From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 28th November
Hi everybody!
Greetings from Sanctuary Point! I write this column out here at Sanctuary Point, where I am spending four days of rest and prayer before Advent and Christmas arrives.
The weather hasn't been too bad down here, with just a sprinkle or two (until Thursday night's downpour, that is). Grey skies have been the norm, though only in a meteorological sense!
Welcome to Advent! We want to see your 'Home Nativity Scenes"...
Advent begins this weekend, a time for recovering our hope for bigger and brighter things to come, as we await and prepare for the 'second coming' of Christ on a day and at an hour we do not know. It is precisely this aspect of 'preparation' and 'conversion' that merits the colour purple. I look forward to seeing your "Nativity Scenes" in your houses, so please send in photos of them for us to publish over the next few weeks. Here's a few ways to help 'prepare the way of the Lord':
'Advent Opportunities' for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Advent is also a time for changing our ways to welcome his coming, and what better way than to clean up our souls with the Sacrament of Reconciliation? As usual, this year we will once again be offering, in conjunction with the neighbouring parishes, many opportunities for you to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The times and places available in the weeks ahead for the '2nd Rite of Reconciliation' are in the 'info box' below. We will be continuing to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as usual, in the half hour before all weekend Masses, in the 20 minutes before weekday Masses (except before the 6.30 am masses at OLQP on Tues and Thurs), and after the 9 am Saturday morning Mass at SCB. Plenty of opportunities there for each and every one of us!
Early Morning Masses (at 6.30 am) at OLQP Gladesville.
With Advent already with us, a very positive way of preparing for Jesus' birth this Christmas in you and in those around you could be had by catching an early morning Mass. For those of you who work each day, we have two weekly early morning Masses at 6.30 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays at OLQP, to help start the day on a good footing. The Mass - with homily - will be over by 7 am, so you can still catch breaky before leaving for work afterwards. I look forward to seeing you there with us at 6.30 am!
Probable Easing of Most COVID Restrictions on the 15th of December in NSW!!!
The really 'Good News' this week is that the NSW Govt intends to implement changes to its COVID reopening 'roadmap' on the 15th of December. What that means is that, from that day onwards, masks are no longer required, and the 'density limits' will be scrapped. Hence, there will be no limits to numbers of people attending our Churches will simply depend on the available space inside them ... which at SCB is about 500 and OLQP about 400 (including the choir lofts). For that reason, we will most likely be celebrating all our Masses indoors this Christmas with the exception of the 4.30pm Family Vigil Mass at SCB Primary School, and the 6 pm Youth Vigil Mass at Holy Cross Ryde. We will keep you posted for more updates as soon as they come to light. Please inform your friends and family of this latest easing of COVID restrictions.
Welcome to Advent! We want to see your 'Home Nativity Scenes"...
Advent begins this weekend, a time for recovering our hope for bigger and brighter things to come, as we await and prepare for the 'second coming' of Christ on a day and at an hour we do not know. It is precisely this aspect of 'preparation' and 'conversion' that merits the colour purple. I look forward to seeing your "Nativity Scenes" in your houses, so please send in photos of them for us to publish over the next few weeks. Here's a few ways to help 'prepare the way of the Lord':
'Advent Opportunities' for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Advent is also a time for changing our ways to welcome his coming, and what better way than to clean up our souls with the Sacrament of Reconciliation? As usual, this year we will once again be offering, in conjunction with the neighbouring parishes, many opportunities for you to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The times and places available in the weeks ahead for the '2nd Rite of Reconciliation' are in the 'info box' below. We will be continuing to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as usual, in the half hour before all weekend Masses, in the 20 minutes before weekday Masses (except before the 6.30 am masses at OLQP on Tues and Thurs), and after the 9 am Saturday morning Mass at SCB. Plenty of opportunities there for each and every one of us!
Early Morning Masses (at 6.30 am) at OLQP Gladesville.
With Advent already with us, a very positive way of preparing for Jesus' birth this Christmas in you and in those around you could be had by catching an early morning Mass. For those of you who work each day, we have two weekly early morning Masses at 6.30 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays at OLQP, to help start the day on a good footing. The Mass - with homily - will be over by 7 am, so you can still catch breaky before leaving for work afterwards. I look forward to seeing you there with us at 6.30 am!
Probable Easing of Most COVID Restrictions on the 15th of December in NSW!!!
The really 'Good News' this week is that the NSW Govt intends to implement changes to its COVID reopening 'roadmap' on the 15th of December. What that means is that, from that day onwards, masks are no longer required, and the 'density limits' will be scrapped. Hence, there will be no limits to numbers of people attending our Churches will simply depend on the available space inside them ... which at SCB is about 500 and OLQP about 400 (including the choir lofts). For that reason, we will most likely be celebrating all our Masses indoors this Christmas with the exception of the 4.30pm Family Vigil Mass at SCB Primary School, and the 6 pm Youth Vigil Mass at Holy Cross Ryde. We will keep you posted for more updates as soon as they come to light. Please inform your friends and family of this latest easing of COVID restrictions.
Face Masks and Singing
While restrictions are set to ease soon, at the moment face masks are still mandatory inside our churches, including whilst singing. While we are overjoyed that congregational singing is now permitted again, please note that you must wear your mask correctly over your mouth, nose and under your chin when singing. If you are not wearing a mask and doing so correctly (though I trust you are!), unfortunately you are not permitted to sing. With COVID still circulating in the community, and a number of our vulnerable parishioners back at Masses, please stay vigilant and considerate of others during these final few weeks of such restrictions in our churches.
Calling All Volunteers for Training as AV and Camera Operators
We still need trained volunteers as AV and Camera operators. Please call the office or speak to me after the Masses, and we will gladly give you a complimentary training session to learn how to work these essential elements of our liturgical ministries.
And that's about it for now. See you once again this weekend!
Your brother, on his way back to the grind,
Fr. Greg
While restrictions are set to ease soon, at the moment face masks are still mandatory inside our churches, including whilst singing. While we are overjoyed that congregational singing is now permitted again, please note that you must wear your mask correctly over your mouth, nose and under your chin when singing. If you are not wearing a mask and doing so correctly (though I trust you are!), unfortunately you are not permitted to sing. With COVID still circulating in the community, and a number of our vulnerable parishioners back at Masses, please stay vigilant and considerate of others during these final few weeks of such restrictions in our churches.
Calling All Volunteers for Training as AV and Camera Operators
We still need trained volunteers as AV and Camera operators. Please call the office or speak to me after the Masses, and we will gladly give you a complimentary training session to learn how to work these essential elements of our liturgical ministries.
And that's about it for now. See you once again this weekend!
Your brother, on his way back to the grind,
Fr. Greg
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