French's Forest Catholic Parish eNews

My Dear Parishioners, This week we celebrate the fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that God's wisdom is often revealed not to the proud or self-sufficient, but to those who approach Him with the trust and openness of a child. He praises the Father for revealing His truth to the humble, showing that faith is not about being the smartest or most knowledgeable, but about having a sincere and open heart. Jesus then offers a comforting invitation to all who are tired, burdened, or struggling: "Come to me, and I will give you rest." These words remind us that we do not have to carry our worries, fears, and responsibilities alone. When life feels overwhelming, we can turn to Jesus for strength, guidance, and peace. The words "I am gentle and humble of heart" reveal the loving nature of Jesus. He leads with kindness, patience, and compassion, setting an example for how we should treat others. By learning from Him and following His examp...

This Sunday 5th July we join parishes across the world in taking up the Vatican’s annual Peter’s Pence Collection. The Peter’s Pence Collection provides for the charitable works of mercy identified by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, including emergency assistance to those in need due to natural disaster, war, oppression and disease. Your generosity allows the Holy Father to respond to those suffering with love and compassion. You can make a gift using the Peter’s Pence collection envelope available in the pews. May God bless your generosity.

We warmly congratulate Very Rev. Dr. David Ranson PP on his election as Diocesan Administrator by the College of Consultors. We keep Fr. David in our prayers as he leads the Diocese, together with the College of Consultors, until a new Bishop is appointed by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. May God bless him with wisdom, strength, and grace in this important ministry. You may find Fr David’s message to the diocese at https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/about/diocesan-administrator

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.

We are excited to announce the commencement of the parish’s young adult’s group. Our first event will be a BBQ and bonfire on the 2nd of August after the 6pm Sunday mass at the parish centre. The young adults group will consist of anyone between the ages 18-25. Even if you are not a part of this age group but know someone who is, please invite them to join our first event. Please RSPV to the Parish office. We are excited to see you there.  

French Reflections - 2026 Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows In “French Reflections,” the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows present a sophisticated selection of chamber works spanning Baroque splendour to 20th Century brilliance. Lully’s regal dances open a program enriched by Saint-Saëns’ elegant Septet and Poulenc’s refined lyricism. Martinu’s La Revue de cuisine brings rhythmic vitality and modern flair, complemented by Bernovsky’s striking trio for brass. This concert showcases the Fellows’ artistry across a vivid palette of ensemble colours and historical styles. For almost 25 years, the Sydney Symphony Fellowship program has nurtured the next generation of professional orchestral musicians through a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience, providing them with a springboard to a career in music. Let the Fellows lead you through a vivid journey of sound, style, and imagination in this radiant French program. When: Sunday, 26th July, 2026 at 3:00pm Where: Our Lady of Good Coun...

Book Now for Singing Up Country, Northern Beaches NAIDOC Week event! It's on in ONE week. Sunday July 5th www.trybooking.com/ DMMRZ Aboriginal Art Raffle ticket - prizes valued at $3,500 in total at the event and at all 3 churches. More information can be found on extended online bulletin or Parish News or poster in our churches. (Flyer attached). Frenchs Forest Parish: Living the Gospel by joining in PLASTIC FREE JULY . Practise the 5Rs in our churches, homes, schools and work places. They are: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle plastic. Learn more by joining this local webinar on Thursday July 2nd, Online Webinar at 2pm. www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Events/Everyday-ways-to-avoid-plastic-in-food-%E2%80%93-Webinar

Thank you to all parishioners who support our Parish through Planned Giving. Your generosity helps fund the daily operation of our churches and supports the many ministries of our Parish. The new Planned Giving envelopes for 2026/27 are available at the back of each church. Please note that some envelope numbers may have changed. If you would like to make any changes to your giving, switch to a different method of contribution, or would like a set of Planned Giving envelopes, please contact the Parish Office and we will be happy to assist. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

We are excited to announce that parish-based Confirmation ceremonies will be held in 2026 for baptised children who are 8 years old and in Year 3 or above. Confirmation Ceremony Dates Friday 4 September 2026 Saturday 5 September 2026 Enrolments will open on Monday 13 July via TryBooking.  Full details and the enrolment link will be available on the parish website. Parent Information Session (Essential): Wednesday 29 July, 7:00–8:00pm in the OLGC Church If you would like further information, please contact Susanne Bragge. sacraments@ffcp.org.au

 

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...

Ignite 2026 is proudly hosted by the Diocese of Broken Bay. Where: Light of Christ Centre, Waitara When : Thursday 9 July – Sunday 12 July 2026 Experience God in the most extraordinary way through formation, renewal of faith, amazing people and powerful worship.  More information can be found by clicking on register now link below. Registrations are now open Register Now

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 ...