Dear Parents and Carers,

Please find below an invitation to participate in a dialogue around parish renewal.  The message outlines dates and opportunities for you to be involved in face to face discussions over the coming weeks.  I would encourage all families to engage in this process.

Have a great week.

Tim

MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS PARISH RENEWAL

LETTER TO PARISHIONERS

26 February 2021

Dear Parishioner

As you may be aware, from the weekend of 27-28 February, our Parish will be commencing discussions about renewal. 

Bishop Tim has called on all parishes in our Diocese to engage with these discussions under the overall intention of “Becoming New In Christ”. This weekend Bishop Tim has launched the theme, “Belong”, for the first phase of this important Parish conversation.

Following this weekend, we’ll commence the first phase of this renewal. As we encounter this theme, we’ll engage with a series of questions. We’ll do this through regular group discussion sessions which will be convened as follows:

• Wednesday 3 March, 7.00pm (St Joseph’s Catholic School Staffroom)
• Wednesday 10 March, 7.00pm (St Joseph’s Catholic School Staffroom)
• Wednesday 17 March, 7.00pm (St Joseph’s Catholic School Staffroom)

Each discussion session will focus on different questions, so you’re welcome to attend all sessions.

Parishioners are encouraged to access the Diocese’s online portal to peruse the resources available that bring the theme of “Belong” to life, and to submit individual responses to the questions for this theme. We’ll also provide paper-based copies of these questions which will be available on the table at the back of the Church. 

You can find these questions for this first phase by accessing information on the Diocesan website via the following link: www.tsv.catholic.org.au/becomingnewinchrist

We hope you will participate in the group discussion opportunities and encourage you to also engage with the questions for “Belong”.

We'd also appreciate it if you could encourage other parishioners to participate, particularly those that may not have yet heard about this Parish Renewal initiative.

Sincerely,

Parish Renewal Team

Mary Help of Christians Parish

(Jacqui Francis, Peter Stower & Tim Ham)

Our Journey into Lent Continues

Week 1 of LENT- Meet Jamila

We begin our annual Project Compassion journey by learning about the story of Jamila and her family. Jamila, 22 years old, is a Rohingya woman living in the world's largest refugee camp in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. A single mother, who escaped conflict in Maynmar to save herself, her elderly mother and 8 month old baby. 

With the support of Caritas Australia, through Caritas Bangladesh, Jamila was able to access emergency food and shelter. She was provided with counselling and emotional support. She learnt sewing skills which provides her with an opportunity to earn an income. Jamila, now, feels less alone and has a sense of community around her. She is able to BE MORE with her family. 

Over 80 million people are remain in densly populated refugee camps worldwide.

All in need of humaritian assistance especially due to COVID-19 (UNHCR)

Watch a short film about Jamila's family here

'Aspire not to have more but be more'

Support Project Compassion https://lent.caritas.org.au/

Your family can support Project Compassion by placing some money in the Caritas box that was sent home last week. 

Congratulations to our students who began their Sacramental Journey on Monday evening. Their journey began by recieving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  

They will continue their journey by learning about the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist. Please keep them in your prayers over the coming weeks. 

Hope all have a wonderful week,

Trina

School Dental Service

Townsville Oral Health Services will be offering a course of dental care to all children attending St Joseph's The Strand soon. 

If you wish to take advantage of this service, please complete the forms which have been issued to your child and return them to the school office.

The service will be provided through a School Dental Clinic situated at the Central State School. Staff will contact you by phone for an appointment once the completed forms have been returned. A parent or guardian will need to attaend all appointments with their child.

For further enquiries please phone the Central School Dental Clinic on 0436915795. Leave a message and we will return your call.

SOUTHERN TOWNSVILLE GIRL GUIDES

Meet at Southern Cross Association Hall, Corcoran Park, Queens Road

Brownies (5 to 10 years old) Wednesday 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Guides (10 to 18 Years old) Tuesdays 5.30 pm – 7.30 pm

Come along and try for 4 weeks before joining.

Contact District Manager Jean Croft 0408874331 or email jean@zolos.org for more information.