French's Forest Catholic Parish Notices and News

Dear Parishioners, This Sunday we celebrate The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and this is one of twelve “Master feasts” celebrated in the Church to honour Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. We celebrate this Feast for two reasons: (1) to understand the history of the discovery and recovery of the True Cross and (2) to appreciate better the importance of the symbol and reality of Christ’s sacrificial love, namely, the cross in the daily life of every Christian. The feast celebrates the cross not as a symbol of suffering, but as an instrument of salvation and a sign of Christ's victory over death. In this week’s Gospel of John, we hear the profound heart of God's plan for humanity. At its core, it is a message of love and salvation, not judgment. Jesus' words to Nicodemus draw a parallel between the ancient story of Moses lifting up the serpent in the desert and his own destiny. Just as looking upon the serpent brought physical healing to the Israelites, believing...

Dear Parishioners, October is the month devoted to the Holy Rosary. The Rosary inspires us to meditate on the mysteries of the lives of Jesus and Mary. Praying the Rosary is not just simply about reciting prayers. It involves reflecting on the grace of God. Praying is a powerful act that lets us develop and strengthen our relationship with God and the Rosary offers the same beautiful reward. By praying the Rosary, we meditate on the events in the life of Jesus Christ and this lets us know God more. How do you plan to celebrate the month of Rosary? What is the significance of the Rosary in your personal life? How did it strengthen you in your walk of faith? We welcome you to come and join the Rosary devotion. Let us celebrate ten days of Rosary at OLGC from Wednesday 1 October to Friday 10 October at 7 PM. Fr. Satheesh Antony OSH, PP.

Safeguarding Sunday is an important initiative of the Catholic Church in Australia and takes place at the conclusion of National Child Protection Week on 14 September. It provides an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to child safe practices, celebrate the presence of children and young people in our communities, and pray for those harmed by abuse. It is also a time to recognise the importance of ongoing change to ensure children grow up safe, supported, and valued within the Church. Kind Regards, Fr. Satheesh Ramachanatt OSH Parish Priest Frenchs Forest Catholic Parish

Dear Parishioners, As you know in 1921 our religious society (OSH) was founded in Kerala, India and consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We have more than 100 priests working in and outside India. Since 2004, the Oblates have been representing our ministry in the diocese of Broken Bay. In February 2025 we had our First OSH Appeal. We are so grateful to you for your valuable generous support in the past years. Your support has greatly helped our mission ministry. In tune with the Universal Church, we have recently initiated our mission ministry in two states of India- Punjab and Maharashtra. As we see in the Acts of the Apostles, they are all only the preliminary stage and must be fulfilled. So, fulfilling the mission works in these centers we humbly request your generous contributions in your own ways and means.  Thank you for your generosity and support. Envelopes are in the pews now for placing on either collection plate during Mass this weekend or next. OR please scan the Q...

As you know, Frenchs Forest Parish is Tan’s home parish, and we are very proud to accompany him on his vocational journey. Let us gather as a community in joy, thanksgiving, and support for Deacon Tan. Deacon Tan will give his first homily on this Sunday, 14th, at 8.30 am and 10 am respectively at St. Martin's and OLGC. We will continue our celebrations with morning tea at OLGC after 10am Mass

Around the world, Christians unite to celebrate the Season of Creation in September. This year is extra special, being the 10th anniversary of ‘Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’s legacy encyclical, calling us all to care for planet earth, our common home. The Frenchs Forest Parish community is having a Festival of Creation to take part in this global celebration, and we’d love you to join in! Where: St.Anthony’s in the Fields Church, 46 Myoora Rd Terrey Hills When: Saturday, 20 September Time: 10am – 2pm Cost: Free Activities: Starting with the Mass of Creation – 10am After Mass, we’ll have activities  for children, families and all ages,  including stalls and  story-telling. Please bring: Plate of food to share for lunch; Cash for plants for sale  plus copies of Laudati Si' ($10). We'd love an idea of numbers, so please RSVP by Wednesday, 17/9. RSVP: Please RSVP by putting your name on the clipboards at the churches or using the QR code or clicking on the URL...

Sunday 21st September is International Day of Peace .  Please pray: Lord God of peace, hear our prayer! We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. www.usccb.org/prayers/pope-francis-prayer-peace

Following the success of our last pilgrimage to Gosford, we are excited to announce our next one-day pilgrimage on Thursday, October 9, 2025. We will be leaving at 10 a.m. to visit Manly and Chatswood . We will pray at the shrines of St. John Vianney (patron saint of priests and vocations) in Manly, and the newly canonized Saints Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis in Chatswood. This trip will complete our visits to all the shrines in the Broken Bay Diocese. The cost and type of transportation will depend on the number of people who register. If you are interested in joining us, please email Susanne Bragge at sacraments@ffcp.org.au  or call the parish office at 9451 5097.

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!

How can I get involved in the Jubilee Year ? No matter your background, the Jubilee Year is a great opportunity to: Reflect ... Take some time to think about your own life, your values and what you want to achieve. Connect ... Reach out to your community, help those in need and build stronger relationships Find Hope ... Look for the positive in the world around you and nurture your own sense of hope. Learn ... Explore different perspectives and learn about other cultures and beliefs. The Broken Bay Diocese has designated three diocesan "Jubilee Shrines of Hope" for the Jubilee Year. These shrines are places of…Pilgrimage, Worship and Prayer. * The Parish of Gosford (with a relic of St. John Paul II for families) * The Parish of Chatswood (with a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis for young people) * The Parish of Manly Freshwater (with a relic of St. John Vianney for priests and vocations). “Everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells...

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

Pause and Reflect A Time to slow down a little & gently reflect upon your spirituality. Throughout Terms 2 & 3 we offer opportunities to Pause and Reflect on our relationship with God. We come together in a comfortable and confidential environment, listen respectfully, enjoy open-sharing, discussion and quiet reflection. We meet on Tuesday mornings, 10am -12pm, at St Martin’s Davidson. Each topic runs for 3 – 4 weeks and includes input and discussion, prayer, morning tea and quiet time for meditation/reflection with handouts to follow both during the session and for ongoing private use. For further details ring Parish Office 9451 5097 or email parishoffice@ffcp.org.au ---------------- Rest with God Take a little time .... Come … Rest…. with God † Contemplative music † Reflections †Meditations draw nearer to God. appreciate the gift of the presence of God in your life. remind yourself that God is always there for you strengthen and deepen your faith ..... your prayer life. All ...

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 ...