White Hills

REPORT ON PPC TO WHITE HILLS PARISH 12 TB APRIL - 21 ST APRIL 2008

The PPC at Wbite Hills Parish, Bendigo commenced on Saturday 12^th April 2008 with the most beautiful weather one could wish, with five legionaries from Melbourne and two from Rochester being the main core group together with Br. lac being the chief dishwasher, sign-writer and book-ruler.

Officers were appointed at the first meeting, being President Sr. Alison Buman, VicePresident - Sr. Antoinette Waite, Treasurer Br. Philippe Hennequinn and Secretary shared by Sr. Maria Palma until Thursday 17^th April and then Sr. Maureen Cunningham.

Fr. Ted Harte, the Parish Priest, commissioned us with a beautifully worded ceremony at both the Vigil Mass on Saturday evening and the Sunday Morning Mass at Holy Rosary Church. Fr. Harte also provided daily Mass at 9.00 am during our stay and shared several evening meals with us.

A typical day was to arise at 6.00am, breakfast at the Parish Centre at 7.00 am, Meeting at 8.00 am, Mass at 9.00am and out on the road by 10.00 am. We would return for lunch at 1.00pm and back out again at 2.00pm until 5.00 or 5.30 and even later on our last Sunday evening. We would then do our figures, have tea at 6.00 to 6.30 and return to our vans for a well-earned sleep at about 8.30 - 9.00 pm.

We were billeted in four caravans at a local caravan park and did not see much of the park as we left early in the morning at dawn and returned at dark. All meals were provided by the Parish at the lovely new Parish Centre (named after Fr. Harte) and only opened last October.

On our first day, we were joined by four young legionaries from Melbourne and two local legionaries (one who has only been coming to the Legion for several weeks but who is a natural and who we hope to see again in the near future). This fust day proved to be our best for figures and we achieved 561 visits to homes.

On Sunday we were joined by three more legionaries from Melbourne and another three from Bendigo. This time we achieved 446 home visits.

On Monday one further legionary drove from Melbourne to assist us together with three from Bendigo.

On Tuesday 15^th April, a further three ladies travelled by train from Bentleigh to join us and Maureen Cunningham arrived from Sale to join the team.

On the 16^th April, two ladies from Morwell joined us for a three day stay.

A rest day was declared on Friday 18^th April but four ladies agreed to work and a further 129 home were visited.

On Saturday 19^th April we farewelled three of the team and only three pairs of legionaries worked this day. A further 306 homes were visited with 52 Catholic families located.

Talks were given at the three Masses on the weekend, the Saturday Vigil and the Sunday 10.00 am at Holy Rosary and the 8.30am at S1. Francis Xavier which is a smaller Church quite nearby. This Church was nearly full as there were special family celebrations that day in Bendigo. An enquiry meeting was held to re-form the Legion at White Hills and four ladies attended, with three experienced legionaries from nearby also expressing a desire to be a part of the Praesidium. A number of other interested people are to be contacted by Sr. Buman.

A further 100 homes were visited on Sunday with 22 Catholic families located. The visitation was done between Mass and the afternoon meeting and after the meeting until nearly 6.00pm, which proved to be an excellent time, with most families home at this time.

On the last day, Monday, 22^nd April, two local legionaries assisted the remaining five of the chore group and finished all areas in the Parish other than the small township of Huntly which has been left for a future Exploratio Dominicalis.

On the final night we enjoyed a de-briefing with several members of the Parish Council and Fr. Harte and we were able to share various experiences and were asked our ideas and opinions on different matters.

A presentation was made to Fr. Harte of the Daily Tally Sheets and Parish Census records together with the contents of the Secret Bag which amounted to $480.00.

The Parish Council thanked the Legion for their assistance and input and said that we had been a great group to work with and Sf. Antoinette and Alison responded with thanks to the Council and all Parishioners for making our stay so enjoyable.

The final figures were 3775 homes visited; 2115 not home; 1194 not Catholic and 466 Catholic.

A beautiful colour brochure had been printed by the Parish and these were offered to all visited. Most people gladly accepted the brochure. Also a brochure inviting lapsed Catholics home was handed to non-praticising Catholics together with various sacramentals such as prayer cards, rosaries, miraculous medals etc.

My special thanks to Sr. Antoinette and the other officers and to all legionaries who so willingly assisted to make such a successful PPC.

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