Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton eNewsletter

News from Bundaberg

Then rise again from ashes, let healing come to pain.
Though spring has turned to winter, and sunshine turned to rain.
The rain we’ll use for growing, and create the world anew,
From an offering of ashes, an offering to you.

Ash Wednesday came early for us in Bundaberg. We woke to the news on Tuesday, 11th February, that St Mary’s Church, South Bundaberg, had been destroyed by fire. So many parishioners were “gutted” as the headlines accurately reported. With the aid of technology word was passed around that a gathering of parishioners would be held that afternoon at 1.00pm at which facts and memories could be shared and dreams and visions for the future could be started. A similar gathering was arranged for Saturday, 15th February, and was well attended.

Before, during and after the fire.

Bundaberg was hurting but with the leadership of Fr Peter and the parish team we are rising from the ashes, day by day. Bishop Michael’s efforts to travel to Bundaberg for the first 9.00am Mass after the fire and gathering at the Community Centre next to the burnt-out church was greatly appreciated. Any liturgy, devotions or prayer gatherings normally held in St Mary’s church are now held in St Patrick’s church.

“Remembering St Mary’s in the following days brought the devastated community together to share their memories and to support one another, and the healing process continues. Gone but never forgotten, the old St Mary’s Church will always be part of my family’s DNA but St Mary’s is the people, not the building and the Church community is still very much alive and strong and we have already risen from the ashes.” Vince Habermann

“St. Marys was well served by its long serving priest, Fr. Tim Murphy, as well as the many other priests who have helped us shape and make St. Mary’s into this vibrant & resilient community of today. The St. Mary’s Church building was an Icon in Bundaberg. Unfortunately our beloved St. Mary’s Icon was tragically taken away from us. Our beloved St. Mary’s Church will always be cemented in our minds & hearts. Our community is strong and will continue on our journey in a different place.” Kevin Banner

Parishioners are being encouraged to write their memories and stories of their lives in and around St Mary’s Church so that a Memorial Book can be compiled.

New Stewardship Council Members

The first meeting of the Parish Stewardship Council for 2020 was held on Thursday, 20th February, where the St Mary’s fire was foremost on our agenda. There was also an opportunity to welcome the new members to our Council: Ben Galea, Mick Gerrard, Mick Walker, Colleen Oberle, Nadia Fregonese and Emily Obst. We look forward to a productive year.

Youth Ministry Co-Ordinator

Lizzy Kelly with Marcia Sharp (Visitation Co-ordinator)

We welcomed Miss Elizabeth Kelly to our Parish Team on Monday, February 17^th, as our parish Youth Ministry Co-ordinator. Elizabeth, “Lizzy”, comes from all over the place, as she tells it, but more recently from Adelaide where she had been working in this same role. She’s a Bundy girl come back home and has great ideas for continuing the work of the NET Teams that we’ve been fortunate to have working with our young people for the past 4 years.

Lizzy is assisted by Miss Maddison Devine two days a week. They have begun visiting schools and meeting with young adults. Together these two lively young ladies have reworked their office into the “party room” and lowered the average age of the team considerably.

Farewell to a Friend

The sudden death of Denis Donovan on 21^st February shocked many, foremost his family, friends, the St James’ community at Bargara, and the education family in Bundaberg and beyond. Denis was “a square peg in a round hole” as he described himself. He was a humble servant-leader in education and community work, an adventurer in education and in life, enjoying time on the road with his wife, Beth, in retirement. Denis is remembered as the first lay principal of both St Joseph’s and St Mary’s schools, Bundaberg. He envisioned and brought to fruition the first pre-school in the diocese at St Joseph’s and the planning and development of the new St Mary’s school on Frank Gilbert Drive.

The celebration of his life, held in Holy Rosary Church, was a testament to the person he was. The church overflowed with family and friends who surrounded Beth and her family with support and lots of stories. Rest in peace now.

Anne Sheehan

Kindergarten opened

Bundaberg’s first Catholic kindergarten opened at the start of the school year adjacent to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Woondooma Street.

Rockhampton Diocese’s Catholic Education Director Leesa Jeffcoat said the kindergarten represented a new era in the continuation of Catholic education in the region.

“Catholic Education in Bundaberg commenced over 140 years ago at St Joseph’s and it’s very pleasing that we are able to continue to grow our services in this area to offer a quality educational choice for Bundaberg families from early learning through to Year 12,” Diocesan Director of Catholic Education Leesa Jeffcoat said.

The new Catholic kindergarten offers the endorsed Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline providing opportunities for children to engage, through a play-based approach, in learning across the intellectual, language, emotional, physical, social and spiritual dimensions.

“In addition, our new kindergarten will implement the Framework for Early Years Spiritual Development in the Catholic Tradition developed by Catholic Education which provides an early years program that nurtures each child's innate spirituality and relationship with God,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

Miss Jeffcoat extended thanks to St Joseph’s Principal Kaye Beston and Parish Priest Fr Peter Tonti and the Bundaberg Catholic community for their active support and enthusiasm for the development of the kindergarten to further serve Bundaberg families.

“We have welcomed our first cohort of children to the kindergarten and we are very excited about their progress and development,” Mrs Beston said.

The new kindergarten has been strategically positioned adjacent to the Prep and Year 1 classrooms further enhancing the notion of an early years precinct incorporating Kindergarten, Prep and Year One at St Joseph’s.

Further information about enrolments at St Joseph’s Catholic Kindergarten is available on the Rockhampton Catholic Education website or by contacting Catholic Education Early Learning and Care on 4994 8095.