Welcome to St. Mary’s Catholic Parish. There is much taking place within our Communities and I am sure that you will find a variety of events through this website. If there are events that are of interest to you, please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Office. Our Parish welcomes you and hope we can journey together as we uncover the wonder of our God in our lives.
Our Parish
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Parish Policies & Forms
Saint Mary’s Coomera is a Catholic Church under the direction of the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Please click on the links below to review the policies
Policies
- Brisbane Archdiocese Privacy Policy
- Whistleblower Policy
- Safeguarding children and vulnerable Adults Policy
Forms
Please click on the links below to download Parish Forms
Alpha at St. Mary’s
Our first Alpha programme was run early in 2017 with 26 Parishioners joining 10 team members to deepen their faith and experience the Holy Spirit at work. Whilst Alpha is an evangelisation tool used primarily to “introduce people to Jesus”, it is also applicable to all those who wish to deepen their faith. St Mary’s hopes that all Parishioners, especially those who assist as Extra-ordinary Ministers, will undertake an Alpha programme.
What is Alpha?
- Alpha is a series of interactive sessions exploring the Christian faith, typically run once a week for 11 weeks.
- Alpha was commenced in England over 30 years ago and now over 30 million people worldwide have experienced Alpha.
- This number continues to grow dramatically each year.
- Each session of Alpha looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation.
- Alpha is seen all around the globe, and everyone is welcome.
- Alpha runs in cafes, churches, universities, homes – you name it.
- No two Alpha’s look the same, but generally they have 3 things in common: food, a talk, and fellowship.
Next Alpha at St. Mary’s
St. Mary’s next Alpha will be run at St. Mary’s Worship Centre , the Parish Bulletin will advise those, wishing to come along, the dates and times. All Parishioners are encouraged to “come along” and “bring a friend”. If you are interested in the Alpha Program, please email: [email protected]
Below are few of the Testimonials from the last session.
Our Church
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Upper Coomera
Address: 185 Billinghurst Crescent, Upper Coomera QLD 4209
Office Hours : Monday to Friday: 9am – 2pm;
Telephone: 07 5558 0110
Parish Secretary: Kim Manouk
Email: [email protected]
JOIN A MINISTRY TODAY!
We are always looking for volunteers!
Below are the latest Reading, Communion Ministers and Altar Server rosters.
St.Mary’s Coomera has an active St Vincent de Paul Society .
Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 6.00 PM
Ministry Co-ordinator: Heather Murray
New members are always welcome and if you are interested in joining the SVDP please contact the Parish Office
Altar Server Ministry
About Us
The Altar Server Ministry is very active in St Mary’s. There are nearly always Altar Servers at every Weekend Mass. We aim for three Altar Servers at each Mass but this can vary. During school holidays when many are away we might have only one but there is always someone. On special occasions such as Easter we may have up to six. This Ministry is open to boys and girls who have received their Sacraments on Initiation. ie Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation. At the end of the Sacramental Program each year all children are invited to be part of this Ministry.It is an excellent starting point for becoming part of Catholic Community Activities.Any child who has been part of the Sacramental Program from another parish is also invited to apply.
Throughout the Archdiocese of Brisbane – which is huge – St Mary’s is well-regarded for the number of Altar Servers and that we are able to retain them with a freely given commitment.
Contact the Parish office
Here are some of the main reasons for our success
TRAINING
Our Altar Servers thoroughly enjoy serving Jesus at Mass by helping Father Mauro.Our Altar Servers are trained mostly on the job – at Holy Mass – by more experienced Altar Servers, who themselves were trained under the same buddy system.Father Mauro takes an extreme interest in the training and welfare of our Altar Servers; this includes an explanation before Mass and then guided by the Altar Server Buddy.There is an archaic saying of throwing people in the deep end – exactly the opposite happens at St. Mary’s
FAMILY FRIENDLY ROSTER
We know that from time to time, kids get sick, just want to sleep, and then there are other members of the family to be considered both older and younger. So we have the Family Friendly Roster. A Draft Roster goes out on Tuesday evening and let us say your Altar Server is rostered for 9am Sunday Mass but you have Soccer training at that time; you email me back, and I will swap you around or put Mass duty on for another day that you suggest. On Thursday, I send out the same roster with all of the changes you and others have requested and this is the Confirmed Roster – one we actually go with.Then of course there are last minute hitches, accidents etc that can be expected from time to time. If you don’t get to Mass as rostered there is no drama.
RESPONSIBILITY
Our Altar Servers learn responsibility early with simple tasks such as robing themselves, ringing the bells at the correct time, and holding the book. Over a period of time, they become Leader at Mass which is an important part of the Mass and all of the Altar Servers work to get this recognition. Then next year, they teach the new Altar Servers.
INDUCTION AND TRAINING (2024-2025)
Update will be coming soon
Ministry of Social Justice & Relations
This ministry aims to support disadvantaged and marginalised groups in our community. We also continue to develop and sustain our relations with our sister church in East Timor
Ministry Co-ordinator: TBD
Please contact the parish office to register your interest in this Ministry.
Ministers of the Word
Ministers of the Word are those who are commonly referred to as readers but they are much more than that.You read a newspaper or a novel, you might read to your children. But with Ministers of the Word it is different. They are proclaiming the Word of God. This is God speaking to all of us….. This is what I believe The following is a copy of a document from The Liturgical Commission Of The Catholic Church
MINISTERS OF THE WORD
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40: 8) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119: 105) The Word of God endures, creates, gives life. The importance of scripture in liturgy was perhaps lost to some extent in the Catholic Church until the reforms of the second Vatican Council reminded us of its central place.“The Church has always venerated the Divine Scriptures just as she venerates the Body of the Lord.” (Dei Verbum 21)“Christ is present in his Word since it is he himself who speaks when the holy Scriptures are read in the Church.” (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy 7)The Introduction to the Lectionary for Mass spells out the link between scripture, faith and worship.“The preaching of the word is necessary for the sacramental ministry. For the sacraments are sacraments of faith and faith has its origin and sustenance in the word. The Church is nourished spiritually at the table of God’s word and at the table of the eucharist.” (LMI 10)
The only contact that many Catholics have with the living word of scripture occurs at Sunday Mass. It is vital that this encounter be a positive experience so that they will develop over time a “warm and living love of scripture”.
Those who are called to be readers at Mass, then, take on an important ministry. In fact they are not ‘readers’ at all. Almost everyone can read, but only some can effectively proclaim the word of God. Those people who serve the liturgical gathering by proclaiming the scriptures are best described as ‘Ministers of the Word’.
What is needed to someone to carry out this role effectively? The basic requirement is faith in the word of God. A reader must be someone with a love of scripture who believes that it is alive and active and gives guidance.
Readers must understand what they are reading in order to clearly convey the meaning of a passage to others. Such understanding is achieved by careful preparation, starting well before the person is scheduled to read. This involves reading the scripture passages through several times, slowly coming to grips with what the words are saying. Readers should also have access to a readers’ workbook or scripture commentary to assist them. Practising reading the passages aloud is another important aspect of the preparation process.
Finally, ministers of the word need to have the skills required for reading aloud in public, including a strong voice which can be projected clearly and the ability to use speech techniques such as pace, pause and pitch to give vitality and variety to their reading.
I am often asked by parishes to recommend resources for training their ministers of the word. It seems that not everyone has discovered the addition that was made to Break Open the Word, the preparation book for readers published by The Liturgical Commission in Brisbane, several years ago. In the back of the book are a number of Readers’ Formation pages covering topics such as the arrangement of the lectionary, reading skills and a model for preparation. This material may be used with groups of readers in a parish setting or by readers individually who wish to improve their understanding and skill.
The Word of God is proclaimed rather than just read, which involves the Minister reading the text in prayer and reflection beforehand, so that the Word is actively heard, rather than passively listened to by the Assembly. Training and resources are provided and a current Blue Card is required. New Ministers are welcome. Please contact the parish office to register your interest in this Ministry.
Extraordinary Communion Ministers
As the Ordinary Minister is the Priest or Deacon, extra lay parishioners are commissioned to distribute Holy Communion during Mass so that the Assembly can receive communion in an orderly and timely manner. Parishioners are invited to join this Ministry, are rostered on times that suit them and are provided with initial and ongoing formation and training. A current Blue Card is also required. Please contact the parish office to express your interest in joining this ministry.
Ministry Co-ordinator: Marie-Ann O’connor
Communion to the Sick
There are many sick parishioners, living in their own homes who are unable to get to Church. We would like to expand on our current number of Extraordinary Ministers who provide Communion and comfort to the housebound or those in residential care. Please contact the Parish Office to register your interest.
Ministry Co-ordinator: Marie-Ann O’connor
Childrens Liturgy
Childrens Liturgy is presently conducted at the 9am Mass at St.Mary’s most Sundays
During school holidays it is usually suspended.
These classes are presented by 2 leaders per session,who are volunteer mums,dads and young adults 17 years and older. In these classes the scriptures for the week of the Catholic Church calendar are read and explained in a format they understand.
The Liturgy begins with a blessing from Fr.John at the beginning of Mass,then the leaders and children process out carrying a wooden cross and Children’s Bible. They will return at the Offertory part of the Mass.
The children process to a special room where they sit on the floor around a small prayer table draped with the colour representing the liturgical season, showing the children that this is a holy area where God is present. The liturgy then proceeds with a prayer or a song ,followed by one of the readings and the Gospel. They are brought top life with activities such as creative reflections, through involving them in the readings,prayers,acting out the liturgies and explaining how they relate to their young lives
All our leaders are given notes outlining the weeks scriptures and are provided with training on ways to bring them to life.
The ministry ia very special and rewarding as it is so amazing at just how the very young relate to God in their lives.I often feel that they are there to teach us rather than the other way around
Please come and join our team. we are always looking for more help.
Ministry Co-ordinator: Rhiannon Saunders
Please contact the parish office to register your interest in this Ministry.
Takes as its inspiration Jesus’s prayer to the Father ‘May they all be one’ (John 17:21).
Over the last six decades the Movement has grown from a small community of around 500 in Trent, northern Italy, to a worldwide community of several hundred thousand people of all ages and backgrounds. It has also spread beyond the confines of the Roman Catholic Church, to many other Christian traditions, to other faiths and to people of goodwill who have no specific religious faith.
The Focolare Movement works to promote mutual understanding and respect through dialogue. This can take many forms, from the simple sharing of experiences between individuals, to large-scale international conferences. Whatever the level of the dialogue, the underlying principle is always love: which means openness to the other, getting to know them, and respecting them an their cultures and beliefs.
The Word of Life Group meets every 1st Thursday at 10 a.m. in the canteen.
Co-Ordinator : Sarah Gardner
Please Contact Us the parish office to register your interest in this Ministry.
Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults
The RCIA is the Liturgical and Catechetical process,designed for adults attracted by Christ and His teachings
It supports and asista them as they seek yo respond more deeply and to enter into the communion of the Catholic Church.
The journey of initiation into the Catholic Church is a gradual process and takes place within the community of the faithful.
Team members from the parish meet with the candidates,usually weekly and these sessions provide the framework which enables candidates to grow in understanding of the faith,and to gradually become part of the parish community of faith and its way of life.
A typical session would begin with exploring the Sunday Gospel, looks at its links to life and its connection to the Liturgical Celebration. Discussions then explore the traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church.
The journey of faith has no definite time limit and often varies between six months and one year.
Throughout the Catholic Church however,the Baptism of Adults will usually take place during the celebration of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.
For further information please contact RCIA co-ordinator Anne Cheung or the Parish Office
Office Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Friday – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07 5558 0110
Weekly 2-minute homily
Archdiocese of Brisbane
Our Church
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Upper Coomera
Address: 185 Billinghurst Crescent, Upper Coomera QLD 4209
Office Hours : Monday to Friday: 9am – 2pm;
Telephone: 07 5558 0110
Parish Secretary: Kim Manouk
Email: [email protected]
