From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 23rd April 2023

Hi everyone!

Easter Gratitude
Holy Week has come and gone, but the effects of that Easter 'Resurrection' in us of a new hope for the future, of a more determined love for others, and a persevering faithfulness to the Good Lord who underwent the Cross for us, are meant to endure and show themselves by the joy in our hearts and in our selfless service to others.

I am indebted to so many of you who showed that joy and selfless service throughout Holy Week, with the volunteer work you carried out, and which marked this Easter as a high point for the many who attended our services and liturgies.I am keenly aware that without you all, we would never have been able to offer the many and varied ministries we run, both during Lent and Holy Week and beyond into the rest of the year. Well done, RGCP, and may the Good Lord continue to reward you all for the hard work and diligent pastoral assistance given.

Archdiocesan Dempsey Medal Awarded to our indefatigable Vaughan Kelly
Speaking of 'hard work and diligent pastoral assistance', we recently received notification that our own Vaughan Kelly has been awarded the Archdiocese of Sydney's coveted Dempsey Medal for his faithful service over the last 50 years, as an acolyte, warden and St. Vinnies member, among the many other things he did for our Parish. The award will be presented to Vaughan by the Archbishop at St. Mary's Cathedral during the 10.30 am Mass on Sunday 21st May, 2023. You are all cordially invited to be there on the day. Congratulations, Vaughan! Thank you for all you have done for our Parish over the years.

'Vinnies Van' Update.
Many thanks to all those who have volunteered their service for our upcoming local Vinnies Van service. Emails were sent out to all those who made their expressions of interest in the service three weeks ago, with the application forms and information regarding basic requirements for beginning the service. The online training has begun via the Vinnies Learning Centre (Learning@vinnies.org.au), who should have sent you by now an 'online link' with instructions on how to access the Online Training Modules. If you have not received either of these emails, please check your spam folder before contacting the Learning Centre via email. The new Van (once fitted out) will be parked at the Vinnies West Ryde installations, which is a convenient location for us all to pick it up each evening. More about this in upcoming bulletins

Our Lady’s Kitchen
We urgently need new volunteers to continue our meal delivery service to needy people within our Parish boundaries. This initiative has been providing meals to some 40 households on a regular basis and is a wonderful way of exercising your Christian charity. We have had a few volunteers pull out for health reasons and need your help. Deliveries currently are every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Please contact Judy at the office.to see how you can help out.

ANZAC Day Mass and Services Tuesday 25th April
We will be holding our traditional ANZAC Day service at SCB Church on Tuesday 25th April at 9:20am. You are invited to join us to remember our Fallen in war and pray for the many victims, and for world peace.

Please note that there will be no 6:30am mass at OLQP on this day.

I will also be attending, with the Cadets from Holy Cross College, Club Ryde Dawn Service which commences at 5:30am, where I will be giving a short address and prayer. Coffee, tea and bacon and egg rolls will be available after the service. I look forward to seeing you there!

Upcoming Formation Courses for Readers, Eucharistic Ministers and Acolytes.
We are pleased to announce the following formation courses will be run gratuitously by the Archdiocesan Liturgy Office at our own SCB Parish Hall over the coming months. Specifically, there will be a Liturgical Readers course on Wednesday 11th & 18th October, 2023; an Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion course on Wednesday 16th, 23rd and 30th August, 2023, and an Acolytes Course on Wednesday 6th, 13th & 20th September 2023.

Please visit their website at www.liturgy.sydneycatholic.org/ministry-training-formation/ to download Registration Forms or register for them online.

I encourage all aspiring Mass Readers, Eucharistic Ministers and Acolytes to undertake one of these courses and gain the Archdiocesan certificate of completion.

The following courses are also available elsewhere in the Archdiocese on these alternative dates.

Liturgical Readers: St. Agnes, Matraville, Saturday 6th and 13th May, 2023, from 9 am - 12 pm; Our Lady Star of the Sea, Miranda Wednesday 17th & 24th May, 2023 from 6 - 9 pm; Holy Family, Menai, Tuesday 16th & 23rd May, 2023 from 6 - 9 pm. St. Joseph's, Camperdown, Saturday 9th & 16th September, 2023, 9 - 12 pm.

Acolytes: St John Vianney, Greenacre Saturday 20th and 27th May, and 3rd of June, 2023 9:00 am - 12 pm;.

Any of these training courses would qualify you to minister throughout the Archdiocese of Sydney, subject of course to permission from the local Parish Priest or Administrator.

And that's about it for now.

 
God bless!

 
Fr Greg