French's Forest Catholic Parish eNEWS

Almost the whole of the fourth chapter of Mark is devoted to parables. The first of the parables is unique to Mark’s Gospel, Jesus reflects on what the kingdom of God is like and he uses seed growing to explain to the crowd. Did they understand what he was trying to explain? Do we?

When Jesus pictures the Kingdom of God as a wonderful harvest, his listeners would envisage a future without hunger, without servitude.

Naturally, they and we want to know when this new way of life, this fulfilling of the Kingdom of God, will come about. Our Lord replies: ‘Be patient. Your job is to sow the seed. Something will happen out of all proportion to your part in the process”. God’s creative power worked in the depths of stony ground to raise up the Gospel Seed who is Jesus Christ. From that, a community has grown which, at its best, leads to a fair and just distribution of the world’s resources, as Pope Francis insists is a major test of authenticity of our claim to be Christian.

Let us pray for…

‘Actions speak louder than words…..let your words teach and your actions speak. ‘ St Anthony of Padua

SUNDAY 17 JUNE 9.00 AM MASS
All welcome to join us for this whole of parish event as we celebrate the Feast of St Anthony one of our parish’s three patron saints.


Please note: There will be NO 10am Mass at OLGC and 8.30 am Mass at St Martin’s on that day.

The 2018/2019 Family Based Sacramental program is due to commence with a parent information evening on 28 June 2018. This evening is for parents only, children do not need to attend.

This program involves preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of Confirmation, Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

Confirmation will be held on Saturday 18 August at 10.00am and 12.00pm.
To be eligible for enrolment in this program your child must be baptised and at least in Year 2 at school.
Confirmation is the first Sacrament after Baptism in Broken Bay Diocese.

 If your are considering enrolling your child, it is essential to attend this information evening, Please note the process for enrolment has changed this year and so it will be most important for you to attend the meeting to hear the instructions for the enrolment process, only parents who attend this meeting will be eligible to enrol their child in 2018/2019 Sacramental Program.

Recently one of our Catechists received this note from a Year 3 student:-
“Thank you soooooooooooo much for taking a lot of your precious time to make us believe in God.I have never seen someone that has ever had the courage to give so much of herself.You have done so well in making us believe in God and Jesus and you should be very proud.You have such a talent to organise those classes just for us.You are very lucky to be able to teach 20 kids and maybe more with so much love.Thank you for being a great teacher.”
Thank you to all our wonderful Catechists who attended the Morning tea this week.We are blessed to belong to such a caring and dedicated Ministry.

Take the time to step back from everyday distractions and rediscover your relationship! 
17th – 19th August at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre Varroville, NSW  Book online at  www.wwme.org.au Alternatively contact Adrian and Janet Sullivan: on 0490 774 419 or adrian.janet1@bigpond.com

Are now available in the churches. 
Please make sure your address details are up to date. If you are unable to find your envelopes in the church you attend please contact the Parish Office so we can arrange for them to be at your preferred church.
If you would like to join our Planned Giving Program please phone the Parish Office 9451 5097

On the weekend 23/24 June 2018 the  St Vincent de Paul Conferences of Our Lady of Good Counsel and St Martin de Porres are conducting their 
SVDP ANNUAL WINTER APPEAL
Cardinal designate, Konrad Krajewski, (Papal Almoner) said “If, in this homeless or poor individual, you see Jesus, what will you give him?Damaged clothes that you don’t need any more?Old food?No!You’d give Jesus the best you know!”
This is what our SVDP Conferences do in assisting the homeless, lonely and socially disadvantaged every week.
Please be generous.The envelopes will be on the church pews.Your past generosity is greatly appreciated.Thank you.

Sunday 8 July Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral 9.30am—3.00pm
International Guest Speaker Katrina Zeno, Coordinator St John Paul II Resource Centre, Arizona ·Mass & family prayer time ·A celebration of families in the Diocese ·Time to bond and grow in faith with other families ·Jumping castle and lunchtime fun and games for the whole family.
Contact: Steve Buhagiar 0415 600 290 for more information

Communion to the Sick Ministers  are URGENTLY NEEDED at St Martin’s. It is a very rewarding Ministry and training is provided.
Please ring the Parish Office 9451 5097

The 2018/2019 Family Based Sacramental program is due to commence with  a parent information evening on 28 June 2018. 
This evening is for parents only, children do not need to attend.
This program involves preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of Confirmation, Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

Confirmation will be held on Saturday 18 August at 10.00am and 12.00pm.

Indian Pilgrimage Information Evening
Wednesday 20 June 7.00-8.30pm OLGC Parish Centre

FFCP Social Justice Group Meeting, St Martins Hall, 7.30pm Monday 11th June. All invited.

Kierans Creek Landcare Saturday 16th June,

9am - 12 noon. Join us at St Anthony's for bush re-vegetation, a beautiful morning tea, followed by a workshop on identifying and surveying the fauna in the area.
Contact Brian Norman brian_b_norman@yahoo.com.au or Anne Lanyon 0408 279 871.

The Social Justice Group would like to thank all those who supported the absolutely wonderful Singing Up Country Concert.
Carmel Casey won 1st prize and Anne Ellis 3rd prize in the raffle.
The other winners were from Barangaroo, Eora TAFE, and the Royal Far West School.

over 4 Friday mornings June 1, 8, 15 & 22 10 am – 12 pm OLGC Impressions of Jesus Over these 4 mornings we will envisage how various people, included in the gospels, met Jesus of Nazareth and how they may have reflected on their experience of him.

A large, local family is desperately looking for a reasonably priced 4 bedroom home to rent ASAP.

References Available.

Please contact the Parish Office if you can help?

I want to thank all our parishioners who have so generously supported our recent appeal for our New Healing Ministry. To date we have raised $16,071.95. That's a wonderful result! Our target is $40,000, so if you haven't yet had a chance to contribute, it's not too late.

Donation envelopes are available at the back of each Church. But if you'd like to donate directly into the parish account via online bank transfer, the details are as follows:

BSB: 062-784 A/C: 1330 8000
(Catholic Parish of French’s Forest)
Ref: (Your Surname) Healing

Fr Jose Philip OSH

The Catholic Church of Australia plans to host a Plenary Council in 2020. This would be the fifth major assembly for the Catholic Church of Australia and would take place more than eighty years since the last synod, which was celebrated in 1937. It is a meeting of the entire Church in Australia, meaning everyone—bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful—with the intention of shaping the future course of the Catholic Church in this country.

In preparation for this plenary council the Diocese of Broken Bay seek to play a leading role through our dialogue and discernment. The Diocese of Broken Bay has planned a three year process, commencing with a Year of Listening in 2018, of Discerning in 2019, and proposing in 2020.

It is to be hoped that we take up the challenge of the Plenary Council 2020 by participating in it in a prayerful and hopeful way, recognising its import for the future of our Church in this country.

For more information about the Plenary Council 2020: plenarycouncil.c…

It's Time To Secure Your Seat to WYD
Catholic Youth Broken Bay is well underway with all its preparations for WYD 2019. Momentum is building and we have some exciting news to now share: ·Catholic Youth Broken Bay will have two buses going to WYD in Panama. One for over 18s and the other for under 18s. ·Catholic Youth Broken Bay with the Catholic Schools Office are presently working on staffing and chaplains for our two buses. ·We are expecting the final pilgrimage price to be announced shortly. Our estimated cost is $8,500 ·Our Pilgrimage will travel firstly to Mexico City, prior to travelling to Panama for WYD and our post WYD retreat.  ·Expected departure date 16 January 2019 ·Expected return date 31 January 2019
For more details about our planned pilgrimage, go to our website: bbcatholic.org.au/youth

Listen to what the spirit is saying 
The Catholic Church of Australia plans to host a Plenary Council in 2020. This would be the fifth major assembly for the Catholic Church of Australia and would take place more than eighty years since the last synod, which was celebrated in 1937. It is a meeting of the entire Church in Australia, meaning everyone—bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful—with the intention of shaping the future course of the Catholic Church in this country. Through Plenary 2020, the Catholic Church in Australia will determine its structures and strategies for the future. And this of course will affect its mission of evangelisation—how it will spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in a culture increasingly adverse to Christian values. With God nothing is impossible. Like the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room on Pentecost, we always have a reason for hope because we have the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

In preparation for this plenary council the Diocese of Broken Ba…

St Martin’s playgroup is pleased to announce the start of a new babies group.

Monday mornings during school term at St Martin’s 10.30am-12.30pm.

Contact Erika Smith for more information 1800 171 882 or esmith@playgroupnsw.org.au

Frenchs Forest Calendar 2018
January 29 Wednesday—Teachers Mass February 1 Thursday – Parent Information night for First Reconciliation OLGC Church. February 13 Tuesday (6 weeks) –Lenten Program - St Martin’s Church Foyer 7-8pm February 14—Ash Wednesday February 15 Thursday  – Term one Catechist Meeting - OLGC February 24 Saturday —WYD 2018 Parish information March 9 Friday  – 24 hours Adoration -  OLGC March  14 & 15 Wednesday & Thursday–