Jane: Good evening everyone
Tonight, I have been asked to speak on behalf of the community in thanking two very special people. Mercy sisters, Genevieve and Madonna have been integral members of our parish for almost a quarter of a century. Tonight, we farewell them as they move into retirement care at Nudgee.

Together, Genevieve and Madonna have quietly engaged in a ministry of prayer for everyone in the Mt Carmel community. Their warm welcome, engagement, and acceptance of all has been inspirational and both are much loved. Genevieve and Madonna have a great capacity for friendship and have opened their hearts and home to many. Here in the parish, they have made friends leading Lenten discussion groups and prayer groups and Genevieve in particular has engaged with many through her love of sport of all codes, particularly cricket in summer and the NRL in the winter months. For those who aren’t aware, she’s a great Cowboys supporter.

A country girl from Nanango, Genevieve travelled far and wide in her younger years, teaching in London and France. From a big family she learnt her great hospitality and cooking skills and no doubt honed her sense of humour and great stoicism in their midst.
She is perhaps best known to many of us as a tireless advocate for the marginalised, particularly refugees and asylum seekers. She has been a good friend to the Romero Centre who will be among the number to miss her wise counsel.

Madonna started life in Goodna, attended All Hallows School and then trained as a nurse.  Before arriving here at Coorparoo, Madonna’s nursing career had led her to leadership of the Mater Public Hospitals and leadership of the Mercy Congregation. Managing such responsible roles, it is no wonder Madonna loved the opportunity to travel and holiday.

We have been the beneficiaries of so many aspects of her roles in nursing and leadership, which she has brought to the ministries in which she has been engaged here at Mt. Carmel. She has been a catechist for the RCIA program, has led communion services, been a reader, eucharistic minister and taken communion and good cheer to the sick.

A good friend of Sister Helen Maguire, former principal of Mt Carmel School and dear friend of Father Jerome, she has been a great support to him as he has struggled with his own changing circumstances. Madonna’s gentle guidance and presence has been a gift to so many.

And now Madonna and Genevieve face their own changing circumstances with grace, great faith, and some sadness. Downsizing from their home in Bunyah St has been a new and challenging experience. Both apparently are hoarders! No doubt during the process of making difficult decisions about culling Madonna has been mindful of advice she once gave to her Aunt Marie: Sometimes God wants us to do what we don’t want to do. And perhaps on the more difficult days she has agreed with her Aunt Marie whose response to that advice was that God could mind his own business!

But as both Madonna and Genevieve know, change is one of life’s certainties. As they face this change in their circumstances and move from the community they have embraced for so many years, we pray that they know our ongoing love and support. As they will miss us, we too will miss them.

(Martinho to present candles) Knowing that you have culled many treasured items in preparation for your move, we hope that you have room for these gifts, candles which will remind you of the light this parish has been for you and the light that you have brought to so many in this community.
Tonight we thank you for your presence with us and for being present to us.

Father Martinho will now bless you both as your journey continues.

Farewell dear friends.
 
Martinho: I invite everyone to raise your hands in blessing for Madonna and Genevieve.
Genevieve and Madonna, we have been abundantly blessed by your love, care, wisdom, compassion and faith. You are light for us all.  We pray that you will always know the infinite kindness of our God.
Living God, Giver of life, Heart of life, Breath of life, Sustainer of life
Bless Genevieve and Madonna today, tomorrow and always.
​
All: Amen.

Please read the full report here.

Dear Year 4 Parents and Guardians

We look forward to celebrating the Sacrament of Eucharist with your child.            
As per the Sacramental Policy of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Year 4 children receive the Sacrament of Eucharist – First Holy Communion. 

Children in Year 4 will receive the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) in 2025 when they are in Year 5.
To participate in the Sacrament of Eucharist, your child must be Baptised and Confirmed.          
             
The Sacrament of Eucharist will be celebrated here at the Parish on the following dates:

• Friday 31 May 2024 at 6pm           
• Saturday 1 June 2024 at 6pm
• Sunday 2 June 2024 at 8.30am

                     ______________________________________________________________
Parental Responsibility and the Sacraments in the Catholic Church

In receiving their First Holy Communion, the children will complete their Christian initiation.  The process began with their Baptism which first joined them to Christ and made them members of the Church.  It was then sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit when they received their Sacrament of Confirmation.

The Sacrament of Eucharist will be the first time they share intimately in the life of Christ and the unity of the Church by receiving the body and blood of Christ.

In the time of preparation for the Sacrament of Eucharist, it is very important for the children and their families to participate regularly in Mass so the children become familiar with its parts and its pattern.  The Eucharist is at the heart of our Catholic identity and faith.  

For your child to be eligible to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist, it is very important that all sessions of the preparation are attended.  When you and your child make a decision to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist, you are making a commitment to share in the complete journey of receiving this Sacrament.

The Parent and Child Information Session will provide an overview of the preparation involved with the Sacrament of Eucharist and will be an opportunity for parents to raise any questions. Please also find a list of key dates for this sacrament below.  If you are happy for you and your child to make this commitment, complete the online enrolment form (click here) and submit with the completed Parental Authority Form (please see below) and receipt of donation to [email protected] or the parish office.

The Parish community looks forward to supporting you in this journey.

For any further enquiries, please contact the Parish Office or Sue Godwin (details below).

Sincerely,
Rev Martinho Da Costa, O.Carm                                                                                                                                      Parish Priest
 
Parish Office Hours: Monday, Thursday & Friday: 8:30am-2:30pm.
T:  3397 1587   E:  [email protected]
Sue Godwin: [email protected]

Have your say using the QR code in the document.
RSVP by Tuesday 2nd April 2024.
​Thank you!

What should Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Coorparoo Parish (OLMC), do to repair the church skylights? What is the best allocation of OLMC’s scarce resources now and into the future?

Background
The skylights still leak.  A primary goal for any building must be to make it waterproof.

Water penetrating through the skylights has damaged the plywood ceilings.  The cost of the ceiling repair is in the order of $85,000.

Catholic Church Insurance (CCI) will repair the consequential damage to the ceilings but will not repair the cause of the leaks i.e. CCI will not repair the skylights.

The skylights have been repaired a number of times over the life of the Church.  Rather than repair the skylights again in the same way as before, expecting a different result, OLMC engaged Bligh Tanner (BT) to inspect the skylights, identify the sources of the leaks and design a solution.

BT identified a number of design flaws in the skylights, including: -

1. The glass panes in the skylight are set in an inverted steel T Bar frame (the frame visible externally from the ground and internally from the floor of the Church).  No sealant manufacturer will warrant their sealant to seal glass to steel but manufacturers will warrant their sealants to seal glass to aluminium.  In the past, as the sealant breaks down, the water penetration into the Church increases.
2. The glass sits on the cross bar of the inverted “T” and below the top of the stem of the inverted “T” allowing water to pool against the inverted “T” frame.  The steel rusts and corrodes allowing water penetration.
3. The steel capping at the apex of the skylights is badly grooved over the top of the stem of the inverted “T” frames allowing water to penetrate through the capping.
4. There is no baffling to reduce water penetration through the vent under each skylight.

BT has designed a solution to cover each side of each skylight with a single piece of glass set in an aluminium frame with a waterproof capping and with baffling. The cost is $1M+.

The Church has been cited as a local heritage place.  Any work on the Church (including the skylights) must be approved by the BCC.

The skylights are temporarily covered with tarpaulins.  Since the tarpaulins were installed in June/July 2023, no water has been observed penetrating the Church skylights.  The cost of the temporary waterproofing is approx. $20,000 per year. $1M would cover this cost many times over.

If OLMC does not repair all the skylights: -

1. CCI may offer OLMC a cash payout in lieu of repairing the Church ceilings: -
           CCI may not cover hidden damage to the ceilings.  The payout will cover only the estimated cost of the repair of the damage identified by observations from the floor of the Church.
2. If OLMC does not repair the skylights or the ceilings, future damage to the ceilings may not be covered by the new insurer (CCI having refused to renew any insurance policies for anyone).
3. The cost of future repairs can only be expected to increase.

OLMC does not have sufficient funds to cover the cost.  OLMC will need to raise at least $600,000 by loan or donations to adopt the Bligh Tanner (BT) proposal.

In addition, other OLMC buildings need repair e.g. the Priory Roof Corners are sagging, and water has penetrated the Priory Roof and is in urgent need of repair.

There are ongoing maintenance and repair costs now and into the future.

The Parish Plant and Resources Committee, the Parish Finance Committee, and the Parish Advisory Council, together with Fr Martinho Da Costa, need your feedback to assist in taking the next steps to waterproof the skylights in a way that works now and is sustainable into the future whilst maintaining resources for other building, maintenance and parish projects. 

Please RSVP by 2nd April by using the QR code below, the following link (https://forms.office.com/r/q6NW779Xey) or the forms in the Church.