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