Parish Groups of Interest to You

We respect PRIVACY LEGISLATION. We do not list phone numbers of parish representatives.

Please contact the Parish Office here and we'll arrange for you to get in touch.

Stewardship

Stewardship is essentially about nourishing and caring. There is a Stewardship Steering Committee and a larger Stewardship general Committee. Newcomers are especially welcome to join the general committee which meets regularly. The Stewardship focus in 2010 centres on welcoming and introducing!

Jubilarians (Maroochydore) & Sippy Seniors (Sippy Downs)

These are parishioners, mostly over age 50, who meet regularly to play cards, celebrate birthdays, and to enjoy outings. Most activities are very economical. This is a group with a lot of enthusiasm and energy. They are warm and friendly. They make newcomers welcome. They meet for lunch monthly-watch the newsletter for notices.

After Mass Hospitality Groups

These are groups of people who regularly attend weekend Masses at Stella Maris church. They provide tea, coffee and savouries to make parishioners and visitors welcome. Joining one of these groups is a great way to get some parish involvement without a high level of commitment.

Grief Support Group

This team of people meet monthly. They keep in touch with families who have recently experienced bereavement. Members are frequently drawn from parishioners who have themselves had deaths in the family. Phone Sr Maree at the parish office regarding this group.

Parish Musicians

There are musicians involved at each of the three parish churches. The parish is always on the 'lookout' for new musicians and singers. There are frequent 'in service' occasions to get together. Parish musicians are assured of an ongoing liturgical formation. All week end Masses in the parish are served by the parish musicians.

Golf Club

Plays monthly on Sunday afternoons at Horton Park. You don't have to be a good golfer. This group have been meeting regularly to play golf for more than 20 years. Visitors and people on holidays are always especially welcome.

Craft Groups

These are talented parishioners who meet on a quasi-regular basis at the Stella Maris (Maroochydore) and St Peter's (Coolum) churches. They make 'nice things' to sell at the parish fete. Maroochydor group meet 4th Thursday of the month at 9.30am and Coolum group meet 1st & 3rd Tuesday of month at 2.30pm.

Parish Prayer Groups

There is the Charismatic Prayer group "The Spirit of Jesus" that meets onthursday evening at Maroochydore at 7.15pm
There is the Divine Mercy prayer group that meets most days to pray in the Stella Maris church
There is a number of rosary groups in different places in the parish.

Lenten Programme Groups

Each year during the Lenten season the Stella Maris parish assists families in local areas to set up small groups that meet in a parishioner’s home. We use material provided by the archdiocese (work books and CD’s) and each group appoints its leader. The 2010 programme is titled “ Remember Me”. Newcomers and long stay visitors are warmly encouraged to participate.

Scripture Suday Group

This group meets every Wednesday at Stella maris Church at 9.30am. They study the Gospels for the week.

WWorking Bee St Catherine of Siena Sippy Downs Religious Education in Queensland State Schools

There are catholic catechists in some of the schools, but not all. Inquire at the parish office. This is a rewarding ministry for people who understand the classroom environment. The work is voluntary and is sometimes done by retired teachers. The parish can put you in touch with the Catechist Coordinator in your area.

Parish Libraries

Each of the three parish churches has a library. People can borrow books after Mass. If you are on the librarians' roster you have a unique opportunity to meet other parishioners.

Parish Play Groups

At Stella Maris (Maroochydore) and St Peter's (Coolum) and St Catherine of Siena (Sippy Downs). The parish provides this facility so that young families (especially newcomers) have a chance to get together and to put their young children in the environment of the local parish church. Play groups operations coincide with the shcool year timetable. The Stella Maris group is large, enjoyable and well established (Wednesdays 9.30am-11.30am. The Coolum group meets Tuesdays 10am to 12 noon at St Peter's Church Coolum. The Sippy Downs group meet Wednesday mornings at St Catherine's Church from 9.30am. Phone the parish office for a contact who can look out for you, make you welcome and introduce you at your first visit.

Friends At Court

While this is not specifically a parish group it draws much of its membership from our parishioners. The centre of its activity is the Maroochy Courthouse. Many volunteers are retired newcomers with previous experience in legal matters. It has a great spirit about it.

Junior Ministry Programme

This is for primary and early secondary parish students. It involves serving on the altar at week end Masses (all churches). Meetings are on Friday afternoon / evening. There are about 10 of these meetings scheduled per year. Well supervised and staffed by older (now retired) Junior Ministers. The parish office staff can provide you with more specific details.

Parish Liturgy Teams

These meet at the three churches regularly. There is an ongoing formation programme. There is a TEAM LEADER for each of the week end Masses. Involvement includes training as lectors, holy communion ministers, and welcomers. This extends to pastoral care of the sick and taking them the Eucharist after the week end Masses.

Financial Support of Parish

The parish has a double envelope process. Each giver is assigned a unique number and this information enables us to record your contributions anonymously. It is also possible to financially support your parish by direct debit and credit card arrangements. The second collection is for the support of your parish and to pay for capital works. Presently there is no tax deductibility. Independently of the parish collection we can receive, and receipt for tax purposes, “one off” tax-deductible donations to the Stella Maris Parish Primary School.

You may also like to volunteer as a Collector at the parish Mass your prefer to attend.

El Shaddai

There is a local El Shaddai group of this large international spiritual organization. Although founded in the Philippines, and originally set up here by the Filipino community its membership has supporters from aeverywhere e.g. Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, South Africa and other places.They meet most Saturdays at the Stella Maris church 11am – 2.30pm. There’s praise, great music, teenagers and primary age kids, and a shared lunch. There’s no need for an introduction. Just come along and you’ll be made instantly welcome.

Church Cleaners

All four churches are cared for by parishioners who take turns on the cleaning rosters. This ministry involves many people. It’s a task we like to share around. It is one practical way to experience a sense of belonging and another way to meet new friends. If you would like to learn more about this please contact the parish office. You will have no more than a small number of turns every year.

Knights of the Southern Cross

The local group is among the largest KSC groups in Australia. Membership is often filled by men who have joined KSC elsewhere and now reside on the Sunshine Coast. New members are always welcome. KSC meets monthly. Phone office for the Knight contact.

St Vincent de Paul Society

These groups of caring people have a close association with the Stella Maris parish. Centred at Maroochydore and Coolum they enjoy companionship and the opportunity to assist folk in need. The Maroochydore (Gerard Majella conference) is the largest in Queensland.