Father Paul Helsham OFM Cap
Father Boniface Kujur OFM Cap
Deacon Robert Mitchell
CHAPTER V.
THE PASTORAL COUNCIL
Can. 511 In every diocese and to the extent that pastoral circumstances suggest it, a pastoral council is to be constituted which under the authority of the bishop investigates, considers, and proposes practical conclusions about those things which pertain to pastoral works in the diocese.
Can. 512 §1. A pastoral council consists of members of the Christian faithful who are in full communion with the Catholic Church—clerics, members of institutes of consecrated life, and especially laity—who are designated in a manner determined by the diocesan bishop.
§2. The Christian faithful who are designated to a pastoral council are to be selected in such a way that they truly reflect the entire portion of the people of God which constitutes the diocese, with consideration given to the different areas of the diocese, social conditions and professions, and the role which they have in the apostolate whether individually or joined with others.
§3. No one except members of the Christian faithful outstanding in firm faith, good morals, and prudence is to be designated to a pastoral council.
Can. 513 §1. A pastoral council is constituted for a period of time according to the prescripts of the statutes which are issued by the bishop.
§2. When the see is vacant, a pastoral council ceases.
Can. 514 §1. A pastoral council possesses only a consultative vote. It belongs to the diocesan bishop alone to convoke it according to the needs of the apostolate and to preside over it; it also belongs to him alone to make public what has been done in the council.
§2. The pastoral council is to be convoked at least once a year.
- Father Paul Helsham OFM Cap
- Father Boniface Kujur OFM Cap
- Deacon Robert Mitchell
- Chairperson: Lyn Smith
- Secretary: Malia Tonga and Ana Tonga
- Liturgy Committee: Olinda Domingo
- Finance and Property: Father Paul Helsham and Deacon Robert Mitchell
- Formation: Lyn Smith
- Care and Services: Venicio Dourado and Giselle Mascarenhas
- Youth: Christian Malaitai
- Social Justice: Leronio Baleinakorodawa
- Cultural: Sita Emani
The Liturgy Committee meets regularly to prepare liturgies for all special liturgical celebrations, and to ensure regular liturgies are of a high standard. Special consideration is given to the involvement of young people, and to ensuring that the liturgy is meaningful to all.
The celebration of Pentecost is a particular example. Parishioners, having a national costume, wear it on this day, and Mass includes the readings and prayers being read in different languages, representative of the diversity of cultures domicile in the parish. Over the four masses, some twenty-six languages can be represented. The committee would welcome anyone who is interested in working with them on parish liturgies.
Music
The music group is a group of parishioners who love to sing, that gets together fortnightly, to share their love of music in learning & practicing contemporary and traditional hymns. Practice is once a fortnight on Monday evenings 7.00 pm. to 8.30 pm. Some times weekly, specially before major events.
Ministers of the Word and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
Lay participation in the various ministries of the church, particularly those relating to Sunday worship is important in the church of today. A high level of lay involvement can be a source of strength to the whole of the parish community. Anyone who is interested and prepared to make a commitment to any of these two ministries, or would like to have more information, should get in touch with the parish secretary who will direct you to the respective convener. On going training seminars are held for those in these two ministries. Rosters are made out for our four weekend Masses.
Can. 230 §1.n Lay persons who possess the age and qualifications established by decree of the conference of bishops can be admitted on a stable basis through the prescribed liturgical rite to the ministries of lector and acolyte.
Nevertheless, the conferral of these ministries does not grant them the right to obtain support or remuneration from the Church.
§2. Lay persons can fulfill the function of lector in liturgical actions by temporary designation. All lay persons can also perform the functions of commentator or cantor, or other functions, according to the norm of law.
§3. When the need of the Church warrants it and ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply certain of their duties, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside over liturgical prayers, to confer baptism, and to distribute Holy Communion, according to the prescripts of the law.
Can. 910 §1. The ordinary minister of holy communion is a bishop, presbyter, or deacon.
§2. The extraordinary minister of holy communion is an acolyte or another member of the Christian faithful designated according to the norm of can. 230, §3.
Altar Servers
An altar server is a lay assistant to the priest during the Mass. To serve at the altar of the Lord is a privilege, and a wonderful way to develop a love and closer understanding of the Holy Mass. While traditionally altar servers have carried out a number of complicated duties, and been required to recite Latin responsories, nowadays the duties are more straight forward, and include carrying of the processional cross, lighting and extinguishing candles, ringing of bells, setting of the altar, receiving the offertory gifts and assisting with the water and wine. Traditionally the Sanctuary was a strictly male domain, but now is open to both male and female – here at Our Lady of Lourdes, almost half of our active servers are girls. Serving is a unique ministry in that young children are able to serve – the only requirements being that prospective servers have made their First Holy Communion [and that they are able to sit quietly, attentively and piously for 60 minutes!].
We are always keen to have new servers join our group, If you wish to take part in this special ministry please contact Deacon Robert.
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- “The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation, under ecclesiastical guidance, in Mary’s and the Church’s work of crushing the head of the serpent and advancing the reign of Christ.”
(Chapter 2: Object, Legion Handbook)
CHAPTER V.
THE APOSTOLATE OF INSTITUTES
Can. 673 The apostolate of all religious consists first of all in the witness of their consecrated life, which they are bound to foster by prayer and penance.
Can. 674 Institutes which are entirely ordered to contemplation always hold a distinguished place in the mystical Body of Christ: for they offer an extraordinary sacrifice of praise to God, illumine the people of God with the richest fruits of holiness, move it by their example, and extend it with hidden apostolic fruitfulness. For this reason, members of these institutes cannot be summoned to furnish assistance in the various pastoral ministries however much the need of the active apostolate urges it.
Can. 675 §1. Apostolic action belongs to the very nature of institutes dedicated to works of the apostolate.
Accordingly, the whole life of the members is to be imbued with an apostolic spirit; indeed the whole apostolic action is to be informed by a religious spirit.
§2. Apostolic action is to proceed always from an intimate union with God and is to confirm and foster this union.
§3. Apostolic action, to be exercised in the name and by the mandate of the Church, is to be carried out in the communion of the Church.
Can. 676 Lay institutes, whether of men or of women, participate in the pastoral function of the Church through spiritual and corporal works of mercy and offer the most diverse services to people. Therefore, they are to persevere faithfully in the grace of their vocation.
Can. 677 §1. Superiors and members are to retain faithfully the mission and works proper to the institute.
Nevertheless, attentive to the necessities of times and places, they are to accommodate them prudently, even employing new and opportune means.
§2. Moreover, if they have associations of the Christian faithful joined to them, institutes are to assist them with special care so that they are imbued with the genuine spirit of their family.
Can. 678 §1. Religious are subject to the power of bishops whom they are bound to follow with devoted submission and reverence in those matters which regard the care of souls, the public exercise of divine worship, and other works of the apostolate.
§2. In exercising an external apostolate, religious are also subject to their proper superiors and must remain faithful to the discipline of the institute. The bishops themselves are not to fail to urge this obligation if the case warrants it.
§3. In organizing the works of the apostolate of religious, diocesan bishops and religious superiors must proceed through mutual consultation.
Can. 679 When a most grave cause demands it, a diocesan bishop can prohibit a member of a religious institute from residing in the diocese if his or her major superior, after having been informed, has neglected to make provision; moreover, the matter is to be referred immediately to the Holy See.
Can. 680 Among the various institutes and also between them and the secular clergy, there is to be fostered an ordered cooperation and a coordination under the direction of the diocesan bishop of all the works and apostolic activities, without prejudice to the character and purpose of individual institutes and the laws of the foundation.
Can. 681 §1. Works which a diocesan bishop entrusts to religious are subject to the authority and direction of the same bishop, without prejudice to the right of religious superiors according to the norm of can. 678, §§2 and 3.
§2. In these cases, the diocesan bishop and the competent superior of the institute are to draw up a written agreement which, among other things, is to define expressly and accurately those things which pertain to the work to be accomplished, the members to be devoted to it, and economic matters.
Can. 682 §1. If it concerns conferring an ecclesiastical office in a diocese upon some religious, the diocesan bishop appoints the religious, with the competent superior making the presentation, or at least assenting to the appointment.
§2. A religious can be removed from the of-Fie entrusted to him or her at the discretion either of the entrusting authority after having informed the religious superior or of the superior after having informed the one entrusting; neither requires the consent of the other.
Can. 683 §1. At the time of pastoral visitation and also in the case of necessity, the diocesan bishop, either personally or through another, can visit churches and oratories which the Christian faithful habitually attend, schools, and other works of religion or charity, whether spiritual or temporal, entrusted to religious, but not schools which are open exclusively to the institute’s own students.
§2. If by chance he has discovered abuses and the religious superior has been warned in vain, he himself can make provision on his own authority.