title 2023

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CWD

We are a group of passionate, fun-loving people at the University of Wollongong who seek answers to life’s big questions;

how are we here?
Is there more to life?
How can I live my best life?
Why God?

We believe we have found answers in the spiritual, intellectual and liturgical tradition of Catholic Christianity. We hope to demonstrate to the UOW community the love of a God who wants to know us so much that He became human, and strengthen ourselves to live His ethical and moral teachings so that we might live life to the fullest.

Whether you are Catholic or not, we welcome everyone, especially those who are simply curious. Come and meet us – you won’t regret it!

[FIND OUT MORE]

STWW

St Therese & Immaculate Conception (STIC) Young Adults.
A group for young adults eager to grow in community, faith, fellowship, and service.
Anyone aged 18-35 years welcome!

[FIND OUT MORE]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Sometimes we feel that our hands are empty and so we have little or nothing to give. But at the heart of our faith is a deep conviction that God is present and has given each of us gifts which bring us great joy when we share them. These gifts become riches of life when we place them at the service of our community to build up our life together as the Body of Christ.

We have these riches because Christ is present within us by his loving grace, a love and a grace that seeks to be shared as a joy for the whole people. In his letter to the Colossians, St Paul writes of the glorious mystery of Christ present within us:

“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

As a parish community, I invite you to join me in prayerful reflection on this beautiful passage from St Paul and focus on the riches of Christ that are in you and in our parish community. To discover these riches will give us hope in the love of Christ and confidence that we have much to offer for the growth of our parish life.

As a fruit of this reflection we can ask: how can our riches be shared so that our parish communities of St Francis Xavier, St Brigid, St John Viannney, and Mater Dolorosa can grow together in faith, hope, and love? Further questions that may help our reflection are: What gifts do you have? How can you help others see their gifts? How can we support each other in making these gifts shine for our families, friends, and those we meet in our everyday life?

To bring together the fruits of our parish reflection, please join the clergy and parish staff in formulating our Parish Pastoral Plan. The aim of the Pastoral Plan is to develop our goals over the next five years to develop our:

  • Community Life
  • Worship as a community of faith and service
  • Mission in bearing witness to Christ’s truth and love
  • Parish Support through our Parish Staff
  • Stewardship of our facilities and properties

The Pastoral Plan will set our major pastoral, mission, and financial goals for the next five years and be an instrument for reviewing our progress in achieving these goals. The first three steps in formulating the Pastoral Plan will occur on the following dates:

  • On 19 February 2023 (7th Sunday in Ordinary Time) and 26 February 2023 (First Sunday of Lent), the Sunday homily will reflect on the theme “the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you”, to help everyone reflect on our gifts and how they can contribute to our parish.
  • On 5 March 2023 (Second Sunday of Lent) we will distribute a survey asking for your suggestions about how we can develop the five key areas of parish life. The survey will be presented by a member of the Pastoral or Finance Councils to each of our four local communities.
  • After this Lenten period of reflection, the Pastoral and Finance Councils will consult with Bishop Mascord to finalise and publish the Pastoral Plan on 10 December 2023 (Second Sunday of Advent).

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our Lumen Christi Parish. Through preparing our Pastoral Plan, may we see the riches God has given us to build our life together in Christ and so reveal his light to the world.

Yours in the Lord Jesus,

Fr Bernard Gordon

pdf [DOWNLOAD PDF LETTER] (907 KB)

The Pastoral Plan will set our major pastoral and financial goals for the next five years and be an instrument for reviewing our progress in achieving these goals. The first three steps in formulating the Pastoral Plan will occur on the following dates:

  • On 19 February 2023 (7th Sunday in Ordinary Time) and 26 February 2023 (First Sunday of Lent), the Sunday homily will reflect on the theme “the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you”, to help everyone reflect on our gifts and how they can contribute to our parish.
  • On 5 March 2023 (Second Sunday of Lent) we will distribute a survey asking for your suggestions about how we can develop the key areas of parish life. The survey will be presented by a member of the Pastoral or Finance Councils to each of our four local communities.
  • After this Lenten period of reflection, the Pastoral and Finance Councils will consult with Bishop Mascord to finalise and publish the Pastoral Plan on 10 December 2023 (Second Sunday of Advent).

“To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

“Christ in You”

This is a powerful affirmation by St Paul of the reality of Christ’s presence in the lives of Christians. Christ is present in all things: 

  • as Creator, holding all things together 
  • as he is united with his Body, the Church 
  • as the one in whom God’s fullness dwells, reconciling all things to himself by his self-giving love on the Cross (1.15-20)

This creating, upholding, uniting, and reconciling presence of Christ is the source of the gifts we share as a parish community. Christ’s presence is the source of our life together in faith, worship, service, and mission.

Christ’s Open Arms
At the centre of the logo is Christ and the rays of light radiate from him to the world. Christ faces us with open arms in a gesture of generous welcome for our parish community and for all people. In welcoming us, Christ teaches us to welcome all the people who may walk into our lives, be present in our churches for special occasions, or meet us in our family home or workplace. The wounds in Christ’s hands remind us to imitate Jesus in his self-sacrificing love that others may live.

The idea for using this image of Jesus in the logo came from the beautiful statue high at the front of the Lumen Christi Office, next to Wollongong Cathedral. The statue represents Jesus with a strong and loving face and with a gracious gesture of open arms. For our Lumen Christi Staff, this statue represents how all parishioners and visitors need to be received with kindness and attention. We are committed to making our parish and our parish office a place of hospitality that gathers people together and assists them in their time of need.

Lumen Christi

Underneath the logo is the title of our parish, Lumen Christi, the Light of Christ. The words “The Light of Christ” are sung at the Easter Vigil as the Paschal Candle is held high before the people after it is lit from the newly blessed Easter Fire. Christ’s Light is himself as the Truth and the Life (John 8:12; 14:6). It is Christ as the Resurrected Lord who conquers sin and death through his self-sacrificial love for us (John 12:32-36). He is the Light who lifts our hearts in the hope of forgiveness and eternal life (John 11:25-26). Christ calls us to share in his Light and to be the light of the world by doing good works that move the hearts of people to praise our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-15).

Parish Pastoral Plan

Our Pastoral Plan focuses on the presence of Christ who enriches us with gifts to share for building up our parish community as the Body of Christ. After a time of reflection on the theme “Christ in You” that gave us a more lively awareness of the gifts we have and can share, we set ourselves goals relevant to five main areas of parish life:

  • Community Life
  • Worship as a community of faith and service
  • Mission in bearing witness to Christ’s truth and love
  • Parish Support through our Parish Staff
  • Stewardship of our facilities and properties
Wednesday, 07 December 2022 16:09

Church and Meeting Room Bookings

Written by

Church and Meeting Room Bookings

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Meeting Rooms Policy

{slider title = "Monsignor John Rigney Meeting Room, Harbour Street, Wollongong"}

What groups may use the meeting room?
The meeting room may be used by groups directly associated with the Lumen Christi Parish, Wollongong.

Is there a charge for the use of the meeting room?
A fee is charged for groups not associated with the Lumen Christi Parish. This will be discussed at the time of booking.

What is the capacity of the meeting room?
Groups of maximum 25-30 persons may use the room at any one time.

Is there a code of conduct for the meeting room?
Yes! All behaviour and noise level is that expected at a church facility. Note that the meeting room is next to the cathedral and attached to the Cathedral House and Lumen Christi Office. No drugs or alcohol is to be used in the meeting room. The Lumen Christi Parish abide by the protocols of the Professional Standards (2011).

What facilities does the meeting room have?
The meeting room has air conditioning. There is a small kitchenette with a small refrigerator and microwave oven. There are tea/coffee making facilities. There are sufficient crockery and cutlery items for thirty persons, as well as table and chairs. There is a PowerPoint facility.

Am I able to store my group’s resources in the meeting room?
Due to the limited space, there is no storage space in the meeting room. Parishioners and groups are responsible for bringing and removing the materials they bring to meetings.

Where is the entrance to the Monsignor Rigney Room?
The entrance is from the southern veranda side the Cathedral House via the disability access. There is no access from any internal doors.

How do I book the Monsignor John Rigney Meeting Room?
You can book by phoning 4211 0500, email wollongong@dow.org.au or come in person to the Parish Office, which is open from Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm or fill in the online request form.

Can I inspect the venue in advance to make sure it's suitable for my event?
Yes! However, you will need to make an appointment with the parish office first; we need to make sure the room is available for inspection.

What hours is the Monsignor John Rigney Meeting Room available?
The meeting room is available for use seven days a week, between 9.00am and 3.00pm. For other times arrangements need to be made with the office staff. As the meeting room is next to the Cathedral and attached to the Presbytery (Cathedral House) and the Lumen Christi Office, all noise is to be kept to a reasonable level.

How do I change or cancel my booking?
Contact the parish office as soon as possible, either by phone or email.

What happens once I've made a booking?
An appointment will need to be made to induct you safely onto the site before your booking.
You'll be given access codes at this time.

Am I allowed to go in early or stay later?
Please make sure your booking includes enough time to set up and clear up for your meeting/event. The meeting room must be left in the same condition as you found them - clean and ready for the meeting or event. Any damage was be reported to the office staff immediately. Or, if you find damage when coming to use the room, report this immediately.

Can I make a regular booking?
Yes, many groups can use our meeting room on a regular basis. However, you will only have a 6 monthly block at a time to allow other parishioners, groups or agencies to use the room.

Do I have to set up the room myself?
Yes. Make sure you have booked enough time to set up the room and, enough time to clear up at the end of your meeting. Cleaning costs will be charged if the room has been left in an unsatisfactory manner. Report all damage immediately. Always be aware that other parishioners and groups also use this room.

Can I decorate the venue for my function?
Yes, you can decorate the meeting room to enhance your function. However, there are some restrictions: You cannot affix anything to walls, nor use helium balloons, smoke machines or open flames. Speak to our office staff if you need more information on what is permissible in the meeting room. Always be aware that other parishioners and groups also use this room.

Can I engage contractors to provide services during my function; for example catering, entertainment and security?
It is important to notify the parish office of any contractors you wish to bring onsite. There are conditions that apply, including providing copies of relevant insurances and risk assessments for the work to be undertaken.

Are there car parking facilities available at this venue?
Car parking facilities are available onsite. Check with the parish office for more details: precise location on the site, whether the Cathedral is booked, whether the Xavier Centre is booked.

Does the venue have disability access?
Yes. Please contact the parish office to discuss your specific needs. The main access is at the side (southern) entrance accessed from the carpark between the Cathedral and the Cathedral House.

Am I required to clean up after my booking?
Yes. The meeting room facilities run on a 'self-service' system. This means you must leave the venue the way you found it ready for the next person to use. All rubbish must be removed from inside the meeting room and placed in the bins located on onsite before you leave. Always be mindful that other parishioners use this facility.

When do I obtain and return my access card?
The access card can be obtained at the time of booking with the office staff. Your card has your name and details on it. A time for you to return your access card will be discussed at the time of collection of the card. For afterhours bookings, access cards are to be returned the following business day. For bookings within business hours, you are required to return access cards immediately after you have locked your room. You must ensure that the meeting room is secured and locked before you leave (all doors and windows) a secured monitored alarm is automatically switched on 9.30pm each day.

Do I need to submit an Attendance Register?
Each group must fill in the Lumen Christi attendance register sheet these attendance sheets must be returned to the office at the end of each meeting.

{slider title = "Mater Dolorosa, Balmoral Rd, Balgownie"}

What groups may use the meeting room?
The meeting room may be used by groups directly associated with the Lumen Christi Parish, Wollongong.

Is there a charge for the use of the meeting room?
A fee is charged for groups not associated with the Lumen Christi Parish. This will be discussed at the time of booking.

What is the capacity of the meeting room?
Groups of maximum 35-50 persons may use the room at any one time.

Is there a code of conduct for the meeting room?
Yes! All behaviour and noise level is that expected at a church facility. Note that the meeting room is next to the Mater Dolorosa Church. No drugs or alcohol is to be used in the meeting room. The Lumen Christi Parish abide by the protocols of the Professional Standards (2011).

What facilities does the meeting room have?
The meeting room has air conditioning. There is a small kitchenette with a small refrigerator and microwave oven. There are tea/coffee making facilities. There are sufficient crockery and cutlery items for thirty persons, as well as table and chairs. There is a PowerPoint facility.

Am I able to store my group’s resources in the meeting room?
Due to the limited space, there is no storage space in the meeting room. Parishioners and groups are responsible for bringing and removing the materials they bring to meetings.

Where is the entrance to the Mater Dolorosa Meeting Room?
The entrance is from the veranda side the gate.

How do I book the Mater Dolorosa Meeting Room?
You can book by phoning 4211 0500, email wollongong@dow.org.au or come in person to the Parish Office, which is open from Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm or fill in the online request form.

Can I inspect the venue in advance to make sure it's suitable for my event?
Yes! However, you will need to make an appointment with the parish office first; we need to make sure the room is available for inspection.

What hours is the Mater Dolorosa Meeting Room available?
The meeting room is available for use seven days a week, between 9.00am and 3.00pm. For other times arrangements need to be made with the office staff.

How do I change or cancel my booking?
Contact the parish office as soon as possible, either by phone or email.

What happens once I've made a booking?
An appointment will need to be made to induct you safely onto the site before your booking.
You'll be given access codes at this time.

Am I allowed to go in early or stay later?
Please make sure your booking includes enough time to set up and clear up for your meeting/event. The meeting room must be left in the same condition as you found them - clean and ready for the meeting or event. Any damage was be reported to the office staff immediately. Or, if you find damage when coming to use the room, report this immediately.

Can I make a regular booking?
Yes, many groups can use our meeting room on a regular basis. However, you will only have a 6 monthly block at a time to allow other parishioners, groups or agencies to use the room.

Do I have to set up the room myself?
Yes. Make sure you have booked enough time to set up the room and, enough time to clear up at the end of your meeting. Cleaning costs will be charged if the room has been left in an unsatisfactory manner. Report all damage immediately. Always be aware that other parishioners and groups also use this room.

Can I decorate the venue for my function?
Yes, you can decorate the meeting room to enhance your function. However, there are some restrictions: You cannot affix anything to walls, nor use helium balloons, smoke machines or open flames. Speak to our office staff if you need more information on what is permissible in the meeting room. Always be aware that other parishioners and groups also use this room.

Can I engage contractors to provide services during my function; for example catering, entertainment and security?
It is important to notify the parish office of any contractors you wish to bring onsite. There are conditions that apply, including providing copies of relevant insurances and risk assessments for the work to be undertaken.

Are there car parking facilities available at this venue?
Car parking facilities are available onsite. Check with the parish office for more details: precise location on the site, whether the Church is booked.

Does the venue have disability access?
No. Please contact the parish office to discuss your specific needs.

Am I required to clean up after my booking?
Yes. The meeting room facilities run on a 'self-service' system. This means you must leave the venue the way you found it ready for the next person to use. All rubbish must be removed from inside the meeting room and placed in the bins located on onsite before you leave. Always be mindful that other parishioners use this facility.

When do I obtain and return my access card?
The access card can be obtained at the time of booking with the office staff. Your card has your name and details on it. A time for you to return your access card will be discussed at the time of collection of the card. For afterhours bookings, access cards are to be returned the following business day. For bookings within business hours, you are required to return access cards immediately after you have locked your room. You must ensure that the meeting room is secured and locked before you leave (all doors and windows) a secured monitored alarm is automatically switched on 9.30pm each day.

Do I need to submit an Attendance Register?
Each group must fill in the Lumen Christi attendance register sheet these attendance sheets must be returned to the office at the end of each meeting.

{/sliders}


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If you are booking multiple dates/times please list the details below.

Please note: Bookings can only be made 6months in advance. 

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You will receive a reply from the Lumen Christi Parish within 5 working days if your booking has been approved. 

This submission is only a request. 

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