From Fr Greg's Desk: 14th February

 

Hi everyone! Lots of news to digest this week!!

Further relaxation of COVID 19 rules. Due to the relaxation of the 4m2' ('4 metre squared') rule this week back to 2m2, we can now allow for up to 200 people in SCB Church, and 160 in OLQP Church (including AV, Musicians, choir, and COVID wardens) from the first step of the Church to the back of the churches, including the Choir loft. Kindly spread yourselves out, though, wherever the "Please sit here" markers are placed.

Face masks are no longer mandatory and bookings are likewise no longer 'essential', but if you have not booked in beforehand you may find yourself outside if maximum numbers are reached. Bookings are still your best bet, as places are limited and we are likely to have more than the COVID limit at Sunday/Ash Wednesday Masses. Some chairs will be available outside, however, and Holy Communion will be brought to you if you could not get inside. 

 

Special COVID dispensation from attending Sunday Mass now no longer applies. Given that that the 2m2 rule has been reinstated, Archbishop Anthony has likewise lifted the dispensation from our Sunday Mass obligation. The accompanying message from the Vicar General Fr. Gleeson this week is as follows:

 

The Catholic faithful are once again obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation when this is reasonably possible.  If restrictions are once again tightened, and attendance at places of worship limited to one person per 4m2, the dispensation will once again be in place.  Those who are of great age, have health conditions or are otherwise anxious about the risks of COVID-19 are free to remain at home and find another way of keeping the Sabbath holy.   

 

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday this week, (Wed 17th Feb). So please make sure you take note of the mass locations and times listed below, and book in early to ensure your place inside the Church. (Ashes and communion will, however, be distributed to any remaining outside due to limitations on space.)

Ash Wednesday Mass Times

6.30 am SCB Ryde

9.00 am SCB Ryde

7.00 pm OLQP Gladesville

7.30 pm SCB Ryde

Masses have also been planned for SCB and OLQP primary schools and Holy Cross Ryde but, due to COVID restrictions, these will be reserved to the staff and students of these schools/college.

 

Free Lenten Booklets are available. There are still plenty of free Lenten booklets from the Archdiocese, appropriately called "A Lenten Companion", for you to get into the swing of things this lent. These are available at our parish office.

 

Priestly Ordinations - Dan Drum, fmvd & Steve Drum, fmvd - 10:30 am, Sat 29th May, 2021. Well, the big news this week is that we now have a time and venue for the Priestly Ordinations of our two resident Deacons, Steve and Dan Drum!!  They will be ordained by our own Archbishop Anthony Fisher at St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney at 10.30 am on Saturday 29th May, 2021. Please pray for these two brothers of ours, as they prepare for this next step of their missionary journey as religious of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity to which all five of us belong (Fr. Alfredo, Fr. Daniele and I). And, yes, they are excited the day has finally been fixed!

 

Fr Alfredo turned 50 this week! Our own dear Fr. Alfredo celebrated his 50th birthday with parishioners at the 9.20 am Mass at SCB this Friday (see photo). Please pass on your own Happy Birthday greetings when you see him. It is quite a milestone!

 

Valentine's Day "Letters of Love: Words from the Heart" is a fun, dynamic Zoom session being run by one of our Verbum Dei couples, Ace and Rowena on Valentine's Day, Sunday 14th February from 3-4 pm. And all you need is your spouse/partner and a pen and paper to participate. Contact Ace and Rowena directly via email at ar.penano@gmail.com for the Zoom link and details. 

 

Our next RGCP Parish Lenten Retreat Day led by Fr. Daniele Sollazzo, fmvd and Deacon Dan Drum, fmvd will be held on Saturday 27th February 2021 at OLQP Church and hall. The theme will be “Man does not live on bread alone” (Matthew 4:4). Bookings are essential, so see the bulletin for more details!

 

Thanks for the generous response of some of you to our requests for volunteers. We still, however, need more volunteers in almost all areas of our volunteer workforce. Please enquire at our office as to how you can make a positive contribution to the beautiful work of God at your local parish.

 

And that's all for now!

Your brother in Christ's service,

Fr. Greg