French's Forest Catholic Parish eNEWS

The gospel passage begins with an accusation that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. This is the gravest social accusation one could level at another because who you ate with was a reflection of your own status. To welcome sinners and to eat with them was to effectively become one of them yourself. In response to this accusation, rather than mounting an argument, the gospel writer has Jesus tell three parables about the lost being found. The answer to the accusation is that those dismissed as ‘sinners’ are the ‘lost’ who will be celebrated with extravagant rejoicing when they have been ‘found’ again through their acceptance of the message of Jesus. The parable of the lost son is usually taken in isolation and rarely is heard in the full context of the three parables of the lost being found. We need all three to recognise the ridiculous nature of the celebration of the forgiving father’s actions. All three parables display great folly. What shepherd would leave 99 of his sheep i…

I am grateful to our Diocesan Administrator, Fr David Ranson, for allowing Frenchs Forest and Kuring-Gai Chase Parishes to conduct a special fundraising appeal for the Oblates of the Sacred Heart this weekend 14 & 15 September. All monies raised will be used to further the Seminary Formations charitable and pastoral work of the order. I hope you will consider supporting the work of the Oblates of the Sacred Heart.This is the first opportunity we have been given to do this.Every contribution, however modest, will be more than gratefully received.If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. Envelopes are available in all churches and can be placed in the first or second collections. Fr Jose Philip OSH

The Frenchs Forest Catholic Parish invites students in Years 6-9 to enjoy a FREE day of fun.
There will be games, cooking, eating, basketball and much more.
Wednesday 2nd October, 8am—4pm OLGC Parish Grounds
Please email the parish office for more information or to register your interest. parishoffice@ffcp.org.au

Week 2 of the Confirmation Preparation.  This week the children will be encouraged to be aware that they are part of a great family of faith, a people called to love and serve God.  In Baptism we are all “called by name” and in Confirmation God calls us again leading us more deeply into the Christian Life.  The children are encouraged to learn something about the Saint that they chose for their Confirmation name.

There will be no 9.15am Mass at OLGC on Saturday 28th September due to the Parish Confirmation Ceremonies.

This year the Diocese of Broken Bay is celebrating the theme; A safe community is one in which all experience a sense of belonging.
In our Parish, Safeguarding Month will be recognised during Masses next weekend 21st & 22nd September.

Our Parish children are preparing for their Confirmation on Saturday 28th September so I thought, as Catechists, it would be helpful for us to reflect on the Holy Spirit during this time. As Christians we believe that the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.When we say this, we acknowledge that the one living God is a God of relationship.The Spirit unites us with Christ in faith, and draws us to the Father.Through the Spirit we know ourselves to be children of God.We belong, we are ‘familied’ in a great mystery of divine love. ”Come Holy Spirit.Fill the hearts of your faithful; kindle in them the fire of your love.”
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Walking with Jesus 3rd Edition Launch for PrimaryCatechists Launch. There are two sessions being held at OLGC on Monday 25 November, 2pm - 4pm or 7pm to 9pm.
We need to register by Monday 18th November for this Launch at registrations@bbcatholic.org.au or Phone 8379 1643.

The “Green Team” will be carrying out general maintenance around the grounds of OLGC on Saturday 21st September at 10.30am. Everyone is welcome, please come along.

Fatima Day Join us for a day trip to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy at Penrose Park in Berrima on
Sunday 13th October
Those interested please phone or email the parish Office 9451 5097 or parishoffice@ffcp.org.au
Further details and costs provided once final numbers are confirmed.

In January 2020, it will be six years since I arrived in Frenchs Forest parish.I enjoy my work here in this community.It can be challenging, but it’s also deeply satisfying.I sincerely thank you for the support and encouragement you have been giving me.
When I joined my order, the Oblates of the Sacred Heart, in Kerala in 1986, I had no idea of what lay ahead for me.I had no idea of the joys or the heartaches, or that one day I’d be working in Australia.In December, I’m pleased to say that the Oblates of the Sacred Heart will be ordaining another four priests for missionary service.Maybe they, too, will one day come to work in Australia, and perhaps even in Frenchs Forest.They would like it here. My order currently has another 18 Major Seminarians studying Theology and 16 studying Philosophy in various Seminaries in India. There are also another 36 Minor Seminarians in formation.They are all being trained for missionary service in different parts of India, and across the world. Over the …

Fr Jose invites parishioners to our weekend Parish Retreat onSaturday 14th September & Sunday 15th Septemberat St Martin’s from 9.30am – 4.30pmFacilitated by Fr Ken Barker MGL (Founder and moderator of the Missionaries of God’s Love)Morning and afternoon tea provided, BYO LunchTo register using the clipboards in each church or by ringing the Parish Office.

The Frenchs Forest Catholic Parish invites students in Years 6-9 to enjoy a FREE day of fun.
There will be games, cooking, eating, basketball and much more.
Wednesday 2nd October 8am—4pm OLGC Parish Grounds
Please email the parish office for more information or to register your interest. parishoffice@ffcp.org.au

Please note that we do not have Baptism Preparation on Saturday 14 September. The next Preparation class will be held in October.

Please note the following changes to the Mass Schedule whilst our Clergy attend the Clergy Retreat;
No Masses at St Martin’s Tuesday 10 September Thursday 12 September Friday 13 September
There are no changes to Masses at OLGC or St Anthony’s.

Fatima Day
Join us for a day trip to the Shrone of Our Lady of Mercy At Penrose Park in Berrima on
Sunday 13th October
Those interested please phone or email the parish Office 9451 5097 or parishoffice@ffcp.org.au
Further details and costs provided once final numbers are confirmed.

Classroom Moment from one of our Catechists . On one occasion we were talking about the Resurrection and how we will join Jesus one day and one of the three girls in the class looked up at me and said, in a lovely, revelation like way, “Oh, that’s what’s going to happen to me!” . She had understood that in death we are taken up to Heaven to be with Jesus. She is in Year 5.

This weekend we begin the Sacramental Program for 2019/20.110 Parish Children are preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, which will be held on Saturday 28th September at the OLGC Church. During the first session, the children will remember their Baptism and look at the sacred symbols, which were involved in the Baptism Ceremony and what they mean.They will listen to the story of Jesus being baptised by John and the words that God spoke to Him “You are my Son the beloved; in you I am well pleased.” God says these words to all of us at Baptism. Please pray for our children and their families as they prepare for this important Sacrament.

This year the Diocese of Broken Bay is celebrating the theme; A safe community is one in which all experience a sense of belonging.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Diocesan Liturgy which signifies the start of SAFEGUARDING MONTH.
LITURGY OF INCLUSION ANDCARE, 
Tuesday 3 September 2019, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Waitara, 7.00pm.
In our Parish, Safeguarding Month will be recognised during our weekend Mass services on the 21st & 22nd September.

The Plenary Council invites people to continue to participate in the journey towards the Council sessions in 2020 and 2021. The “Listening and Discernment” phase recently opened and a guide has been developed to encourage groups to take part in communal discernment on the National Themes for Discernment.
Learn more about the Christian practice of discernment and download the guide, “Let’s Listen and Discern”, at www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus is accused of eating with sinners and tax collectors (Lk 15) and we have an image of Jesus as always eating with the marginalised. However, today’s gospel account is a more common occurrence: Jesus eating with a leading Pharisee and people of social importance. Although Jesus is depicted as frequently dining in the houses of these well-to-do people, he was probably never invited a second time! As in today’s account, Jesus made a habit of accepting the hospitality of such people and then giving them a lecture about how they should behave and reminding them who was not gathered around the table with them. Certainly the sort of actions that don’t see too many follow-up invitations! The message he dishes out to the Pharisees on this occasion is about not thinking you’re more important than you really are. He tells them that it is far better to assume a lower status and to be lifted to greater prominence than it is to assume too much and have to be asked to step…

Fr Jose invites parishioners to our weekend Parish Retreat on Saturday 14th September & Sunday 15th September at St Martin’s from 9.30am – 4.30pm
The retreat will be facilitated by Fr Ken Barker MGL. Fr Ken led the clergy retreat in the Diocese of Broken Bay last year, he is the founder and moderator of the Missionaries of God’s Love a religious congregation based in Canberra. Fr Ken is the author of a number of books and involved in many works of evangelisation and spiritual renewal.
Morning and afternoon tea provided, BYO Lunch
To register using the clipboards in each church or by ringing the Parish Office.

On 1 September, Christian Churches all over the world celebrate the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the Season of Creation between that day and 4 October – the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Major Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant and Anglican organisations have joined together to pray and act to protect our common home.
This year’s theme is “The Web of Life: Biodiversity as God’s Blessing”

On Sunday 1st September, we are celebrating ‘Dads’ at St Martin’s with our Father’s Day Family Mass. We would love every dad and every grandfather to join us for mass followed by a hot BBQ breakfast.
Children are invited to bring along a symbol of their dad to make our ‘Father’s Day’ Display in the church. Is your dad a great sportsman, why not bring a soccer ball, or is your dad into fishing, bring along his favourite rod and reel.

Fatima Day Join us for a day trip to the Shrone of Our Lady of Mercy At Penrose Park in Berrima on
Sunday 13th October
Those interested please phone or email the parish Office 9451 5097 or parishoffice@ffcp.org.au
Further details and costs provided once final numbers are confirmed.

An opportunity to reflect on your role as a Catechist -  Discerning Discipleship in Ministry with Children Presented by Sherry Weddell (Author of Forming Intentional Disciples) this workshop will be held on Friday 13 September 2019, 10.00am – 2:30pm. Please register at registrations@bbcatholic.org.au Pope Francis says “Love needs time and space; everything else is secondary. So we ask ourselves “What path am I on and where is it leading? Is it drawing me closer to God, to my family to my faith family, to creation?In what way is my journey our journey.”