Kennington Catholic Parish
Groups & Organisations
Click on a group listed below for more details. Press your "back" button to return to the this index.
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This small group comes together when necessary for 6-8 weeks, to help people who are ‘cradle Catholics' but who seek to know and study a little more about the faith and their specific part in it. (Contact Angela Stark)
Represent boys and girls from the parish, who serve at all Mass centres in the parish. This ministry involves assisting the Priest and people to celebrate Mass on Sundays and weekdays. Once a year, all altar servers come together for a celebratory Mass and picnic. (Contact Wally White at the pastoral centre 5443 3052)
Candles are made by Liz Barker, a young mum from our parish. Liz does this in her own home, which becomes a temporary candle factory. As well as baptismal candles, Liz makes altar candles for St Therese’s, St Joseph’s Axe Creek and St Mary’s Axedale. We are very indebted to Liz for this contribution to the important Sacrament of Baptism for our children and adults.
Margaret Peters and Diane Heagney, two grandmothers from our parish sew our baptismal stoles, which are washable. This is important because when the child goes on to receive the sacraments of Confirmation, Eucharist and Reconciliation, the symbols for these sacraments are added to the stole. So much handling over a period of years tends to soil such a beautiful garment. These stoles become part of the kit families receive when they book for Baptism. A candle and a GodStart brochure are also included in the kit.
This group recognizes the grief being suffered by families on the death of a loved one by sending a condolence card at the time of death. There is an annual remembrance Mass, usually held in November, which allows the bereaved to come together to pray for and acknowledge their deceased loved ones. (Contact the pastoral centre).
Opportunity exists in every section of the parish to be part of these groups. Some groups favour the Marin’s Method. There are some great Australian scripture scholars who have produced wonderful commentaries. The Kennington Bible Study group, which meets on Monday mornings at MacKillop House is currently using John Reilly’s book. John is an Australian Jesuit (SJ) The Bible studies group also take part in Lenten and Advent studies. (Angela Stark is the contact person).
Proceeds from Wednesday afternoon Bingo are divided between two neighbouring parishes (St Joseph’s and St Therese’s). The venue is Bendigo Community Bingo Hall, 171 McCrae Street. Volunteers are always welcome to assist the team. (Contact Wally White).
Musicians and singers are always welcome to join those who already engage in this important activity of the Sunday liturgy.
Church Banners and Environment
Our parish Mass centres are enhanced by the creativity of the banner group. Sacramental celebrations, Advent, Lent and other special times of the year give rise to the expression of this group. If you have a talent in this area, contact the pastoral centre.
Several times each year we come together with our Anglican, Uniting and Lutheran neighbours on a rotating basis in each other's churches. Occasionally we have scripture-based study together and we also host the World Day of Prayer on a roster basis.
Training for this ministry is undertaken on a Bendigo-wide basis. Commissioning takes place each year at St Therese’s church on the feast of Corpus Christi, after which parishioners exercise this ministry both in parish churches and in the taking and distribution of Holy Communion to the housebound every Friday.
Carmel Harrison, who gathers a team of volunteers around her when necessary, coordinates this important parish ministry. If you would like to add your name to those who assist by serving food at a funeral or cooking for a funeral, contact Carmel through the pastoral centre.
This group of men and women cares for the surrounds of the presbytery and keep it looking most presentable. If you would like to join the roster, contact Maurice Keating.
Through GodStart, the parish seeks to recognize the Baptism of pre-school children and sees GodStart as a positive way of assisting families in the faith development of their children. Follow-up from Baptism through the pre-school years is a wonderful way of reaching out to young families, which is done through specific birthdays. Special GodStart Masses are celebrated in St Therese's church three times a year - at the beginning of the school year, mid year and close to the feast of Christ the King.
This group takes care of all matters pertaining to the maintenance and running of the parish hall. A caretaker is employed to clean and coordinate the hiring of the hall to parish and outside groups.
This invaluable group takes care of the collating, folding and stapling of parish communications which are distributed regularly. New members are always welcome. On the job training!
These groups are of immense assistance to our priests when planning Advent, Lenten and other special celebrations. Ideas are gathered from the musicians and banner personnel in concert with other parishioners who ensure that our liturgy is alive, interesting and appealing to all ages. The central group meets monthly in the pastoral centre.
The Mustard Seed is a parish newsletter, hand delivered to every known parishioner twice a year. It draws from every corner of the parish for its content and its message reaches far and wide. It is considered one of our major sources of evangelisation. Contact the pastoral centre if you would like an article included. The Editor is Sarah Cody.
This group meets monthly to oversee the parish budget, accounts and fundraising in liaison with the parish priest. A feature of this group is its quarterly reporting to the parish. This is the umbrella committee for planned giving, recorders, counters and parish census. Contact person is Warren Sinnott.
The pastoral council meets monthly and is made up of parishioners from Axe Creek, Axedale, Strathfieldsaye and St Therese's together with ex officio parish staff members. A parish vision-and mission-statement has been formulated and, as the name suggests, this group is pastoral, not administrative. Contact person is Michael Black. Interested parishioners are invited to contact the parish priest regarding admission to this council. The council comprises Michael Black (chairperson), Joe van Dillen (assistant chairperson),Mike Hanrahan (secretary), Maria McClellan, Bill Edwards, Em Lelean, Rondah Dam.
Ex officio: Fr Joe, Fr Peter-John, Anne Hubbard, Angela Stark, Tim Moloney, Matthew Mann.
Our parish comprises about 1800 families in an area extending from eastern Bendigo to Axedale between Wellsford Forest in the north and Myrtle Creek in the south.
The parish has been divided up into 29 sub-zones, each of which belongs to one of 6 larger zones. Zones 1-3 (Kennington, Flora Hill and Strathdale) and Zones 4-6 (Junortoun, Axedale and Strathfieldsaye).
The sub-zones ideally each have a zone leader who oversees a team of helpers who, twice a year, distribute the parish publication (The Mustard Seed) and quarterly financial reports as required. It is also desirable that newcomers to a Zone are welcomed and introduced to someone who lives nearby.
We are always looking for more helpers. We need Zone leaders, delivery people, visitors and community-builders, and any ideas for the health of our parish community are always welcome.
Anne Hubbard is our Zone Co-ordinator, and works in the Pastoral Centre on Thursdays.These were formed after a very successful parish mission conducted by the Passionist Family Fathers some years ago. The wide spread of ages in each group means that everyone feels part of an extended parish family. Peter and Margaret Harrison are the coordinators. Contact them via the pastoral centre.
Kaye Ruff coordinates and runs this very much sought after facility. The main stall is situated in St Therese’s church and is manned by people on a roster basis. At times of sacramental celebrations in the country sections of the parish, Kaye ensures that a selection of suitable gifts is available. If you would like to volunteer to be part of this roster, contact Kaye.
Planned giving is the proven way this parish maintains its finances. Every parishioner is encouraged to pledge an amount weekly, monthly, annually or some other way which is more suitable. Contact person is Denis Heagney
Rite of Christian Initiation (of Adults and Children)
A team of parishioners assists people who express an interest in either joining the Catholic church or wanting to understand a little more about the Catholic faith. Both adults and children are accompanied by sponsors and work in a group situation – adults with the parish team and children with their parents and parish leaders. (Contact Angela Stark)
Sacristans are a group of men and women from our parish who work on a roster basis to ensure that everything is set in place for the weekend Masses and when there is a funeral in St Therese's church. Their work ensures that our liturgy runs smoothly with all of the ministry roles filled.
Do you enjoy a game of cards? In the parish hall on the first Tuesday of every month, hands are dealt at 7.30pm and a delicious supper is served at the conclusion of the evening. Scholarships are offered to parish schools from the proceeds of this non-profit group. The social group also organises bus trips to places of interest. Sometimes they are day trips, and other times involve an over-night stay or two. Coordinator is Monica Fitzgerald.
A Conference meets regularly in the parish, collects clothing and non-perishable goods, and assists in the running of the store in Chapel Street. A Conference member usually speaks to both school communities around the time of Poor Man’s Mass each year. President - Mr John Spark ( On leave ) Acting President - Mr Tony Ryan (54430752). Secretaty/Treasurer - Mrs Pat McCarthy (54438540).
Spiritual direction is offered at Daybreak, an ecumenical Christian Centre of Spirituality situated in Spring Gully. There are currently six spiritual directors at Daybreak. Contact Daybreak on 5441 1814. If the phone is unattended, please leave a message. Website is http://www.daybreak.net.au
This group seeks to help people who are grieving because of death, separation or divorce. Small groups of 5-7 people will gather with a trained facilitator who will assist them to work through the program which usually takes 5 weeks to complete. These groups often include parents at both parish school.
Their catch-phrase is 'no meetings, no fees'. The munchers are parishioners getting together each Sunday to chat, over lunch, in one of the many Bendigo eateries. The venue is advertised on the Sunday bulletin and parishioners are welcome. A table has been booked in the name of 'St Therese's' and there is a contact person for those who wish transport or other information.
Teams – a Movement for Married Couples
Many parishioners join this group, which is international. Annie and Laurence Mona are the Bendigo contact couple.
Both our parish primary schools, St Therese's & St Francis's, have various clubs and groups. Please visit their respective websites by clicking on the school name.
Last updated: November, 2009
