Feast of the Ascension2

Meditation in the Christian Tradition

Monday, May 7 at 8.00pm in the Gathering Space and Wednesday May 9, 6.30am in the Church (northern crying room)

Pre School Group

The Pre School Group will meet weekly in Term 2, Mondays 10.30am – 11.30am in the Parish Hall. 

Morning Tea after Mass Wednesday 9 May

All Welcome,

RCIA

Wednesday, May 9 at 8pm, in the Gathering Space.

First Eucharist Classes

Thursday May 10 at 4.30pm

Social Justice Group

CHANGE OF DATE Monday May 14 at 7.30 pm in the Breakout Space.

Feast of St Bede

We will celebrate our parish feast on Friday evening May 25, commencing with evening prayer and followed by wine and cheese.  More details to follow.

Three vacancies for ‘General Members’ remain. Please consider the opportunity to join the PPC as it starts a new chapter in its work.

To nominate yourself (or a fellow parishioner) or for any other suggestions or enquiries, please contact us through the Parish Office.

As we await the appointment of our new Parish Priest, we will continue with our Formation and Planning work and ask for your prayerful support. We aim to keep the community regularly informed of our progress.

FAREWELL FR GRANT!

This weekend we farewell Fr. Grant as Parish Administrator.  We thank Grant very much for his willingness to come and support us in the absence of a Parish Priest, particularly at the most demanding time in the Church’s liturgical year. 

Grant worked with many parish groups, Parish Pastoral Council, Liturgy Group, RCIA adding his own unique contribution to our parish life.

We particularly enjoyed his  challenging homilies, his passion and commitment!

We wish Grant all the best in the future!

SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP

Anti-trafficking of Women and Children Project – Myanmar

A thank you card from the Province Leader of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM) is on exhibited in the Gathering Space along with a display and a recent report, containing examples of success stories and pictures of the sewing and computer classes made possible by the generous contributions of the St. Bede’s Parish community. Please make time to see what has been achieved.

MEET ‘N MINGLE

Our guest speakers are:  Janey Muir-Smith-Manager of the Judy Lazarus Transition Centre, which deals with critical transitional issues that assist a prisoner’s successful reintegration into the community and Sr Mary O’Shannassy-Director of Catholic Prison Ministry Victoria and Senior Catholic Chaplain with both the Government and Private Prisons in Victoria.  All welcome Thursday, May 3 from 10am to 12 noon in the Parish hall.  

Meditation in the Christian Tradition, Monday April 23, 8pm in the Gathering Space and Wednesday April 25, 6.30am in the Church.

St Bede’s Pre School Group,  will meet weekly throughout Term 2, 10.30-11.30 in the School Hall.

Social Justice Group

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE AND TIME

Monday May 14 at 7.30pm in the Breakout Space.

Parish Pastoral Council

Wednesday May 16, 7.30pm in the Gathering Space.

First Eucharist Classes

Commence Thursday April 19 at 4.30pm

Liturgy Group

Tuesday April 24 at 8pm, in the Gathering Space.

Catechist classes commence on April 19 at 4.30pm

Confirmation will take place at 11am and 2.30pm on Sunday August 19.

Contact Mark Rice 0414 609 823 or David Matthews 0458 780 049, davidtmatthews@yahoo.co.uk if you would like to play Tennis at St Bede’s at 7.30am on Saturdays, Coffee follows.

The 2011-12 Membership Application Form is now available for the tennis club.

In the Archdiocese of Melbourne the date is set by the Archbishop’s Office and Confirmation is conferred by the Archbishop or one of his Auxiliary Bishops.

CONFIRMATION AT ST BEDE’S PARISH – 2012

St Bede’s sacramental programme is open to those Catholics who reside within the defined parish boundaries or children of families who are regular contributors to parish life and worship at St Bede’s.

Confirmation at St Bede’s will be held on Sunday 19^th August at 11am and 2.30pm.

Preparation for Confirmation includes

A Parent Information evening on July 24 at 7.30pm in the Art Space at the School.

An activity day for all candidates on Tuesday August 14.  Meet at the school 8.45am-3.15pm

A series of six weekly classes leading up to the sacrament will begin on Tuesday June 12 at 4.30pm.  There will be a break from June 21 to July 19.

Candidates are required to be present at all sessions. 

A copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate and a Sacramental levy of $100.00 is payable prior to the commencement of classes.  This will cover provision of resources, administrative support and the services of our Catechist, Mrs.Pam Penney (a trained Primary School Teacher, who has taught Catechetics at St Bede’s for many years).

Registration for Confirmation will be held:

After the 6:00 pm Mass on Saturday, 26th May and

After the 9:30 am and 11:00 am Mass on Sunday, 27th May

Opportunity for registration will also be available on

Monday, 28th May between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm

Please download the form for registration for the Confirmation Registration 2012.

Children who are not enrolled at St Bede’s School and who reside within the boundaries of our parish can be enrolled in our Catechetical Programme.

Please download the form for registration for the First Eucharist at St Bede’s Parish 2012

Thursday 19 January

Thursday 23 February

Thursday 22 March

Thursday 19 April

Thursday 24 May

Thursday 21 June

Thursday 26 July

Thursday 23 August

Thursday 20 September

Thursday 18 October

Thursday 22 November

The Rite of Baptism is a beautiful ritual, rich in word, gesture and symbol. In it we celebrate the action of Christ in and through the Church.  Christ welcomes this child as a member of his own Body. The community of St. Bede’s echoes that welcome as we undertake to walk with the child on the journey of faith: a life-long walk on our journey to the Father.  Baptisms at St. Bede’s are celebrated on the dates listed overleaf, at 12 noon after the 11am Mass. Provision for Baptism within Sunday Mass may also be arranged with the Parish Priest.

2012 Baptism Dates

Sunday 8 January (or by arrangement with the Parish Office)
Sunday 5 February
Sunday 4 March
Sunday 18 March
Sunday 8 April
only during Easter Sunday Masses
Sunday 22 April
Sunday 6 May
Sunday 20 May
Sunday 10 June
Sunday 24 June
Sunday 8 July
Sunday 22 July
Sunday 5 August
Sunday 9 September
Sunday 16 September
Sunday 14 October
Sunday 28 October
Sunday 4 November
Sunday18 November
Sunday 2 December (Preparation & Welcome together with Nov. group)

The next meeting for 2012 is on Thursday May 3, 10 -12noon in the foyer of the Hall..

The Catholic Church invites those who are searching to explore the answers to these questions.. Here at St. Bede’s the faith community offers a process where anyone can enter into a process where they, along with others, search for God in a new and meaningful way.

Consider joining the RCIA

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the entry point for many into our faith community and has its beginning in the early Church. People  entered into a type of apprenticeship for one to two years. It is our goal, that much like those early apprentices, the RCIA will help us grow as a community and be transformed by the person of Jesus Christ.

Why the RCIA?

There are many reasons that people enter the RCIA. It makes no difference whether you have been raised in another denomination, have no church affiliation or you simply have been away from the Catholic faith for a long time and would like to come back to complete the Sacraments of Initiation.

Whatever the case, you are welcome here. As we build community through our RCIA sessions, it becomes clear that we all have our times of doubts, fear and frustration. Many have even lived apart from God’s plan, but certainly not apart from God’s mercy. The RCIA is a time to come together and look at our lives in light of the Gospel and embrace a fuller relationship with Jesus Christ.

Stages of the RCIA

Period of Inquiry or Precatechumenate.

The initial phase of the faith journey.An opportunity to become acquainted with life in a Catholic community, to learn about the Catholic Church and ask questions.

Period of the Catechumenate

A longer period of formation. During this stage people are nurtured in growth of faith and conversion to God through scripture readings, prayers and continued understanding of the Catholic faith.

Period of Purification and Enlightenment

Normally associated with Lent. It is a time of retreat, a more intense spiritual preparation for Christian initiation at the Easter Vigil.

Period of Mystagogy

The ongoing living out of our Catholic faith. A time for reflection on the  Easter experience and preparation for participation in the life and mission of the community.

What if I’m unsure if I want to become a Catholic?

That’s fine. RCIA is only the beginning. At first you will be invited to attend a period of enquiry sessions. You decide if you are interested in going further. We will  pray for you, we will try to answer your questions. If you wish to ‘Walk the Path’, we will walk with you. But we will not at any time try to force you, or annoy you. If you stop coming we may contact you once to ask if we can help, or if you can give us advice on how we can improve. Apart from that we will always respect your privacy and decision.

When and where.

St. Bede’s RCIA process typically starts in August through to EaEaster with breaks for holidays. Enquiry meetings typically go for 1.5 hours once a week at a time agreed by participants. If the time is not suitable for a person, alternative arrangments for a one on one ‘catch-up’ session

The Rite of Presentation is an integral part of the Parish’s welcome and hospitality. It will take place during the 9.30am Mass on the dates listed below.  At this Mass families with children to be baptised in the following month will come forward when their child’s name is read. The priest will make the sign of the cross on the child’s

forehead and the child will be prayed for during the prayers of intercession.

Light refreshments will be served after the Mass and you will have an opportunity to meet other parishioners.

Baptismal Welcome and Preparation Evening Dates  2012

Thursday 19 January

Thursday 23 February

Thursday 22 March

Thursday 19 April

Thursday 24 May

Thursday 21 June

Thursday 26 July

Thursday 23 August

Thursday 20 September

Thursday 18 October

Thursday 22 November

Facilitated by Mark Clarke, Director of the Melbourne Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace, the discussion will provide us with information about the Principles of Catholic Justice Teaching with the ultimate goal of converting teaching into action.

A light supper will follow.