Noel Davis’ poem, “He’ll Heal Me For Sure”, offers simple words to pray through this season of Lent, for ourselves, for those in our circles of life and love , and for our world; says Lyn Breen, Sandhurst Adult Faith Education Officer.

Now is the time to Act!

Catholic Health Australia, Australia’s largest non-government grouping of aged-care services, today welcomed the launch of a nationwide coalition of providers to advocate for better aged-care standards and funding.

The Knights of the Southern Cross in Victoria have awarded a scholarship to a young Bendigo Catholic in order to support the completion of his studies in communications at Harvard University.

By Jenni Kennedy 

St Mary of the Angel's Secondary College has been recognised in the 2021 Moira Shire Australia Day Awards for their contribution to the local community through their outstanding VCAL program.

7 February 2021 

Pope Francis instituted 'The Sunday of the Word of God' as  means to help people “reawaken an awareness of the importance of Sacred Scripture for our lives as believers, beginning with its resonance in the Liturgy which places us in living and permanent dialogue with God,” writes the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.  

For over fifty years Palms Australia has been empowering communities in developing economies to be architects of their own development.  Palms works with communities who have identified for themselves a skill they want to develop and places Australians with the appropriate skills and experience on assignment in those communities. 

Palms  are experts in preparing Australians to work effectively and ethically in the field.  This year, Palms are seeking the help of our entire faith community to recruit Australian participants. 

A new Catholic Social Services Australia report says bolstering the under-resourced disability, aged care and social services workforces could hold the key to Australia’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report draws heavily on Catholic social teaching principles, including the pursuit of the common good, solidarity and the dignity of each person.

Would you like to experience a ˜”Retreat @ Home” or quiet day during Lent 2021? Retreat and spirituality centres around the globe are now offering online retreats. Diocesan Adult Faith Education Coordinator, Lyn Breen, provides a list of the many options available to you.  For some of the 'real time' retreats, you will need to register before cut-off dates, so make sure you check out the options sooner than later.  Who knows, you might be on virtual retreat in Texas or Glasgow all from the comfort of your own home.

After wide consultation across Sandhurst, the Review of the strategic consultative and administrative structures of the diocese has been completed. Bishop Shane looks forward to feedback about the report and its recommendations and plans to respond to and act to implement recommendations in the early months of this year. The report titled 'Go Forth' is now available on the diocesan website.

Late last year, St Augustine's Primary School, Wodonga conducted a Colour Fun Run to raise money for the Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre and Cancer Council Australia.  Several staff members took responsibility for the organisation of the day, ably assisted by some delightful, compassionate students who have been personally touched by cancer, losing their mother to cancer earlier in the year.   

18 January was a special day for the Community of the Sons and Daughters of God in Dookie. Bishop Shane presided at Mass at St Mary’s Church and formally renewed a 5-year agreement for the Community to continue to use the Dookie Presbytery as their monastery, which is known as ‘St Augustine of Canterbury Monastic House’.

On Tuesday 2 February the Victorian Premiers and Islamic Council published an open letter to Premier Daniel Andrews seeking an urgent 'pause' on the Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020. The letter called for a meeting with the Premier and the Attorney General to ask for transparent and comprehensive consultation. "If a simpler, clearer bill had been tabled, with adequate consultation, then we would be able to give full support to a focused and practical way to protect people from harm."

Adopted by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in November 2020, a new National Response Protocol for responding to contemporary and historical concerns and allegations of child sexual abuse will be implemented from Monday, 1 February 2021.

After wide consultation across Sandhurst, the Review of the strategic consultative and administrative structures of the diocese has been completed.   Bishop Shane looks forward to feedback about the report and its recommendations and plans to respond to and act to implement recommendations in the early months of this year. 

The report titled 'Go Forth' is now available on the diocesan website.

By Kery Stone

Flipping pancakes in Hargreaves Mall on Shrove Tuesday is now a long tradition – over twenty years in fact! Everyone is welcome to attend as promote the great work of Caritas Australia. And read Caritas CEO, Kirsty Robertson’s “Welcome to Project Compassion 2021”.

Bishop Terry Brady, the Bishop Delegate for Social Justice, has written to the Prime Minister to express concern over Australia still not being a signatory to the international Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The treaty came into force on 22 January, and Bishop Brady has explained that the elimination of nuclear weapons would be a major step towards creating peace. Bishop Brady’s letter is the latest effort from religious leaders to encourage Scott Morrison to sign the treaty.

By Jenni Kennedy

The beginning of the school year commenced for Catholic Education Office staff on Monday, January 18. The first week of term, dubbed ‘O week’ is a time for staff to reconnect, to focus and to plan for the year ahead. It is also a chance to welcome new staff members to the Catholic Education Sandhurst team.

By Jenni Kennedy 

After 91 years of service, the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (DOLSH) will no longer reside in the Elmore Parish, yet the legacy of these remarkable religious women will continue to live on in the history of the school and parish, and within the community they have shaped and influenced over many, many years. 

28 December marked the tenth anniversary of the death of Bishop Joseph Angelo Grech, the Sixth Bishop of Sandhurst.  On Sunday 27 December, after the 11.00 a.m. Mass, Bishop Shane led prayers for Bishop Joe and gave thanks for his ministry at a well-attended ceremony in the crypt at Sacred Heart Cathedral. During the Mass, Monsignor Frank gave a Homily remembering Bishop Joe. This Homily is now published on the diocesan website.

LENT 2021 Leaflets for prayer and reflection for individuals and groups.

Free to download from Adult Faith Education Sandhurst.

At Christmas, we celebrate Jesus as the light who comes in our darkness. This year, perhaps more than ever, we are aware of how much we need that light.  Bishop Shane Mackinlay

After 48 hours as a priest, Fr Denib Suguitan (DJ) reflects on his Ordination to the priesthood. "If there is one thing I have learned over the weekend, it is the fact that God never ceases to amaze us, as long as we let ourselves be amazed. He works so mysteriously that it takes a while to understand his ways".

Fr DJ Suguitan has been ordained a priest for the Sandhurst Diocese after his priestly ordination was postponed twice due to COVID-19. Seminarian, Jackson Saunders, reflects on DJ’s ordination to the priesthood and his First Mass.

By Jackson Saunders

In a year of moves aplenty, sixth-year seminarian Jackson Saunders, reflects back on 2020. The year began in Rome and is ending in Echuca, with other stints in between tat Wangaratta and St Kilian’s in Bendigo.

"How is God Calling Us to be a Christ-centred Church in Australia that is a: Joyful, hope-filled and servant community?"

Lyn Breen reports on the online Sandhurst Plenary session held on 9 December. There were many practical suggestions put forward by people from parishes across our diocese.