Parish ministry

Many Loreto Sisters work within local parishes, in varied roles from administrative duties through to organising retreats, providing counseling and support and helping families prepare for baptisms and marriages. Parish ministry generally means participating in the life of the parish and serving the needs of the people.

Marg Burchell ibvm tells us about her role…

At St Thomas the Apostle Parish in Blackburn I work in a team with the Parish Priest, Secretary and another Pastoral Associate. My work is focused around Pastoral Care and Liturgy but can include any need that arises!

Some of my activities include:

• co-ordinating all the rosters and all that's required for any liturgy
• attending all the Masses
• flower arranging

• co-ordinating all the Communions to the sick and housebound (we have 22 Special Ministers and about 100 people/week are visited)
• a Communion round of my own
• taking Communion to the sick at Epworth Eastern Hospital together with another parishioner once/month
• visiting parishioners in hospital and all new parishioners
• running the Godstart program for young children between Baptism and starting school member of the Liturgy Committee, Liturgy enhancement Team, The Apostle Editorial Committee and the RCIA Team
• attending parish council meetings
• attending funerals and provide support to families
• providing meals to families when needed and catering for funerals as a member of the 'parish care group'.

Helen Murphy ibvm and her energising role

Helen Murphy ibvm is employed by the diocese of Sandhurst to minister to the parishioners of St Mary’s  parish which encompasses the northern Victorian towns of Cohuna, Leitchville, Gunbower and Koondrook. There is no parish priest, so she is responsible for the overall organisation and management of all aspects of parish life and the building of community. The canonical administrator, who lives in a neighbouring parish, celebrates a weekend mass at St Mary's and is available for sacraments.

The parish runs like any other, with its network of about 15 committees and groups, all requiring Helen's attention, support, inspiration, energy and guidance. Helen is also on the St Mary’s Parish School Board. She visits the school regularly and offers support and friendship to students, parents and staff of the school.

Helen is responsible for an enormous range of tasks which she says keeps her energised and in touch with her community:

• organising liturgy for Sundays, Holy Week, Christmas, Anointing Masses and special feasts, training liturgical ministers and leaders, advising and supporting musicians and presiding at liturgy in the absence of a priest
• leading prayer services in church e.g. Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Lenten Stations of the Cross and leading a regular ecunemical service of worship in the local hostel and local nursing home
• presiding at baptisms, funeral liturgies and graveside services
• organsing the pastoral care program within the parish: Communion to the sick and elderly, home visits, care of the bereaved and the needy, visiting Cohuna hospital weekly and caring for bereaved, praying with the sick and dying
• keeping track of the elderly, marginalised and the poor in the parish and assisting as necessary
• assisting bereaved families with preparation of funerals
• offering parishioners opportunities for faith education and spiritual development
• dealing with day to day general administration of the parish: mail. phone calls, Sunday Bulletin, parish, deanery and diocesan business.

With her remarkable energy, endless compassion, quiet determination and listening ear, Helen is a vital and valuable presence around Cohuna.
 

Photo:

Marg Burchell ibvm
Helen Murphy ibvm

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