French's Forest Catholic Parish eNews

My Dear Parishioners, This week readings are about the transforming power of the word of God when read, preached, and lived. They also warn us not to be disappointed at the absence of immediate results. We must take a positive and optimistic view of our missionary efforts, as we keep on bearing witness to Christ’s Gospel. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus tells the familiar parable of the sower, reminding us that God's word is like seed generously scattered across every kind of ground. The sower does not limit where he sows. He gives every seed the opportunity to grow, just as God offers his love, mercy, and invitation to every person without exception. The different types of soil represent the different ways we receive God's word. At times, our hearts can become hard through disappointment or indifference. Sometimes we welcome God's word with enthusiasm, but when challenges arise, our faith struggles to take deep root. At other times, the worries of daily life, the pressures o...

We are very grateful for the very generous donations we received for our Vinnies Winter Appeal. Thank you so much and know you have made a difference in the life of many people who are finding life tough at the moment. We will keep you all in our prayers. Forestville & Davidson St Vincent de Paul Chapters.

THANK YOU  to those who attended the NAIDOC Week Singing Up Country Aboriginal Festival. More than 150 people attended the whole program which was a great celebration of Spirit, community, connecting, listening, learning and enjoying the soup supper. Thank you to the many volunteers and soup makers. Thank you to Clarence from Bush To Bowl. Thank you to Mona Vale Music and the bands. The raffle winners were Janine Davies, Emilie Kenyon, Pam Ward- and Phillippa Murphy-Haste won the extra prize donated by Phil Jones. Plastic Free July continues.  Our parish is encouraged to practise the 5Rs - REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, REPURPOSE, RECYCLE plastic. The new God In Creation Newsletter  is out this week. Please take a copy and share it with your family-friends.

On Sunday, 26 July, we will be celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Carsko Polje, a special occasion for our Croatian community. This feast commemorates the tradition of Our Lady appearing to a shepherd girl in 1686 in the port of Cavica. Each year, a statue of Our Lady is carried in procession through the village of Čara, on the island of Korčula in Croatia, and taken to the vineyards to bless them—a symbol of deep faith and devotion. We join our Croatian friends in giving thanks and praying for the intercession of Our Lady of Carsko Polje to bless and protect Čara, the island of Korčula, and the whole world. We wish our Croatian community a joyful and blessed Feast Day!

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.

Multicultural Celebration &International Food Festival Sunday, 16 August 2026 After the 10:00am Mass On the lawn beside the church Join us for a celebration of food, culture, and community.  More details coming soon!

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.

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...

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...

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 ...