A FAMILY fun day at Springfield’s Our Lady of the Southern Cross church with parishioners encouraged to invite a friend turned into a major community event last Sunday.
Months in the planning after the lifting of pandemic restrictions, Connect Sunday on June 12 proved a success with 1500 visitors enjoying free entertainment, jumping castles, an animal farm, face painting and free food including sausage sandwiches, doughnuts, popcorn and even Merlo barista coffee.
“Our aim was to have a day of fun, food, faith and family,” Our Lady of the Southern Cross parish director of Evangelisation, Vanessa Comninos, said.
“Our hope was that families would come to know where their parish and home is and that no matter where they are in their lives, we are here for them.”
Connect Sunday featured the Good Shepherd Primary School choir, and music and dance from St Augustine’s College.
More than 90 parish volunteers kept activities running throughout the day.
Three Masses were held alongside the event, an encounter youth team led the parish in worship, and a prayer chapel in the hub of activity allowed people to spend some time in prayer or write a prayer to hang on the prayer tree.
“The Church is changing in exciting ways,” Joseph Thorley, a member of Evangelisation Brisbane’s vocation team, said.
“In the past, we held a fete every year for the vital task of fundraising.
“It seems crazy to put on a similar event now, where everything is free. But our focus has changed; we’re building community, joyfully spreading the gospel, and people love it.
“Great things are happening.”
Mrs Comninos said she felt “happy, blessed and relieved” Connect Sunday had been such a success, especially after parish priest Fr Mauro Conte contracted COVID-19 in the lead up.
“As a Connect Sunday Team we did it. Many people were also dropping out with covid but community is amazing, so many beautiful volunteers took on new or more responsibly,” she said.
“Our prayer is that our Catholic schools and Centre families in Greater Springfield, now know where their home and parish is.”
