Featured image above: Cristian’s family

Cristian’s village is nestled among the mountains

LENT SUNDAY 5

“FOOD FOR LIFE” Project Compassion – Caritas work in Peru

Cristian – harvesting food for life

In a remote Andean village, Caritas Huacho is helping farmers like Cristian to grow and harvest a wide variety of high-value, sustainable fruit crops which will provide a secure income and a wide variety of food for life.

Cristian’s second plot high on a mountain side

Cristian is a farmer who lives in a remote Andean village in Peru. The community lives a traditional life, and without irrigation, farmers have always relied on the rains to water crops. “When there were no rains we suffered a lot, because sometimes the fields would not produce,” says Cristian.

Irrigation pipes for the crops

 

In 2012, Cristian and 14 other young farmers in his community participated in the Rural Development Program run by Caritas Australia’s local partner, Caritas Huacho. The program offers materials, capital and training that helps farmers in rural areas establish sustainable farms that will produce reliable, profitable and long-term crops.

Picking peaches

The program helped the young men secure land to farm, and provided them with seedlings and agricultural training so that they could grow and harvest sustainable, high-value orchard crops, including peaches, custard apples and avocados. They also received the materials and training they needed to build an irrigation system to water their fields.

A bountiful harvest 

The farmers have helped one another to learn and achieve, and are now beginning to reap the rewards of their hard work– a healthy, nutritious new range of fruits in their diets and a steadily increasing income for all their families.

Cristian’s mother does family and village washing

“The fact that I and the other partners can grow and develop together makes me proud,” says Cristian. “We are less worried now, because we are focussed on development, and We are improving ourselves, with the help of Caritas, on the best way to produce.”

Cristian enjoying the fruits of his hard labour

View the DVD Website story here:

 

GODLY CHARITY

‘Whatever you did for the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you did it for Me.’

Be generous to Project Compassion this Lent.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * 

Parish Contact Details

*  *  *

Coming Events

23^rd March 9.30am Wrap with Love at Hall

25^th March 12.30pm Balldale Majellan – at Marie Tomlinson’s 19 Murray St. All Welcome.

25^th March 7.30pm Lenten/Easter Confessions with 3 visiting priests. All welcome.

29th March (Sunday) 10am – 2pm St Mary’s Lockhart Fete – in the grounds of St Mary’s Church at Ferrier Street, Lockhart.

29th March (Palm Sunday) Palm branches will be available. However, if you wish to bring your own, please do.

*  *  *

Easter Roster

Please let Nicole know if you are unavailable for Good Friday & Easter Masses. Thank you

*  *  *

Remember in Prayer

May Houlihan, Leo Coul, Bryon Webster, Kevin Lovell, Imelda Gauci, Vince Fitzgerald, John Lyons, Joan Sandral, Pauline Kerr, Cliff Broderick, John Hickey, Mark Fitzgibbon, Pat Kelly

*  *  *

St Mary’s Court

2 bedroom unit for rent

Inquiries phone 60331564 or Parish 60331927

*  *  *

ADORATION SURVEY

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on 13^th and 14^th March was well attended, and a simple survey is now being conducted to assess interest in the parish for further Adoration hours on a regular basis. Whether you were able to attend the recent days or not, your input will be helpful. PLEASE FILL IN A FORM AND LEAVE IT ON THE SEAT OR ON THE BACK TABLE. THANK YOU.

*  *  *

URGENT APPEAL FOR VANUATU

Cyclone Pam this week ravaged the tiny island nation of Vanuatu at 320kmph, devastating 90% of all structures in some areas. Caritas is asking for your help. Any size donation is acceptable. Donations over $2 tax deductible. Use the yellow “SPECIAL APPEAL ENVELOPE.” If you require tax deduction write your details on the envelope. You can also donate by phoning Caritas: 1800 024 413.

 *  *  *

 

USED POSTAGE STAMPS Help the Mary MacKillop International Missions in Peru. Please assist by dropping your used stamps at St Mary’s Presbytery

*  *  *

MASS INTENTIONS 21^st – 28^th March

Saturday 21^st

6.30pmMass (Connie Barber, Gordon Willett)

Sunday 22^nd 5^th Sunday in Lent

9.00am Mass (For all parishioners)

Monday 23^rd  

9.00am Mass (Trisha Robinson, Joan Capon)

Tuesday 24^th

9am Mass (Con Fanning, Lynette Vos)

Wednesday 25^th

9am Mass (Laurie Bates, Vera O’Shaunessy)

Thurs 26^th

11.40am Novena.

12pm M. (Joe Fraumano, Eileen Rippingale)

Friday 27^th

9.00am Mass (Marg Underwood, Istella Mener)

6.30pm Stations of the Cross in church

Saturday 28^th 

8.45 Rosary & M(Valentino Cilia, Frank Stone)

Confessions 11am-12pm and 5.30pm-6.15.

6.30pm Vigil (Peter Gale, Esma Downing)

*  *  *

Sunday 29^th 6^th Palm Sunday HOLY WEEK

9.00am Mass (All parishioners)

Sunday Mass Roster 28^th – 29^th March

Gifts:

6.30pm J Heagney

9.00am Matt Drum

Lectors

6.30pm S Drum I Brooks

9.00am E & B Christy

Spec Min:

6.30pm D & A Norman

9.00am D Collins M Tomlinson

Altar; N Warhurst

Welcomers:

6.30pm P Dwyer F Brooks

9.00am C O’Shea

Altar Servers:

6.30pm: L Heagney, D Marshall

9.00am: B Heagney, I Bush

Collection K Freeman

Counting: R Packer Ian Brooks

*  *  *

Access the Woollongong Diocese Radio website.

DIOCESE OF WAGGA WAGGA – THE JOURNEY CATHOLIC/CHRISTIAN RADIO PROGRAM

Have you listened live to the Diocese of Wollongong’s weekly Catholic Program called the journey yet?

Tune into 98.5 THE LIGHT Albury Wodonga Sun 11am, repeated 9pm or you can listen in anytime it suits you, by going to www.radio.dow.org.au where you can scroll down to the earlier podcasts and listen to any of them, or you can subscribe to the show and have it sent to you automatically each week.

Each week, there is a reflection on the Sunday Gospel reading. Add to that some great music and interviews with people doing amazing things right around the globe and you’ve got a show that is all about faith, hope love and life.

This week we have all our favourites including Marilyn Rodrigues who reflects on Jealousy the enemy of Peace and Trish McCarthy who shares with us some of her exciting stories from her trip to Fiji.

 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *