The Pastoral Parish Council
Belonging to St Joseph's Cathedral Parish

In 1996 the St Joseph's Cathedral Pastoral Council was established. Since then we have met on a number of occasions and discussed a number of issues. Underlying all we have done has been a desire that our parish be a welcoming, caring and friendly community with deep faith and love of God. As such, we hope that those who are part of our parish will find their lives enriched and their faith deepened. Also it is hoped that others may be drawn to be a part of our community and thus come to faith in Christ. It is a lofty and essential aspiration.

To ensure that we are a welcoming community, the council has initiated a number of things, a cup of tea after Mass on the second Sunday of the month, social gatherings, visits to people who are househound plus initiatives to try to make the Sunday Mass a more welcoming occasion. We have initiated a moment before Mass begins when we can welcome these around us. While this does not happen officially every Sunday, it is hoped that parishioners of the Cathedral will develop the habit of speaking to each other and to visitors before and after Mass.

Prayer for our Parish

Saint Joseph,
husband of Mary and father of Jesus Christ, you have been charged with the protection of the Church,
 
so that you may extend to all the children of the Kingdom the care you first took of the members of the Holy Family.
 
Be the guide and the protector of the people of God walking towards its external goal.
 
Bring together the people of every race and nation so that may live united in one Body.
 
Guide the people of St Joseph's Cathedral. Sustain those among us who are fervent, wake up the lukewarm, uphold those who are in distress, convert the sinners, heal the sick and comfort the afflicted.
 
Make the peace of Christ shine upon us, so that we may help establish his rule over the world in an atmosphere of freedom.
 

Amen.

Guard and protect me St Joseph each day
Guard and protect me St Joseph each day
As onward we journey, to heaven we pray.
I ask when I'm dying that you will be there,
To cheer by thy presence, aid by your prayer.
Now hear me St. Joseph, I count upon thee
To grant my petition whatever it be

Quotes about St. Joseph
Pope John Paul II:
Saint Joseph was a just man, a tireless worker, the upright guardian of those entrusted to his care. May he always guard, protect and enlighten familes.
Blessed Josemaria Escriva:
St. Joseph was an ordinary sort of man on whom God relied to do great things. He did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do, in each and every event that went to make up his life.
Memore to St. Joseph
Remember, O most chaste Spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession was left unassisted. Full of confidence in yo ur power, I fly unto you, and beg your protection. Despise not, O foster-father of the Redeemer, my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.

To St. Joseph for Protection
Gracious St. Joseph, protect me and my family from all evil as you did the Holy Family. Kindly keep us ever united in the love of Christ, ever fervent in imitation of the virtue of our Blessed Lady, your sinless spouse, and always faithful in devotion to you. Amen.

Prayer to St. Joseph by Pope St. Pius X
Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously by placing love of duty above my inclinations; to gratefully and joyously deem it an h onor to employ and to develop by labor the gifts I have received from God, to work methodically, peacefully, and in moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from it through weariness or difficulty to work; above all, with purity of intention and unselfishness, having unceasingly before my eyes death and the account I have to render of time lost, talents unused, good not done, and vain complacency in success, so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, O patriarch St. Joseph! This shall be my motto for life and eternity.

Prayer to St. Joseph
O Blessed Saint Joseph, faithful guardian and protector of virgins, to whom God entrusted Jesus and Mary, I implore you by the love which you did bear them, to preserve me from every defilement of soul and body, that I may always serve them in holiness and purity of love. Amen.

The Passionist Family Movement

The Parish Council has decided to start the Passionist Family Movement in the Parish. We hope this will develop a profound sense of belonging to the Community of St Joseph's Parish.

AIMS & GOALS

  • To share our Christian life together.

  • To support each other in times of need.

  • To give example to, and involve children in our Christian sharing.

  • To live and love like the early Christians- "See how they love one another".

  • To build and promote Community Spirit within the Parish.

PASSIONIST FAMILY GROUP

  • Help people feel they belong

  • Welcome people who have felt alienated

  • Provide support for people in times of need

  • Enable people to feel accepted

  • Provide a 'Learning' Environment for children

  • Help build an atmosphere of 'Community' within the Parish

  • Encourage various forms of leadership

  • Allow people to live and celebrate their faith

WHERE DID PASSIONIST FAMILY GROUPS COME FROM?

The Passionist Family Group Movement began in 1973 in the parish of St Anthony in the Fields, Terrey Hills, Sydney, as a practical response to the needs of the parish. Fr Peter McGrath CP is the founder. It was nine years before they branched out a lot of learning was done in that time. Australian parishes in various places (New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, ACT and South Australia) began to become involved in the mid-late 1980's. The Movement spread to New Zealand in 1988, starting in 3 parishes that year (Paeroa, East Coast Bays and Wanganui It spread to the South Island in 1992, the same year as that a prison in the USA adopted Family Groups. By 1988 there were 360 parishes (104 of them in New Zealand) with Passionist Family Groups. Five of these parishes are in the USA and two are in the UK, one in Ireland. Five of the New Zealand parishes belong to other churches.

WHAT IS THEIR APPEAL?

The Major attraction is simplicity and lack of organisational structure. Single people, including divorced and widowed people find it non threatening. Non churchgoes and partners in interfaiht marriage feel welcome. People feel they are actually living their faith, so church-going comes to mean something entirely different, and it is an involvement for a couple of a family to share together.

CAN ANYONE JOIN?

The simple answer is "YES". The Family Group motto is "A Family for All"

WHAT IS A FAMILY GROUP?

Each group has somewhere between 30-40 people, including children. The groups are formed by trying to match children of a similar age and ensuring a cross section of the ages of adults and children, so that it resembles an extended family. Geographical areas within the parish are not considered as a criteria for placing people in a group. Each group is encouraged to develop its own flavor, while remaining a part of the parish extension of the Passionist Family Group Movement.

WHAT DO GROUPS DO?

The emphasis is on building relationships, so the groups are about 'being' rather than 'doing'. Each group is encouraged to get together for a social activity one a month, sometimes with the children and at other times only with the adults.

These gatherings allow people to get to know one another, and then in natural ways, group members begin to create bonds with others. With the building of bonds comes the opportunity to form friendships, have fun, extend acceptance and support, and quite simply and joyfully experience Christian life with others. The emphasis is on low-cost enjoyment and allowing everyone to feel a part of the 'family'.

HOW DO THE FAMILY GROUPS HELP THE PARISH?

The networking of families has immediate effects on parish liturgy and within a few months more people are keen to become involved in the life of the parish.

Many pastoral needs, such as visiting one another, or helping each other in practical ways during special times of need, build parish life and help people understand what belonging to a parish really means

Family Groups do a great deal to support and encourage the life of the family, as well as provide an important sense of family belonging for the many who have lost it, through death or marriage breakdown.

IS IT SOCIAL OR RELIGIOUS?

It is doubtful Jesus would have comprehended such a distinction! When people learn to accept others who are different from them, and offer love and care, and enjoy doing it, then God is right there in the middle of it. Many people believe that faith is 'caught' rather than 'taught' and there is a lot of 'catching' in Passionist Family Groups.

IS IT A LAY MOVEMENT?

Passionist Family Groups offer an opportunity for pastors, religious and laity to work together. There are significant opportunities for lay leadership, with an emphasis in strengthening marriage and family life.
Copyright information goes here; Last revised: August 27, 2007

| Home | Author | Bishops | Building | Choir | General | History | Parish | Restoration | the original plans |