News from the Capricorn Coast
17 December, 2024
Our first of the month was our Meet in the Middle on 11th November- Remembrance Day. Only six of us met at the Waterline Cafe, but we had a great morning with many jokes being thrown around the table. The Last Post was played over the sound system at eleven o’clock, and we paused to remember those who gave their lives in service of our country.
On the 17th November, Sr Mary Franzman and Sr Marion Kingston, Presentation Sisters, along with the Presentation Associates and students, gathered at the 9am Mass at Sacred Heart Church, to share in a blessing for their final meeting.
Thank you to Marie and Tony Weekers, for hosting a gathering for Home Anointing and Holy Communion, along with delightful treats for morning tea – a wonderful time of fellowship for all.
Then some wonderful days of celebration started in our end of year school liturgies with St Benedict’s School, Sacred Heart School, St Ursula’s and St Brendan’s College. As well as the Sacramental Families end of year pizza night, which was enjoyed by all those who attended.
Our Memorial Mass was celebrated on 27th November at Sacred Heart Church, with parishioners who have lost loved ones over the past 12 months. A lovely celebration prepared by our Bereavement team to remember those who have gone to their Heavenly home.
Congratulations
Celebrations continued with Peter and Jessie Conaghan celebrating 60 years of marriage, and John and Margaret McKenna celebrating 54 years of marriage. Fr Matthew presented Peter and Jessie with a special Papal blessing to mark this significant milestone. Congratulations to you all and may you be blessed with many more years to celebrate.
Evan and Marie Lee celebrated 71 years of Marriage and received a blessing and congratulations from Fr Matthew and all the congregation at the Sunday Morning Eucharist at Sacred Heart.
We take this opportunity to congratulate Fr Andrew Hogan, who celebrated his 10-year anniversary of priestly ordination on December 3rd. We pray that you will be blessed with many more years of service to God and His people.
Mary Immaculate 120 years Celebration
On December 7th, Mary Immaculate Church at Emu Park celebrated 120 years of service to the community. What a wonderful time of gathering and celebrating. Before we gathered for Mass and after Mass, an historical power point with beautiful music played by Ross McIntyre in the background, was played for people to sit and watch and take in all that has occurred over the past 120 years. At the beginning of Mass a candle ceremony was enacted, as we walked through another power point of different happenings and ministries that take part in our parish. Mass was celebrated by Fr Matthew Moloney, along with Fr Noel Milner, Fr Peter Tonti and Fr Terry Loth – thank you for being with us to share in this milestone. Fr Noel gave the homily and reminded us, that as we draw water from the well, to remember those who dug the well and also that we are digging the well for the future generations.
After Mass we supplied a BBQ and drinks for all who attended, while running a ham wheel, which Mayor Adam Belot was spinning to find our winners. We then gathered back inside the church for some joyful carol singing and a few Christmas jokes. During the carols, Fr Matthew drew our six raffle winners, with John Hinton being our top prize winner of the Weber BBQ package – congratulations to John and the other prize winners. A big “Thank You” to all those who helped prepare and organise this wonderful celebration, as a lot of work goes on behind the scenes. We have a fantastic community always ready to help wherever needed.
Tom and Judith Susans attended our celebration, and Tom told me that he was baptised in the Emu Park church in 1933 – a wonderful historical note.
Then to the sad news (for our parish) but joyful news for the Seminary. Fr Matthew has been appointed to the formation staff at the Seminary and will commence this role in the New Year. Fr Matthew will say his last Mass at the Capricorn Coast on Christmas Day. Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary rector Fr Neil Muir has been appointed to a 2nd three year term and will continue to lead the formation of the next generation of priests. We wish you God’s richest blessings Fr Matthew as you move onto your new role and we thank you for your friendship, leadership and contagious laugh, over the last seven years. Please remember you can always join us for a coffee at any time.
Last of all we would like to wish everyone a very Happy and Holy Christmas and a Blessed New Year, full of love, joy and peace.
