Here it is already, one month gone, and 2021 is already taking on its own momentum. Christmas in Covid times has come and gone, the schools are back in full swing, and Lent is just around the corner. Let’s hope that our Church’s liturgical life will be back to normal by next Christmas!

Fr Gasper with St Joseph’s school leaders

QR Codes

What did we ever do without them? Everywhere you go, a QR code pops up in front of you! They have finally found there way to the entrances of our churches and are easing the registration process greatly.

Australia Day

Team Tweeters sing “Shelter”                         Fr Gasper leads the Indian National Anthem.

This was our first social function for the year. A Mass to place our nation at the forefront of our thoughts & prayers followed by a covid-safe gathering in St Patrick’s hall was arranged. Seminarian Peter Doherty was our guest MC. The Team Tweeters and backing band, otherwise known as the Parish Team, began the celebrations with their rendition of "Shelter", (apologies to Eric Bogle). Then came a ballad written by Fr Peter, jokes, the national anthem of India, Waltzing Matilda, green, gold, eucalyptus branches, flags, and good company.

Holy Rosary Cooling

Work being carried out on Holy Rosary Church

From the last Sunday in January, Holy Rosary church has been closed while work on installing air conditioning takes place. All Masses in town are now held in St Patrick’s church. All being well this phase of the installation will be finished by the end of February.

St Mary's Anniversary

The future of the St Mary’s site discussed

The 11^th February was remembered as the first anniversary of the loss of St Mary’s church by fire. A gathering was held on Sunday, 7^th February, to discuss the future of the St Mary’s church site. Some creative and thoughtful suggestions for the site were put forward, all expressing a great desire to maintain the Catholic presence & identity of the site. Next step, compilation of all ideas and the formation of a consultative group to take some of the suggestions forward for consideration.

Parish Summit #2

Mr Craig Farmer leads discussions at Summit #2

Who are we and where are we going? Those are the questions we’re asking our parishioners to look at and discuss as part of our Parish Planning. On Saturday, 13^th February, parishioners were invited to a morning of information and formation with Craig Farmer, facilitator of this process, who could finally be with us from Sydney. Members of the Parish Planning Group and Stewardship Council stayed for a few more hours of discussion around the two questions that were posed.

The next step will be to focus on the question: If this is who we are and this is where we want our parish to be in five years’ time, how do we get there? What needs to happen in order to be the parish we envisage? Summit #3 in the near future will see parishioners attempt to answer those questions.

May this year be fruitful for us all.

Anne Sheehan