French's Forest Catholic Parish eNews

Dear Parishioners, The readings for this week speak of God’s saving presence among His people, our need for trusting Faith in our loving and providing God Who always keeps us company, and our need for prayer in storms of life. This week’s Gospel we reflect on how Life often feels like the stormy sea. We all experience moments when the waves of worry, illness, grief, uncertainty, or change threaten to overwhelm us. It is in these moments that Jesus comes to us with the same reassuring words he spoke to the disciples: "Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid." Peter's response is one we can all relate to. Filled with trust, he steps out of the boat and walks towards Jesus. Yet when he focuses on the wind instead of the Lord, fear takes over and he begins to sink. How often do we do the same? When we allow our fears to become greater than our faith, we lose sight of the One who is always reaching out to us. Jesus does not abandon Peter when he falters. Instead, he immediately rea...

Selecting "Catholic" in the Census is more than a statistical exercise. It helps ensure that the presence and needs of the Catholic community are recognised within Australian society. Census information is used by governments, researchers and community organisations to: Plan schools, hospitals and community services; Inform the allocation of resources and funding; and Better understand the spiritual, cultural and social life of our nation.  An accurate picture of the Catholic community strengthens the Church's ability to advocate for the needs of our people and to continue serving communities across Australia. Every person who identifies as Catholic helps tell the story of the Church's continuing presence and mission in Australia. Your response contributes to a clearer understanding of the Catholic community, enabling the Church to better serve those in need, support families, educate future generations, and continue proclaiming the hope of the Gospel with confidence....

There is no place like home – but for many having a home is not a reality . The causes may be diverse, but the impact is the same – a loss of dignity and a sense of hopelessness. A donation drive will take place during Homelessness Week , this weekend 8 & 9 August. Thank you in advance for supporting this important Diocesan initiative.

All parishioners are warmly invited to join us as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Holy Day of Obligation. · Vigil Mass – Friday, 14 August 7:30pm – Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Forestville Masses – Saturday, 15 August 8:30am – St Martin de Porres Church, Davidson 9:30am – Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Forestville 10:00am – St Anthony in the Fields Church, Terrey Hills Come and honour our Blessed Mother as we celebrate this beautiful and significant feast in the life of the Church.  All are warmly welcome.

The Season of Creation starts 1 September, World Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology.  Please save the date for the Parish Festival of Creation beginning with the Mass of Creation, Saturday 12th September.  A day for all the family and each and every person.    

Following the 10:00am Mass at OLGC Forestville, on the lawn beside the church. Our parish is blessed with people from many different cultures, and we would love to celebrate this wonderful diversity together. Join us for a joyful Multicultural Celebration & International Food Festival, where we can share our traditions, food, and friendship as one parish family. If you have traditional clothing from your country, we encourage you to wear it with pride. We also invite you to bring a plate of your favourite traditional dish to share, giving everyone the opportunity to experience the delicious flavours and rich cultures that make up our community. Let's come together to celebrate the many cultures that make our parish such a welcoming and vibrant community. Everyone is warmly welcome – bring your family, friends, and neighbours!  

This year we celebrate the Franciscan Jubilee Year to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. All are welcome to our Pause & Reflect gatherings during which we are invited to renew the Franciscan way of living simply, caring for creation and becoming peacemakers in our communities. Our gatherings offer us the opportunity to spend time reflecting on our call to be a church that reaches out to the margins, giving priority to mission and prayer. When: Tuesdays - August 11,18, 25 10am – 12pm Where: St Martin’s Davidson

Please join us for Taize ‘Prayer Around the Cross’ next Friday, 7.00pm at St Martin’s Church.   All are welcome.     

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  

Do you have questions about the Catholic Faith? Would you like to know about our Rite of Christian Initiation (R.C.I.A.)? Please feel welcome to come along to our Enquiry session on Sunday August 9, 11.30 am in OLGC church Ring: 9451 5097 or Email: rcia@ffcp.org.au

Volunteer Catholic Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion visit hospitals throughout the Diocese of Broken Bay providing comfort and care to Catholic patients. Our Diocese and NSW Health require that 40 hours of training is completed to perform this important role. The I.P.C.C. meets this requirement, is FREE and is open to those who might be deciding if they are suited to this ministry. The course runs for five consecutive Mondays: 31st August, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th September at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonard’s, between 9:00am and 3:00 pm. Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Recruitment and training of EMHC is the responsibility of the parish; those who are wanting further information may refer to poster displayed in churches; parish E News; speak with/or email Leonie Puckeridge rcia@ffcp.org.au ; contact Parish Office 9451.5097, parishoffice@ffcp.org.au at your earliest convenience.

A Ministry of Welcome and Hospitality for Parishes Presented by Kelly Paget, this Formation Day is grounded in the Gospel witness of Martha and Mary and our calling to be a people of welcome. This gathering is designed to support parishes in cultivating a consistent, intentional, and Christ-centred culture of radical hospitality within their local communities and across the Diocese. This is a planned two part-series of Saturdays designed for Clergy, Parish Pastoral Council Members, Parish Ministry leaders and all interested parishioners. Date: Saturday 1 August and Saturday 22 August 2026 Time: 9:30am – 3pm Venue: Caroline Chisholm Centre Register: Via: Formation Session: Martha & Mary: Saturday 1 August and 22 August.

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...

A Journey of Faith Frenchs Forest Catholic Parish and Ku-ring-gai Chase Catholic Parish warmly invite you to join us on a 14-day Pilgrimage through some of the most beautiful and spiritually significant places in Central and Eastern Europe. The pilgrimage will be accompanied by Fr Satheesh Antony OSH and Fr Biju Jose OSH. Dates: 8 – 22 September 2026 Destinations: Vienna, Ljubljana, Zagreb, Plitvice Lakes, Split, Medjugorje, Mostar, the Island of Korčula, Dubrovnik and Montenegro (Kotor & Perast). This pilgrimage offers a wonderful opportunity to visit sacred places, deepen your faith, experience rich Catholic heritage, and enjoy fellowship with fellow parishioners. Cost: Twin Share (Air & Land): $9,650 AUD Single Room Supplement: $1,850 AUD Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. T o secure your place, a deposit of $3000 per person will be required. For more information or to register your interest, please contact the Parish Office: parishoffice@ffcp.org.au or 02 94...

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 ...