17 April 2024 · 2024-04 newsletter
Beach Day
We began 2024 with a Beach Day for young women, mothers, and daughters on Saturday 17 February. We gathered at Cottesloe Beach early in the morning and were greeted with a delicious breakfast prepared by Laura & Emily at one of the shelters.
After prayer reflecting on Lent, and warming up games organised by Daria, all girls mounted their paddle boards and had a great time in the water while the mums enjoyed chatting ashore.
The next point on our program was Mass at St Patrick’s Basilica, Fremantle, where we were surprised to have a festive Mass in honour of the founder of the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate. All the fathers living in Perth were gathered at this Mass to renew their vows and celebrate their community feast day.
We were also blessed for the final part of our program: lunch at Leighton Beach BBQ area prepared by Daria, Adriana and families. A breeze brought relief from the heat and we had the BBQ area all to ourselves. In a final reflection each one received a shell with a small silver cross hidden in sand as a reminder that Jesus is the precious pearl of our lives which is often found hidden in what’s challenging for us and in the cross where we experience his love for each one of us the most.
Womens Faith Club
On the first Wednesdays of February, March and April, in the Resource Room at CYM (Catholic Youth Ministry), Highgate, as well as on the fourth Sunday at the Shrine, the Womens Faith Club met to discuss Fr. Kentenich’s talks and studies contained in the book Everyday Spirituality. It has been a blessing to see a number of young women inviting friends to join our reading sessions. After discussing the challenges of working and studying as Catholic women, we have now begun to read about the fundamental law of love as a basis for all our relationships.
Marian Lenten Retreat
During the Marian Lenten Retreat weekend on the Labour Day long weekend in early March, five ladies made the Covenant of Love with our Mother Thrice Admirable on Sunday 3 March at the 2pm Mass in the Shrine.
We met in two preparation groups – one at the Shrine, and one at St Columba Parish, South Perth for our weekly preparation sessions. As a group, we admired Mary’s humility as the vessel of the Holy Spirit, strengthening us with her love and trust, and interceding for us peace and joy. May she be able to use each of us as her instrument to build God’s kingdom wherever we are.
Mothers and Daughters
On Saturday 16 March we had our first parish session for mothers and daughters this year speaking about suffering, and imitating Mary’s virtues in the sorrowful moments of her life. For the first time, we were able to gather at All Saints Parish, Greenwood. We began the afternoon with ice breakers and afternoon tea, and then had separate mother and daughter sessions finishing with a prayer in the church.
Many thanks to Laura for facilitating the mothers’ session for the first time, and Emma for her assistance with the girls’ session. After a game about offering up small and large sufferings, and a discussion, the girls made a cross key ring using beads and wire. It is a wonderful blessing that we could welcome three new families to the event.
Holy Week Retreat
Finally, on Sunday 24 March the Holy Week retreat for women was held. After introducing each other and an opening prayer where we offered our intentions for the day in the symbol of wheat ears to God, we heard a thought-provoking talk from Sharne about suffering and its purpose in our lives based on Fr Kentenich’s thoughts on suffering as an essential element of the Christian life together with work and prayer.
It also became clear that it is love that enables us to endure suffering. We then prayed the outdoor stations of the cross on the hill behind the Shrine and had quiet reflection time.
At lunch we were gifted by one another with a wonderful assortment of dishes.
The discussion groups then revealed to us how it is important to always focus on God, and trust in the hope for eternal life lying before us, as well as the grace we already receive now.
Our final prayer in the Shrine with reflections on the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary showed us how Mary is both our example and guide on life’s journey focusing on the light even when it is dark. It was a great experience to begin Holy Week in this way and be enriched by one another’s experience of faith.
Filed underNewsletter · Youth