French's Forest Catholic Parish Notices and News

Dear Parishioners, As we listen to this week’s Gospel, ten lepers cry out to Jesus for mercy, and all are healed. Yet only one, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks. His gratitude becomes the doorway to a deeper encounter with Jesus, who tells him, “Your faith has saved you.” This passage reminds us that gratitude is not just good manners, it is an act of faith. The Samaritan recognises that his healing is not only physical but spiritual, and that it comes from the loving hand of God. The other nine received the same miracle, but missed the greater gift: a relationship with Jesus born out of thankfulness. As we go about our daily lives, may we, too, be like the one who returned, aware of God’s goodness, grateful for His mercy, and eager to give thanks in word and deed. It reminds us that genuine faith is demonstrated not only in seeking God's help but also in the humble, heartfelt act of thanksgiving. Thank you to those parishioners who have joined us for the Rosary during the past ...

Sometimes we may ask why we offer Mass intentions?  We offer Mass intentions for our departed loved ones, living family members, and on special occasions like wedding anniversaries or birthdays because the Holy Mass is the highest form of prayer and worship in the catholic Church. It unites us with the sacrifices of Christ on the Cross and brings countless graces. For the deceased, offering a Mass intention is an act of love and mercy. We believe in the communion of saints, and the power of prayer to aid souls in purgatory. When we request a Mass for a departed loved one, we entrust them to God’s mercy and ask that they be purified and welcomed into eternal life. It is a spiritual gift that expresses our hope in the resurrection and our continued connection with those who have gone before us. For the living, Mass intentions are a way to seek God’s blessings, protection and guidance. Offering Masses for our families is a sign of spiritual care and solidarity. In short, Mass intentio...

We warmly invite you to join us on Sunday 2nd November for All Souls Day and our annual blessing of the graves and Remembrance Mass. 2pm at Frenchs Forest Cemetery for Blessing of the graves to honour our oved ones who have passed away. Come along and be there for the blessing & afternoon tea 6pm Remembrance Mass at OLGC Forestville Church. All are welcome to this special mass for those who have died. We would love to have fresh flowers for the mass. Please bring some flowers to OLGC on the morning of 2nd November. Please note the usual monthly scholar mass will be at a later date. If you would like your loved one, whose funeral was not held in our Parish during this year, remembered or added to the remembrance book, please contact the parish office. A ll are welcome to join these celebrations and pray for our departed loved ones.

1. Season of Creation  Thank You and let's continue the spirit. The Season of Creation ended on Oct 4th with the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. Thank you to all those who participated fully across the parish in many ways. However, let's continue the spirit of the season - responding to the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth. We invite everybody to sign the Caritas Petition "Turn Debt Into Hope". Stand in solidarity with vulnerable communities most affected by the burden of unsustainable debt and increasingly impacted by ecological disasters, especially our Pacific neighbours. There will be paper copies of the Petition at each of the churches. Or sign the petition online at www.caritas.org.au/act/turn-debt-into-hope/ 2. Kierans Creek Landcare, Sat 11th Oct, 9am - 12 noon at St Anthony in the Fields.  All Welcome. 3. FFCP Social Justice Group meeting Monday 13th Oct by Zoom at 7.15pm.  All Welcome. Contact Office for details.

Wednesday 29th October to 31st Friday October 2025 at St. Martin de Porres Church, Time: 6.00 pm- 8.15 pm Rosary, Holy Mass, Reflections and Adoration. ALL ARE WARMLY INVITED.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all our One-Day Pilgrims on completing their visits to the diocesan churches. Our two-day pilgrimage brought together over 80 pilgrims. During our pilgrimage, we journeyed to the three Shrines of Hope in Manly , Chatswood , and Gosford , as well as our Broken Bay Cathedral in Waitara . The Diocese of Broken Bay is blessed with three diocesan Jubilee Shrines of Hope — places of pilgrimage, worship, prayer, and renewal for all the faithful during this Jubilee Year: The Parish of Gosford , home to a relic of Saint John Paul II , is our Shrine of Hope for Families. The Parish of Chatswood , with relics of Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati , is our Shrine of Hope for Young People. The Parish of Manly Freshwater , which holds a relic of Saint John Vianney , is our Shrine of Hope for Priests and Vocations. We were also blessed to visit the Divine Retreat Centre in Somersby , where we prayed at the shrines of Saint Faustina and Saint...

Our beautiful parishioner Jo Fiore, who was part of our Jubilee Year Pilgrimage, has written a heartfelt poem capturing the spirit and blessings of the trip.  We invite you to take a moment to read and reflect on Jo’s beautiful words, which express the joy, faith, and unity we shared on this special journey.  Thank you, Jo, for sharing your gift and keeping the memory of our pilgrimage alive in such a meaningful way.

Why we are encouraged to participate in Jubilee 2025. Whether you travel to Rome or participate locally during the special celebration, God’s grace still flows to the faithful. When opening the Holy Door for the 2025 Jubilee of Hope, Pope Francis reflecting on the door as a symbol of “opening” and encouraged people to open their hearts to hope. Religious Significance The figures of prophets and apostles represent the Old and New Testaments, while the image of St. James and his disciples signifies the early Christian church. Historical Context The Holy Door is a significant symbol in the Catholic Church, especially during Jubilee Years, representing entry into new life and spiritual renewal. Opening Ceremony The first documented opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica was in 1500, under Pope Alexander VI. The Pope traditionally opens the door at the start of a Jubilee Year.] Symbolic Meaning The Holy Door represents Jesus Christ as the gate to eternal life, the Good Shepherd, a...

All are welcome to come and enjoy the music .There will be a BBQ before the concert. Pls. scan QR code for sending to relatives, friends & neighbours  

Share Your Favourite Recipe! Our wonderful Youth Groups are excited to announce that they’re putting together a special Parish Cookbook! This is your chance to be part of something delicious and meaningful. We’re inviting all parish families and friends to share your favourite recipe — along with a photo of the dish and, if you’d like, a photo of the family behind it! Submit your recipe here: https://cc.recipes/ffcp-youthfundraiser All submitted recipes will be collected into a beautiful Parish Cookbook, which will be published and made available for purchase. Proceeds will support our youth programs and parish activities. If you have any questions or need help uploading your recipe, please reach out to: Susanne Bragge – sacraments@ffcp.org.au or Michaella – youth@ffcp.org.au Let’s make this cookbook a true celebration of our parish community. We can’t wait to see your recipes — and taste them too!

Are you interested in finding out more about the Catholic Faith? Would you like to become a Catholic? Do you have questions about the Catholic Faith? Would you like to know how the Rite of Christian Initiation (R.C.I.A.) program runs? Ring 9451 5097 or Email rcia@ffcp.org.au

Dear Parishioners, We, your parish priests, are always happy to visit your homes—whether it is to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the housebound, to visit the sick, to bless your home, or simply to have a friendly chat and spend time together. If you or a loved one would like a visit, please don’t hesitate to contact the parish office at parishoffice@ffcp.org.au or call us on 02 9451 5097. We look forward to being with you and sharing God’s love and presence in your home. Fr. Satheesh, Fr. Biju and Fr. Boby.

Dear Parish Family, Thank you so much for your incredible generosity and ongoing support! Because of you, our parish continues to thrive and serve the community. As you know, this vibrancy relies on your generosity for which there are now many different ways of giving using modern technology. In recent times we have introduced Tap’n’go machines in our churches. We have now added a new, easy, and secure way to make a contribution to support our parish—through a simple scan of a QR code. This small code allows you to give a single gift directly from your phone at any time, wherever you may be. All you need to do is open your camera, scan the code and you'll be taken directly to our secure giving page. It’s fast, easy, and helps the parish to continue the great work we’re doing together. Of course, like Tap’n’go, contributions by QR code are a once only gift. If you would like your donation to be regular and automatic, please join our Planned Giving program which is easily arranged ...