French's Forest Catholic Parish Notices and News

Dear Parishioners, This weekend we celebrate the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This week’s Gospel marks a quiet but decisive turning point in Jesus’ ministry. In the wake of John the Baptist’s arrest, Jesus does not retreat or remain in the familiar safety of Nazareth. Instead, he moves to Capernaum, a border town, a crossroads, a place shaped by diversity, hardship, and uncertainty. It is there, on the margins, that the light of God’s promise begins to shine. Matthew reminds us that this move fulfils Isaiah’s prophecy: those who lived in darkness have seen a great light. Jesus’ presence brings hope where people felt forgotten and overlooked. God’s saving work does not begin in centres of power or comfort, but among ordinary people longing for meaning and renewal. Jesus’ first words of preaching are simple yet challenging: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” Repentance is not about fear or guilt, but about turning our hearts toward the light that has already dawned. It...

Please note that on Australia Day, Monday 26 January, t here will be an additional Mass at St Martin’s at 9:15am.  

Come and discover the richness of God’s Word as we journey together through the Book of Beginnings. Whether you are new to the Bible or wishing to deepen your faith, you are most welcome. Join us for this 15-session Scripture journey , led by Rev Dr Biju Jose OSH, Parish Priest of Ku-ring-gai Chase Catholic Parish. Venue: OLGC Forestville Church Time: 4.30pm – 6.00pm First five sessions: · February 12 & 19 · March 5, 12 & 19 Beginning with the Book of Genesis, these sessions offer a welcoming space to listen, reflect, and grow in faith together. All are welcome — come and be part of this shared journey. If you are interested to join could you please inform the Parish office on parishoffice@ffcp.org.au or call 02 94515097.

As we enter the new year, let us prayerfully consider God’s blessings in our lives, and how He may be calling us to respond with thanksgiving and discipleship, through our financial offerings.  The First Fruits initiative is an invitation to enter more deeply into the life of your parish through regular, meaningful contributions to the First and Second Collections.  During the first three weeks of February, you will find special materials available throughout the parish, as your priests guide you to prayerfully reflect on your offering.  

Reflect..Enjoy..Strengthen..Trust Come Rest with God Enjoy Contemplative music, Reflections and Meditations. When: Feb 3rd, May 5th, June 2nd, Aug 4th, Sept 1st, Oct 6th, Nov 3rd Where: at St Martin’s Church anytime between 10 am – 12 pm.  

Australia Day 26th January, is a complex day for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. In 2025, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Ministry published an Australia Day Statement and Reflection and Discernment Guide, www.natsicc.org.au/assets/australia-day-reflection-and-discernment-guide-v2.pdf, helpful for all to read and pray at this time. Also read and reflect on the ULURU Statement from the Heart https://ulurustatement.org/the-statement/view-the-statement/

How prepared are you for marriage? Engaged Encounter provides you with deeper insights into each other and into married life. We give you a chance to spend time together to strengthen and enrich your relationship. For further information visit our web site: www.engagedencounter.org.au Choose any of the coming Weekends: Feb 21-22, May 23-24, Aug 8-9

The new year is here and so is our program of 2026 retreats at Carmel House! We've hit refresh on our most popular retreats of 2025: our Pentecost intensive, silent retreat, creative healing retreat, day retreat, and we’re adding a family Holy Spirit retreat day into the mix, as well as our annual Sydney Consecrated Life Weekend. Registrations to all retreats are now open. Please click here for the links to book and lap up God’s goodness amidst the quiet and beauty of Carmel House.

Three young men from the Diocese, Nicholas Gomez (Cathedral Parish), Joseph Nicholls (Gosford Parish), and Bryce Gonlin (Chatswood Parish), will begin formation at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in the next few weeks. Please keep them in your prayers as they enter the Seminary and begin their formation. They will join current seminarians Alfred Soliman, Matthew French and Victor Atahura. There are a number of other men and women within the Diocese discerning whether God is calling them to a religious or priestly vocation. Please keep them all in your prayers as well.

World Interfaith Harmony Week invites people of faith to reflect on how our beliefs shape the way we relate to one another, especially in a world marked by division, conflict, and fear. For Catholics, this week calls us back to the heart of the Gospel: love of God and love of neighbour. In Dilexi Te, Pope Leo XIV reflects on love as the starting point of all authentic Christian action A love that sees the other not as an idea, label, or threat, but as a person created in the image and likeness of God. When we focus on love as our lens, we are drawn beyond ideology and fear toward encounter, responsibility, and care. Interfaith harmony does not ask us to set aside our Catholic faith. Rather, it invites us to live it with greater depth and integrity. Pope Leo XIV reminds the Church that love rooted in truth resists dehumanisation and calls us to uphold human dignity wherever it is threatened. From this foundation, dialogue, respect, and peace can grow. We are encouraged to mark this week...

Sincere apologies there will be no Mass at St Martin’s Davidson on Friday 23rd January. Please feel free to join in the 9:15 Mass at Forestville

From Tuesday 6 January until the end of February 2026, the Parish Office will be open on Tuesdays to Fridays only. We thank you for your understanding .

Monday 15 December 2025 NO POLITICS - IGNORANT AND VIOLENT ANTISEMITISM MUST END I write today with a heavy heart, in profound sorrow at the loss of innocent human life in the shooting at Bondi during the Jewish Festival of Hanukkah. Families have been shattered, communities left grieving, and our Jewish brothers and sisters once again subjected to fear, trauma, and hatred. No words can undo such loss, yet silence is not an option. This is a moment of urgency for Australia. We must put down the ways of violence. We must reject hatred in all its forms. We must turn away from brutality and completely reject antisemitism. Violence corrodes the soul of a nation, and when it is directed at a people because of who they are, what they believe, or how they pray, it strikes at the very foundations of our common life. I wish to speak clearly and respectfully. There has been a call from government and sections of the media to speak of this primarily as “evil”. While the moral horror of such acts...

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 ...