Markets - August 31st to September 6th

Saturday 5th September

Bundoora Park Farmers' Market
Daylesford Farmers' Market
East Gippsland Farmers' Market
Echuca Farmers' Market
Healesville Organic Farmers' Market
Hume Murray Farmers' Market
Kingston Farmers' Market
Murrabit Country Market
South Gippsland Farmers' Market
Sunraysia Farmers' Market
Tatong Farmers' Market
Veg Out St Kilda Farmers' Market

Sunday 6th September

Castlemaine Farmers' Market
Gisborne Old Time Market
Heathmont Farmers' Market
Hurtsbridge Farmers' Market
Lilydale Produce Farmers' Market
Mulgrave Farmers' Market
Tallarook Farmers' Market

WELCOME BACK TO SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

My goodness. Seems like I just introduced Spiritual Sundays yesterday but it has been two weeks. I'm amazed at how fast the time flies. Once again we want to welcome participants and those who come here to click on the links to those who do share their posts with us. (I had to laugh as Hubby walked by and said I hope you're not starting out by saying "my goodness" again.) My goodness. I just did.

#178 - Poetry

I have just come back from attending a poetry reading in Bath. Sharon Olds held the room spellbound as she read her poetry and talked about writing. (I highly recommend a poetry reading if you've never been. It makes poetry into something completely different!) For some, the word poetry conjures up terror; other people's mouths begin to water in anticipation. Very few people feel nothing about it. Either way, your assignment this week is to write some - whether you like it or not!

Latest Issue of Catholic

The new issue of Catholic is out now and has been shipped to all subscribers. As always it's packed full of good, wholesome Catholic reading. If you're not on the mailing list, you can subscribe right now by clicking the Subscribe to the Catholic Newspaper button on the sidebar.



With the Catholic is a copy of the latest work we have printed: Gerado. It is the life of St Gerard Majella, C.SS.R. Additional copies are also available from us.


St. Gerard, Pray for us!

Markets - August 24th to August 30th

Saturday 29th August

Ballarat Lakeside Farmers' Market
Echuca Farmers' Market
Healesville Organic Farmers' Market
Holmesglen TAFE Farmers' Market
Knox School Farmers' Market


Sunday 30th August

Mulgrave Farmers' Market

#177 - Adult

What are your thoughts on adulthood? What do you want to be when you grow up? Are you scared of being an adult? Have you been forced to be the adult in a relationship? Do you have an adult child who won't grow up? Are you glad to finally be an adult? What do you think?

Hello Friends

WOW! I closed my eyes and a week went by.I just love the weekends just like most of you I'm sure, but I love them because I get to visit all of you who so happy hearted post here every week. I look forward in meeting new people who decide they want to be a part of Spiritual Sunday. It could just be a one time post or two or three there are no rules on how many weeks you have to post something.

Monsignor MacDonald's Mass

Msgr. McDonald after celebrating Holy Mass on Papa Stronsay according to the 1962 Missal.

Feast of the Assumption and Special Visitors

Yesterday, Saturday the 15th August we celebrated the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin in a very special way. We had a Solemn High Mass and a special visitor, Msgr. McDonald from the diocese of Aberdeen who arrived on Papa Stronsay on Friday and will leave us on Monday.


Br. Jean Marie, F.SS.R. was Sub Deacon for the Mass.


My Lord and my God!


Pax tecum.


Msgr. McDonald after Mass.


We also had our annual bonfire and barbecue, this year in honour of our Lady's Assumption. Monsignor was asked to do the honours.


Fr. Michael Mary, F.SS.R. blessed the fire.




When everything had come to an end, everyone made their way back to the waiting Saint Alphonsus...



...and sailed home. We hope everyone had a happy and blessed feast day.

Markets - August 17th to August 23rd

Saturday 22nd August

Casey-Berwick Farmers' Market
Churchill Island Farmers' Market
Healesville Organic Farmers' Market
Hume Murray Farmers' Market
Lancefield District Farmers' Market
Slow Food Farmers' Market
Traralgon Farmers' Market
Yarraville Farmers' Market

Sunday 23rd August

Mulgrave Farmers' Market
Railway Place Farmers' Market
Templestowe Rotary Farmers' Produce Market
Yarrawonga Farmers' Market

WELCOME

We are happy to welcome our friends back this weekend to Spiritual Sundays. Can you believe it is the middle of August already? Where does the time go?We hope many of you will want to share something you've posted on your blog of a spiritual or inspirational nature. If you are not sharing something on your blog you do not need to "sign in". Just click on the various links to read what others have

#176 - Fantasy Dinner Party & Baby News

I wanted to do something a little different this week, so you are getting more structure than normal. Do you ever play the game where you decide who you would invite to your fantasy dinner party?

The rules are:
- you can invite anyone, living or dead
- you have a table that seats eight, but as you are one, you can invite seven people
- you have to explain why you'd invite them

And for bonus points:
- what would you serve them for dinner?

Enjoy!

P.S. BIG FAT HUGE CONGRATULATIONS and Welcome to the World to Clementine Pie di Bartolo! Laini and Jim welcomed her on August 9, 2009. Congratulations Laini & Jim!!!

P.P.S. As spammers seem to have found our site, I am going to take the comments section down temporarily. If you want to leave a comment for Laini & Jim, please pop over to her site. I think we need to let the spammers rest for a week or two!

Markets - August 10th to August 16th

Saturday August 15th

Boroondara Farmers' Market
Buninyong Farmers' Market
Carlton Gardens Farmers' Market
Drouin Farmers' Market
Echuca Farmers' Market
Gasworks Farmers' Market
Healesville Organic Farmers' Market
Moyhu Farmers' Market
Pearcedale Farmers' Market
Port Fairy Farmers' Market
Prom Country Farmers' Market
Riddells Creek Farmers' Market
Sunraysia Farmers' Market
Wellington Farmers' Market
Wheelers Hill Farmers' Market

Sunday August 16th

Inverloch Farmers' Market
Mulgrave Farmers' Market
Seaford Farmers' Market
Talbot Farmers' Market
Yarra Valley Farmers' Market

Works

Here are some photos of some of the works we did a few days ago.

Br. Yousef Marie, F.SS.R. painting the statue of Saint Joseph.


We decided to put up another statue in the shrine on our pier. Fr. Anthony Mary, F.SS.R. brings the statue to the pier.


Br. Nicodemus Mary, F.SS.R. and Br. Martin Mary, F.SS.R. crack open the crate.


The statue is very heavy and difficult to move into place...




Fr. Anthony at the controls of the JCB.




With great care the strap is romoved and the statue pulled back into place.


May Christ the King ever reign on Papa Stronsay!

Spiritual Sunday

Hello everyone,We are so excited to see Spiritual Sunday grow. Thank-you again for all of your inspiring scriptures and poems, and prayers and your testimonies. If your new and want to learn more about Spiritual Sunday you can go HERE . If you stop by just to read some, please leave a comment and say hello, we would love to meet you.I hope that everyone has a beautiful and safe weekend.Blessings,

The Year for Priests

On this feast of St. Jean Marie Vianney, we think of the year for priests which was proclaimed By His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. In case there are any who have not already read it, we publish below the full text of the Decree from the Apostolic Penitentiary regarding the generous granted during this year.


The shrine to Saint Jean Marie Vianney on Papa Stronsay

Shortly the day will come on which will be commemorated the 150th anniversary of the pious departure to Heaven of St John Mary Vianney, the Curé d'Ars. This Saint was a wonderful model here on earth of a true Pastor at the service of Christ's flock.

Since his example is used to encourage the faithful, and especially priests, to imitate his virtues, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI has established that for this occasion a special Year for Priests will be celebrated, from 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010, in which all priests may be increasingly strengthened in fidelity to Christ with devout meditation, spiritual exercises and other appropriate actions.

This holy period will begin with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a day of priestly sanctification on which the Supreme Pontiff will celebrate Vespers in the presence of the holy relics of St John Mary Vianney, brought to Rome by the Bishop of Belley-Ars, France.

The Most Holy Father will likewise preside at the conclusion of the Year for Priests in St Peter's Square, in the presence of priests from across the world who will renew their fidelity to Christ and the bond of brotherhood.

May priests commit themselves, with prayer and good works, to obtaining from Christ the Eternal High Priest, the grace to shine with Faith, Hope, Charity and the other virtues, and show by their way of life, but also with their external conduct, that they are dedicated without reserve to the spiritual good of the people something that the Church has always had at heart.

The gift of Sacred Indulgences which the Apostolic Penitentiary, with this Decree issued in conformity with the wishes of the August Pontiff, graciously grants during the Year for Priests will be of great help in achieving the desired purpose in the best possible way.

A. Truly repentant priests who, on any day, devoutly recite at least morning Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament, exposed for public adoration or replaced in the tabernacle, and who, after the example of St John Mary Vianney, offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the celebration of the sacraments, especially Confession, are mercifully granted in God the Plenary Indulgence which they may also apply to their deceased brethren in suffrage, if, in conformity with the current norms, they receive sacramental confession and the Eucharistic banquet and pray for the Supreme Pontiff's intentions.

Furthermore the Partial Indulgence is granted to priests who may apply it to their deceased confreres every time that they devoutly recite the prayers duly approved to lead a holy life and to carry out in a holy manner the offices entrusted to them.

B. The Plenary Indulgence is granted to all the faithful who are truly repentant who, in church or in chapel, devoutly attend the divine Sacrifice of Mass and offer prayers to Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, for the priests of the Church, and any other good work which they have done on that day, so that he may sanctify them and form them in accordance with His Heart, as long as they have made expiation for their sins through sacramental confession and prayed in accordance with the Supreme Pontiff's intentions: on the days in which the Year for Priests begins and ends, on the day of the 150th anniversary of the pious passing of St John Mary Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month or on any other day established by the local Ordinaries for the benefit of the faithful.

It will be most appropriate, in cathedral and parish churches, for the same priests who are in charge of pastoral care to publicly direct these exercises of devotion, to celebrate Holy Mass and to hear the confession of the faithful.

The Plenary Indulgence will likewise be granted to the elderly, the sick and all those who for any legitimate reason are confined to their homes who, with a mind detached from any sin and with the intention of fulfilling as soon as possible the three usual conditions, at home or wherever their impediment detains them, provided that on the above-mentioned days they recite prayers for the sanctification of priests and confidently offer the illnesses and hardships of their lives to God through Mary Queen of Apostles.

Lastly, the Partial Indulgence is granted to all the faithful every time they devoutly recite five Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorias, or another expressly approved prayer, in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to obtain that priests be preserved in purity and holiness of life.

This Decree is valid for the entire duration of the Year for Priests. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding.

Given in Rome, at the Offices of the Apostolic Penitentiary on 25 April, the Feast of St Mark the Evangelist, in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 2009.

Cardinal James Francis Stafford
Major Penitentiary

+ Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv.
Titular Bishop of Meta, Regent

#175 - New

In honour of Laini, the prompt this week is: new. What's new in your life? What new things should you be embracing? What does new mean to you? (Head over to her blog if you don't already know why I chose this!)

A Special Prayer Request

We would like to request prayers from all of our readers for the sister of one of our Brothers. Br. Gerardo Maria's sister is a nun with The Disciples of the Cenacle situated just outside Rome. She has a brain tumor and her condition is rapidly going down hill. We beg your prayers for her, for Br. Gerardo and all her family that God's Most Holy Will my be fulfilled in her and that if it be in conformity with this same Divine Will, she may regain her health and give many more years to His service.


Sister on the day of her profession

Our Lady, Health of the sick, pray for her. Amen.

Solemn High Mass on Stronsay

Yesterday, for the feast of Saint Alphonsus and our 21st anniversary of foundation, we were able to have a solemn high Mass. Fr. Michael Mary, F.SS.R. was celebrant, Fr. Anthony Mary, F.SS.R. was Deacon and Br. Yousef Marie, F.SS.R. was Sub Deacon. It was a fine morning and a very joyous occasion for us.


The procession to the chapel.


We hope that it will not be too long now before our two most senior brothers will be ordained to the Sacred Priesthood and can return permanently to Papa Stronsay.




Fr. Anthony Mary, F.SS.R. sings the Holy Gospel.







We thank you for all your prayers and support, especialy over the last year. Please continue to remember us in your prayers and sacrifices. May God bless you all!

With Grateful Thanks

What a joy it has been to celebrate the great feast of our Holy Father Saint Alphonsus! Today is also the 21st anniversary of our foundation. We are truly grateful to our dear Father for all the protection he has given us from his place in heaven, and for all the prayers he has offered and the favours he has obtained for us. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts, and ask also that you, our readers, thank him for us and beg him to continue smiling upon us.



Our Holy Father Saint Alphonsus, Pray For Us!

Markets - August 3rd to August 9th

Saturday 8th August

Ballarat Lakeside Farmers' Market
Cardinia Ranges Farmers' Market
Caulfield Farmers' Market
Central Geelong Farmers' Market
Collingwood Childrens' Farm Farmers' Market
Croydon Farmers' Market
Healesville Organic Farmers' Market
Hume Murray Farmers' Market
Kyneton Farmers' Market
Metung Farmers' Market
Mont de Lancey Farmers' Market
Mornington Farmers' Market
Myrtleford Community Produce Market
Violet Town Community Market


Sunday 9th August

Aireys Inlet Farmers' Market
Girgarre Farmers' Market
Harvest Home Produce Market
Mulgrave Farmers' Market
Natimuk Farmers' Market
Whitehorse Farmers' Market

WELCOME BACK TO SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

As we are starting our second year on Spiritual Sundays we are sincerely grateful to everyone who helps to make it a success. Last week we had the largest number of participants we have ever had. We are always happy to welcome new people. It is our sincere hope and prayer that this will be a positive experience for you. Thank you for all the lovely comments you have made to us.If you need help in

#174 - Anticipate

What are you looking forward to, for better or worse?

[Due to Mr. Linky issues, please leave your links in the comments until the auto-link box appears. Sorry for the inconvenience! -- Laini

Update: Now that there is a Mr. Linky again, please make sure you also check the comments so you don't miss anyone! ]