French's Forest Catholic Parish eNews

This week’s Gospel invites us to look beyond our words and consider whether our lives truly reflect our faith. Jesus reminds us that what matters is not simply what we say, but whether we are willing to listen, change and do God’s will. The Gospel reminds us that our actions speak louder than our words. The first son initially says “no” to his father, but later changes his mind and goes to work in the vineyard. The second says “yes”, but does not follow through. Jesus reminds us that God does not ask us to be perfect. What matters is our willingness to listen, change and put our faith into action. Even when we have made mistakes or turned away, it is never too late to change direction and return to God. The Gospel challenges us to ask: Do our actions reflect the faith we profess? May we have the courage to recognise where we need to change and the grace to say “yes” to God—not only with our words, but through the way we live each day. This Gospel therefore asks each of us a simple but ...

This weekend we welcome back our pilgrims who have had a wonderful time in Croatia.  We are grateful for their safe return and look forward to hearing about their experience.  We wish Fr Satheesh a wonderful couple of weeks holiday and look forward to his return on October 9th.  

What a year it’s been! We have had some wonderful new catechists join our ministry (there will be more about them in upcoming bulletins), and we said farewell to two of our valued stalwarts, both of whom completed 25 years as catechists- Pauline Van den Berg and Aileen Boyle. When asked to reflect on their experiences, Aileen shared, “My most touching experience was a reminder of how the families have changed. While giving out a Christmas religious tree decoration and message, a dear little girl came and asked for 2, as she has trees at mummy’s house as well as Daddy’s. I have gone from blackboards and chalk to whiteboards and USBs.” A true reflection of an ever-changing tapestry in the lives of the children and families we serve!

Giving Back to Those Who Have Given So Much We are invited to reflect with gratitude on the meaningful impact made by our priests, on our lives, our faith, and our families. Many of us have been blessed by priests who accompany with compassion, serve with faithfulness, and share with us the joys of life's milestones. This weekend, Sept 26/27 we have the opportunity to give thanks for their ministry by giving back to those who have given so much. Across the Diocese of Broken Bay, we are launching the St Joseph’s Appeal, supporting our retired priests who have spent their lives in faithful service to Christ and His Church. Your valued gift will help to provide for their accommodation, meals, transport and medical care, enabling them to live with dignity and comfort in retirement. Envelopes are available for you to simply scan the QR code or complete the details and return during the collection at Mass. All donations are tax deductible. Please pray for our retired priests and give ge...

BBQ 6:30 to 7PM ($5) 10th October Concert:7pm-8:30pm

MIGRANT AND REFUGEE SUNDAY 27th Sept Pope Leo XIV has appealed to “everyone’s sense of responsibility” to protect migrant and refugee minors, stressing that children and teenagers are the most vulnerable and often endure “unspeakable suffering”. https://cathnews.com/2026/09/24/pope-calls-for-protection-and-support-of-young-migrants/? SAVE THE DATE Sat 24th November: Annual David's Place Community of Inner Sydney City visit to Frenchs Forest Parish at St Anthony in the Fields with mass at 4.30pm.

Please join us for Taize ‘Prayer Around the Cross’ next Friday, 2nd October 7.00pm at St Martin’s Church.  All are welcome.   

From 1-7 October, Aid to the Church in Need invites you to join with Pope Leo XIV and Catholics worldwide for the One Million Children Praying the Rosary prayer campaign, for peace and unity in the world. Families, parishioners, prayer groups, and schools are all encouraged to register to take part!  For free Rosary resources and to register, scan QR or visit: www.acninternational.org/millionchildrenpraying “ When one million children pray the Rosary, the world will change.” - Saint Padre Pio

Join us for a great day of golf and giving! Get your team together and join us for The Cathedral Precinct Charity Classic -Teeing Off for the Future, on Friday 16 October 2026 at Newgreens Chatswood Golf Club. Enjoy 12 holes of golf in a four-person Ambrose format, followed by a delicious BBQ lunch, while helping support the Cathedral Precinct Project and its vision for a lasting place of faith, community and service for future generations. Whether you’re a regular golfer or simply looking for a fun day out with friends, colleagues or your parish community, we would love you to join us. There will also be great prizes, silent auction and special guest appearance making it a day not to be missed! Places are limited, so don’t miss out. Book your team today and share the invitation with your friends, family and parish community. · $130 per golfer, including golf and BBQ lunch · $70 BBQ lunch only Book today - https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/cathedralprecinct-charity-teeing-off-for...

Connect. Be inspired. Help shape the future. You’re invited to the inaugural Women of Broken Bay Lunch. A special afternoon bringing women from across the Diocese together for connection, conversation and inspiration. Join us for a delicious two-course lunch, wonderful company and an inspiring keynote address from Mrs Kelly Paget, as we explore the theme “Called to Lead: A Journey of Faith, Family and Community.” Come along with friends, colleagues or fellow parishioners and enjoy an opportunity to meet other women from across Broken Bay Diocese and beyond, share stories and build new connections. Invite the women in your parish, workplace, family and friendship circles to join you. Date: Wednesday 28 October 2026 Time: 11:30am arrival, 12:00pm start – 2:00pm Seats are limited – book today: https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/women-of-broken-bay-lunch2026-1630835

Giving Back to Those Who Have Given So Much We are invited to reflect with gratitude on the meaningful impact made by our priests, on our lives, our faith, and our families. Many of us have been blessed by priests who accompany with compassion, serve with faithfulness, and share with us the joys of life's milestones. Next weekend, Sept 26/27 we have the opportunity to give thanks for their ministry by giving back to those who have given so much. Across the Diocese of Broken Bay, we are launching the St Joseph’s Appeal, supporting our retired priests who have spent their lives in faithful service to Christ and His Church. Your valued gift will help to provide for their accommodation, meals, transport and medical care, enabling them to live with dignity and comfort in retirement. Envelopes will be available for you to simply scan the QR code or complete the details and return to the collection the following week. All donations are tax deductible. Please pray for our retired priests ...

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  

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 ...