News from Bundaberg
Fr Peter’s Back!
It was like finding a present under the Christmas tree when we came to work on Thursday, 5th December, and found Fr Peter sitting behind his desk. The Wise One had travelled afar and returned from the West, not the East! Fr Peter has yet to regale us with stories of his western ministry experience but, in this technological age, we were never far from his thoughts and suggestions.
We were concerned for a moment that he had stepped into another time and place after seeing the Western Evangelisation Bus provided for him, adorned with a southern state’s cat. Photos of the bus appeared from everywhere around Longreach. Our concern lasted all of an hour after closer inspection of the vehicle. LOL! It is good that he is back for the last day of school break-ups.
Good News: We Care
Our annual parish magazine “Good News” is now available to read online on our website home page: www.bundabergcatholic.net.au. Now in its 13th year, this year’s Good News has, as its subtitle, “We Care”. This year we’ve printed paragraphs from Pope Francis letter “Laudato Si: Care for Our Common Home” each week in the bulletin to raise awareness that caring for God’s creation is more than looking after the environment. It involves a bigger social, political and economic care for all living creatures.
Each ministry group, school, and leader were asked to reflect on how they have shown care for God’s creation in their service to others and in the life of this parish. Our schools in particular do a mighty job of caring for their environment and the people who live within it. It’s a good read. I hope you get the chance to read it too.
The Pageant of Lights
The magic of Christmas came to life in the Bundaberg CBD on Thursday night, 5th December, as the annual Pageant of Lights parade took over Bourbong Street. Hundreds of families lined the streets to watch as the more than 70 floats passed by, decked in all things festive.
For the second year running, The Catholic Parish of Bundaberg was one of the winning parade entries, taking out the Open Category.
Bundaberg Parish Stewardship Council Chair Trish Mears said she was so proud of the team that put the winning float together. “For many years the Catholic Parish of Bundaberg Pageant float has been put together by an amazing team led by Trish and Peter Byrne. While they gave us valuable guidance this year, the mantle was passed onto younger members of our Parish Stewardship Council, led my Maddison Devine. I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work Maddison and the team put in over many months. Special thanks to the children who were our angels, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, cows and sheep on our float, complete with the nativity scene, beautiful lighting, Christmas music and enthusiastic walking group; and their families who supported them.
Bethlehem Live
This ecumenical event, now in its fourth year, is again part of the parish calendar. Our team are preparing to set up tent in “Bethlehem”, the grounds of the Central State School, for this 4-day event from December 17-20th.
Part of the preparation includes the patient work of the Blanket Buddies who crotched thousands of Christmas trees, angels and snowflakes to give to the crowds who visit Jesse’s Spices tent, our parish home for four days. Pauline Merefield is gathering her group of storytellers who tell the Old Testament stories attached to the Jesse Tree to the children who come and listen.
From our town to yours, a holy and happy Christmas be with you, and may the gift of rain be yours to enjoy soon.
Anne Sheehan
Bundaberg Students Sew Scrunchies to Fight Poverty in Thailand
This week, Year 6 students from St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Bundaberg raised over $70 in support of education in Thailand. The students made scrunchies to sell to their school community and they were so popular that they sold out. The students have now started taking orders for those who missed out.
Their current teacher, Liz O’ Sullivan, will be taking up a two-year teaching placement in Umphang, Thailand with Palms Australia at the beginning of 2020. Umphang is a neighbourhood on the Thai-Burma border that is home to Thai residents and members of ethnic minorities from Myanmar who have fled to the Nu Po refugee camp in Thailand. Liz will be mentoring local teachers to strengthen English language programs that give these Thai and refugee students a comprehensive and high-quality education.
This project is one of two education projects that Palms Australia is implementing on the Thai-Burma border to ensure all children, regardless of location, ethnicity or political status, have access to quality education. Liz will be joined by fellow Australian teacher Christine Bennett who will be teaching at St Joseph’s School in nearby Mae Remat.
Palms Australia is grateful to the students of St Mary’s for their support for their teacher and a school community overseas. For more information and to support Palms’ projects in Thailand visit palms.org.au.
From Palms Australia