Dear Parishioners, How has your eleven or twelve days of Lenten desert journey been going? I am surprised that we are already eleven days into the forty days of Lent. Indeed, Lent is fast but not yet past for us because this weekend Fr Richard Leonard SJ will be leading us into a time of retreat. I have heard so much about Fr Richard but have only read one of his books; “Why Bother Praying”. In the next five days, Fr Richard has promised to explore with us some difficult questions around Faith, Religion, Mission and Christian discipleship in the contemporary Australian society. I cannot wait to warmly engage with you and Fr Richard in this time of retreat. Visit our website at www.olol.com.au to register for the sessions that you would like to participate in. Please feel free to share a word of welcome to our Parish with Fr Richard. From my Lenten reflections, I can say that most of us have had some desert experiences that challenged us to our core and stretched us beyond our limits. Some even to the points similar to that of Abraham who was asked to offer his only son. Like Abraham and St Paul, some of us can also say that in all our challenges God has been always on our side to love and to give the needed grace. As we journey through the Lenten desert, may we reach the mountain top of God’s glory where everything will be wonderful for us to desire to always remain in the presence of God. I am committed to making our gathering and our worshipping a wonderful experience for all of us. Last weekend’s attempt at booking and sitting according to numbered seating system was a step in the right direction for our Parish. I thank you for giving it a go and for your feedback on how to better the system. Let me assure you that it can only get better. Follow the instructions on our “How to Book in for Mass” brochure and ensure that you get to the page that says “Thanks for your order”. Our Parish Lenten programs have begun - 6.30am Mass on Friday had good attendance, 6.00pm Stations of the Cross on Friday is very much appreciated, 10.00am Rosary and Mary’s Way of the Cross on Saturday promises to better going forward. There is room for you in the two Lenten Reflection Groups advertised on the left column of this page. Most parishioners have picked the Project Compassion Envelopes and Boxes and we are grateful to all those who made generous donations to the Timor-Leste Mission. This weekend we give thanks for the different Ministries that offer us the opportunity to participate in the life of our Parish. Sunnybank Parish has a team of very generous and willing volunteers like no other in the Archdiocese of Brisbane and this weekend you are called to commit or reaffirm your commitments to serving in the various ministries in the Parish. We need you to express your interest to share your time, talent and treasures with us by picking up and filling in our 2021 Ministry Sunday Form. Please drop the completed forms in the designated boxes in the Church or in the office. Athira Crispin has served as our Parish Youth and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator for three years. We thank her for the gift she has always been to us, we appreciate the support she got from her young family and we will remain grateful to all those who were very much part of the success she made over the last three years. Please keep both Athira and the Youth/Young Adult Ministry of our Parish in your prayers as we move into the future. Remember to register and to participate in this Parish Mission Retreat. God bless you.

Fr Enoch

Parish Office (adjacent to Church, Sunnybank) Ph: 3345 3766 Office Hours Monday to Thursday, 8.30 am - 4.00 pm; Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm

Post: PO Box 32, Sunnybank, QLD 4109 Web: www.olol.com.au Email: Sunnybank@bne.catholic.net.au

Priests: Fr Enoch Iheme (Parish Priest: Sunnybank) Fr Raju Joseph (Associate Pastor)

Second Sunday in Lent - 28th February 2021

Calamvale, Kuraby, Macgregor, Parkinson, Robertson, Runcorn, Stretton, Sunnybank, Sunnybank Hills

Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 121 Mains Road, Sunnybank

Monday 1st March

8.15am Morning Prayer 8.30am Mass - Retreat 9.00am Adult Literacy (Media)

7.00pm Parish Retreat Tuesday 2nd March

8.15am Morning Prayer 8.30am Mass - Retreat 9.30am Lenten Reflections/ Bible Study (Media) 6.30pm Adoration 7.00pm Parish Retreat

Wednesday 3rd March The Chair of St Peter 8.15am Morning Prayer 8.30pm Mass - Retreat 9.00am Rosary 7.00pm Parish Retreat

Thursday 4th March

7.50am Christian Meditation 8.45am Morning Prayer 9.00am Mass - Sunnybank 6.30pm Lenten Reflections

Friday 5th March

6.30am Mass 8.15am Morning Prayer 8.30am Mass 9.00am Adoration and Benediction 10.00am Legion of Mary (Media Room)

6.00pm Stations of the Cross

Saturday 6th March

10.30am Novena 11.00am Reconciliation 5.00pm Reconciliation 2.30pm Charismatic Prayer Group (Media Room) 6.00pm Mass - Retreat

Sunday 7th March

6.30am Mass - Retreat 8.00am Mass - Retreat 9.15am Mass - Retreat 10.30am Mass - Retreat 6.00pm Mass (Youth) - Retreat

Next Sunday: Third Sunday of Lent - Exodus 20: 1-17; 1 Corinthians 1: 22-25; Mark 1: 12-15

Second Sunday of Lent: Year B

First Reading: Genesis 22: 1-2, 9-13, 15-18 This reading tells one of the most poignant stories in the whole of the Bible: God’s test of Abraham in asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. As the man of deep and unwavering faith, Abraham indicates his readiness to do what the Lord asks, “Here I am”. God recognises this faith and showers blessings on Abraham in return.

Second Reading: Romans 8: 31-34 Recalling a courtroom scene, Paul asks of whom should we be afraid? The answer is simple: no one. Why? Because God is on our side.

Gospel: Mark 9: 2-10 Every year, on the second Sunday of Lent, we red the account of the Transfiguration, this year, Mark’s version. Mark’s account of the transfigures Jesus recalls Malachi’s description of the coming of God’s messenger at the end of time to judge, to purify, to gather together God’s people. This is who the transfigured Jesus is for us.

ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’

OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME What is Happening to our Common Home

V. GLOBAL INEQUALITY

49. It needs to be said that, generally speaking, there is little in the way of clear awareness of problems which especially affect the excluded. Yet they are the majority of the planet’s population, billions of people. These days, they are mentioned in international political and economic discussions, but one often has the impression that their problems are brought up as an afterthought, a question which gets added almost out of duty or in a tangential way, if not treated merely as collateral damage. Indeed, when all is said and done, they frequently remain at the bottom of the pile. This is due partly to the fact that many professionals, opinion makers, communications media and centres of power, being located in affluent urban areas, are far removed from the poor, with little direct contact with their problems. They live and reason from the comfortable position of a high level of development and a quality of life well beyond the reach of the majority of the world’s population. This lack of physical contact and encounter, encouraged at times by the disintegration of our cities, can lead to a numbing of conscience and to tendentious analyses which neglect parts of reality. At times this attitude exists side by side with a “green” rhetoric. Today, however, we have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.

Care for Our Common Home

The Seven year plan with Seven Goals based on Laudato Si ‘to make communities around the world totally sustainable’ which we wrote about last week in the newsletter will be launch on the 21

st May this year. The areas of the Seven Goals

are – Responding to the cry of the earth, Responding to the cry of the poor, Ecological Economics, Adoption of simple lifestyles, Ecological education, Ecological spirituality, Community involvement and participatory action.

Each week of Lent we will look at these Goals and try to understanding what the Pope is asking us, as people of faith, to achieve. Responding the cry of the earth. The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of the human responsibility to act on behalf of creation by promoting creaturely harmony and exercising a proper role of stewardship. Regarding the gifts of creation at large, the Catechism warns that human beings have a ‘moral obligation’ … including those towards generations to come. Creation itself is seen as God’s outpouring, with the Spirit present as the breath or mighty wind over the waters. Through the ages, the Church, through it’s Social Justice teachings, has emphasised the reverence and stewardship of all of creation. Because of the growing concern over poisoning of the environment and species ex-tinction, Church leaders have accelerated their comments on the moral implications of care for the Earth.

This week take some quiet time outdoors being present to the wonder of all of creation.

The church in Brisbane is inviting all Baptised Catholics to reconnect

Pray for the opening of hearts

Accompany those who are seeking

Welcome new faces

Find out more: evangelisationbrisbane.org.au/baptisedcatholic

CALLING ALL CATHOLICS

This Lent the Parish will again be running Lenten Reflection Groups as an opportunity for all Parishioners to deepen their reflection upon the weekly Gospels. Sessions will be offered on Tuesdays at 9.30am (23 Feb) and Thursdays at 6.30pm 25th Feb).

Your Prayers Are Asked For:

recently deceased: Milagros Sararana, Pebitara Christopher, Esmond Dasent, Necito Evangelista, Aludia Shuttleworth, Valmai Sutton.

those with anniversaries & others who have died: Arthur Bailey, Kathleen Bailey, Ana Klaser, Bosko Malinovic, Amerbrocio Oco, Bernard Elford, Barbara Howard, Therese Dutton. for those resting in our Columbarium: Fredrick Aisthorpe, Harold Aisthorpe, Minnie Aisthorpe, Helen Bailey, Francesco Bonasia, Patricia Briggs, Geoffrey Chapman, Pedro Gallibu, Fay Garner, Eric Glennon, Iris Glennon, Brian Hammerton, Stephen King, Lucia Yeen Lim, Noemi Lorenson, Maureen McDonald, Peter McSweeney, Eusebia Moraw, Gerard Murphy, Cuong Nguyen, Dr Roberto Rabuya Jr, Claribel Tungol, Anthony Van der Togt, Lily Rose Villas, Romeo Villas, Ron Vine, Elizabeth Wilson, Monica Wong, Nola Wright.

those who are unwell: Ines Vicco, Peter Morandini, Veronica Rodriguez, Geraldine Chew, Baelyn Dunn, John Boland, Anthony, Robert Manitta, Martha Tuilti, Aileen Avenell, Maria Sanchez, Veronica Rodriguez.

the continuing sick: Giuseppe Abbate, Tony Ambrosini, Dawn Angus, Denise Burgess, Lyn Catchlove, Lawrence Chua, Hilary Collins, Alan Cooke, Alice Cooke, Margo Couldrey, Mary Dixon, Jamie Edwards, Patricia Edwards, Jan Fooks, Carol Ann Grace, Mary Goode, Jean Hamilton, Elaine Hanley, Marie Harrison, Karen Hawthorn, John Hickey, Mary Hughes, Norma Ives, Gloria Ives, Stephen Ives, Geoff Ives, Mel Jones, Theo Jovellanos, Rochelle Keen, Graham Kelly, Betty Kennedy, Maryann Larcher, Malcolm Lilley, Denise Mann, Rod McDonald, Carolyn Miller, John Morris, Sr Stella Noskoff, Mark O’Brien, Tadhg O’Kane, Jean Perram, Duncan Pegg, Josephine Russo, Katie Ryan, Jim Scriha, Brian Strangman, Maria Turner, Istvan Vadasi, David Whaley, Carole Young.

Sacramental Programme

Parents who have children who turn 8years or older by the end of June are invited to begin discerning their child’s readiness to begin preparation for the sacraments. Parent Enquiry Sessions for new enrolments will be held on Sunday 28th February at 3pm and also on Sunday 14th March at 3pm in the Avocado Room at the Parish. It is a requirement that at least one parent attend the session for your child to be enrolled into the sacramental programme.

Due to COVID requirements, it is essential that all attendees pre-register by booking via https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/sacramental-programme-parent-enquiry-session-tickets-136902642489

Registrations closes 12.00 noon, Thurs 25th Feb (28th Feb session) and at 12.00 noon, Thurs 4th March (7th March session)

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM – BAPTISM

Following the reading of Divine Renovation and the development of Our Lady of Lourdes’ Vision and Mission, the Pastoral Council has been looking at how our Parish and Parishioners can be enriched through the Sacramental Program.

After consultation with Fr Dan, Fr Enoch and Christopher, our Pastoral Associate, the Parish has developed a new Baptismal Program. This program encourages families presenting a child for baptism to engage more fully with the Church and its expectation that this is a commitment of faith. It also encourages families to engage more fully with the Parish community. To assist the Parish, Christopher has assembled a Baptismal Preparation team. This team consists of young, committed Catholics from our Parish who journey with the families during this time.

Our Vision and Mission encompasses Community, Prayer and Spirituality, and Evangelisation. As part of your commitment to these three pillars you are asked to pray for these families as they journey towards their child’s Baptism.

The families, accompanied by the team, attend two information sessions prior to the Baptism. The sessions commence with a cuppa and are relaxed and informal.

If you are seeking to have a child baptised in the Parish, please contact Michelle in the Parish Office who will be happy to help you begin this faith journey with you child.

Second Sunday of Lent

28th of February 2021

Margret is a teacher at a vocational school for deaf students in the Solomon Islands that suffered long-term water shortages and damage from Tropical Cyclone Harold. With Caritas Australia’s support, Margret’s school installed water tanks, repaired cyclone damage and implemented COVID-19 prevention measures, and is now planning to boost food security.

Please donate to Project Compassion 2021 and help people living with disabilities in the Solomon Islands gain access to education and clean water, empowering them with skills to protect our common home.

You can donate through Parish boxes and envelopes, by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phoning 1800 024 413.

Friday - Sep 4

Friday - Sep 11

Friday - Sep 4

Friday - Sep 11

Friday - Sep 4

Friday - Sep 11

Friday - Sep 4

Friday - Sep 11

Friday - Sep 4

Friday - Sep 11

Friday - Sep 4

Friday - Sep 11

Friday - Sep 4

Friday - Sep 11

PARISH STAFF & CONTACTS

Pastoral Associate Christopher Voigt

pa.sunnybank@bne.catholic.net.au

Parish Manager Karrin Halliday

sunnybank@bne.catholic.net.au

Local Safeguarding Representative Karrin Halliday - Officer

Secretary Michelle Morley

sec.sunnybank@bne.catholic.net.au

Accounts Tam Nguyen

accounts.sunnybank@bne.catholic.net.au

Caring Coordinator Christine Smith

care.concern.sunnybank@bne.catholic.net.au

Unite Youth/Young Adults Coordinator youth.sunnybank@bne.catholic.net.au

0403 182 617

Sunnybank Parish Groundsperson John Furlong

Housekeepers: Therese Prygiel Louise Weston

Paloma Reception Centre 3345 3766

OLOL School, Sunnybank Principal - Micheal O’Sullivan

Assistant Principal - Sally Smith 3345 0700

OLOL OSHC Co-ordinator - Sheleen Lata

sunnybankoshc@bne.centacare.net.au 3344 3064

St Thomas More College, Sunnybank Principal - Les Conroy

3323 4600

St Vincent de Paul 1800 Vinnies 1800 846 643

Soubirous Place

Sr Bridgid 3323 2100

Sunnybank Aged Care

Unit 5/18 Torbey Street, Sunnybank 3323 2100

Friday - Sep 4

Friday - Sep 11

Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Dear Parishioners, It’s my privilege to address you for the final time as the youth coordinator of this parish. It’s hard to believe 3 years have gone by. It’s only when I put my son’s photos taken in my office, during my first week and last week in this role, alongside each other, that I got to fathom what a significant amount of time it was. I reminded myself that it’s not me, but what God has done through me. As our parish leadership and youth leadership are concurrently going through transition, may God show us moments of Transfiguration to give us a bigger picture of hope and encounter, to refuel us on our ongoing journey. For me, it’s so clear God is definitely interested in this community and actively doing something about it. I feel it’s no co-incidence that Fr Enoch and I served in this community concurrently. To borrow his favourite word – it’s providential! It’s so clear to me that God is busy at Sunnybank and used us as prophets to come into this space. I told Fr Enoch after his installation, you are the Obama of Sunnybank coming in, and I’m the Kamala Harris going out. On that note, I want to thank all of you for giving me this opportunity to create a circle of influence, and build up my spiritual muscles and resilience. When Fr Dom asked during my interview – ‘why did you apply for this role?’ I responded, “Because I want to avoid spiritual death. Unless I give, I won’t try to refill and grow, because you can’t give what you don’t have”. I’m thankful to my husband and my 4 year old for all the sacrifices they’ve made to do this mission with me. I hope this now vacant position, and the ministry Sunday forms, urges us all to answer our baptismal call in our own ways. When a beautiful young person told me about being not confident to apply for this role, I affirmed by saying “If I can do it, anyone can do it”. Change is the only constant in life, embracing it helps us to grow. With each new encounter of change, we shouldn’t forget the previous. As I change, I will not forget any of you. I’ve formed some deep bonds with some of you that I intent to nourish in my journey ahead. Please be assured of my prayers, and hope you will remember my young family in yours too. God Bless Athira Crispin

Our first Youth Night was really faith, fun, food and more as we farewelled Athira amidst excitement and emotions. Our Young Adults group will be having a farewell night for Athira to appreciate her for the blessing she has been to our Parish.

Thank you to Athira, to our leaders, to our Youth Council and to you.

Thank you for your prayers and patience through this time. We have been advertising for a new Youth and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator. We will be announcing our new Youth and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator in the coming week. Save the following dates and times for the rest of Term 1 —

(Grades 7-12) 7.00-9.00pm, Avocado Room

Term 1 - 12th March 26th March

(Ages 18-35) 7.00-9.00pm, Avocado Room

Term 1 - 14th March 28th March

Parish Mission Retreat We are inviting the young people of our Parish to join us to explore ‘living our faith in the contemporary world’ at our Parish Mission Retreat. Your presence will be very much valued and your perspective will give important insight for us all. You are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions.

Sessions: “Going out to the world: we need all the help we can get” Monday 1st March: 9.00am - 10.15am (repeated 7.00pm-8.15pm) “Nine steps to making better choices for my life” Tuesday 2nd March: 9.00am - 10.15am (repeated 7.00pm-8.15pm) “Where the Hell is God? Holding to Faith through the Tough Times” Wednesday 3rd March: 9.00am - 10.15am (repeated 7.00pm-8.15pm)