Away for a Week!!

I will not be able to receive or reply to emails, or update this blog for the week! I'll be cut off from the world... on the beach, relaxing, reading, praying, playing guitar and eating!! Love yáll!! ... Ohhh... and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Great Christmas Day... drove 100 Km for a meal with the parish priest's family then to the bishop's house to help him with a computer problem, joined him for a Maltese supper, and now I'm off to pack for my week at the beach!

3 Days to go!

3 Days till Christmas. This is going to be a good one! Temperatures are rising outside as we move closer to summer! Just wanted to inform you that my CD is now available for a cheaper price and postage free online! Just visit my MySpace and click on the Buy Now!

Anyway... today I went to a Sri Lankan dinner... hot food and fantastic people!!

One Busy Evening!

Almost 4 months have passed since my arrival and I feel like I have been here for years! I am feeling so at home here, though I am really going to miss my family and friends this Christmas! I made up for my lazy morning... I just came back from an Italian funeral where I sang some songs in Italian and was then asked to play at some restaurant next February... that would be fun!! Then we had our parish adoration which I have been organizing... that went really well thank God! Off to watch TV or do some reading... haven't yet made up my mind!

SightSeeing!

Yesterday I decided to go to Melbourne and do some sightseeing. I visited the shops and then went to see the sharks and other marine life at the Melbourne Aquarium. What a day!!

I am now on the way out to prepare for our youth visit to the elderly home!!

Hamper happy!!

I met up with a few of our youth here this morning to plan our visit to the elderly next Tuesday. We chose the carols, practiced them on the piano and then wrapped the presents which they bought with their own money!

I later went to the local Cathedral hall to listen to Bishop Joe give some bible studies. Thank god for enthusiastic bishops:)

Why the hamper image??? Today I received my very first...yes, my first hamper ever!! I'm so happy with it... I don't think I will ever open it!!;)

What a Ministry!

This is proving to be a very busy week! Activities, and when there are none we create them! I love this ministry!! It's so much about the people.... I get so much energy from being with these wonderful people!!! Had a mass and a meal with the sick of the parish today, then gave one of them a lift home and went in with her to pray for the family!!

Christmas is looming... my first away from home and also my first on the beach!;)

Feasting at the Winery!

This morning we (myself and 4 priests) packed into a car and drove for just over 2 hours to a winery in the country where we met some other priests and the bishop and were treated to an Italian feast and some amazing Italian wine!! Bellissimo!!! We got back after the meal and I had to catch up with some young volunteers for an Indian meal.

Have also been planning some upcoming events concerts!! Alot of great stuff ahead.

Hot!

Today was a whopping 4o degrees!! Hot!! It's one of those days you just want to stay in an air conditioned room or by a pool... but there is no water to be found here. The air is full of smoke as 61 million acres of forest burn in the distant surrounding areas! God help us!!

I spent the evening at a friends country house. He and his wife have a wonderful family of 5 children and is a talented drummer. We spent a few hours jamming and were treated to a feast of a dinner!!

Ordinations and Mushy Rice!

Today was a special day... I just returned from an ordination of a new priest. This is a very rare occurrence here as there is a big lack of vocations to the Catholic priesthood in the area! The man who became a priest today is a medical doctor... in his late 50's!

I am now having my supper as I type this... soggy, mushy rice with corn, traces of chicken and bread.... mmmmm!!!

World Youth Day Song!

I received an amazing phone call yesterday from the Sydney World Youth Day office. One of my songs has been shortlisted for the WYD theme song. I will travel to Melbourne next week to perform the song to a small pannel. Please pray that God's will be done!!!!

New Opportunities!

I am waiting for the arrival of parish volunteers... we are throwing them a Christmas party for all their hard work!

Yesterday marked my last day at Catholic College until next February... as part of the last day celebrations I was asked to play and sing for the teens there (800 of them)... what an amazing group- of kids!! Gonna miss them over the summer holidays!

Now is the time to dig deeper into parish life. A time of fantastic opportunity! Tomorrow I'll be organizing an evening Eucharistic Adoration for all the parishioners!! I'll be playing some music off my new ipod there!!;)

Pic Above-> Recent kangaroo sighting... note the baby joey in the mum's pouch!!

Busy times Awaitin'

Three homilies given over the weekend. Nerves were back for a while... I find it way harder to prepare for 7 minutes than for a whole hour!! Tomorrow is my last day at College before the summer holidays... then a busy Christmas season in the parish!

I also played at an ecumenical service at a local Lutheran Church.

Watched a good thriller ... The Talented Mr Ripley... gruesome, but good.

Hilarious!!

Reminds me of a friend of mine!! :))