Parish News

Fr Alan Fox

This weeks Parish Bulletin is made available for you here:

Most Holy Trinity Yr A - 04.06.2023.pdf

Pentecost: The Holy Spirit brings harmony and peace

In his message for Pentecost this year, Pope Francis emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing harmony, peace and order – to Creation, to the Church, and to our hearts. He says “in our world today, there is so much discord, such great division. We are all ‘connected’, yet find ourselves disconnected from one another, anesthetized by indifference and overwhelmed by solitude. Let us pray to the Spirit daily to bless our whole world, our lives and any kind of division” that we experience.

“From the Heart” Workshop Sunday 21 May 2023

On Sunday 21 May, a “From the Heart Workshop” was held at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Church. The Workshop explored the “Uluru Statement from the Heart” and the forthcoming Referendum on the Voice to Parliament. The Workshop was very well received by those attending.

To help open the workshop five students - Alice, Annabel, Bella, Alessio and Ben - from Our Lady of the Assumption Parish Primary School carried the Aboriginal Message Stick into the Church. The students lead the School’s Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education (FIRE) Carrier program. Thanks to the students and their parents for their inspiring contribution to the Workshop!

Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot

The Commonwealth government has introduced a community refugee sponsorship pilot program, similar to a Canadian program that has operated for many years. A group of parishioners from Our Lady of the Assumption and St Agnes Parishes are exploring whether we may be able to sponsor a refugee family under the program. For more information, contact Michele Frankeni at michele.frankeni@gmail.com.

Victorian State Budget 2023 - 2024

The Victorian government is taking action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and create the conditions for Victorians to join in the transition to a low carbon economy. Three items of interest in the budget include

$141 million to install air conditioners across more than 40 high-rise public housing towers
$42 million to install 100 neighbourhood batteries across the state at targeted locations - increasing the number of homes with access to a battery
$16 million for Solar Victoria to provide interest-free loans to eligible households to install solar battery storage systems in their home.

The government has also set new renewable energy targets for Victoria, increasing to 65 per cent by 2030, and 95 per cent by 2035[1].

Trash-less Takeaway – doing away with single use containers

Several businesses in Sandringham are supporting this program, where customers can order and re-order foods and drinks in the utensils shown in the photo. Look for opportunities to do away with single use containers where you shop.

Ningaloo Nynggulu

An excellent three-part series on Cape Range and Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia has just concluded on the ABC, led by author Tim Winton. If you missed the series, or want to watch it again, it is available on ABC IView.

Prayer

Come, Creator Spirit, harmony of humanity, renew the face of the earth. Come, Gift of gifts, harmony of the Church, make us one in you. Come, Spirit of forgiveness and harmony of the heart, transform us as only you can, through the intercession of Mary.

[1]Victoria’s 2035 Emissions Reduction Target, The State of Victoria Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, May 2023