Chisholm Connection - Catholic Diocese of Maitland

CHISHOLM
Chisholm Connection
News from the Pews
Volume 5, Issue 5
MAY 2015
INSIDE
YOU WILL FIND
2, 3
Sacraments of Initiation
School/SVdP/CWL
4-6
Regional News
8-9
Mothers Day
10-11
May Calendar
12-13
May Saints
14-16
Parish News
17-20
ACTiv8 & Youth Group
News; Sponsors
Ministers
Message from Fr Paul O’Neill
My sisters and brothers
On Saturday 23rd May 2015 Bishop Bill launched a revised Sacraments of
Initiation Policy for children for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle called
“Becoming Disciples”.
This came at the conclusion of a two day conference called “The Family Faith
Forum” held at the Diocesan Centre at Hamilton attended by many
parishioners and some religious and clergy from across the Diocese.
The Introduction to the Diocesan Policy reaffirms our current approach to
preparation of children for the sacraments of Initiation: Baptism,
Confirmation and Eucharist when it states: ”The ideal within the Diocese of
Maitland-Newcastle is
All baptised members of the community
For a family centred,
Ministry Team
Parish-based
And School- supported program
Fr Derek Garner, Fr Peter Street
Presbytery 4934 5783
Which recognises the primary role of parents/guardians in the faith
formation of the child. This faith formation has joyful discipleship as its goal”.
EM, Maitland, Morpeth, Rutherford,
Lochinvar, Largs, Beresfield, Paterson
Fr Paul O’Neill, Parish Priest
Fr Maurie Cahill, Fr Paul Berezniuk,
Fr Lex Levey, Bishop Bill Wright
(Weekend Supply)
Dungog, Gresford, Clarence Town,
Summer Hill
Fr Paul Hopper, Parish Priest
4992 1477
Sr Maureen Rigby OP
Co-ordinator, Spiritual care of sick
& aged in care or at home
Irene Dixon, 0428 220 997
Co-ordinator, Dying, Bereaved
& Funeral Ministry
Jennie Nolan 0408 796 252
Children’s Ministry Deanery
Co-ordinator
Stef Lloyd, 0422 500 429
Co-ordinator, ACTiv8 Team
Samantha Hill,
Co-ordinator, Youth Groups
Regional Office: Louise Gilchrist, Rita
King, Janine Sidoti, Melissa Fenech
Regional Office
302-304 High St Maitland 2320
PO Box 215 Maitland 2320
Hrs: Tues to Friday
9.00am to 4.30pm
(closed for lunch 12.30-1.30pm)
Ph: 4933 8918 / Fax: 4934 1227
Email: chisholm@mn.catholic.org.au
Throughout the month of May many children have been baptised in the
parishes of our Region and close to two hundred children have been
confirmed and made their first Holy Communion in the eight parishes across
our Chisholm Region. We congratulate the children and their families and we
pray we can be parish communities that reach out and support all who come
to us seeking to grow in their experience of being a disciple of Jesus.
In 2013 Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (The
Joy of the Gospel) says: “I invite all Christians everywhere, at this very
moment, to a renewed personal encounter with
Jesus Christ”. At the conclusion of the Diocesan
Policy the pope’s words from the same
Exhortation are quoted where he says: “Being a
disciple means being constantly ready to bring
the love of Jesus to others”.
At present our Regional Pastoral Council is
looking at preparing a new pastoral plan for our
Region. The strategy of establishing Cell Groups of
Evangelising is seen as a way forward in reaching
out and nourishing the faith of our communities.
Let’s pray that we continue to grow as joyful
disciples of Jesus.
With love
Fr Paul
May 2015
Chisholm Connection
Page 2
Chisholm Pastoral Region: Sacraments of Initiation 2015
Congratulations to the children of our Pastoral Region who received
the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or First Holy Communion
SACRED HEART CAMPBELL’S HILL
Ally Bolton, Jake Bolton, Eliza Callinan, Ashanti Cian T. Paz, Ashley Cian T. Paz, Anaiy Sky Mahony, Jola van Wyck,
Luka Bede van Wyck
ST JOSEPH’S EAST MAITLAND
Annaleise Botham, Charlie Caffery, Emerson Caffery, Tegan Campbell, Reaghan Chircop, Emma Coote,
Jessica Curtis, Sienna D’Angelo, Thomas Dillon, Isabel Dominish, Jaidyn Duggan, Chelsea Farrell, Grace Fava,
Max Field, Connor Fields-Smith, Aiden Flanagan, Charlotte Fogarty, Lillian Forrester, Charlotte Fortune,
Joshua Franklin, Will Frost, Gabrielle Furness, Hannah Galvin, Joseph Goddard, Taylah Greedy, Jack Green,
Harriet Greentree, Veronica Hall, Charlotte Hallinan, Jack Hallinan, Ryan Hassett, Cameron Hogan, Claire Horder,
Hayden Huckerby, Madison Huckerby, Tamsyn Huckerby, Nixin Hudson, Jackson Hurney, Thomas Hutton,
Jarrod Inglis, Ryan Inglis, Sophie Janetzki, Marley-Jack Jawai, Tobias Jawai, Molly Johnson, Kane Johnstone, Alex Kelly,
Isabell Kelly, Lucy Kelly, Darcy Kirkman, Larissa Koenig, Tayla Lawrence, Charlie Lidbury, Ava Lynch, Urshula Lynn,
Emily Marler, Poppy McDonnell, Grace McMahon, Claudia Meyn, Maggie Moad, Luke Monroe, Phoebe Montgomery,
Will Montgomery, Addison Munday, Jemima Murray, Anika Parkinson, Emma Pearson, Nicholas Pitcher, Rohan
Power, Bella Priest, Amitt Roberts, Cooper Rostron, William Rutter, Sophia Schweinberger, Lila Skinner, Aqua Smith,
Darcy Smith, Indiana Stace, Penelope Stretton, Bella Sullivan, Mackenzie Thompson, Sebastian Tierney, Harrison
Welbourne, Hope White, Sophia Wills, Vincent Wills, Brodie Wind, Gabrielle Younger, Isabella Younger
HOLY FAMILY LARGS
Jett Juan Alvarez, Jordan Juan Alvarez, Monica Asimus, Josephine Buffier, Joshua Dodge, Makaydee Dodge,
Eimear Dorahy, Dominic Paul Hacker, Harrison Hazell, Riley Markham, Katelin Maryanna McLoughlin,
Amarlie Jade Rae, Jye Richardson, Georgia Saridis, Connor Thorley, Lachlan Thorley
ST PATRICK’S LOCHINVAR
Caitlyn Bell, Kate Canham, Lucinda Carpenter, Joseph Collins, Keelan Fitzgibbon, William Robert Murray Gavin,
Jackson Grant, Lachlan Haines, Arabella Harrod, Baiden Harrod, Ava Kate Hoffmann, Dominic Horsburgh,
Brooklyn Rose Ihlein, Emma James, Isabella Jarlett, Rohan Edward Joshi, Mitchell Joseph Klasen, Tommy Lawrence,
Angus Linnett, Zac mason, Ethan McCort, Abigail Jane Mills, Ava O’Connor, Braith O’Connor, Eli Millar Osmond,
Nicklaus Ostermann, Demetrius Rohr, Abraham Russell, Claudia Stokes, Nate Stores, Lara Turner, Angus Walker,
Benedict (Ben) Young
ST COLUMBA’S PATERSON
Daniel Leo Deaves, Bailey Eldridge, Zali Pearl King, Sophie White, Alana Wickham
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MORPETH
Ciarra Bailey, Jasmine Klippel, Lachlan Mackaway, Dakota Nicholas, Jacob Saunders, Kaitlyn Saunders
OUR LADY OF LOURDES BERESFIELD
Seth David Bunt, Thomas Easey, Brock Euston, Chelsea Louise Finnerty, Jacob Anthony Giles, William Jackson,
Ava Lidbury, Brooklyn Jack Marriott, Hunter Blake Marriott, David Municchi, Ava Murdock, Clara Nyman,
Lachlan Pegler, Bede Redriff, Zailey Amber Russell, William Scanes, Rebecca Jade Stretton, Harley Rose Wicks,
Cooper Williams, Lara Kate Wilson
ST PAUL’S RUTHERFORD
Charlie Adamson, Laura Anne Allomes, Newyn Aranas, Reema Mariya Bino, Ellie Bradbury, Olivia Bradbury,
Isabella Bulmer, Bridget Byrne, Phoebe Cantwell, Bryce Chappell, Katelyn Chappell, Matilda Rose Clarke,
Samuel Coleman, Tegan Tiffany Cox, Fletcher Cousins, Oliver Dunne, Sharna Christina Fielding, Neave Fogarty,
Maddison Kate Gemza, Jai Golledge, Lydia Marie Hale, Ezra Joseph Hartigan, Cody Hopwood, Leteisha Lee Jenkins,
Olivia Lee Jenkins, Abbey Louise Jurd, Jakob Kane, Bethany Joanna Knight, Emily Rose Lowe, Lily Macpherson,
Marcus Papuckoski, Charlotte Peters, Olivia Prioste, Brendan Rees, Nathan Rees, Liam John Richardson,
Lindsay Jane Rowcliff, Alexander Jean Russell, Kai Smith, Lucas Smith, Mia Michaela Smith, Molly Kate Strong
ST MARY’S DUNGOG
Alex Pace (First Eucharist, March 2015)
Caitlyn Dalhunty, Laine Dalhunty, Sean Dalhunty, Cianna North, Alicia Pace, Amy-Lee Taylor (Confirmation)
May 2015
Chisholm Connection
Page 3
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults - to know Jesus and to make him known!
RCIA
On Easter Sunday morning at St Paul’s Rutherford,
Grant Francis was received into full communion with
the Church, celebrating the Sacraments of Confirmation
and First Holy Communion. At the Youth Mass the
following Sunday evening at St Joseph’s East Maitland,
Marney Winter was baptised and then celebrated the
Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion
with her husband Daniel.
We would like to again thank their sponsors Colin
Green, Belinda and Phillip Cliff, for their generosity,
support and commitment.
During the Easter season known as Mystagogy we
discussed the Sacraments of Service – Marriage and
Holy Orders - and introduced our new Catholics to
people involved in various parish ministries; we took a
look at miracles and apparitions, and spent time
exploring the gifts of the Holy Spirit, talking about how
these gifts can now be used for the life of our parishes.
Unfortunately the “tour” of the church couldn’t take
place because of the bad weather!!
Our formal meetings concluded with our usual Red
Party on Pentecost Sunday when came together with
our families to share a delicious lunch, while celebrating
all the months we have spent together.
Please keep these new members of our parishes in your
prayers, as they begin, what we hope, will be an exciting
journey as initiated people of our Rutherford and East
Maitland Catholic faith communities.
Thank you for making these people feel welcome and a
part of our communities, please continue to keep them
and the regional RCIA team in your prayers.
Loretto Lynch on behalf of the RCIA Team of the Chisholm Region
The RCIA Team would like to
sincerely thank all those who have
supported Marney and Daniel and
Grant who were received into our
Church at Easter.
Thank you to our priests, our guests
who spoke about the services which
our Church offers to all and
especially the Church communities
of East Maitland and Rutherford.
God bless. Pat Banister
Farewell and thank you
I have decided the time has come for my retirement from
the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) ministry;
this decision has not been a hasty one as I have thought
and prayed about it for the last year.
I would like to thank the many people who have supported
me over the last 20 years or so – my husband Trevor and
my family, all the parish team members past and present,
the many sponsors who generously answered “yes” when
invited to accompany an enquirer, those who have agreed
to visit the meetings to share their knowledge of Catholic
teaching or their experience of other ministries.
I have met and loved many people who came to us
searching for what was missing in their lives, people
wanting to develop their relationship with God, those who
were seeking a community to which they could belong. It
has been such a blessing and privilege to encourage them
on their journey to Sacramental Initiation. A few have not
continued on to initiation but I pray we have given them an
experience of prayer, some sharing in the Good News
about the life and teachings of Jesus.
I would like also like to thank every priest who has
ministered to St Joseph’s Parish and, in later times, the
Chisholm Region during my time as Co-ordinator of
RCIA. I have only ever received loving support and
encouragement and I shall always remember and be
grateful for that.
I ask your prayers for the RCIA team, they are a wonderful
group of people doing amazing work. As mentioned
before, many more parishioners are needed on team,
people who love their faith, friendly hospitable people who
want to share the wonderful gift of faith.
May God continue to bless us all, love Loretto
May 2015
Chisholm Connection
Page 4
School News in the Region
RE MATTERS
The 2015 sacramental programme was a huge success for the PARISH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES BERESFIELD.
Congratulations to all children and thankyou families for preparing the children so beautifully. It’s been a pleasure to
be a part of this special journey with you.
Seth David Bunt, Thomas Easey, Brock Euston, Chelsea Louise Finnerty, Jacob Anthony Giles, William Jackson,
Ava Lidbury, Brooklyn Jack Marriott, Hunter Blake Marriott, David Municchi, Ava Murdock, Clara Nyman,
Lachlan Pegler, Bede Redriff, Zailey Amber Russell, William Scanes, Rebecca Jade Stretton, Harley Rose Wicks,
Cooper Williams, Lara Kate Wilson
I’d like to thank Mary-Anne Howard and Irena Dickson for their commitment in helping me with the Sacramental
programme this year.
David Treloar, Religious Education Coordinator
Our Lady of Lourdes Tarro
ANZAC DAY
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School Tarro was very proud of its involvement this year at the Dawn
Service at Beresfield. 91 students, in school uniform, proudly marched together to the cenotaph with the school leaders
reading and laying wreaths. Respect and appreciation for all servicemen and women is alive and strong at OLOL.
David Treloar
Anzac Centenary Tour - Experience of a Lifetime!
Samuel discovered he was a direct descendant of a Gallipoli veteran: his great great grandfather, Joseph Potter. “I didn’t
even realise I had a relative over there prior to this process but I learnt so much; that he was discharged after being
stabbed six days before the ‘Battle of the Nek’ which was lucky as he probably would have been there as he was in the
Third Light Horse. So this makes the trip more special, knowing people of my blood fought
over there. It will be an amazing experience,” he said.
Samuel Guadagnini (St Joseph’s Lochinvar); Georgia Fillis (St Peter’s Maitland) and St
Catherine’s Singleton student Brigid Thomas will represent their schools and travel with
17 other students from the Hunter to Gallipoli commemorating the centenary of the
Gallipoli landing on 25th April!
With permission from Samuel and St Joseph’s following is the reflection prepared by
Samuel after his journey!
The time has finally arrived. The 25th of April 2015, the morning of ANZAC Day on the Gallipoli Peninsula, 100
years after the initial, tragic landing of Australian and New Zealand army volunteers. With sand beneath my feet,
right where they stood and fought. Right where they fought and died. Right where they died and became the
story of great legend.
This morning was a remarkable experience, that will not be forgotten by any means. Granted, it wasn't as sad or
tearful as I thought it would be, but I believe that was because it was such a beautiful ceremony. Everywhere I
looked, all I could see was mate ship and togetherness, the ANZAC spirit that has brought us together. Everyone
loving, and honouring their country's loss, tragedies, pride and ANZAC memory.
But more importantly than that, it was three countries that had come together (Australia, New Zealand, and
Turkey) in peace and harmony, in forgiveness of one another, and respecting and honouring all those lost in
battle.
This morning began in darkness, showing exactly how the ANZAC soldiers came in to the shores of ANZAC Cove,
completely unaware what would lay ahead. The surf boats that rowed in at the start of the ceremony this morning
represented this. It was amazing watching it, almost like it had happened 100 years ago.
Throughout the ceremony, the Mayor of Gelibolu gave one of the most beautiful speeches I have ever heard. He
spoke of the peace and love we share and the welcome the Turkish people have offered to these foreign people,
100 years after an invasion of their country. He spoke of the forgiveness and respect they had for us and the
ANZACs. It was very touching and really spoke to me.
Then, towards the end of this service, as the colourful bright dawn broke, it showed the light, and the fellowship
we now all have. It was just the perfect symbol for a dawn service like this one.
So from a young boy who has just experienced a service on this day, I ask you, please, do not ever take for granted
the freedom and Australian spirit we now have. It was gained at such a high price: thousands... Tens of thousands
of lives, of both the Turks and ANZACs.
This is nothing to be taken lightly, and must always be remembered. Lest We Forget.
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 5
What’s Happening in the Region
BAPTISM PROCESS: PLEASE NOTE anyone
wishing to have their child/children baptised
within our region is required to attend a Baptism
preparation session. Completed Baptism
registration forms and donation will be collected
on this night. Parents are urged to attend the
Mass as a family.
NEXT PREPARATION SESSIONS:
Sunday 7th June 2015 (After Youth Mass)
Sunday 5th July 2015 (After Youth Mass)

Share your thoughts, comments, spiritual
journey with your community in the
Chisholm Connection! If you wish to
contribute to our monthly regional newsletter;
please contact us at the regional office on
4933 8918. Your views and suggestions are
important to us! Thank you to our contacts from
each parish who supply us with their parish news
and notices.

GET CHISHOLM CONNECTION VIA
EMAIL!!! Contact the office if you wish to be
included in our monthly distribution list.
 CHISHOLM CONNECTION IS ALSO AVAILABLE
THROUGH OUR DIOCESAN WEBSITE: it is
linked to the “Chisholm Pastoral Region” page
http://www.mn.catholic.org.au/parishes-priests/
pastoral-regions/chisholm
Chisholm Connection
Deadline & Distribution Dates 2014/2015
Issue
June
July
Editorial Deadline Distribution Date
22nd June
20th July
28th June
26th July
For enquiries please contact 4933 8918/email
chisholm@mn.catholic.org.au (Be aware these dates may change)
Useful Links:
Here are some useful links and resources that may be new
to you. (Ctrl + click on link)
Diocesan Information Directory - important contact
information for the various agencies and groups.
Liturgy Resources page – regularly updated by Sr Louise
Gannon rsj.
Liturgical Year page – as above.
mnnews.today – Diocesan News Service
Subscribe to Diocesan Update eNewsletter
Aurora Magazine articles online
Full Diocesan Calendar and Community Noticeboard
MOVIE NIGHT ON THE SAINTS - we hope to see you
on Saturday 27th June, 2015, 7pm in the Caroline
Chisholm Rooms (adjacent to St Joseph’s Primary
School Admin) 57 King St, East Maitland. PLEASE
NOTE this Movie Night will be a week earlier than
usual!!!
THE APOCALYPSE: The story of
the Book of Revelations. An amazing
movie which you will not want to
miss!
The film is set in 90AD, when the
Roman Emperor Domitian has
declared himself to be God and ruler
over heaven and earth, unleashing a
virulent campaign against the
Christians who do not recognize his
divinity. John, the last living witness
to Christ's passion, has been
imprisoned on Patmos, a mining prison, with many others.
He writes out messages of his visions and sends them to
the church in Asia.
They send Irene to make sure John is alive and to confer
with him in person. John begs Irene to spread this
message among the Christians. The movie depicts visions
from the Book of Revelation and links them to events
happening to the church in Asia. To some they evoke the
end of the world; to others, they allude to the spiritual
struggles facing Christians of all eras.
This is an all-new production starring Richard Harris as
John the Apostle, Vittoria Belvedere as Irene and Bruce
Payne as Domitian to name a few.
Pray for us St. John that we may be worthy of the
promises of Christ. Amen
Books and pious objects for sale. Refreshments provided.
Everyone welcome. Enquiries Judy Chlebowicz 4936 6349.
On behalf of Fr Paul O’Neill, St
Joseph’s Parish and the Chisholm
ACTiv8 Youth we would like
to express our thanks to the
CEO, Mr Steve Duggan, and the
Board of the East Maitland Bowling Club and
East’s Leisure & Golf for their generosity.
On Wednesday 13th May, Stef Lloyd and Louise
Gilchrist attended a lovely presentation where the
Clubs distributed $180,000 to sporting clubs,
charities, and non-profit organisations in our area
- St Joseph’s parish will be
contributing these funds to
the costs of their carpark
lighting and - the
Chisholm ACTiv8 Youth will
be using their grant to
support young people who
wish to attend the
Australian Catholic Youth
Festival which will be held in
December and other youth
ministry activities
May 2015
Chisholm Connection
Page 6
What’s Happening in the Region
 Friday evening 5th June to Monday 8th CURSILLO
WEEKEND: Come journey with us as we share our
faith stories - a weekend of meditations, prayers,
songs and talks - at Myuna Sport & Recreation
Centre, Wangi Rd, Myuna Bay. For details please ring
Rick McCosker 4043 2861/Anne Moloney 6555 8918.
 VINNIES 2015 WINTER APPEAL will be held over
two weekends 6/7th and 13/14th June with the
collection on the 14th June. Please donate
generously.
 Thursday 18th June Mental Health Information
Evening. 6:00pm, Maitland High School. Cost FREE.
Supper provided!! You are invited to a Mental Health
Information evening where young people, parents and
families can learn more about mental health, mental
illness and how to talk about it. Our discussion on the
night will aim to cover:
* signs, symptoms and risk factors of mental illness
* how to communicate with your parents/young people
* impacts of social media
* how and where to access support
 Tuesday
23rd June 6.30pm, St James PS
Muswellbrook. Come along and hear Dr John
Irvine speak about "Anxiety: What to look for &
what parents can do to support their children".
Light refreshments will be served from 6:30pm.
 Saturday 18th July 9.30am at TWEC Lochinvar
Liturgical Reflection Day - Looking Forward Looking
Back on the Holy Triduum. The Tenison Woods
Education Centre & Diocesan Liturgy Council invite you
to reflect on the meaning & nature of the Easter Triduum.
Discuss current issues, participate in workshops, begin
preparing for 2016. Bring a copy of your 2015 liturgy.
Registration details to come. Save the date.
 Our prayers and thoughts are with the communities
in Nepal, and neighbouring countries, devastated
by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake on 25th April 2015.
Caritas Australia staff are currently on the ground
working with local partners to respond to immediate
needs. We urgently need your help to provide food,
shelter and clean water and to support the longterm recovery. Donate today www.caritas.org.au/
nepalearthquake
 The Catholic Development Fund would like to advise our
members that Ken Lane Mensland Maitland will no longer be
acting as a CDF agent. We would like to thank them for their
long-standing commitment to the CDF and the service they
have so generously given to our members. Please contact the
CDF directly on 4979 1160 if you have any concerns or need
any assistance in the future. The CDF is always committed to
providing excellent service to our members.
 A page is now available on the Diocesan website which
allows members of the public to make payments to different
parishes within our diocese. People can nominate a parish,
specify the reason for the payment (typically planned
giving, wedding deposit, donation or other reason) and then
pay via a secure credit card connection. The CDF hopes this
will streamline the payment process on behalf of parishes.
The page is available at the address http://
mn.catholic.org.au/parishes-priests/parish-payments
 TAX RECEIPT REQUEST FOR PLANNED GIVING
The Diocese has instituted a new administration system
across its parishes during 2014/15. This change has
important implications in terms of deadlines for claiming
tax receipts.
As mentioned in my previous messages relating to
planned giving tax receipts ALL parishioners that
require a tax receipt for the financial year
2014/15 must complete the Tax Receipt Request
form which is found in the church porches – these forms
should to be submitted to the Regional office by the
20th June but NO LATER THAN 30 JUNE 2015.
Please contact our office if you require a form emailed.
Due to this new Diocesan administration system
NO late applications can be processed.
I have been informed that any request which is received
after 30th June 2015 will lead to the parishioner not
receiving the requested tax deduction.
So please ensure that you complete this form and either
email, mail or send it to the office via the second
collection as soon as possible.
The Diocese also has a policy that enables parents of
children who attend our Catholic Schools who contribute
to their parish planned giving program can obtain a
partial or full exemption from paying the Diocesan
Family School Building Levy (DFSBL) at their children’s
school.
Please ensure that you only claim the one type
of benefit; either a Building Fund levy rebate
OR a Tax Receipt.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to
contact Louise Gilchrist at the regional office.
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 7
What’s Happening in the Region
 LicenSing
Update
In the March Chisholm Connection, you may have noticed that I sent out a SAVE THE DATE for Saturday
2nd May for all involved in music ministry to come to a local information session on the use of LicenSing in
our parishes. This was cancelled (in part due to the superstorm that hit Maitland!). Since the last
Chisholm Connection, it has become clearer that a better way to move forward with LicenSing in our
Region is to meet with each parish in its own context in order to meet the specific needs and questions
that are relevant for you. As a result, each Parish will have the chance to attend a LicenSing meeting at
their own parish, organised through their Parish Pastoral Team.
Whilst these meetings are taking place, it is important to recognise that our Word of Life Licenses will be
expiring over the coming months. Once Word of Life has expired, all lyrics printed on a screen, or on
paper, will need to have a new copyright notice attached to these lyrics, referencing the new License
number with LicenSing. Reporting the songs that are used during your liturgies will also change once
LicenSing becomes the only copyright license operating across all parishes in the Chisholm Region.
In order to start preparing for this transition from Word of Life to LicenSing, it is important to take note of
what date your Parish’s Word of Life Licence expires:
Expiring 30th May
Our Lady of Lourdes Beresfield
St Joseph’s East Maitland
Immaculate Conception Morpeth
Expiring 30th June
St Helen’s Gresford
St Mary’s Dungog
Expiring 23rd July
St Patrick’s Lochinvar
Maitland Parish
St Paul’s Rutherford
If you have any questions regarding Copyright, and in particular the new LicenSing Licence, please get
in contact with me via email (melissa.fenech@mn.catholic.org.au) or via phone (02) 4933 8918. I look
forward to hearing from you soon. Take care, Melissa Fenech
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 8
WINTER APPEAL 2015
“You can help us rebuild lives”
Many families in our local community and beyond are finding it increasingly difficult to cope in today’s society. It is estimated that more than 2.5 million Australians live in poverty, and don’t have proper access to basics such as health care,
housing, education and food. These include more than 600,000 children who live below the poverty line.
In our own local community many families are suffering from cost of living pressures, and are struggling. Members of
the St Vincent de Paul Society in the Lower Hunter Region expect to see increased demand for its services in the winter
months, particularly after the recent floods. Many of those we visit are single parents, doing their best to support their
children, a number are unemployed while others are coping with various forms of disability or mental health issues.
We know that there is no quick fix solution to poverty. However the theme for the Appeal this year is “You can help us
rebuild lives.” The power to change lives is within us all. We can make a real difference to the lives of people struggling
to make ends meet by donating to the Society’s Winter Appeal. All donations received will be used to support people in
the local area.
The Appeal is to be conducted in parishes throughout the Chisholm region over the weekends of 7th June and
14th June.
We thank you for your continuing support over past years, and in anticipation of your generous support for this year’s
Appeal.
Appeal for new members
Pope Francis has highlighted the Church’s mission of reaching out to the poor. Parishioners in the Lower Hunter region
might consider joining the St Vincent de Paul Society, where members have the opportunity to share their faith and beliefs, and to support one another in reaching out to the disadvantaged in our local community. Those interested in further
information might contact a member of their local parish conference, or phone 49331302.
Michael Healy
Regional President
Catholic Women’s League in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
COMING EVENTS:
4th July Coach trip to the Aberdeen Highland Games in the Hunter Valley. Coach will
depart Therry Centre at 7:30am and return to Therry Centre at approx. 6:00pm. Cost
incl gate entry - $35:00pp. RSVP 19th June to Patricia 0409 300 192 .
25th July “Standing at the Crossroads” a Day of Reflection to be held at the St
Laurence Centre, Broadmeadow Road, Broadmeadow, commencing at 9:30am. Facilitator, Sister Margaret
Mary Brown OP. Cost: $20:00pp includes morning tea and lunch. RSVP 14 July to Patricia: 4932 5601.
Sponsored by Catholic Women’s League and Council for Australian Catholic Women in the Diocese of
Maitland-Newcastle.
Evangelii Gaudium
“We human beings are not only the beneficiaries but also the stewards of
other creatures. Thanks to our bodies, God has joined us closely to the world
around us that we can feel the desertification of the soil almost as a physical
ailment, and the extinction of the species as a painful disfigurement.”
Par. 215 from Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis, Nov. 24, 2013
The EAST MAITLAND/MORPETH PARISH DEBUTANTE BALL
will be held on Friday 21st August 2015 at the Therry Centre, East Maitland.
If you know any girls in Years 11 or 12 who may be interested in making their
Debut this year please contact Janine Sidoti (President) on 0402 079 808 or
Sharon Quigley (Treasurer) on 0412 328 972.
May 2015
Chisholm Connection
Page 9
Scripture and Catechist Lessons - Expressions of Interest!
The Church has always used both Scripture and Tradition in the way that she teaches and guides, with this
in mind commencing in June I propose to begin in the region, Scripture lessons, and also lessons on the
Catechism of the Catholic Church. These lessons will be rather informal taking the form of discussion. The
lessons will be open to all people who wish to attend; I would like to call for expressions of interest from
people who may be interested in attending these lessons. The aim is to come to know our Lord and His
Church on a deeper level. Please contact the office and leave your details or email me
peter.street@mn.catholic.org.au if you are interested. More details to follow once I have an idea of
numbers.
Cursillo Weekend
On the long weekend in June this year the Cursillo (cursillo means short course) movement
within the diocese will be hold their weekend. This is a weekend short course/retreat about
our faith. If you would like to experience this please contact Fr Peter Street on
peter.street@mn.catholic.org.au. This movement enables people to grow in understanding
about the call from God that we each receive and to further understand the response that we
make to this call from our Loving God.
Why We Do The Things We Do
UNIVERSAL PRAYER (PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL)
In this section of the Mass the whole gathered community make prayer and petition to our God. By doing
this all those gathered are exercising their baptismal ministry as priestly people. The correct name for
these prayers is “the Universal Prayer”; it is universal because the prayers are offered for the whole
world and for the Church. It is a reminder that our parish is united with the universal Church around the
world, it is a reminder that we are in communion with the pope and with all those who, marked with the
sign of faith have come before us and will come after us. We as the Church exist for others not for
ourselves; the Universal Prayer reminds us of this.
PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS
Having been nourished by the presence of Christ in the Liturgy of the
Word, the Mass moves into the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This part of the
liturgy has two high points the Eucharistic Prayer and the sharing of Holy
Communion. Before either of these are done, the gifts are brought
forward and prepared. First the Altar is set, with the Missal, the corporal
and the chalices being placed onto it. In accordance with the General
Instruction of the Roman Missal (73) the bread and wine are then to be
brought forward. The prayers of preparation are made over the gifts; this
is done either inaudibly or in a way that people may hear them; if this is the case the people make the
response “Blessed be God for ever”. The Chalice is prepared by the Deacon or if there is no Deacon by
the Priest with wine and a little water. Once offered, the principle celebrant will then wash his hand with
water as a sign of his desire for internal purification to be able to offer the gifts on behalf of the gathered
assembly to God. It is for this reason that, regardless of how many priests are present it is only the
principle celebrant who washes his hands. Therefore it is never appropriate for Extra-ordinary ministers
of Holy Communion to wash their fingers at the credence table when they approach the sanctuary. After
this has all been done, the prayer over the offerings is prayed and then the Eucharistic Prayer begins.
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 10
Storm Report - Chisholm Region
As everyone knows the days of 21st and 22nd April were quite wet and windy! I thought it may be of
interest for you to know how the storm affected our buildings and grounds.
Firstly, we are thankful that no extensive damage was sustained, but as everyone is aware our new offices
at 302 High Street did receive bad flooding. In the morning (after a very blustery night) I contacted
Janine, Melissa, Sam, Rita and Stef to advise that it was just too unsafe to drive to work and that I felt it
was best to stay home and wait out the storm. As Rita starts work a little earlier than most of us she was
already at the office.
It must have been an experience to be here while the storm water was
coming into our office from the roof and also the front and back doors. At
one stage Rita called me to say she was wet up to her knees! She tried to
save some of our computers but when they were lifted from the ground
water just flowed out of them! Our lovely offices which were newly
renovated in September have now been completely flooded (our new front
blinds were installed on the Monday!). We have been working with assessors
and Catholic Church Insurances to rectify the damage to our offices.
Presently we are working from the upstairs flat and we are very thankful to
everyone who has helped us and supported us throughout this very difficult
time.
The St John’s Hall has received damage to the
ceiling and the roofing. Again, our insurance
company have arranged for quotes for the repairs.
This is a current picture of my office
Another interesting incident was the appearance of
a ‘sink hole’ in the grounds between the Maitland Historical Society and the St
John’s Hall. After inspection by the plumber it was found to be caused by storm
water washing out soil from an old well!
Morpeth Church and Corcoran Centre
were not affected but unfortunately Fr
Lex’s home suffered. The very large tree
in the front yard fell and there was quite
a bit of damage to the internal ceilings.
At the time of writing this report the
assessor had not visited the premises so I
have no further information.
The Largs Community were extremely lucky as they too had a large tree fall in the grounds between the
Holy Family Church and our neighbouring Church. It could have damaged either one but luckily it fell
across the grounds, missing all buildings – though it did damage the electricity connection to the church
and the hall. Thanks to a wonderful parishioner, an electrician, who spent many hours fixing the
connections so the church was only without power for one Sunday Mass.
Campbell's’ Hill Church: a few branches from the very large and old trees fell but the community are
thankful that the planned works to the roof had not commenced – it could have been quite another story
if the church was covered in tarpaulins during the storm!
Paterson church and hall survived without any report of damage – thank goodness!
May 2015
Chisholm Connection
Page 11
Storm Report - Chisholm Region
Rutherford church received a drenching from storm water to areas near the altar – volunteers successfully
used wet /dry vacuums to remove this and after inspection it has been reported that the carpet did not
sustain lasting damage.
Lochinvar sustained no damage to report – luckily three large trees within the cemetery grounds had
recent work to remove excessive weight. If this work did occur prior to the storm, I believe, this would
have been quite a different situation as the trees were along the school boundary – any of those could
have caused drastic damage to the school.
Beresfield Church has also suffered storm damage with rain water entering the church through the roof
above the altar. The assessor appointed, visited the church and we should have a builder inspect the
property within the next week.
East Maitland property only experienced storm water damage to the Presbytery ground floor – our priests
rolled up their sleeves to remove the damaged carpet and now we are working with the insurance
company to repair and replace what was damaged.
Within the grounds some trees fell but luckily none caused property damage. The fallen trees have been
removed quickly by our contractor mowing company and within the next few weeks a tree specialist will
visit to report on the trees near the church and carpark.
Gresford property was lucky in that no permanent damage was caused but I have been told the Old
Convent (or EX Hunter Area Health Building) did suffer through quite a bad drenching.
Clarence Town church was not
damaged but one of the very large
trees was reported to be leaning quite
badly towards the neighbours home so
Adam Frail from Frail Tree Service
dropped everything to visit the site and
remedy this.
This picture demonstrates the clear
lean of the tree prior to the weight
reduction work.
The Dungog Community and township suffered immensely – many parishioners have stories of survival –
there was a large amount of damage throughout the town but our church and presbytery were spared.
There is an interesting article in the Dungog Section detailing their experiences. We pray that the
community receives all the help they need.
Thank you again for your understanding surrounding our office closure during the week of the storm and
also the inconvenience of not being able to visit us without phoning. I know that Rita, Janine, Melissa,
Sam, Stef and myself look forward to re-establishing ourselves downstairs. Hopefully we will have our
offices up and running before the end of June. Thank you, Louise Gilchrist.
DISCLAIMER: Unless otherwise stated, the advertisements placed in this Newsletter are placed by
independent third parties who have no legal relationship with the Diocese. The activities or services of the
advertisers are not supervised or controlled in any way by the Diocese. The Diocese is not in a position to
endorse the advertisers or the services provided and makes no representation about those matters.
Accordingly, the Diocese cannot accept any responsibility for the advertisers or the activities or services that
are the subject of these advertisements.
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Chisholm Region Calendar
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Page 12
May 2015
Chisholm Connection
Page 13
June 2015
Please note: All care and attention is taken to ensure
that times and places of events are correct at time of publication.
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 14
Saints and Feasts in June 2015
1st June. St Justin, martyr.
Died about 165 AD. Was born in Nablus,
Samaria and, having studied Platonist
philosophy, converted to Christianity at the
age of about thirty three. As a lay apologist
he travelled around preaching the faith,
defending it from attack and writing works
such as the Apologies and Dialogue. He
was beheaded in Rome during the reign of
Marcus Aurelius.
3rd June. St Charles Lwanga &
companions, martyrs. This
feast commemorates the Ugandan
Martyrs who suffered under King
Mwanga of the Baganda in 1885-1886.
They included various members of the
court who criticised the King for his
persecution of Christians they and their
leader Charles were burned alive by
Mwanga on this day in 1886. They were canonised by
Pope Paul VI in 1964. Let us look to them as true
examples of how to serve the Lord.
5th June. St Boniface, bishop & martyr.
Was born at Crediton in Devon (England)
in about 673. As a child he entered a
Benedictine community and in 716 set out
for his first missionary expedition to
Frisia. This was unsuccessful but he
returned two years later, with papal
approval, and evangelised much of
southern Germany. He was eventually
named Archbishop of Mainz. In his
seventies he embarked on a new
missionary enterprise in Holland but was
martyred at Dokkum in Frisia and is buried at the
monastery he had founded in Fulda Germany.
6th June. St Marcellin Champagnat,
religious. (20 May 1789 – 6 June 1840) was born in
Rozet, village of Marlhes, near St. Etienne (Loire),
France. He was the founder of the Marist Brothers, a
religious congregation of men in the Roman Catholic
Church devoted to the Virgin Mary and dedicated to
education. Champagnat was ordained as a priest in 1816,
and was part of a group led by Jean-Claude Colin which
founded the Society of Mary, a separate religious
congregation to the Marist Brothers teaching order
Marcellin founded later. After a long and painful illness,
Champagnat died of cancer on 6 June 1840, aged 51.
7th June. The Most Holy
BODY and BLOOD of CHRIST
(Corpus Christ). The Feast of
Corpus Christi (Latin for Body of
Christ), also known as Corpus Domini,
is a liturgical solemnity celebrating the
tradition and belief in the body and
blood of Jesus Christ and his Real
Presence in the Eucharist. It emphasizes the joy of the
institution of the Eucharist, which was observed on Holy
Thursday in the atmosphere of the nearness of Good
Friday.
11th June. St Barnabas, apostle. From the
first century. He is frequently mentioned in the Acts of the
Apostles. He introduced St Paul to the Twelve and
accompanied him on the first of his missionary journeys.
St Barnabas was present at the Council of Jerusalem and
has long been honoured as an Apostle, although he was
not one of the Twelve. Different traditions assert that he
was martyred in his native Cyprus, or at Salamis in
Greece; he has also, improbably, been claimed as the first
Bishop of Milan. His name is included in the Roman
Canon.
12th June. The Most SACRED HEART of
Jesus. The devotion to the
Sacred Heart (also known as the
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus) is
one of the most widely practiced
and well-known Roman
Catholic devotions, taking Jesus
Christ's physical heart as the
representation of his divine love
for humanity. The devotion
especially emphasizes the unmitigated love, compassion,
and long-suffering of the heart of Christ towards
humanity. The origin of this devotion in its modern form
is derived from a Roman Catholic nun from France, Saint
Margaret Mary Alacoque, who said she learned the
devotion from Jesus during a series of apparitions which
occurred between 1673 and 1675. In the Roman Catholic
tradition, the Sacred Heart has been closely associated
with Acts of Reparation to Jesus Christ. In his encyclical
Miserentissimus Redemptor, Pope Pius XI stated: "the
spirit of expiation or reparation has always had the first
and foremost place in the worship given to the Most
Sacred Heart of Jesus”. The Feast of the Sacred Heart has
been in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar since
1856, and is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost. As
Pentecost is always celebrated on Sunday, the Feast of the
Sacred Heart always falls on a Friday.
13th June. St Anthony of Padua, priest &
doctor of the Church. 1195-1231. was born in
Lisbon (Portugal) and joined the Canons Regular of St
Augustine and then the Franciscans at Coimbra. He
became famous as a learned theologian, eloquent preacher
and worker of miracles- he is still popularly invoked for
finding lost objects. He is known as the ‘Evangelical
Doctor’ and was canonised the year after his death.
Anthony died on the way back to
Padua on 13 June 1231 at the Poor
Clare monastery at Padua, aged 35.
Anthony is buried in a chapel within
the large basilica built to honour him,
where his tongue is displayed for
veneration in a large reliquary.
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 15
Saints and Feasts in May 2015
13th June. The Immaculate Heart of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Is a symbol of Mary’s love
for God and her son Jesus. It is also
symbolic of her joys and sorrows, her
virtues and of her compassion and love
for humanity. Devotion to the
Immaculate Heart of Mary is used to
become closer to Jesus by following the
virtues of Mary. The scriptural basis for
this devotion comes from two passages
in Luke’s gospel, which refer to Mary
keeping the acts and teachings of Jesus
in her heart, where she might ponder
them.
19th June. St Romuald, abbot. Born to a
wealthy family in Ravenna, Italy in around 951. As a
young man he lived a life of indulgence, but after
witnessing his father kill a relative in a duel, Romuald
went to the Basilica Sant’Apollinare and did 40 days of
penance for his father. He became a monk there, but he
felt that the observances were not strict enough, so he
moved to Venice and lived the severe life of a hermit for
10 years. Romuald then spent the next 30 years travelling
Italy, founding and reforming monasteries and hermitages,
before once again withdrawing to live his remaining years
as a hermit.
21st June. St Aloysius
Gopnzaga, religious.
1568.1591. He belonged to one of
the great Italian noble families and
served as a page at several princely
courts. At the age of eighteen he
embraced a life of poverty and
obedience by joining the Society of
Jesus (Jesuits). He showed great
piety and died as a result of his
heroic nursing of the plague-stricken
in 1591. He has been declared
protector of Students and patron of
Christian youth.
24th June. Nativity of St John the Baptist.
Born six months before our Lord, St John the Baptist was
the son of Sts Zechariah and Elizabeth. He was the last
and greatest of the prophets and, as the forerunner of the
Saviour, he prepared the way for the coming of Christ.
The celebration of his earthly birthday marks the coming
of the redemption of humanity.
29th June. Sts Peter and Paul, apostles.
St. Peter (died c.64). Was the brother of Andrew and a
Galilean fisherman. He was called by the Lord and,
despite his obvious human weaknesses, eventually chosen
as the leader of the Twelve, the ‘rock’ on which the
Church was built. After Pentecost,
he became particularly associated
with Antioch and then Rome. He
was crucified under the Emperor
Nero and buried at the Vatican. He
is the author of the epistle which
bears his name.
St Paul (died c.64/67). Was a
tentmaker from Tarsus (then
capital of the Roman province of
Cilicia, now in Turkey), a Pharisee
and a Roman citizen. He was
initially a persecutor of Christians
but was converted by the Lord on his way to Damascus.
He became the Apostle of the Gentiles, preaching the
Gospel to the uncircumcised, reaching Greece, Italy,
Malta and possibly even Spain. He was beheaded along
the Via Ostiense and buried nearby, on this site where the
basilica bearing his name now stands. He is the author of
more than half the New Testament.
30th June. First Martyrs of the Holy Roman
Church. The Church celebrates this feast in memory of
the martyrs who suffered during the persecution of Nero,
following the fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64AD.
Christians from every background were put to death with
ingenious cruelty. This was the same persecution in which
MEME OF THE WEEK!
Look,
even the Holy Father does it!
©CathNews
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 16
What’s Happening in East Maitland
APOSTOLATE OF PRAYER TO ST JOSEPH OF THE ETERNAL FAMILY held at the home of Pat McPherson, 65 Brisbane St, East
Maitland the first Wednesday of each month at 7.00pm. Next date: 3rd June 2015. All welcome. Ph 4933 6635.
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: First Friday of each month from after Mass at 7am till 9am Mass on Saturday at St
Joseph’s East Maitland. Next date: 5th June 2015. ALL WELCOME!
FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTIONS – 6th June 2015 St Joseph’s Church, East Maitland & Therry Centre.
8.30am
9.00
9.30
10.30
11.00
11.30
12 Midday
12.30pm
1.15
Rosary & Confessions
Mass
Exposition/Benediction/Confessions
Morning Tea
Seminar
DVD (School Library)
Midday Prayer & Angelus
LUNCH
Cenacle Rosary & Divine Mercy Chaplet
Everyone is
welcome to come
along for all or any
part of the devotion.
For more
information please
call Judy 4936 6349
or
Marion 4934 1949.
CENACLE & DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET PRAYER MEETINGS at the home of Pat McPherson, 65 Brisbane St, East
Maitland, 7.30pm Wednesday evenings (excl first Wednesday of each month); 10.00am Thursday mornings.
EAST MAITLAND CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE The next meeting at 7.30pm in the Catherine McAuley Rooms,
King Street, East Maitland. The NEXT ANOINTING MASS will be 10.30am Tuesday 16th June 2015! All welcome.
ST JOSEPH’S CRAFT GROUP: Meet every Monday in the McAuley Room 9.30am to 1.00pm. For more
information please contact 49331744 / 49335840 / 4933 4586; or just come along. EVERYONE WELCOME!
SOCIAL GROUP - WIDOWS, SINGLES, DIVORCED - Next outing please contact Barbara 4934 3862.
ST JOSEPH’S EAST MAITLAND PLAYGROUP 2015: Monday mornings in the Therry Centre. New families
always welcome. We are a nut free zone! Cost is $3 and a piece of fruit to share. Contact Christine 0407 536
452 or chrisdkam@gmail.com for more details. Looking forward to seeing you there.
The East Maitland parish team would like to facilitate the continued growth of our parish.
In order to do this we would like to get some basic information from our parishioners
including families attending our parish school. We would also like to invite and encourage
participation in the life of the community. This weekend surveys have been distributed at
each mass but if you would prefer follow the link to complete the survey on-line.
https:www.surveymonkey.com/S/MG663Q7.
ROSARY ROSTER
Monday 1st June
Monday 15th June
Monday 22nd June
Monday 29th June
7.30pm
7.30pm
7.30pm
7.30pm
B. & R. Trappel, 133 Paterson Rd, Bolwarra
B. & P. Lancaster, 38 Park St, East Maitland
C. Heiligman, 28 Maher Ave, East Maitland
B. Filas, 40 Adele Crs, East Maitland
What’s Happening in Rutherford
A COLUMBARIUM: Ian 4932 8501; CRAFT GROUP: Dorothy 4932 7475;
HALL BOOKINGS: Adrian 4932 5601; GARDEN VOLUNTEERS: Peter 4932 8117
What’s Happening in Lochinvar
LOCHINVAR JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP is WEEKLY (during school term) on Mondays commencing from
6.00pm ending with LOW at 7.30pm.
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 17
What’s Happening in Beresfield
LITURGY OF THE HOURS Each Friday 9.30am, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Beresfield
Each Friday morning we pray together the Prayer of the Church often called The Liturgy of the Hours.
This is the prayer of the whole People of God, and we invite you to join us on Fridays at 9.30am in the
Church, as we offer our praise to God, and pray for the needs of our world.
POLISH MASS: Polish Mass is celebrated at OLOL Church at 8.00am on the 4th Sunday of each month.
ROSARY: The parishioners of OLOL Beresfield pray The Rosary together at the Church each Saturday
evening before Mass, commencing at 5.40pm. Everyone is invited to join us.
LADIES SOCIAL GROUP: The ladies group meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month from February to
November at 10.00am in the Parish meeting room. It has been decided to cease formal meetings, but to
continue to get together on an informal basis commencing this month. The next informal get together will be
on Tuesday 24th May 2015 at 10.00am. You are warmly invited to come along and join us. Bring a plate to
share and we will all enjoy a friendly informal get together.
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FOR MASS: We are in need of more volunteers to help with the Power
Point presentation for Mass each week. If you would like to join the team of volunteers please let us know.
PARISH TEAM MEETING: The May parish team meeting was held on Tuesday 12th. Following is a brief
summary of points raised at the meeting: * Need for volunteers to form a team to do Power Point
presentation for Mass each; *Several current maintenance matters: Electrical, plumbing, sound system, storm
damage, yard maintenance and cleaning work; *Copyright matters.
The next Parish team meeting - Tuesday 9th June
Parish Meeting Room, beginning at 7.00pm. Everyone is invited to join us .
What’s Happening in Dungog/Clarence Town
Please join us for weekly Holy Hour in St Mary’s Dungog on Thursdays 2.45pm to 3.45pm
We have been running a 10-part Series on “Catholicism” by Fr Robert Barron. Next Tuesday evening at 7.00pm
in Dungog Parish Hall we have the next session (Fourth). ALL ARE WELCOME
The last week 21 people attended from Vacy, Gresford and Dungog. After the presentation we had a lively discussion together with the mandatory tea/coffee and cake. Parishioners now have a forum for dialoguing their
faith...wonderful to see!!! THE TOPIC OF NEXT WEEK'S SESSION "MARY,MOTHER OF GOD".
As you know Dungog was recently
devastated by the recent storm and
subsequent floods. You can read an
article written by Anne Paull on the
Diocesan website. In it Anne tells of
all the companies and people who
helped the unfortunate with offering
their services and assistance. Fr Paul
Hopper offered the use of the hall
and its facilities and a number of
parishioners and children set about
making sandwiches, soup etc for
those in need. Anne sums up: “Long
after Dungog has returned to
normal, the people of Dungog will
be forever grateful to all the volunteers. After all, in the words of St. Mary MacKillop, Photos courtesy of Fay Smith
‘Gratitude is the memory of the heart.’ This township won’t forget these good hearts.”
Let’s keep everyone in our prayers.
May 2015
Chisholm Connection
Page 18
What’s Happening in Morpeth

On Sunday 10th May we celebrated our Mothers’ Day Mass. Many parishioners placed flowers at
the altar which were then taken to the cemetery and placed on the graves of our departed
mothers.

Although the weather was against outside activities, the ChapelJazz performances on Saturday
morning were moved from the grounds of the Corcoran Centre into the Church. The young
performers form the Hunter Valley Grammar School and the Hunter School for Performing Arts filled
the Church with wonderful jazz music. The feedback from those who attended, favoured the
move into the Church as the acoustics enriched the sound and quality of the bands. A special
thank you to all those who contributed in any way to the success of the events, especially those
who supplied the refreshments served in the Corcoran Centre and manning and those for sale on
the Cafe stall.

On Sunday 24th May, six young people received the sacraments of initiation at the 7.15am Mass in
Morpeth. Congratulations to Ciarra Bailey, Jasmine Klippel, Lachlan Mackaway, Dakota Nicholas,
Jacob and Kaitlyn Saunders. The Mass was followed by a celebratory breakfast in the Corcoran
Centre where the children were welcomed into the Morpeth Parish Community.

On Tuesday 2nd June commencing at 10.30am a special Mass will be held in the Immaculate
Conception Church Morpeth to celebrate the life of Bernadette McGrath the sister of Edith Walz
and Mary Ferry who died suddenly in Canberra just two weeks following the death of her brother Fr.
Jim Saunders. A cuppa will be served in the Corcoran Centre following the Mass.

Don’t forget the second State of Origin Footy night in the Corcoran Centre on Wednesday 17th
June.
What’s Happening in Maitland / Largs / Paterson
SACRED HEART, CAMPBELL’S HILL:
CATHOLIC WEEKLY They are on sale before and after every Mass and only costs $2.
PATERSON ACTiv8 Youth Group starts at 6.00pm on 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. (NOT IN SCHOOL
HOLIDAYS) Fun games...yummy food...good friends... and God too!
LARGS: LARGS Weekly YOUTH Group 5.30pm ending with Mass at 7.00pm.
Pope Francis’ GoodNews
How good is this! Pope Francis now has his own weekly
newsletter. You can view the full article and sign up to the
weekly newsletter at popefrancisgoodnews.com.
Abbreviated copies such as the next two pages will also be
made available in church porches (from time to time).
Enjoy!
May 2015
Chisholm Connection
Page 19
May 2015
Chisholm Connection
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Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 21
Youth Ministry in
the Chisholm Region
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
From the Coordinators
Welcome to the ACTiv8 Chisholm Youth Ministry pages. In each edition of the Chisholm
Connection we will aim to bring you up to date with What’s Happening across the Region
with respect to youth ministry. We will include dates for your diary, invitations to get
involved, formation opportunities along with a round up of Youth Group activity. Feel free to
make contact at any time with either of the Coordinators to find out more. Happy
Ministering.
Youth Groups
While we have had an interrupted start to the term regarding youth groups
thanks
to the super storm we are slowly getting back to our normal routine for
youth groups. Youth Group numbers have been strong this term even
though it’s been a bumpy start. We have an exciting couple of months
coming up with several of our young people making their way through their
Rite of Christian Initiation for Children. September this year also brings a
big reason to celebrate, as it will be 10 years since our Chisholm Region
youth Masses have been running. Stay tuned for more information as September
approaches. The Australian Catholic Youth Festival is quickly approaching in December and
is bound to be an amazing experience. The youth festival is for people in years 9 to age 25
and runs for three days. The Diocese is sending down a large contingent of young people
from around the Diocese. Again keep tuned for further information.
Sam Hill (Phone: 0414 278 069)
ACTiv8 - Youth Group Coordinator
Would you like to come along and help out at Youth Group? Then SIGN - UP to become a
Youth Group Leader (YGL). Get trained and learn lots of new skills and have fun too.
Check out the WHAT’s ON Section for more details.
Youth Team - Youth Ministry across the region continues to grow and this is a great
testament to the dedication and commitment of our ACTiv8 Chisholm - Youth Ministry Team,
parents, young people and the entire community. A perpetual note of thanks - to all of
our adult supporters who come along and assist at our youth group programs - you are very
much appreciated and we couldn’t do it without you.
And to keep building this great ministry we need YOU!!... To the
‘young at heart’ & those with a desire to learn new things and
have enthusiasm to share their faith!! Come and join the ACTiv8
Chisholm - As a Youth Ministry Volunteer (commitment terms are
flexible) and help us create bigger and better ways to celebrate
our church through ministry with young people. :-) All are
welcome so make contact today.
Stef Lloyd (Phone: 0422 500 429)
ACTiv8 - Youth Ministry Team Coordinator
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 22
Youth Ministry in
the Chisholm Region
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
WEDNESDAYS AT 7AM
Join us each Wednesday in Term time for morning
prayer, meditation and reflection.
Come along for a peace-filled start to your day
All welcome
WHERE: Chisholm House
304 High Street Maitland
(upstairs next door to Regional Office)
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A YOUTH GROUP
LEADER (YGL)???
Training Sessions to be a YGL take place every
month when required at CHISHOLM HOUSE .
Fully supervised these sessions are for ages 15
plus - Come along and learn how to run games,
facilitate small groups, develop activities,
increase your public speaking skills and more.
YOUTH MINISTRY TRAINING SESSIONS
Run on the FOURTH FRIDAY of each month
for those wanting to develop their Youth
Ministry skill set.
For more information please contact Stef Lloyd on
0422 500 429.
WHERE: Chisholm House
304 High Street
Maitland (upstairs next door to Regional Office)
COST: FREE **Light supper provided
For more info. please contact Stef Lloyd
on 0422 500 429.
WHERE: Chisholm House
304 High Street
Maitland (upstairs next door to Regional Office)
COST: FREE
JUNE KIDS MASS
SUNDAY JUNE 7th at 6pm
St Joseph’s East Maitland
Call Sue on 0414 890 913 to volunteer
All Welcome!
SAVE THE DATE
Know others who would like to hear the Youth Ministry message
???? Then invite them to subscribe to our ACTiv8 eNewsletter
today.
Feel free to find out more about What’s Happening
around the region by contacting the Chisholm Office
302 High Street Maitland
Youth Group Coordinator - Sam Hill 0414 278 069
Youth Team Coordinator - Stef Lloyd 0422 500 429
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 23
Youth Ministry in
the Chisholm Region
REGIONAL YOUTH GROUPS
Junior Youth Groups focus on providing a fun, positive community environment for
Primary Schools kids in Years 3 - 6. Each youth group has yummy snacks, fun games,
educational input about the Catholic Faith, and a prayer experience. Junior Youth
Groups run during the School Term and have a break in the holidays.
ALL Primary School aged children are welcome to youth group!
Monday
Lochinvar Junior
Paterson Junior
( w eekly )
( 1 s t & 3rd Mondays )
6pm – 8pm
6pm – 8pm
St Patrick ’ s Catholic School Hall
Nara Meeting Room
113 Gregory Rd, Lochinvar
Cnr Prince Church Sts, Paterson
** Includes Liturgy of the Word at 7.30pm
TUESday
WEDNESday
East Maitland Junior ( weekly )
Largs Junior ( weekly )
5:30pm – 7:30pm
5:30pm – 7:30pm
Therry Centre, Cnr New England
Largs Church Hall Cnr John &
Hwy & King St East Maitland
Church Sts Largs
**Includes Mass at 7pm
**Includes Mass at 7pm
SUNday
Senior Youth Group
East Maitland Senior
For Teens in Years 7-10. Every 2nd and 4th
( 2 n d & 4th Sundays )
Sunday after the 6.00pm Youth Mass at East
After 6pm Regional Youth Mass
Maitland. Enjoy the BBQ and wander down to
From 7.00 – 8:30pm at Therry Centre
the Therry Centre to begin a night of fun,
faith and fellowship!
Chisholm Connection
May 2015
Page 24
Thank you to this month’s sponsors
To help us alleviate paper and printing costs, sponsorship is available at $50 per issue. If you are interested please
contact us through the Regional Office, and we will help to promote your business within our Parish communities.
Tony & Margaret Fry
61 Melbourne Street, East Maitland 2323
Facsimile (02) 4934 1850
Telephone (02) 4933 5977
 Best
Prices
 Alignments
 Prompt
& Friendly Service
Tickets
 And much more!!
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Powers of Attorney
Business law
Employment law
Retirement housing
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Insurance law
Guardianships
Mortgages
Notary Public
467 High Street Maitland NSW 2320
Telephone: 4933 6344
email: mail@enrights-solicitors.com.au
Proudly Supporting “News from the Pews” …..
at the Therry
Centre
NEW CHEF/CATERER
CATERING FOR WEDDINGS, CONFERENCES,
SOCIAL EVENTS, FUNERALS.
We can cater for all occasions
FOR BOOKING ENQUIRIES PH: 4933 8918
www.chardonnaycatering.com.au
Sales:
4933 7855
Rentals:
4933 6685
www.petersrealestate.com.au
PLEASE PATRONISE OUR ADVERTISERS
And let them know you appreciate their support of the Chisholm Connection.
That’s the best way to thank them for your monthly newsletter.