Not Carrying an Umbrella
Dear Parishioners,
In the three days leading up to the Annual Feast BBQ and Family Day last weekend some of our team of volunteers were really worried about the weather forecast and the RAIN. I said to them it will be ok and that I will NOT be carrying an umbrella all day Saturday.
They asked me why. I said it will be a sign of our faith and trust in the One who calmed the storm and the winds for the apostles in the boat that through the prayers of His Blessed Mother He will keep the rain away from our Parish Events.
And that is exactly what happened and the team of volunteers continued to work in faith and trust despite the rain on Friday and showers during the day on Saturday. The Saturday BBQ and Festival Night went ahead even though there was occasional drizzle and the Family Fun Day had bright Sunshine. We thank the Lord that all went of so well and we had such a good turn up considering the threatening weather. The drizzle was, I think, God just having a little fun with me wetting me lightly.
And with all the Priests and I hope all of you I thank the Lord for hard work, long hours and sacrifice of our teams of PARISHIONERS who volunteer towards Feast Week and our parish mission all year round. With the help of one of the co-ordinators we worked between all the Committees, Choirs, and Prayer Groups and Volunteers, we had 480 parishioners involved in arranging and setting up and leading through the 15 Faith Events and Masses and 9 Community and Fundraising Events. They range from a young 12 year old helping the men on the BBQ to those Senior Ladies and Men some well into their 70 s who set up and stood and baked and cooked and cleaned all day.
And don’t let that number think your involvement is not needed. We pray that like in the Early Church “that the Lord will add to our numbers those who are being saved.” (Acts 2:47).
Our Parish Treasurer is still putting all the figures together from the Events and we should be able to announce next week what the Fundraising events raised for the new Presbytery and the running costs and loans of the Parish.
So with the Gospel be the good soil to let the Word of God planted in you to produce fruit for our Community, your Family and to the Fringes of our Society.
To help the Seed Grow we as workers with Christ in his field should reflect on God’s Word in Sacred Scripture every day. Our Parish Gift Shop has affordable Catholic Bibles (black leather cover) at only $30. These are the ones we are using in our Bible Talks at present. If you don’t have your own Bible yet I really encourage you to have one to help your personal relationship with our Lord to develop more deeply and to bring along to Bible Talks..
Finally, we pray for all the MCHF Year 3 Students who will make their First Holy Communion this Sunday at 2:30pm Mass celebrated by Bishop Antoine Tarabay, with their Families and the Sisters and Teachers with the College Chaplains who have guided them in their preparation.
I will not carry an Umbrella on Sunday trusting the Lord to bless the families with good weather for this wonderful Celebration.
