From Fr Greg's Desk

 

Hi everyone!

 

Happy Feast of Pentecost!

Believing you would have all well and truly finished your 'Easter eggs' by now, this weekend marks the end of 'Easter time' in the Church, and the beginnings of a new "springtime" (despite winter having already begun). Pentecost marks the moment that the Holy Spirit was let loose in the Church to "run amok ... among the flock". Having left the disciples, Jesus now returns through the Holy Spirit to "recreate the face of the earth" and bring about positive changes in our lives, Parish, Church and World. That is what we are celebrating this weekend. I hope and pray that both our Pentecost celebrations and the Prayer Vigil on Saturday night (from 7.15 pm until about 9.30 pm SCB Church) will serve to 'open up a toehold' for the Spirit in each and every one of our Parishioners. Who knows what might happen if the Spirit takes hold of us all?

 

Walk With Christ - Sunday June 19 at 2.30 pm: (Save The Date!)

Please join us as a Parish Community at our annual Archdiocesan Walk with Christ Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Sydney. This procession will once again be held on the Feast of Corpus Christi beginning 2.30 pm. I invite you to walk under a specially made Ryde Gladesville Catholic Parish banner on the day. We will meet at the corner of Martin Place and Pitt Street in the CBD and then walk in procession with music, prayers, the rosary, etc. to St. Mary’s Cathedral, where we will finish with a short liturgy accompanied by Archbishop Anthony Fisher.This has been cancelled two years in a row due to COVID, so please make sure you don't miss it this year. 

 

Let's Build a Vinnies Van Appeal begins this Weekend

This week at all the Masses we will be speaking about our Parish 'Social Justice' project for this year, which entails raising $90,000 for a new Vinnies Night Patrol Van to operate out of our local area and into the surrounding suburbs wherever needy people are to be found. We will be launching this appeal on Pentecost Sunday, as we hope that the Holy Spirit will inspire you all to get behind this marvellous project and help raise the funds needed. Over the next four weeks we will be giving a tally of the money raised so far, with the aim to have the whole van paid for by the end of the month. All donations are fully tax deductible, so it comes at a very good time with the end of the financial year just around the corner. Make a personal, business or family donation, or reach out to family and friends and local businesses to help us to get this project up and running.

 

Happy Month of Retreat, Fr. Dan and Fr. Steve!

This weekend, both Fr. Steve and Fr. Dan will be heading off for a month of rest and retreat and so will not be contactable during that time. Please respect their need for an unhassled retreat, at which they will be recharging their spiritual batteries for the year ahead. We wish them all the best on their retreat and will pray for them throughout. May you both come back inspired to inpire the rest of the Parish with what you have learned!

 

And that's about it for now. Happy Pentecost! May you all be enriched by the gifts the Holy Spirit brings!

 

Your brother, awaiting his own fair share of the Holy Spirit this Pentecost,

 

Fr. Greg