French's Forest Catholic Parish eNews

Dear Parishioners, In this week’s Gospel, the Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a difficult question: should they pay taxes to Caesar or not? Jesus sees through their intentions and responds with the familiar words, “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” Jesus reminds us that while we have responsibilities in our families, workplaces and communities, there is something that belongs to God above all else, our hearts, our lives and our very selves. We can easily become caught up in the demands of everyday life, our responsibilities, possessions, worries and plans, and sometimes forget the One who gives us all that we have. The image on the coin belonged to Caesar, but each one of us carries another image, the image of God. We are created in God’s likeness and are therefore called to give ourselves back to God through the way we live, love and care for others. This Gospel invites us to ask ourselves: What am I giving to God? Are we giving God only our...

World Mission Sunday 2026,  marks the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday,  established in 1926 by Pope Pius XI. "One in Christ, united in mission" This week, you are invited to partner with Catholic Mission and the Church in Malawi as we support families rebuilding after devastating floods and help children access education close to home. Through projects like St Peter's Nyamikuta Primary School, the Church is creating a place where children can learn, be nourished, and grow with dignity, regardless of their background or beliefs. As we celebrate 100 years of World Mission Day, we are reminded by Pope Leo XIV that we are 'One in Christ, United in Mission'. Join with us in celebration and action by supporting this work with a compassionate gift.  Use the provided appeal envelope, scan the QR code, or visit catholicmission.org.au/united to make a difference today.  

A heartfelt congratulations and thank you to our talented musicians and singers for their beautiful music and singing at Our Lady of Good Counsel last Saturday. Your wonderful voices and musical talents brought so much joy and beauty to our celebration, making it truly special and uplifting. We are so blessed to have such dedicated and gifted people sharing their talents with our parish community. Thank you for enriching our liturgy and lifting our hearts through the gift of music!  

Our next seniors’ event will be held on Wednesday Nov 4th November at St Martin’s church foyer at Davidson at Time 11am-1pm Come along for morning tea, fun & friendship. There will be a discussion, question and answer session with Genevieve Biviano. Genevieve is a Credentialled Diabetes Educator (CDE) and other qualifications include Life and Health Coaching, and a degree in BioMedical Science. Come along with your questions about diabetes and healthy living for Genevieve. RSVP by emailing sacraments@ffcp.org.au , calling the parish office or scanning the QR code.

Remembering and Praying for Our Loved Ones November is a special time in the Church when we remember and pray for our loved ones who have passed away. We warmly invite all parishioners, families and friends to join us for our All Souls Day services and Remembrance Mass. Sunday 1st November – Blessing of the Graves 2:00 pm – St Martin’s Church, Davidson We will gather at St Martin’s Church before proceeding to Frenchs Forest Cemetery for our annual Blessing of the Graves. This is a special opportunity to come together in prayer and lovingly remember those who have gone before us. Monday 2nd November – All Souls Day Masses Masses will be celebrated at the following churches: 9:15 am – Our Lady of Good Counsel, Forestville 9:15 am – St Martin’s, Davidson 10:00 am – St Anthony’s in the Fields, Terrey Hills Remembrance Mass – Monday 2nd November 7:00 pm – Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Forestville All are warmly invited to this special evening Mass as we remember and pray for those who ha...

David’s Place Community Visit 2026  David’s place is an inner city space where Sydney's homeless and MARGINALISED can come to find friendship, peace, spiritual NOURISHMENT and connect with the wider community. www.davidsplace.com.au/ It was created to be a place where Jesus would have liked to hang out, where it doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, or where life has led you. The David’s Place Community are coming for their regular visit to the parish. Please come and welcome them with open hearts and a listening ear. St Anthony in the Fields Saturday 24th October 1.30pm: Bus Arrives Snack lunch and Socialising, Dadirri Reflection outside (seated) Stations of the Cross outside (chairs at strategic places) Cuppa 4.30pm: Mass celebrated by Fr Satheesh Light Supper. Bus leaves.  Donations toward bus hire offered.

Dear Parishioners, Our Parish Catholic Men’s Group has been going well for the past six months, with monthly gatherings held for one hour on the third Friday evening of each month at 6:45 pm in the Parish Centre. The mission of our group is to build a fraternity of men and to support one another in living out our Catholic faith. Our regular gatherings take place on the third Friday of each month at 6:45 pm in the Parish Centre. We look forward to continuing this journey of faith and fellowship together. Fr. Boby

The Frenchs Forest Parish community wishes all our HSC students every blessing and success as they begin their exams. May God grant you wisdom, strength, peace and confidence during this important time. Know that your parish community is keeping you in their prayers. Trust in the gifts and abilities God has given you.

10 Days of Prayer at Frenchs Forest Parish. October is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Rosary in the Catholic Church, and Frenchs Forest Parish warmly invites you to join us for a special 10-day devotion. We will gather to pray the Rosary together each evening at 7:00 PM, running from Monday, October 12 through Wednesday, October 21 at Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) Church. Whether you can commit to all 10 nights or simply join us whenever you are available, all are welcome.  

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!

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

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  

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 ...