From Fr Greg's Seat: 28th June

Hi everyone! I hope you’ve been staying warm during these chilly times!

New COVID-19 Restrictions for Masses

Thank you to everyone for your patience as we slowly return to face-to-face Masses at Ryde Gladesville. We know this period of transition has been quite cumbersome at times, but we thank you for working with us and following the rules so we can keep each other safe and return to celebrating Mass in person!

The 'good news' is that restrictions will be easing and from July 1 next week, which means we will be permitted to have up to 90 people in St Charles Church, and 60 people at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, in line with the 4 square metres per person rule.

However, bookings will still be required for our weekend Masses so that we can maintain numbers and ensure we are complying with these new NSW Health and Government restrictions. To book a spot for yourself, friends or family at weekend Masses, just visit our website and click the ‘Mass Bookings’ button each week. If you do not have access to a computer or the internet, you can call the Parish Office and our staff can assist you in making a booking.

Housekeeping for Masses

Just a few housekeeping things for Masses to keep in mind! We know you are all as eager as us to be returning to physical Masses, but in order to ensure things run smoothly, we need your help!

Please ensure you arrive early to Mass. At the moment with the sign in procedure, entry to the churches is taking a bit longer than usual, as is to be expected! However, this means that if everyone arrives just before Mass begins, a bit of a bottleneck is created at the sign in desk, and delays us in our Mass celebrations. If you could kindly make sure you are seated ideally 10 minutes before Mass starts, taking into consideration time for signing in, that would be much appreciated! Particularly for our livestreamed Mass at 10am on Sunday, it is important that we start and are seated on time, as many of our parishioners are watching from home.

Please note also, parishioners wishing to attend weekend Masses are responsible for their own bookings via TryBooking. We cannot reserve regular spots for parishioners each week. It is up to everyone to call/book online each week.

While we are available to assist any elderly or other members of our parish without internet access in booking spots each week, we kindly ask that if you are able to book online, please do so to ensure your spot is reserved. Our Parish Office is very busy, and if our staff are responsible for managing each parishioner’s personal booking arrangements, we risk missing things and disappointing some of our parishioners.

If you are a Minister at Mass, you are counted as part of the essential staff team, and therefore do not require a booking. However, if your family will be attending a Mass you are rostered for with you—you must book spots for your family via TryBooking. Family members must be accounted for in the 50 spaces, and will not be permitted to attend unless they have a booking.



We are pleased to announce that an Alpha Youth series will be beginning shortly at Ryde-Gladesville. At the end of July, our youth can participate in a dedicated Alpha series, to explore their faith and develop deeper friendships with fellow young people! An online Come and See Night for the 2020 Alpha Series for adults will be held this week for all those interested. You can find out more in this week’s bulletin.

The funeral for parishioner Janine Ligato will be held at St Charles Church on Tuesday 30th June at 11am. However, with the current restrictions of attendees at funerals, we ask that parishioners watch the livestream which will be made available instead if possible, as there will be lots of family attending.

Ivan Petch wishes to thank his fellow parishioners for their prayers and support during his ordeal of court proceedings in recent years. Ivan is pleased to announce his successful appeal against charges laid and welcomes his acquittal by Judges Hoeben, Hamill and Cavanagh on 19th June (the Feast Day of the Sacred Heart).

We are currently working towards returning our Family Mass and Children’s Liturgy and will provide another update on this soon. In the meantime, if you haven’t already, make sure you visit our blog and check out our Children’s Liturgy resource from our Family Educators! Each week, you can find a video and activities on the Gospel, reflections and crafts that the whole family can do together! It is a great way to grow in faith with your children while our Family Masses are on hold. You can find a copy of this week’s resource in this bulletin.

Please keep Br Steve in your prayers as he prepares to be ordained to the Deaconate on Sunday 19th July! He is currently away on retreat at the moment, reflecting and praying, and keep us in his prayers, so let us also keep him in ours!




And that’s about all for now! Your brother in Christ’s service, as always


Fr Greg