Confirmation and First Holy Communion

Bishop Michael was with us on the weekend of the 11/12th May to celebrate the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist with the children who had been preparing for many months.  Saturday morning was the conferral of Confirmation on 55 children in Holy Rosary Church.  It was a very relaxed morning with the Bishop, and the children and their families very excited. The weather was perfect for such an occasion.  Afterwards we gathered at St Joseph’s school for the official cutting-of-the-cake and social.

That night began the first of three Masses over the weekend in which the children received their first holy communion. This is always an exciting time for families and parishioners as we remember our own first communion day. Maybe next year we’ll try to avoid Mothers’ Day weekend!

We thank Bishop Michael greatly for the effort he made in order to be with us for the weekend; arriving from Rockhampton just before Confirmation and leaving after the Sunday afternoon Mass to drive home.

Sacramental Preparation

The Sacramental Team breathes a heavy sigh of relief after the Confirmation and Eucharist celebrations are behind them. Already we have met to review this year’s preparation and to suggest changes for the next program.  Our greatest desire is, as the Bishop repeatedly reinforced in his homily, to see the children and their families coming back again and again to the Table of the Word and Eucharist. We can only pray that the Spirit works in and through the parents to allow this to happen.

Pentecost Mass with Children

Having completed their initiation through the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist at the beginning of the Easter season the sacramental children were invited to a Mass with Children on Pentecost Sunday. This was to encourage them in their new roles as disciples of Jesus, going out on mission, mentioned in their preparation. All children of all ages of course were encouraged to attend with their families.  The NET Team, young adults and children led the music ministry and children took on ministerial roles of proclamation and gift bearing. A Mass with Children is always a joyful, simple expression of our faith.

Pentecost Church Crawl

What a wonderful expression of Christian unity was seen during this walk (or drive) that took place on Pentecost Sunday afternoon.  We began at the Uniting Church, walked a block or two to Holy Rosary Catholic Church, then onto the Anglican Church just up another block.  At each church a Pentecost Sunday reading was proclaimed, reflected upon, prayers were prayed, and a song was sung. We finished the day in fellowship at the Anglican Church hall.

We thank the three pastors of each church for this initiative and look forward to seeing a sea of red walk and pray more closely together next Pentecost Sunday.

Bundaberg ‘United Hearts’ Charismatic Prayer Group

Every Tuesday evening for the past 8 weeks an enthusiastic group of people arrive at the Parish Office for a time of prayer and praise followed by a DVD presentation.  This year Fr Dave’s Wild Goose DVD Series was used for the group’s annual Life in the Spirit Seminar.  The ‘Wild Goose’ was a term that the ancient Celts had for the Holy Spirit.

In this professionally filmed and stunning series, Fr Dave speaks on an attribute of the Holy Spirit, a practical application on how to respond to the Holy Spirit and testimonies of people whose lives have been impacted by the Spirit of God, the Spirit who desires a relationship with us that will take us on the greatest adventure imaginable; a journey to the very heart of God.

Such is the power of the Wild Goose!