment and provide a major focus for our continued prayer and reflection. They represent another significant step in our national discernment process as we move towards the working document, or Instrumentum Laboris, for the Council assemblies and the Council agenda,” Archbishop Costelloe said. 

Australia’s Bishops have already welcomed a report on “Promoting Co-responsible Governance in the Catholic Church in Australia” presented on the eve of their recent plenary assembly.  The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) and Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) commissioned the report, following a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.  The report is based on a 15-month review of church governance, which was conducted by a panel led by Justice Neville Owen, the former chair of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council.  The report is entitled “The Light from the Southern Cross: Promoting Co-Responsible Governance in the Catholic Church in Australia” and was written by a combination of lay people, clergy, religious and international experts.

“The members of the Governance Review Project Team are to be congratulated on producing such a substantial piece of work, with far-reaching implications for the Church’s life and mission,” said ACBC President Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane.   He said the bishops will study and discuss the document at the diocesan level, in preparation for a “full discussion” at the next plenary meeting, set to take place in November.  The document will make a useful contribution to the debates during the upcoming national Plenary Council.  The report makes 86 recommendations focused on key principles for good governance of the Church in Australia, including subsidiarity, administration, synodality, dialogue, discernment and leadership. The report also offers concrete suggestions on how to strengthen the role of the laity and ensure their appropriate co-responsibility at both the parish and diocesan levels. 

In Our Diocese

Our diocese has been working towards strengthening the role of the laity and ensuring their appropriate co-responsibility at both the parish and diocesan levels for a number of years now.  Bishop Michael conducted Listening Sessions across the Diocese and followed this up by calling the Diocesan Assembly, which was held early 2019.  Since then Regional Pastoral Councils and a Diocesan Pastoral Council have been established and have been meeting, even during this time of COVID 19 isolation.  So in our Diocese we are well on our way to implementing these suggestions for co-responsibility.

Please keep in prayer our two delegates for the Plenary Council  - Catherine Simmonds and Loretta McKeering.

Please also keep this process in your prayer. And we have confidence that “Given that the Council is the work of the Holy Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit who will have the final say.”

Sr Noreen Dunne smsm

Friday 12 June was another milestone day in the continuing story of the Mercy Health and Aged Care Ministry here in Central Queensland.  

On that day the new Mater Brand was rolled out at the Mater Hospital in Bundaberg.

Mater Bundaberg Executive Officer, Catherine Hackney, said that the launch of the new Mater Brand at the Hospital had been a wonderful occasion.

“All of the great team here at the Mater Bundaberg are very excited about the future opportunities for our Hospital that has been providing the people of Bundaberg and surrounds with quality and compassionate healthcare services for almost 75 years” Ms Hackney said.       

In April this year the new Mater Brand was rolled out at the Mackay and Rockhampton Maters.  

Having the new Mater Brand in place at the Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton, Mater Private Hospital Mackay and Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg represents another step forward in the coming together of all Mater Hospitals in Queensland in a Single Statewide Entity that will take place from 1 July 2020.

Mater Health Regional Director, North and Central Queensland Gerard Wyvill said that Mater Ministries across North, Central and South East Queensland coming together is a unique opportunity for communities in Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Mackay to have direct access to the wider healthcare landscape.

“Mater hospitals and services across Central Queensland are significant icons within the communities we serve, having supported the region for more than 100 years. The alignment of Mater throughout Queensland will undoubtedly provide significant benefits through greater collaborations and sharing of knowledge, skills and resources for optimal service delivery.” Mr Wyvill said.

“This provides an exciting opportunity for our teams to adapt and evolve so we can meet the changing needs of our patients and community, which remains central to everything we do.” Mr Wyvill added.  

Mater Hospitals here in Central Queensland today stand on the strong foundations established by courageous, dedicated and visionary Sisters of Mercy and the lay people who partnered with them in this Ministry over the past 100 plus years.