French's Forest Catholic Parish eNews

My Dear Parishioners, This week we celebrate the sixteenth Sunday in ordinary time. The readings tell us about a very patient and compassionate God Who is hopeful that the so-called “weeds” among us will be converted, and that we should not be in a hurry to eliminate such elements from the Church, or society, or the family, on the basis of hasty judgment. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that the Kingdom of God grows in the midst of an imperfect world. The parable of the wheat and the weeds acknowledges a reality we all experience, goodness and evil exist side by side. There are times when we wish God would simply remove all that is wrong, yet Jesus teaches patience. God sees the whole picture, and in His wisdom, He allows time for growth, healing, repentance, and transformation. We are called not to spend our lives judging others, but to focus on becoming the good wheat that bears fruit through lives of faith, hope, and love. The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast offer a messa...

On Sunday, 26 July, our parish will celebrate Grandparents' Day as we honour the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus and patrons of grandparents. We warmly invite all grandparents to join us at Mass, where they will receive a special blessing in thanksgiving for their love, wisdom, faith, and the important role they play in the lives of their families and our parish community. Whether you are a grandparent, parent, child, or friend, everyone is warmly welcome as we come together to celebrate and give thanks for the gift of grandparents. "Grandparents are a treasure to our families and a living witness of faith, hope, and love."

Please note that Cuppa and Chat at St Martin’s will be held on Friday 24th July instead of Friday 31st July due to the Fashion Parade. Everyone is warmly welcome to join us at 12:30pm in the church foyer for a relaxed time of friendship and conversation. OLGC Cuppa and Chat remains on the last Wednesdays of the month .

SAVE THE DATE Sunday, 16 August 2026 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!

P lastic Free July parish action: 5Rs to Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and then Recycle plastic in our churches, homes, schools and workplaces. One idea: Have 3 bins at all these places: a) Return and Earn bottles and cans with the 10c logo and donate the proceeds to the parish Vinnies Groups, b) Recycle soft plastics to Woolies and other recyclables to the Yellow Council bins, c) Sort the regular Landfill bin so that waste is reduced by composting. Please read the new God in Creation Newsletter again and share with others.