Dear Parishioners,

It is time to elect new members into the Parish Pastoral Council to lead our Parish with Fr Jude and Fr Silvio. The Nominees can be found inside the Parish Bulletin with a photograph and a write up of each person. In prayerful discernment, at all Masses this weekend, we ask you to vote for 5 of the nominations who you consider will enrich the quality of Parish Life and to promote the church’s mission to live and communicate the love and values of Christ in our world.

Roger Baatjies:  Dear Parishioners, I am humbled to have been nominated for the Parish Pastoral Council at St James. If successful, by God’s grace and with your prayers, it is a role that I will undertake with a spirit of respect and service. My name is Roger Baatjies, I am a husband and father of two children. We’ve been parishioners at St James since moving to Australia almost six years ago and have come to feel a real friendship with this community. I am part of various ministries and initiatives including the Baptism Ministry, Special Minister of Communion, Alpha, HSI School of Discipleship and help with church maintenance where I can. Through these, my relationship with Christ has deepened and the people I’ve met through these programmes have greatly enriched my faith. My vision is for St James to be a faith-filled community, where each person is challenged to grow in true discipleship, to encounter the living God and grow in their knowledge of the Church’s teachings. I believe that all of us who have been baptised into the life of Christ has a unique role to play in bringing the joy of the gospel to all that we encounter and if my membership on the PPC can support that in any way, then I would humbly and gratefully give this service. May God bless you all.

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Felix Choo: Firstly, I’m grateful to be nominated for the Parish Council. It’s certainly a great endorsement to my involvement in the Parish community, and an encouraging recognition from my faith family. My name is Felix Choo, and I’ve been actively involved in the Parish community since by Baptism back in 2015 (how time flies!). Having been involved in serving and creating communities since my young adulthood (let’s just say it’s been over 20 years). I find a great sense of satisfaction and achievement when I contribute towards community. Even though I’m grateful to have participated in several ministries, I feel that RCIA (which is my first ministry) and Alpha have really been fuelling my passion within the parish context – to build the community and create bonds. I would like to use my life’s experience to contribute towards the objectives and mission of our faith community – to become welcoming missionary disciples. I currently believe the way forward is to create a long-term structure by working with and supporting the various ministries, and communities, within our parish. If you see me around, please do feel free to come up and have a chat!  Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity.

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Patrick Ekweanua: Patrick has been a member of the St James parish community for 10 years. Migrating from Nigeria for his tertiary studies, he was very pleased to find a welcoming catholic community here at Hoppers Crossing North. Just as the Parish’s motto states, “come as you are”, he loves the welcoming ‘culture’ being celebrated at St James which is evident in the lives of the Priests and the Lay faithfuls alike. The multiculturalism we share within the Parish, the St Paul’s charism at work, reaching out to all peoples especially for those in need. Patrick has been an integral and active member of the parish community and greatly involved in the life of the parish. Apart from participating in the liturgical activities within the Parish, he is also involved in ministries like the Young Paulists and the Knights of the Southern Cross in meeting the needs of the parish. He is happy to serve within the parish pastoral council, working with other council members and the entire parish community in discerning the needs of the Holy Spirit within our church. He is also looking forward to opportunities where our cultural diversity will be celebrated more e.g. St James multicultural day/week.

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Stacey Fernandes: Hi, I’m Stacey and I’m proud to be a member of the St James Young Paulists. I enjoy participating in this ministry because it’s a chance to serve our parish community through a variety of events such as our annual hot cross bun drive and family movie night event. It’s also an opportunity to connect with fellow like-minded young people in our parish. This sense of community, connectedness and belonging is what I love most about our parish, and this would continue to be my focus if I’m selected to serve on our parish council. I’ve also enjoyed applying my marketing and communications skills as a Young Paulist and feel these skills would serve well as part of our parish council. And lastly, as a true people person, I love meeting and speaking with members of our parish so if you see me at one of our masses or YP events, please come say hi and let’s chat.

———————————————

Kevin Lloyd: St James has been a major part of my life since marrying my wife and moving to Hoppers Crossing in 1995. My 2 children were baptised in the old church and attended St James primary school and Thomas Carr College. Over the last 27 years I have enjoyed being an active member of the parish regularly celebrating Mass with the community and working in different parish ministries. My two longest serving Ministries, which I am still part of, are the counting team which I joined in 1997 and the fete where I volunteered to help at the first fete and joined the committee the following year. I lead the Operations (Hospitality) Ministry, since its inception, organising ushers and car parking at major church celebrations, have been part of Finance and Risk committees and more recently joined the Covid and Child Safeguarding Committees. I am grateful for the opportunity to belong to such a vibrant parish community. It is a pleasure being involved and getting to meet and work with the people of St James. Being elected to the Parish Pastoral Council would be another way for me to serve my parish and continue to contribute to and be part of the St James community.

———————————————

Russell Menezes: I’ve been an active member of the St James community for the last 20 years since moving to Australia with my parents and brother. During these years I’ve been a part of many ministries such as the Collectors, Altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Youth Ministry and the Young Paulists. St James is a second family for me and has shaped me into the person I am today by providing a platform to grow together and form a deeper connection to God with other young adults and the community. If given the opportunity to join the Parish Pastoral Council, I’d like to continue to build on this together with the charism of Paulist Missionaries to enrich and grow our parish community for the next generation in the same way St James has for me.

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Beatrice Silva: I am mother to three children Piyara, Pehan and Pasandee whom never cease to amaze me and I am married 20 years to my wonderful husband Sujee. We joined St James parish in 2015 when our kids moved to Westbourne Truganina campus. My first encounter with the church community was when our kids were preparing to receive their sacraments and later volunteered to assist in the church sacramental programme. Each time I am thankful to God for calling me to serve and bear witness to his word in preparing the children in their faith journey. My own spiritual journey started at St Bridget’s Convent in Colombo, where I went to school, under the Good Shepherd’s Nuns. There I was constantly exposed to the value of service and living out my faith and serving God with the talents I’ve been gifted. I strongly believe in a loving and merciful God and Jesus’ message of loving both God and thy neighbour and hope to further nurture the strong community spirit at St James Parish. God Bless you!

St James Parish Pastoral Council Elections

Dear Parishioners,

We now approach the time to elect new members into the Parish Pastoral Council to lead our Parish with Fr Jude and Fr Silvio. In prayerful discernment, next weekend on 24/25 Sept, we ask you to vote for 5 of the nominations who you consider will enrich the quality of Parish Life and to promote the church’s mission to live and communicate the love and values of Christ in our world.

Roger Baatjies:  Dear Parishioners, I am humbled to have been nominated for the Parish Pastoral Council at St James. If successful, by God’s grace and with your prayers, it is a role that I will undertake with a spirit of respect and service. My name is Roger Baatjies, I am a husband and father of two children. We’ve been parishioners at St James since moving to Australia almost six years ago and have come to feel a real friendship with this community. I am part of various ministries and initiatives including the Baptism Ministry, Special Minister of Communion, Alpha, HSI School of Discipleship and help with church maintenance where I can. Through these, my relationship with Christ has deepened and the people I’ve met through these programmes have greatly enriched my faith. My vision is for St James to be a faith-filled community, where each person is challenged to grow in true discipleship, to encounter the living God and grow in their knowledge of the Church’s teachings. I believe that all of us who have been baptised into the life of Christ has a unique role to play in bringing the joy of the gospel to all that we encounter and if my membership on the PPC can support that in any way, then I would humbly and gratefully give this service. May God bless you all.

———————————————

Felix Choo: Firstly, I’m grateful to be nominated for the Parish Council. It’s certainly a great endorsement to my involvement in the Parish community, and an encouraging recognition from my faith family. My name is Felix Choo, and I’ve been actively involved in the Parish community since by Baptism back in 2015 (how time flies!). Having been involved in serving and creating communities since my young adulthood (let’s just say it’s been over 20 years). I find a great sense of satisfaction and achievement when I contribute towards community. Even though I’m grateful to have participated in several ministries, I feel that RCIA (which is my first ministry) and Alpha have really been fuelling my passion within the parish context – to build the community and create bonds. I would like to use my life’s experience to contribute towards the objectives and mission of our faith community – to become welcoming missionary disciples. I currently believe the way forward is to create a long-term structure by working with and supporting the various ministries, and communities, within our parish. If you see me around, please do feel free to come up and have a chat!  Thank you again for this wonderful opportunity.

———————————————

Patrick Ekweanua: Patrick has been a member of the St James parish community for 10 years. Migrating from Nigeria for his tertiary studies, he was very pleased to find a welcoming catholic community here at Hoppers Crossing North. Just as the Parish’s motto states, “come as you are”, he loves the welcoming ‘culture’ being celebrated at St James which is evident in the lives of the Priests and the Lay faithfuls alike. The multiculturalism we share within the Parish, the St Paul’s charism at work, reaching out to all peoples especially for those in need. Patrick has been an integral and active member of the parish community and greatly involved in the life of the parish. Apart from participating in the liturgical activities within the Parish, he is also involved in ministries like the Young Paulists and the Knights of the Southern Cross in meeting the needs of the parish. He is happy to serve within the parish pastoral council, working with other council members and the entire parish community in discerning the needs of the Holy Spirit within our church. He is also looking forward to opportunities where our cultural diversity will be celebrated more e.g. St James multicultural day/week.

———————————————

Stacey Fernandes: Hi, I’m Stacey and I’m proud to be a member of the St James Young Paulists. I enjoy participating in this ministry because it’s a chance to serve our parish community through a variety of events such as our annual hot cross bun drive and family movie night event. It’s also an opportunity to connect with fellow like-minded young people in our parish. This sense of community, connectedness and belonging is what I love most about our parish, and this would continue to be my focus if I’m selected to serve on our parish council. I’ve also enjoyed applying my marketing and communications skills as a Young Paulist and feel these skills would serve well as part of our parish council. And lastly, as a true people person, I love meeting and speaking with members of our parish so if you see me at one of our masses or YP events, please come say hi and let’s chat.

———————————————

Kevin Lloyd: St James has been a major part of my life since marrying my wife and moving to Hoppers Crossing in 1995. My 2 children were baptised in the old church and attended St James primary school and Thomas Carr College. Over the last 27 years I have enjoyed being an active member of the parish regularly celebrating Mass with the community and working in different parish ministries. My two longest serving Ministries, which I am still part of, are the counting team which I joined in 1997 and the fete where I volunteered to help at the first fete and joined the committee the following year. I lead the Operations (Hospitality) Ministry, since its inception, organising ushers and car parking at major church celebrations, have been part of Finance and Risk committees and more recently joined the Covid and Child Safeguarding Committees. I am grateful for the opportunity to belong to such a vibrant parish community. It is a pleasure being involved and getting to meet and work with the people of St James. Being elected to the Parish Pastoral Council would be another way for me to serve my parish and continue to contribute to and be part of the St James community.

———————————————

Russell Menezes: I’ve been an active member of the St James community for the last 20 years since moving to Australia with my parents and brother. During these years I’ve been a part of many ministries such as the Collectors, Altar servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Youth Ministry and the Young Paulists. St James is a second family for me and has shaped me into the person I am today by providing a platform to grow together and form a deeper connection to God with other young adults and the community. If given the opportunity to join the Parish Pastoral Council, I’d like to continue to build on this together with the charism of Paulist Missionaries to enrich and grow our parish community for the next generation in the same way St James has for me.

———————————————

Beatrice Silva: I am mother to three children Piyara, Pehan and Pasandee whom never cease to amaze me and I am married 20 years to my wonderful husband Sujee. We joined St James parish in 2015 when our kids moved to Westbourne Truganina campus. My first encounter with the church community was when our kids were preparing to receive their sacraments and later volunteered to assist in the church sacramental programme. Each time I am thankful to God for calling me to serve and bear witness to his word in preparing the children in their faith journey. My own spiritual journey started at St Bridget’s Convent in Colombo, where I went to school, under the Good Shepherd’s Nuns. There I was constantly exposed to the value of service and living out my faith and serving God with the talents I’ve been gifted. I strongly believe in a loving and merciful God and Jesus’ message of loving both God and thy neighbour and hope to further nurture the strong community spirit at St James Parish. God Bless you!