French's Forest Catholic Parish eNews

This week’s Gospel reminds us that forgiveness is at the very heart of our Christian faith. Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive someone who has hurt or wronged him. Perhaps Peter thought that forgiving seven times was already generous. Jesus’ response challenges him , and challenges us: “Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus is not asking us to keep a record of how many times we forgive. Rather, He calls us to develop a heart that is always ready to forgive. The parable of the unforgiving servant makes this clear. The servant is forgiven an enormous debt by his master, yet moments later he refuses to show the same mercy to another who owes him a much smaller amount. We can sometimes be like that servant. We are deeply grateful for God’s mercy and forgiveness, yet we can find it difficult to extend that same mercy to those who have hurt us. We remember the words or actions that caused pain, and we hold onto resentment long after the moment has passed. Forgiv...

We warmly congratulate the 113 children and their families who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation last weekend. It was a wonderful and joy-filled celebration for our parish community. A special thank you to Fr Satheesh for presiding at the Confirmation ceremonies, and to Fr Shiju and Fr Boby for their presence and support throughout the celebrations. We are also very grateful to the executive teams and teachers from our schools who generously gave their time to assist at the ceremonies. It was wonderful to have so many parishioners come along as welcomers and supporters, helping to create such a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our children and their families. Our acolytes and musicians also played an important part in making the ceremonies so prayerful, beautiful and memorable. Finally we thank our entire parish community for your continued prayer, encouragement and support of our children and families.  We are grateful to everyone who helped make these Confirmation celebr...

Dear Parishioners, Each year, the OSH Fathers are permitted to take two special collections to support the missionary work of our Society. This year, mindful of the financial pressures many families are facing, we have decided to have only one appeal instead of two. The proceeds of the OSH Appeal 2026 will support the vital work of our OSH Social Service Society, especially helping poor children continue their education by providing school supplies, books, and other essential learning materials. We, your OSH priests, are deeply grateful for your generous support over the years. Your kindness has made a real difference in the lives of many children and families. Please support this year’s appeal in whatever way you are able. This Appeal was held on the weekends of 29/30 August and 5/6 September. Some appeal envelopes are still available in the pews. You may take an envelope home and return it when you next come to church. You can also donate using the QR Code provided on the envelope. ...

We offer our prayers and support for the people of Nepal as the nation responds to the tragic glacial floods and landslides of August 2026.   To donate to Caritas Australia go to www.caritas.org.au/donate/emergency-appeals/nepal-floods/    Together with partner agencies, they are now providing: Ready-to-eat meals for affected families Emergency shelter materials and household essentials Hygiene and WASH kits Solar lighting for displaced households Emergency medical support Cash assistance for highly affected families Essential medicines for damaged health facilities

In this August edition, we continue to share stories and reflections from across our Diocese, including hearing from the Parish of Frenchs Forest and their synodal approach to implementing a new Seniors Ministry within the Parish, and across the Deanery. We are also delighted to introduce a new feature of Journeying as One. As we move forward, each monthly edition will include a theological reflection from Rev Dr Biju Jose OSH , offering an opportunity to deepen our understanding of synodality and to reflect on what it means to journey together as a synodal Church. We are grateful to Fr Biju for his generosity in sharing his theological insights and reflections with us. Click here to read online  

Save this date - 10th October Join us at (OLGC) on Saturday October 10 for a beautiful evening of timeless and sacred music. Following the 5:30pm Mass, there will be a BBQ until 7:00pm, followed by an inspiring concert of timeless sacred music.   More details to come 

You are invited to join us for the  FESTIVAL OF CREATION IN THE FOREST Saturday 12th September   We look forward to celebrating the beauty of creation with you as we gather for a special Festival of Creation event! Together, we will rejoice in God's gift of the Earth through the celebration of Mass, followed by engaging activities that deepen our understanding of how to care for our common home. Join us in prayer, learning, and community as we respond to Pope Francis' call to ecological conversion and stewardship of creation. As part of our time together, we will also share a meal in community. We invite you to bring a plate of food with an aim to minimise waste and plastics to share as we continue our celebration in fellowship. WHEN: Saturday, 12th September 9:30am –1:30PM WHERE: St Anthony in the Fields Church

As we celebrate the Year of St Francis of Assisi parishioners are warmly invited to join us as we share the inspiration that surrounds the Franciscan Shrine of the Holy Innocents, promoting the sanctity of human life from birth till natural death. This enriching day will include: Reflecting on Franciscan Spirituality. Strolling through the peaceful gardens of this Shrine modelled on the 14 Stations of the Cross and the Mysteries of the Rosary. Mass in the chapel. Tuesday October 20  BYO Lunch Cost $40. Bookings essential (Limit 40) Ring: Parish Office 9451.5097. Email: parishoffice@ffcp.org.au

We are so excited to announce that Expressions of Interest are now open for our WYD27 Broken Bay Pilgrimage: 26 July – 12 August 2027 Japan – Seoul – Incheon LEARN MORE WYD - SeoulFest Join us for SeoulFest — the official launch of our pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2027! Celebrating the Feast of Saint Andrew Kim Taegŏn, Patron of World Youth Day, we’re beginning the countdown to an unforgettable pilgrimage to Japan, Seoul and Incheon in 2027. Come and experience a taste of South Korea with Korean food, music, culture, games and activities, while meeting other young people, young adults and families from across the Diocese. Whether you’re already dreaming about joining us for WYD 2027 or you’re simply curious about what it’s all about, SeoulFest is the place to start! This is intended for young people, young adults and families. Date: Sunday 20 September 2026 Time: 3.30pm – 5.30pm Location: The Light of Christ Centre, 29 Yardley Avenue, Waitara Enquiries: mission@bbcatholic.org.au Regi...

Dear Parishioners, Please be aware of a scam currently targeting parishes. Scammers are creating fake Gmail and other free email accounts using the names of our Parish Priest and parish staff. They use these accounts to send messages asking people to make urgent payments or buy gift cards on their behalf, often giving a plausible reason for the request. Because the display name shows a familiar name, it can look genuine at first glance. However, if you examine the actual email address, you will find that it does not come from our official parish domain: ffcp.org.au . Please Keep This in Mind: ·          Verify Before You Act: If you receive an email, text, or message of any form asking for money, gift cards, or financial details, do not respond or make any payments . ·          Double-Check: Always contact the parish office directly, or speak to the person you think it is from via a known, trus...

Parish Office will be open on Tuesdays to Fridays 8:30am to 2:30pm

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 ...