Community Noticeboard Interfaith Forum The Ecumenical and Interfaith Council invites you to participate in a forum exploring Catholic Eastern and Western Rites on Wednesday 7 June, 6.30-8pm, at the Parish of the Protection of the Mother of God, 105 Gosford Road, Adamstown. Please register with Brooke Robinson, brooke.robinson@mn.catholic.org. au or P 4979 1111. Seasons for Growth Companioning Training: Children & Young People’s training: Taree 25-26 July; Newcastle 8-9 November. Adults Training: Newcastle 14-15 June, 13-14 September. This training is essential for those wishing to facilitate the Seasons for Growth program with children/young people or adults. Please P Jenny 4947 1355 to find out more about becoming a Companion. Enrolments for training are completed at www. goodgrief.org.au. Exploring the Seasons of Grief small group program uses the metaphor of the changing seasons to gently support and encourage participants as they reflect on and explore their stories of change and loss. Through the discovery of ways to move forward in one’s grief journey, participants find that a door to hope and healing opens up for them. Cardiff 24 & 31 July, 7 & 14 August 9.30am-12pm. Please P Jenny 4979 1355 for enquiries or to register. For more information please visit www.mn.catholic.org.au/agenciesservices/seasons-for-growth. Mercy Spirituality Centre Toronto 14 June Reflection day, Prayer: A bridge between longing and belonging, with reference to John O’Donohue’s “Eternal Echoes”. This half day of reflection will explore various images of this bridge and ways we learn to see with the eyes of the soul. 9.30am–1.00pm, $20, light lunch included. 20 June Seminar When Faith is Knocked Off Centre – disappointments, betrayals and recovery. Sue Collins will lead this seminar to explore the human reactions and pathways that can be used to return us to meaning. 7.00–9.00pm, $30. 7 & 8 July Helen Baguley rsm will lead reflections around Reconnecting with Celtic Spirituality. Exploring themes within the Celtic tradition – relationship with sacredness of Earth, with compassion and with the Light at the heart of all life. 9.30am – 4.00pm, $70. 20-27 July The Unfolding Story of Love – Entering the Mystery of the Universe Story with Br Tony Hempenstall; 6 day silent retreat, $600. For details, contact Mercy Spirituality Centre 26 Renwick St Toronto, P 4959 1025, E: mercytoronto@ mercy.org.au. Visit www.mercytoronto.org.au. Diocesan Youth Camp Elim “Be Grow Show 2017” will be held Friday 16 June - Sunday 18 June at Camp Elim, Forster. This is an annual retreat for those aged 16 years+ organised by the Diocesan Council for Ministry with Young People. This year’s theme is Luke 1:49 ‘for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name’. Go to mn.catholic.org.au to register. P 4979 1111. Ecumenical Prayers in the Spirit of Taizé Sunday 18 June (13 August, 8 October) at Merewether Uniting Church, 178 Glebe Road,
Merewether. Commencing at 7pm for 45 minutes and characterised by the singing of simple harmonised tunes, often in various languages, interspersed with readings, prayers and a period of silence. Services are followed by supper. E minister.merewetheruca@gmail. com or P Rev Jennifer Burns 0411 133 679. Cathedral Lecture The Cathedral Lecture Series was launched in 2016. This year’s speaker will be Rev Dr James McEvoy, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy at Australian Catholic University. The lecture will take place at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 841 Hunter Street, Newcastle West on Wednesday 21 June. Gather from 5.30pm, lecture at 6pm, followed by Q&A and light refreshments. Please rsvp via www. cathdrallecture2017.eventbrite.com.au. Builders or Gardeners? A day of reflection This event will be held on Saturday 15 July at St Joseph’s College, Lochinvar, 9.30am-3.30pm, under the auspices of the Council for Australian Catholic Women and the Catholic Women’s League in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. Vivien Williams will be the presenter. $25 pp. Wear a touch of colour and bring a plant or flower! To learn more and to rsvp, P Patricia Banister 0409 300 192 or E pabanister7@ gmail.com. “Before We Say I Do” Marriage education is a vital, yet often overlooked, part of preparing for a life partnership. The marriage education courses offered by the diocese are run by CatholicCare, which offers a selection of courses for married and soon-to-be married couples to assist them in preparing for, and maintaining, their commitment to one another. Couples who are marrying are advised to attend a course which falls around four months prior to the wedding. Book early as some courses are very popular. To learn more, please P Robyn, 4979 1370. “Before We Say I Do” is a group program held over two days or four evenings. Course 4/17 22 and 29 July at Newcastle Course 5/17 9 and 16 September at Singleton Course 6/17 4 and 11 November at Newcastle. Claiming the Dates 20th Annual Special Needs Mass The 20th Annual Special Needs Mass will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, cnr Kenrick and Farquhar Streets, Merewether, on Tuesday, 8 August at 7pm. The communities of St Joseph’s Primary, Merewether, and Holy Family Primary, Merewether Beach, together with the Federation of P & F Associations Special Needs Working Party, warmly welcome all to join principals, teachers, school staff, families and parishioners for this special celebration. St Columban’s Primary Centenary St Columban’s Primary School, Mayfield, (previously known as St Joseph’s and St Columbanus’) will be celebrating 100 years of quality education on 12 August at 11am in the school hall. Bishop Bill Wright will preside at Mass, the new centenary garden will be opened and everyone is invited to open classrooms. Byo picnic lunch will be enjoyed on the playground as well as organised old-fashioned games. You
BRAND NEW VILLAGE To arrange a viewing of Calvary Muswellbrook’s villas contact our Hunter ILU Coordinator P: 1800 222 000 W: calvarycare.org.au/villagelife
may donate a paver, with your name engraved, as a memory of your time at St Columban’s. Please contact the school to organise the paver purchase; P 4968 3315 or E admin@mayfieldsc.catholic.edu.au. San Clemente High School Centenary The school’s centenary committee presents the Black and White Gala Ball at Newcastle City Hall, Saturday 19 August from 6pm. Live entertainment, formal dress, canapés, champagne and three-course meal. $150 per person. As a remembrance of your time at San Clemente High School, engraved brick(s) can be purchased to remain on campus forever. E MFS-Centenary@mn.catholic. edu.au or P 4014 7300. Blessing of the Land This year’s event will be held on Sunday 27 August at Pokolbin Community Hall, 128 McDonald’s Road, Pokolbin from noon. To learn more, please P Chris 043 4332 217 or E chris@pinehavenorg.com. All are welcome. Australian Catholic Youth Festival This event will be hosted by the Archdiocese of Sydney from 7-9 December 2017. Expressions of interest are now open for young people in year 9 (2017) to 25 years who would like to be a part of the MaitlandNewcastle contingent. Those over the age of 25 are encouraged to register as group leaders. Register your interest now at www.mn.catholic.org.au/acyf. For more information, contact us at youth.festival@mn.catholic. org.au or www.facebook.com/mncatholicyouth. Stories and Memories of St Mary’s Maitland To help us celebrate St Mary’s Maitland Sesquicentenary (150 years), we are calling on ex-students or ex-staff members to share with us a fond memory, funny story (that can be published!) or account of a significant event from their time here. We intend to make a collection of these, along with some photos from the event or the year or decade in which the story belongs. These will be then placed around the school and made available later in the year for those interested. We would like no more than an A4 page of text. Any photos would also be most welcome. However, we ask that only copies be sent. Contributions to the Memories of St Mary’s can be posted to Ms H Kearney, St Mary’s Campus, 16 Grant Street, Maitland 2320 or E helen.kearney@mn.catholic. edu.au. Mums’ Cottage Invites grandparents to Grandparent and Toddler day, every Wednesday during school terms from 10amnoon at 29 St Helen’s Street, Holmesville. Enjoy some companionship with other grandparents while children play. Mums’ Cottage offers a range of services, programs, workshops and family events and would love to welcome you at any time. For more information, P Mums’ Cottage 4953 4105, E admin@mumscottage. org.au or visit www.mumscottage.org.au. Youth Mass On the last Sunday of each month, the 5.30pm Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Macquarie St, Wallsend, has a youthful flavour. Everyone is welcome.
For your diary June 7 Interfaith Forum (see opposite) 11 Trinity Sunday 12 World Day Against Child Labour 14 Healthy Tuckshop Day
World Blood Donor Day
18 Corpus Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ) 19 National Refugee Week begins 20 World Refugee Day 21 Cathedral Lecture (see opposite) 23 Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
United Nations International Widow’s Day
25 Day of the Seafarer 26 Eid-al-Fitr: Muslim breaking of the fast 29 Sts Peter and Paul, apostles
July 4 International Day of Co-operatives 5 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday
NAIDOC Week begins.
For more events please visit mn.catholic.org.au/calendar and mn.catholic.org.au/community.
Locals caring for locals Calvary Retirement Communities provides safe, secure and relaxed community living through residential aged care, respite services and retirement villages. We have care choices available in Belmont, Cessnock, Eleebana, Maitland, Sandgate, Singleton, Tanilba Bay, Taree, Waratah and a brand new facility in Muswellbrook. Calvary Muswellbrook Retirement Community offers 1, 2 and 3 bedroom villas alongside a Residential Aged Care Facility. There are still villas available.
To arrange a visit or for more information on services near you call 1800 222 000 or visit www.calvarycare.org.au. Continuing the Mission of the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary
| C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M A I T L A N D - N E W C A S T L E | W W W. M N N E W S . T O D AY / A U R O R A - M A G A Z I N E
21