From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 23rd January

Hi everyone, and a very Happy New Year to you all, since my column has been 'silent' for the last three weeks.


Thanks Once Again to our Parish Staff and Volunteers

A huge thank you to all our Office Staff and volunteers during the Christmas Masses, and in the lead up to the Christmas season. It was a big mountain to climb, and you have all made me very proud of this Parish, especially seeing your determined efforts to keep our doors open throughout this last challenging COVID year. It is an honour to serve alongside so many good and holy people!

Priestly Movements of Late

All four of us Verbum Dei Missionaries - Frs. Dan, Steve, Daniele and myself - will be back at RGCP by the end of this weekend. I personally had a week and a half off, but am now well and truly getting in the swing of things. Fr. Daniele has also arrived back from his home visit to Italy, and Fr. Steve is currently serving a week in his home town of Temora while the Parish priest there is on holidays. And you will be pleased to know Fr. Alfredo arrived safely in Moscow this week, after two months with his family in Puebla, Mexico, and I am told he is attempting to get used to the “well below zero” temperatures! So, there has been lots of 'movement at the station', but the four of us will soon be all back together as usual.



Congrats to Holy Cross College Ryde for their Excellent 2021 HSC Results!!

Congratulations are in order to Mr. Phil Stewart, Principal, and our Year 12 cohort at Holy Cross College Ryde, for their outstanding achievements in the HSC results this year. The College has come in at 121st in the State, with the best HSC results ever. Over to you, Phil!!


On the back of the College’s best Yr 9 Naplan Results in 2021, Holy Cross College has now achieved outstanding results in the 2021 Higher School Certificate with 30 students out of the 88 student candidature making the distinguished achievers list. The College has been ranked 121st in NSW by the Sydney Morning Herald calculations, placing it above many prestigious, more expensive and selective schools across Sydney. These are the best results the College has achieved since the modern HSC was introduced in the 1990’s.

College Dux Luke Brutto (formerly of OLQP Gladesville!) was awarded an Australian Tertiary Rank (ATAR) of a whopping 99.65, meaning he came in the top 0.5 % of all NSW Students for 2021. Both he and Christian Pirello received the highest grades of 'Band 6' across all their subjects, earning both of them the distinction of "HSC All Rounders".



While we are still collecting all the data from the young men at this stage, what we do know is that at least 18 students have attained ATARS above 90. The strongest performing subjects were Studies of Religion, Chemistry Physics, Mathematics Advanced, English Advance, Music and Engineering Studies. I am incredibly proud of the efforts of the students, teachers, and parents, particularly given how difficult the last two years have been. With the introduction of the Amadeus Music program this year and the re-established Australian Army Cadet program, Holy Cross has much to offer. Now we've got to get in the 'top one hundred'! (Phillip Stewart, Principal, Holy Cross College Ryde).



Please Observe 'Safe Distances' when Coming for Holy Communion

Just a note to politely ask you to keep a bit of distance between yourselves (as much as possible) when coming down for Holy Communion, as a means of trying to slow the spread of the 'Omicron' virus. So far we have been fortunate to have had very few cases of the virus at our Masses, but it's almost inevitable that some will be present with the recent spike in cases. If any of our priests get it, all four of us may have to quarantine, and that might mean cutting back temporarily on Masses at the Parish, as has happened in neighbouring parishes over the past month. Let's hope it doesn't get to that!



All Church Workers still need to 'QR' Upon Arrival

Please remember that all Church Workers ie: Youth Ministers, Leaders, Children's Liturgy, Music Ministry people (when the Kids Choir sings), Acolytes and Senior Servers, Ministers of the Word, Eucharistic Ministers & Parish Collectors/wardens are reminded that they must use the Workers QR when they arrive or when they leave the church. If you are asked to read or take up the Collections once you are in the church, please remember to use the QR on the way out. It is our way of conveniently keeping records of attendance for the purposes of the Safeguarding Audit which we have been told is coming to RGCP sometime this year.



And that's about it for now!! I hope you all stay safe from the current outbreak of the COVID virus and have a happy final week of holidays before the kids go back to school.



God bless, and take care.
Fr. Greg