The Season of Lent will soon be upon us, beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 1st. 

Lent is a time of special prayer, fasting and sacrificial almsgiving. This applies both communally and privately, and in appropriate ways from the young to those advanced in age. 

Ash Wednesday is a day of Fast and of Abstinence; abstinence from the consumption of meat, and fasting in the amount of our food intake on that day. 

There will be two English language masses for Ash Wednesday. Ashes will be distributed at both masses. The first mass will take place at the Carmelite Sisters at 7:15 AM. The second mass will take place at the parish church at 8:00 PM. 

Also during Lent, the Stations of the Cross will be prayed on the following Wednesday evenings at 8 pm, followed by a communion service: March 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5 and 12. 

If you are thinking of making sacrificial almsgiving a part of your Lenten practices this year, St. Anne's will again be collecting for direct assistance to Middle-Eastern Christians as almost all of them struggle to remain in the Middle-East; many of them waiting in refugee camps for repatriation back to their home countries, while a smaller number build new lives as immigrants. There will be a special box for alms for this purpose at the back of the church after each of the weekend masses throughout Lent.

Our Confirmation students recently participated in a weekend retreat at St. Anne's in preparation for this important sacrament.

We wish the Confirmandi continued success in the program, and we offer our special thanks to our Religious Education team and the volunteers and parents that helped make this such a special event.

All--

Revised Lector Schedule for February attached.

Please note that the 8:45 Mass on Sunday 26th February is now being sponsored by the Girl and Boy Scouts.

Oliver Wong is reading at the Broadcast Mass on 5th Feb in place of Marc Harvey.

I believe Christina Gonzaga is still looking for someone to take her place at 11:15 on 12 Feb.

Best, Markus 

The St. Anne's community offers our thanks to the team responsible for decorating our church for the Christmas season!

Dear Fellow St. Anne's Lectors,

Please find attached the January 2017 schedule. Much appreciate you will find replacement in good time if you cannot make the assignment.

Thank you, and a very happy and blessed Christmas to all.

Cheers,

Maria

• November 5^th (Saturday at 10:30 am) - Confirmation Reconciliation
• November 6^th (Sunday) - Confirmation Rite of Enrollment and Mass Sponsorship

BBQ tickets are on sale now!  Ticket prices as follows –

• HK$100 per person (inclusive of food and drinks) + one "pot luck" dish (appetizer, salad or dessert). No entry without a "pot luck" dish. (After Nov 19^th, ticket price will be HK$150 + one "pot luck" dish.)
• HK$50 per person for domestic helpers, children under 12 years old, and those between 65 to 75 years old. (After Nov 19^th, ticket price will be HK$80.)
• Free entry for those under 3 years old and over 75 years old (but will need to take a 'FREE' ticket).

Note: The St. Anne's BBQ is for St. Anne's parishioners and their families only, please.

Please check the bulletin board at the entrance of the Church Lobby, across from the entrance to the Parish office for additional information.

Volunteers are still welcome. Please contact Gabriel Leung at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The FHC Parents' meeting is now at 10 am, 30 Oct, in the Parish Hall. This meeting is mandatory.If you have a child who will receive their First Holy Communion this year, please arrange your schedule such that one parent will be present during this session. Further dates about Confirmation are below:

November 5 (Saturday @ 10:30 am) - Confirmation Reconciliation

November 6 (Sunday) - Confirmation Rite of Enrolment and Mass Sponsorship

This year's theme of the campaign is 'Love in the Service of Hope' and you can support it by purchasing some Raffle Tickets from our volunteers or the Parish Office. Each ticket only costs $20, and if we all just buy a few of them, many will be helped.

This coming Tuesday, September 20^th, Pope Francis will preside over an Interreligious Prayer Meeting in Assisi, Italy. 

His Holiness joins in prayer for world peace with senior representatives of the world's religions. 

In response to an appeal by Pope Francis, Cardinal Tong asks the faithful of Hong Kong to join hearts and spirits with these religious leaders and to also pray for peace this Tuesday both in our parishes and in our homes.

Please note the following important dates: 

• Sept. 25th   CCD Teacher's Commissioning Mass at 11:15 am 
• Oct. 2nd Pre-Confirmation Class Mass Sponsorship at 11:15 am 
• Oct 9th and 16th No Class

Attached is the Lector Schedule for October 2016

This weekend at St. Anne's is called SERVICE SUNDAY. It is a time when all parishioners are asked to consider participating in one of the Church's ministries as a volunteer. Volunteer opportunities range from once a year (Parish Barbeque), to 3-4 times a school-year serving coffee and baked goods between masses (Hospitality Committee), to 2-3 Friday mornings a month getting the Chapel ready for Liturgies (Beautification Committee), to several times a year at times we are already in mass (Eucharistic Ministers, Acolytes, Readers, one of two Choirs, Ushers, and Greeters), to every school-session Sunday (Sunday School/CCD Teachers).

On Saturday night the sign-up sheets will be in the back of the Church after mass. On Sunday, the sign-up sheets will be in the school yard adjacent to the Chapel.

Please reference the separate sheet accompanying this week's Bulletin that speaks more in detail about each Ministry that is seeking volunteers.

Thank you, Fr. John

Welcome back to all our returning students and a special welcome to our new families.Thank you for registering your children in our Religious Education Program.We look forward to a great year of assisting our students in their faith formation and growth.

This is a friendly reminder to upload all required documents onto your online registration. FHC students need to bring in two passport photographs and Confirmation students at least one passport photograph please.

Please note the following upcoming events:

Sept. 18, 10:00 am - Mandatory Confirmation Parents meeting, Parish Hall

Sept. 25, 11:15 am Mass - CCD Teacher Commissioning

CCD Registration is now open and must be completed by August 21.

Classes start on September 4 and registration must be completed before a student attends class.

Information and registration available on https://www.stannes.hk/ccd/student-registration

New families please note that you must be a registered member of the parish before registering for CCD.

We have very limited Sunday car parking space at St Stephen's College this year and if you wish to apply, please contact our parish secretary, Jacqueline. The application deadline will be at the end of August.

Dear Lectors,

I attach the schedule for August, in which I have accommodated all absences communicated to me.

God bless,

Markus 

FHC banners are available for pick up in the entry hallway of the church until June 16. They will be thrown away after that date.

FHC and Confirmation pictures will be available soon for view and purchase. An e-mail with the link to the photographer's site will be sent via e-mail to all families once it becomes available.

2016-2017 CCD Registration will open in late June, early July. Please check the website closer to those dates. Classes will begin late August / early September.

CCD teacher volunteers and student teachers are needed for the new program. Please contact Paul Munder at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are available to volunteer August 2016 - May 2017. We would be very grateful for your assistance and commitment.

As you pack for the Summer, if you find small (or large) collections of spare change in a jar or drawer then please consider donating those unused coins to St. Anne's. 

All currencies are welcome. You can leave them at the Parish Office.