French's Forest Catholic Parish eNews

This week’s Gospel reminds us that forgiveness is at the very heart of our Christian faith. Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive someone who has hurt or wronged him. Perhaps Peter thought that forgiving seven times was already generous. Jesus’ response challenges him , and challenges us: “Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus is not asking us to keep a record of how many times we forgive. Rather, He calls us to develop a heart that is always ready to forgive. The parable of the unforgiving servant makes this clear. The servant is forgiven an enormous debt by his master, yet moments later he refuses to show the same mercy to another who owes him a much smaller amount. We can sometimes be like that servant. We are deeply grateful for God’s mercy and forgiveness, yet we can find it difficult to extend that same mercy to those who have hurt us. We remember the words or actions that caused pain, and we hold onto resentment long after the moment has passed. Forgiv...

We warmly congratulate the 113 children and their families who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation last weekend. It was a wonderful and joy-filled celebration for our parish community. A special thank you to Fr Satheesh for presiding at the Confirmation ceremonies, and to Fr Shiju and Fr Boby for their presence and support throughout the celebrations. We are also very grateful to the executive teams and teachers from our schools who generously gave their time to assist at the ceremonies. It was wonderful to have so many parishioners come along as welcomers and supporters, helping to create such a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our children and their families. Our acolytes and musicians also played an important part in making the ceremonies so prayerful, beautiful and memorable. Finally we thank our entire parish community for your continued prayer, encouragement and support of our children and families.  We are grateful to everyone who helped make these Confirmation celebr...

Dear Parishioners, Each year, the OSH Fathers are permitted to take two special collections to support the missionary work of our Society. This year, mindful of the financial pressures many families are facing, we have decided to have only one appeal instead of two. The proceeds of the OSH Appeal 2026 will support the vital work of our OSH Social Service Society, especially helping poor children continue their education by providing school supplies, books, and other essential learning materials. We, your OSH priests, are deeply grateful for your generous support over the years. Your kindness has made a real difference in the lives of many children and families. Please support this year’s appeal in whatever way you are able. This Appeal was held on the weekends of 29/30 August and 5/6 September. Some appeal envelopes are still available in the pews. You may take an envelope home and return it when you next come to church. You can also donate using the QR Code provided on the envelope. ...

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