From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 21st November

Hi everybody!

News from Fr. Alfredo
Fr. Alfredo is now safely in Mexico, in his home town of Puebla, and he sends his greetings to you all and thanks for your prayers for a safe journey home. He is now in the process of making his application for his visa to Russia, and hopes to have that finalised within the next month or so, and arrive in Moscow before Christmas, if at all possible. 

Our thanks as well go out to all those who helped to make his farewell BBQ last Saturday such a fitting ‘send-off’ - with great food, and 'service with a smile' - and all at such short notice! It was a lovely display of ‘Christian hospitality’ and one that I am sure he will remember fondly.

Christmas Masses Update
Thanks to all our volunteers who came to the meeting on Wednesday night. As discussed then, I thought I'd also let you all know that the Mass timetable for the Parish will most likely be as follows:


CHRISTMAS EVE (Friday 24th Dec)
4:30pm Children's Mass SCB school grounds
6pm Youth Mass Holy Cross College grounds
7pm Vigil Mass SCB Church
8pm Vigil Mass OLQP Church
12am Midnight Mass SCB Church

CHRISTMAS DAY (Saturday 25th Dec)
8am Mass SCB school grounds
9am Mass OLQP Church
10am Family Mass SCB school grounds
10:45am Italian Mass OLQP Church


As you can see, the 4.30 pm Christmas Vigil Family Mass will once again be celebrated in the grounds of SCB Primary School, and the 7 pm SCB Vigil Mass will replace the former 9 pm Mass, as we feel this time slot is better, as it comes before many people go out to their own Christmas Eve celebrations and also gives us a time to breath before the Midnight Mass service. I apologise in advance to those of you who delighted in the 9 pm Christmas Eve Mass; however we trust the earlier time slot will also be convenient for you.

Also, please note that, due to Christmas falling on a Saturday this year, we have decided to cancel the Vigil masses which would normally be celebrated that Saturday evening, as many of us will be celebrating Christmas Day with our families. Hence please note that that there will be no 'Saturday Night Vigil' services on Satuday 25th of December at either SCB Church or OLQP Church. The usual Sunday Masses, however, (at 8am, 10am and 6 pm SCB and 9 am OLQP) will be celebrated as normal, albeit most likely with 'skeleton staff' and ministries.


The Children’s Liturgy normally set down for 10 am at SCB will be suspended, in lieu of the 4.30 pm Christmas Eve Vigil service celebrated on Christmas Eve in the SCB Primary School grounds. Our next 'Kid's Church' will be at the end of the January School Holidays, on Sunday 30th January at the 10 am SCB Mass.



The Sandstone Pavers have arrived!
The 'Good News' this week is that the long awaited arrival of our sandstone pavers has happened, and the work of laying them should begin next week, God willing... You will also notice that most of the exterior walls of the Church at SCB Ryde and the surrounding tombstones have been gently and professionally cleaned and are looking absolutely resplendent. Nor has OLQP Church been forgotten ... the ‘pointing' work on the front facade is progressing, and our hope is that—again, God willing—it will soon be finished and the scaffolding will be down by Christmas. Nice Christmas presents indeed for our visiting family members and other attendees this Christmas!



Thank You for your Continued Financial Help to the Parish
All this ‘extraordinary’ maintenance work, accumulated over decades, is being financed by your online donations and contributions to the second collections, and I thank all of you who have donated to this cause with all my heartfelt gratitude. At the same time, I ask you to please consider adding in a little more to the second collections so that we can continue to fix up our Churches and make them into the “Houses of God’ that they were created to be! The 'online donations button' can be easily found and used at www.rgcp.org.au. If you need help, just contact our friendly staff at the Parish Office!



Upcoming Euthanasia Bill Debate in NSW Parliament
I have spoken and written several times in past weeks about the debate being currently tabled in NSW Parliament to decide on the passing or not of this Euthanasia or Voluntary Assisted Suicide Bill. At the doors of our Churches there will be petitions for you to sign to help make your MPs aware of your own personal opposition to this Bill. I would certainly encourage each and every one of you to make your voice heard, or at least your signature seen. Please see the article on page 6 of the bulletin for more information as to how you could help.



Fr. Greg will be away during next week
I will be away from Monday to Friday next week, getting in a few days of prayer and rest before Advent begins. Our other three priests will all be around, so if you need anything don’t hesitate to call the office on 9807 2966 or contact us at office@rgcp.org.au. For my part, I am looking forward to both the rest and prayer time, and also to seeing you back again next Sunday.



Thanks for being such great parishioners, despite the changes and inconveniences caused with all the works going on in and around your Parish!



Your brother in Jesus' service,

Fr. Greg