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A Letter from James Millar of the National Evangelisation Team (Australia). Kia Ora from across the ditch. Now is not the best time to be in Australia after the All Blacks losing to the Wallabies 20-25 but I am surviving! I have been based in Port Macquarie, NSW, three hours north of Sydney. The four others on my team, all Australian and myself, live in a huge old convent with our own chapel and Blessed Sacrament! What a blessing this has been to spend some time each day before Jesus in adoration. I am where Jessie from Te Puke was based last year. Only a couple of minutes from the beach, I have loved living here and ministering here and also being able to sneak in a few surfs during the week and weekends. Port Macquarie is a small beach town, and around the greater area there is a population of 75,000. We work with the schools here, four Catholic high schools and three Catholic primary schools. All these students keep us very busy, and as well as running R.E classes we run the youth group on Friday night and young adults discussion group on a Sunday night. This second year serving with NET in Australia has been very different from my year last year, my being able to water and watch the seeds we plant grow and see the youth in their journey here has been such a blessing and a joy. While I think my first year on NET was great formation and a lot of learning different ways to minister this year, God has really been moving in me and has taken me a lot deeper into myself. I have worked through a lot of things from my life, different struggles and joys, to really spend a lot of time in prayer and thought about who I am called to be as a man of God, and how much love he has for each one of us, and to continually open myself up to experiencing His love. This year has cemented everything I began to journey with last year and given me a good chance to continue to build myself on the solid rock on which we stand, Jesus. An incredibly different experience from last year, as I am based in one area and building up relationships with the community here, which has been such a joy. I have had the best of the NET journey, last year being able to travel Australia and this year to build up the faith within a community. As with many parishes and schools around, our mission has its challenges, trying to bring the faith alive and to stir them up in the Holy Spirit has been both a blessing and a struggle at times, but Jesus is on our side and we are able to see the fruit of the work we do! Page 14 December 2011
I am ready to come home but am not yet finished here; we have much work still to be done. It is amazing to see that we are making a difference here with this parish and have had a lot of good feedback from those in the parish. It is a true joy to see the youth taking even just a small step in some cases in their own faith journey. My journey with NET will end in November and I will be returning to the land of the long white cloud. To stay! Something has been stirring within me and after much prayer, discernment and discussion with Fr. Michael and other spiritual mentors, I have decided to further my discernment to the priesthood. I will be spending a year in Te Puke with Fr Michael in 2012 immersing myself into our community; parishes and school at home in Mt Maunganui / Te Puke. Please pray for all those discerning their vocation in life, whether it is to religious life, priesthood or marriage. Please be aware of my prayers for the work that you all do in prayer and action for the Church. I pray for you each day especially for the work Fr. Michael does and for the work that Rich and Kelly do for our youth. May Jesus work through you and bless you abundantly in all you do. Stay strong in the faith and pray for our Lady’s intercession. Ave Maria. AMDG. The letters AMDG stand for Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam, the literal translation of which is :”For The Greater Glory Of God”. May the Peace of our Lord be with you all. James Millar 22 Oct. 2011 Please support our advertisers and sponsors - they support us. If you would like to advertise your business please contact Peter Archer for details ph 574 0976 or email: p.archer@xtra.co.nz December 2011 Page 15
Page 1 and 2: Catholic coast&countryside Bay of P
Page 3 and 4: Catholic coast&countryside Bay of P
Page 5 and 6: Father’s Corner Today I celebrate
Page 7 and 8: Passionist Family Groups We note wi
Page 9 and 10: Now Caesar commanded a tax would be
Page 11 and 12: Helping Paremoremo Prisoners The re
Page 13: The Power of Prayer can Open Doors
Page 17 and 18: changing their wardrobe and/or buyi
Page 19 and 20: clearly and concisely which enables
Page 21 and 22: At the end of October 130 children
Page 23 and 24: Dear Parish Community, From St. Tho
Page 25 and 26: Master Chef Glen on the creation of
Page 27 and 28: Catholic Discipleship College Decem
Page 29 and 30: LEAVE YOUR LOVED ONES FOND MEMORIES
Page 31 and 32: Thankyou Moira ‘Housekeeper extra
Page 33 and 34: BAPTISM PREPARATION PROGRAM BAPTISM
Page 35 and 36: SUPPORT YOUR PARISH SUPPORT For eve

Mount Maunganui Parish, St Thomas More Catholic ...

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