News from Bundaberg
16 November, 2023
Fr Neil Muir on Synodality
Fr Neil Muir, rector of Holy Spirit Seminary, was invited to Bundaberg on the 6th & 7th October to speak to the Parish Stewardship Council and parishioners on “Understanding Synodality and Synodality in the Local Faith Community”. For many it is a new word in Church language, but in reality, not so. Fr Neil explained that it was not something new and had been part of our early Church dating back to the Apostles as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. It was a timely talk as the Synod on the mission of the Church with Pope Francis had just begun. A good number of people attended the open talk and were appreciative of Fr Neil’s wisdom and knowledge.
Relay for Life
On Saturday, 12th October, from 12 midday till 9.00pm our Relay for Life team did us proud! Although smaller in number this year our band of walkers kept the relay going. This year marked the 20th anniversary of Relay for Life in Bundaberg. Our tent displayed some of our past teams and highlighted two of our ministries – the Blanket Buddies and the Young People’s Conversations evenings. Overall, $6 900 was raised by the parish for the Queensland Cancer Council.
Ladies Dinner
After a four-year break due to Covid and illness, the Passionists Family Group Ladies Dinner returned to the parish social calendar on Wednesday, 18th October. This was, and still is, a popular night for the ladies of the parish to dress up in their finery, enjoy a meal together, listen to a guest speaker, and speak till their heart’s content! This year’s dinner was held at the Bundaberg Rowers Club. The guest speaker, Anne Sheehan, retiring parish worker, spoke fondly of her family and shared tales from her past 30 years of working in the parish. The ladies hope that the dinner will return regularly to the parish calendar.
St Mary’s Catechism Break Up
Since 2018 our Indian community have held catechism classes after the 9.00am mass each Sunday during the school year. They began at St Mary’s church and have called themselves the St Mary’s Sunday School ever since, continuing the name even after St Mary’s church burnt down in 2020.
On Saturday night, 4th November, they held their annual break-up event, consisting of awards to the students who have topped their classes, thank yous to the 30 catechists who have prepared and led the classes, music and drama presentations, finishing with a shared meal. This year Bishop Michael was in attendance and was royally welcomed to the occasion to the beat of drums and procession. Bishop Michael, along with other esteemed guests, Frs Don White and John Daly, Br Ted Magee, and Anne Sheehan, presented awards to the students.
The music and drama presentation this year was titled “The Bread of Life”, a story of hope and salvation, portraying Jesus’ life from the Wedding Feast of Cana to the Resurrection. It was brilliantly done, with many hours of costume making and rehearsals going into the production. And of course, the meal afterwards involved curry! We are truly blessed to have our Indian friends in the parish.
Anne Sheehan
