St Kevin's Parish Geebung

31/01/2026

Annual Blessing of Candles

The feast of the Presentation of the Lord was first observed in the Eastern Church as “The Encounter”, the encounter between the Messiah and the Chosen People. In the sixth century, it began to be observed in the West: in Rome with a more penitential character, and in Gaul (France) with solemn blessings and processions of candles, popularly known as “Candlemas.”

The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple concludes the celebration of the Nativity and with the offerings of the Blessed Mother and the prophecy of Simeon, the events now point toward Easter. In obedience to the Old Law, the Lord Jesus, the first-born, was presented in the Temple by his Blessed Mother and his foster father. This is another ‘epiphany’ celebration insofar as the Christ Child is revealed as the Messiah throughout the canticle and the words of Simeon and the testimony of Anna the prophetess. Christ is the light of the nations, hence the blessing and procession of candles on this day.

23/11/2025

The Sacrament of First Communion 2025

We joyfully entrust the First Communicants into the love of Christ present in the Eucharist, together with their Parents and families, that the Word and Eucharist may become their source of life, not just for this Day, but for their whole lives.

16/11/2025

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER FOR THE 9th WORLD DAY OF THE POOR

16 November 2025

You are my hope (cf. Ps 71:5)

1. “You, O Lord, are my hope” (Ps 71:5). These words well up from a heart burdened by grave hardship: “You have made me see many troubles and calamities” (v. 20), the Psalmist exclaims. At the same time, his heart remains open and confident; steadfast in faith, he acknowledges the support of God, whom he calls “a rock of refuge, a strong fortress” (v. 3). Hence, his abiding trust that hope in God never disappoints: “In you, Lord, I take refuge; I shall never be put to shame” (v. 1).

Amid life’s trials, our hope is inspired by the firm and reassuring certainty of God’s love, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. That hope does not disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5). Thus Saint Paul could write to Timothy: “To this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God” (1 Tim 4:10). The living God is in fact “the God of hope” (Rom 15:13), and Christ, by his death and resurrection, has himself become “our hope” (1 Tim 1:1). We must never forget that we were saved in this hope, and need to remain firmly rooted therein.

2. The poor can be witnesses to a strong and steadfast hope, precisely because they embody it in the midst of uncertainty, poverty, instability and marginalization. They cannot rely on the security of power and possessions; on the contrary, they are at their mercy and often victims of them. Their hope must necessarily be sought elsewhere. By recognizing that God is our first and only hope, we too pass from fleeting hopes to a lasting hope. Once we desire that God accompany us on the journey of life, material wealth becomes relativized, for we discover the real treasure that we need. The words that the Lord Jesus spoke to his disciples remain forceful and clear: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Mt 6:19-20).

3. The gravest form of poverty is not to know God. As Pope Francis wrote in Evangelii Gaudium: “The worst discrimination which the poor suffer is the lack of spiritual care. The great majority of the poor have a special openness to the faith; they need God and we must not fail to offer them his friendship, his blessing, his word, the celebration of the sacraments and a journey of growth and maturity in the faith” (No. 2000). Here we see a basic and essential awareness of how we can find our treasure in God. As the Apostle John insists: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 Jn 4:20).

This is a rule of faith and the secret of hope: all this earth’s goods, material realities, worldly pleasures, economic prosperity, however important, cannot bring happiness to our hearts. Wealth often disappoints and can lead to tragic situations of poverty — above all the poverty born of the failure to recognize our need for God and of the attempt to live without him. A saying of Saint Augustine comes to mind: “Let all your hope be in God: feel your need for him, and let him fill that need. Without him, whatever you possess will only make you all the more empty” (Enarr. in Ps., 85:3).

4. The word of God tells us that Christian hope is certainty at every step of life’s journey, since it does not depend not on our human strength but upon the promise of God, who is always faithful. For this reason, from the beginning, Christians have identified hope with the symbol of the anchor, which provides stability and security. Christian hope is like an anchor that grounds our hearts in the promise of the Lord Jesus, who saved us by his death and resurrection and will come again among us. This hope continues to point us toward the “new heavens” and the “new earth” (2 Pet 3:13) as the true horizon of our existence, where every life will find its authentic meaning, for our real homeland is in heaven (cf. Phil 3:20).

The city of God, therefore, impels us to improve the cities of men and women. Our own cities must begin to resemble his. Hope, sustained by God’s love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 5:5), turns human hearts into fertile soil where charity for the life of the world can blossom. The Church’s tradition has constantly insisted on the circular relationship between the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. Hope is born of faith, which nourishes and sustains it on the foundation of charity, the mother of all virtues. All of us need charity, here and now. Charity is not just a promise; it is a present reality to be embraced with joy and responsibility. Charity engages us and guides our decisions towards the common good. Conversely, those who lack charity not only lack faith and hope; they also rob their neighbors of hope.

5. The biblical summons to hope thus entails the duty to shoulder our responsibilities in history, without hesitation. Charity, in fact, “is the greatest social commandment” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1889). Poverty has structural causes that must be addressed and eliminated. In the meantime, each of us is called to offer new signs of hope that will bear witness to Christian charity, just as many saints have done over the centuries. Hospitals and schools, for instance, were institutions established to reach out to the most vulnerable and marginalized. These institutions should be a part of every country’s public policy, yet wars and inequalities often prevent this from happening. Today, signs of hope are increasingly found in care homes, communities for minors, centers for listening and acceptance, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and low-income schools. How many of these quiet signs of hope often go unnoticed and yet are so important for setting aside our indifference and inspiring others to become involved in various forms of volunteer work!

The poor are not a distraction for the Church, but our beloved brothers and sisters, for by their lives, their words and their wisdom, they put us in contact with the truth of the Gospel. The celebration of the World Day of the Poor is meant to remind our communities that the poor are at the heart of all our pastoral activity. This is true not only of the Church’s charitable work, but also of the message that she celebrates and proclaims. God took on their poverty in order to enrich us through their voices, their stories and their faces. Every form of poverty, without exception, calls us to experience the Gospel concretely and to offer effective signs of hope.

6. This, then, is the invitation extended to us by this Jubilee celebration. It is no coincidence that the World Day of the Poor is celebrated towards the end of this year of grace. Once the Holy Door is closed, we are to cherish and share with others the divine gifts granted us throughout this entire year of prayer, conversion and witness. The poor are not recipients of our pastoral care, but creative subjects who challenge us to find novel ways of living out the Gospel today. In the face of new forms of impoverishment, we can risk becoming hardened and resigned. Each day we encounter poor or impoverished people. We too may have less than before and are losing what once seemed secure: a home, sufficient food for each day, access to healthcare and a good education, information, religious freedom and freedom of expression.

In this promotion of the common good, our social responsibility is grounded in God’s creative act, which gives everyone a share in the goods of the earth. Like those goods, the fruits of human labor should be equally accessible to all. Helping the poor is a matter of justice before a question of charity. As Saint Augustine observed: “You give bread to a hungry person; but it would be better if none were hungry, so that you would have no need to give it away. You clothe the naked, but would that all were clothed and that there be no need for supply this lack” (In I Ioan., 8:5).

It is my hope, then, that this Jubilee Year will encourage the development of policies aimed at combatting forms of poverty both old and new, as well as implementing new initiatives to support and assist the poorest of the poor. Labor, education, housing and health are the foundations of a security that will never be attained by the use of arms. I express my appreciation for those initiatives that already exist, and for the efforts demonstrated daily on the international level by great numbers of men and women of good will.

Let us entrust ourselves to Mary Most Holy, Comforter of the Afflicted and, with her, let us raise a song of hope as we make our own the words of the Te Deum: “In you, O Lord, is our hope, and we shall never hope in vain.”

From the Vatican, 13 June 2025, Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Patron Saint of the Poor

LEO XIV

11/09/2025

30/08/2025

This week, the Catholic Church in Australia celebrates Social Justice Sunday. The Catholic Bishops of Australia released the Social Justice Statement for 2025-2026 titled “Signs of Hope on the Edge” with a focus on homeless people with mental ill-health.

The full statement alongside other resources can be found here: https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/2025/08/06/signs-of-hope-on-the-edge-social-justice-statement-2025-2026/

15/08/2025

Today we celebrated the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mary, Queen of Peace, Pray for the World.

18/06/2025

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sandhurst Bishop Shane Mackinlay as the new Archbishop of Brisbane. Archbishop Mark Coleridge welcomes the appointment of his successor, a gifted man, who will be a distinguished addition to the line of Brisbane Archbishops. More on our website https://bit.ly/3HMFkdx

06/05/2025

Last Sunday (4 May) in honour of May being the month of Mary, the Mary Statue was crowned.

Mary Queen of Heaven, pray for us.

29/04/2025

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Election Statement 2025

Called to Bring Hope in the Year of Jubilee

As Australians prepare to vote in the federal election, Catholics have a vital role in shaping our nation’s future.

Our faith calls us to engage in democracy, to build, in the words of Pope St. John Paul II, “a civilisation of love,” and to contribute “to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom.”

This election coincides with the Holy Year of Jubilee, themed ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ Pope Francis reminds us that “all of us have received the gift and task of bringing hope wherever hope has been lost, lives broken, promises unkept, dreams shattered, and hearts overwhelmed by adversity.”

To bring hope, we must first become people of hope; as Pope Benedict XVI declared, “the one who has hope lives differently.”

The Jubilee reminds us that voting is not just a civic duty but an opportunity to advance the common good and pave the way for hope.

Federal Election 2025

Political discourse in our time has become increasingly polarised. This can, only too easily, foster distrust and erode social cohesion. Unfortunately, in recent months, here in Australia, some have even turned to violence as a means of political expression. We condemn entirely the anti-Semitism that has arisen in our society, as we condemn all forms of hatred or discrimination towards our fellow Australians. Our democracy is defined by our commitment to resolving issues peacefully through dialogue and democratic processes.

No politician or political party can ever solve every issue or serve as a perfect representative. Our hearts long for something far greater than this world can offer—something no earthly leader can fully provide.

As Catholics, we have an obligation to form our consciences through reason, Sacred Scripture, and Church teachings so that, in the words of St. Paul, we “put on the mind of Christ.” Conscience is our inner guide, enabling us to discern right from wrong and judge what is good and just, and we have a duty to follow it faithfully. This demands careful consideration of the facts and the background to our decisions, and a commitment to prayer to discern God’s will.

Key issues to reflect on before voting

In determining our electoral choices, Australian Catholics search always to uphold the sanctity of life, protect the vulnerable, support and strengthen families, promote the common good, and foster a just society where all Australians can thrive.

The Dignity And Value Of Every Human Being

Respect for God’s creation and the dignity of the human person is central to our Catholic faith, affirming the sacredness of life from conception to natural death. We are called to protect the most vulnerable, including the unborn, disabled, and those at life’s end, in opposing practices like abortion and euthanasia.

Catholic Faith upholds the family as the cornerstone of society. Governments need to enact policies that strengthen marriages and families, support parents as primary educators, and provide resources for those experiencing hardship or family breakdown.

Religious Freedom And Conscience Rights

We teach that society must uphold the dignity and freedom of every person, founded in their God-given ability to act according to reason and conscience. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right that must be protected for individuals, families, and faith-based institutions. This includes the right to live and act in accordance with moral beliefs, raise children within their faith, and ensure religious organisations can practice their values freely. Parents must have the freedom to choose faith-based schools for their children, with equitable funding to ensure quality education for all.

Fairness, Justice And The Common Good

The Church calls for fairness and justice in health care, infrastructure, and economic management. Health care must prioritise the vulnerable and respect the conscience of providers, especially as gaps in services like palliative care persist. Infrastructure planning and economic policies should serve the common good, ensuring fair allocation of resources for schools, hospitals, transport, and essential services. We teach that economic systems must serve people, not the other way around, with decisions made responsibly and equitably to improve the lives of all, particularly the most vulnerable or disadvantaged.

Responsible Stewardship Of God’s Creation

We are called to be responsible stewards of God’s creation, caring for the planet and protecting it for future generations, and using the earth’s resources equitably and sustainably to ensure a fair and safe future for all.

Prayer for the election

Grant, we pray, O Lord our God,
that as the Cross shines in our southern skies,
so may Christ bring light to our nation, to its peoples old and new,
and by saving grace, transform our lives.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

22/04/2025

Eternal rest give to Francis, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.

Archbishop Mark Coleridge remembers Pope Francis https://bit.ly/3RYoKJj

20/04/2025

Happy Easter from all of us at St Kevin’s Geebung

13/10/2024

Queensland Bishops Election Statement

At a time when democracy is under pressure in many parts of the world, things in Queensland don’t look too bad. Every four years we, as free and equal citizens, get to vote for the person in the area where we live who we think will best represent us in the state parliament. Everyone votes and every vote counts in our full preferential voting system. Once the vote is done, the result is accepted by all and things move on peaceably.

Those elected are entrusted with the responsibility of making laws that serve the needs of all the people. It does not matter which party the elected belong to, whether they are in government or in opposition or on the crossbench: they all share this responsibility. Though Queenslanders vote for the candidate they think will best serve their interests at state level, the parliament bears a responsibility to act in the best interests of all Queenslanders, not just some – and certainly not just in their own interests or the interests of their party.

In Queensland as elsewhere, the government cannot do everything. It depends on partnership with organisations and communities like the churches, and this without jeopardising the separation of church and state. Both the state and the church are committed to the common good, and they have a duty therefore to work together for all Queenslanders at a time when the population of both church and state is becoming more diverse.

The Catholic Church has been part of the fabric of Queensland from the beginning and can be a vital resource for the government and people of the state, contributing to policy development and public debate. Our networks can be a key to building social connection, especially for the vulnerable; they offer much experience and expertise; they have first-hand knowledge of what’s happening on the ground in their communities. These are among the many reasons why partnership between the government and the Church makes sense. Together we can change society for the better, but that will require a willingness to listen to each other and a commitment to collaborative decision-making.

This cannot be taken for granted in a state with no house of review. In such a situation, executive government can have too little regard for parliamentary processes, oversight and accountability. Elsewhere in Australia there are democratically elected upper houses which hold executive government to account.

For all their imperfections, they make governments work harder to get their legislation passed, to take more care in proposing legislation and to be willing to change flawed bills. In Queensland, however, that is not the case. In 1989, the Fitzgerald Report recommended an expanded parliamentary committee system and new institutions of integrity; but in the meantime these have been subject at times to partisan executive government manipulation, whoever is in power.

In Queensland there’s also the risk of contamination by influences from elsewhere. Around the world in recent years there has been a rise of polarisation, populism and post-truth, each of which plays into the others; and Queensland is not exempt from these.

Tensions from elsewhere can be imported into the state, and in the age of social media ideas and ideologies are easily spread, sowing seeds of division that can lead to violence. These ideas and ideologies may be based on lies and disinformation which can have a destabilising effect and make it difficult for any government to govern effectively.

They can open the door to those who want to dismantle democracy from within by undermining the checks and balances of democratic institutions, by treating the law with contempt, by denigrating society’s experts and calling into question the very notion of truth. Ultimately, this leads not to a contest of free expression and rational debate in a spirit of shared commitment to the common good, but to a fight for power over others through brute force.

Democracies thrive on difference; yet too much difference or too little are both bad for democracy. In addressing the challenges facing all Queenslanders—healthcare, education, cost of living, housing, energy, safety, justice—we need as the basis of healthy political debate differing approaches and policies, based on evidence and sound reasoning. Such differences look to a dialogue based on truth and trust which is the opposite of the polarisation that makes democracy impossible.

Part of this polarisation can be a tendency to demonise the other, paving the way to populism and, with it, demagoguery and tyranny. This demonisation can target anyone: the rich or the poor; the criminal or the police; the foreigner or the local; the politician or the civil servant; the religious person or the non-believer; labour or capital; one party or the other.

Such polarisation plays on people’s fears by telling lies about the other. The prime lie is that there are people in the world, or in the state, who are less than human or who are fundamentally evil and not worthy of respect or care and not deserving of the rights proper to all people. In short, these lies deny the dignity of every human being. They are not recognised as lies, because in a world where there’s no such thing as truth, there’s no such thing as a lie. This is the dystopian world of post-truth.

In such a world and at this time, we would ask of those seeking election and those who will elect them that, beyond the seductions of the lie, they tell the truth, that they resist the pressures of polarisation and work for the good of all, and that they recognise populism for what it is and fully respect the processes of democracy and the rule of law.

+Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Brisbane

+Ken Howell, Bishop of Toowoomba

+Michael McCarthy, Bishop of Rockhampton

+Joe Caddy, Bishop of Cairns

+Tim Harris, Bishop of Townsville

+Tim Norton SVD, Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane