French's Forest Catholic Parish eNEWS

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.

When Elizabeth gave birth to a son, the whole village was quite certain that the child would be called Zechariah after his father. But Elizabeth resisted and Zechariah had no hesitation in writing, ‘His name is John’ – is John. Present tense. This caused great consternation in the village. This could only mean that more shocking breaks with tradition were to come. And in the last verse of today’s Gospel, we learn that this now young man is not preparing for priestly service at the Temple! He is out in the wilderness! He has adopted the lifestyle of the most marginal, living outside settled existence where tradition suffocates. Pope Francis constantly urges us to be challenged by those existing on the margins. This encompasses not only those who are suffering exclusion, injustice or who are simply without the necessities of life. He is also concerned with those on the peripheries of world power. (extract from Fr Michael Tate)

One of our Kindy Catechists was talking to the children about the Wedding Feast at Cana.She told the story of Jesus turning the water into wine.One little boy put his hand up and said “oh his mother must have taught him how to do that!”A beautiful reflection from a small child.
Thank you to Chris Coape-Smith who has been a Catechist in our Parish for 12 years and given tirelessly of his time and talent to this Ministry.Chris has taught in most of the 8 State Primary Schools in our Parish and one High School.He has been based at Terrey Hills Primary, Belrose Primary and Killarney Primary as well as Davidson High school last year.Chris has been a dedicated member of our team and we will miss him so much.We wish Chris and his wife all the best for their future in Western Australia.

Peter’s Pence Collection Next week, we are joining with others across the world by taking up a third collection for the charitable works and structures of mercy identified by Pope Francis. The funds, which are sent to the Vatican, are then allocated to projects across the world, which support victims of war, oppression and disasters. Some of the ongoing projects include: ·Support for the Parish school of the Immaculate Conception of Al Huson in Jordan that welcomes young refugees from Syria. ·A reconstruction project for the coastal regions of Ecuador affected by the earthquake. ·In support of the children at the Paediatric Hospital in Bangui, Central African Republic.

Our next Music Practice will be  WEDNESDAY 27 June 7.00PM at OLGC Please keep up the excellent attendance we are having at our Practice Nights

Planned Giving Envelopes for 2018/2019 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

The Annual Ladies DinnerThe Catholic Parish of Frenchs Forest invites you to

A Night of Fine Dining With Guest Speaker, Anne Lennard
Friday 27 July 2018 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start St Anthony in the Fields 46 Myoora Road, Terrey Hills
$40 per head (includes dinner and drinks) Tickets: After Mass on Sundays 1, 8, 15 July
For more information contact Sheila Fitzpatrick 9488 5366

‘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.

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

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

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