Weekly message:

February 5

Dear Friends,

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday the 22nd of February this year; as is our custom before this time of discipline in our spiritual lives we will enjoy a time of celebration at the Annual Vicarage Garden Party on Sunday the 19th of February. At both the 10 o’clock service and at the Garden Party our Regional Bishop will be with us; Bishop Barbara Darling will preside and preach at the Sung Eucharist and will join with us in our pre-lent party. As it is only possible for our Bishop to visit us every few years it is therefore important that we make every effort to be present at the Eucharist and at the Garden Party as we are ministered to by our Bishop and as we spend some time with her socially and informally.

In an email from the Archbishop the following information was included:

Vision and Strategic Directions
I commend to you our second year of the Vision and Strategic Directions, with its six strands. The theme for 2012 is, as you know, “Serving the Parish with Fresh Focus” and there will be material available to all parishes and sector ministries to assist with this. The other strands are being followed up as well: the Pilot Parish program; the development of the Bishop Perry institute; the stewardship of parish property assets; the stewardship of monetary wealth; and the monitoring and reporting of progress of the implementation of the vision. I look forward to my meetings with clergy in each of the regions. These days have been arranged for early in the year and I hope to see many of you.

Faith in Fashion Exhibition: Opportunity
Faith in Fashion, an Exhibition of religious robes and regalia, will be held in Bendigo from 12 March to 16 June 2012, in The Capital Arts and Entertainment Centre, 50 View Street Bendigo. Clergy and Clergy families are invited to loan copes and chasubles for this event. If you would like your robes or regalia included in the Exhibition, please contact the organiser, Mr Hugh Elphinstone, by email to: hugh_elphinstone@hotmail.com . Over the same period, a major fashion exhibition, Grace Kelly - Style Icon, will be held next door at the Bendigo Art Gallery and it is expected that the Faith in Fashion exhibition will attract manyvisitors.

Announcement
Dean
The Right Reverend Dr Mark Burton has resigned from his position as Dean of Melbourne. I pay tribute to all that has happened for the Cathedral under Dr Burton’s leadership during the more than three year period of his ministry as Dean of Melbourne and give thanks to God for his service.

With Love and prayers,

Ken

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Vicar: The Reverend Kenneth J Hewlett