From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 4th December

Hi everyone!
"RGCP Volunteers' Thank You Mass and Breakfast Barbie"
On behalf of all your resident priests, it is our pleasure this Saturday morning to be hosting our "RGCP Volunteers' Breakfast Barbie", after the "Volunteers' Thank You Mass'' (at the usual 8 am SCB Mass).

Our Parish could never have reached out to so many during COVID (and for which I received that award last Monday night on your behalf) and over the last year, nor would the needs of both parishioners and visitors have been so well catered for.
All thanks to our small army of volunteers, who grace the grounds of our Parish Churches and pound the pavements in the surrounding streets and suburbs, extending the reach of our Parish to many more than those that pass through the doors of our Churches, halls and offices. I heartily thank you for all the sacrifices of time and resources that make it all possible.

There are more than 300 Volunteers all told in our Parish, and that is a marvellous testimony of 'being Church', and one that I and the other priests ministering here are proud of. Volunteers such as:

- altar servers, acolytes, musicians and choir, A/V operators and live streamers, kid's liturgy leaders, readers, welcomers and wardens at our weekly and weekend Masses

- those who prepare the altar and surrounds, wash and iron the Church linen, count the collection monies, assist with office work, look after our gardens and surrounds, our 'handy men/women' and ‘Green Fingers’ folk, our Saturday 'working bee-ers', and those who run barbecues and feast day activities

- those who form part of our many outreach groups and other works

- our volunteer Catechists at state schools, our Baptismal formators and RCIA leaders, our Youth leaders and Alpha teams,

- our helpers at Our Lady’s Kitchen and Vinnies, Catholic Women's League, Our Lady of Terzito and Legion of Mary, Verbum Dei Ministries and parish retreats

- not to mention the countless other ad hoc needs being covered by you all.

So, thank you! It has been a very good year, and you can all be proud of the huge tally of accumulated service hours to which you have all individually contributed. I hope the volunteer service has been a rewarding experience for each and every one of you; and that the Lord give you a hundred times over for everything you've gratuitously offered.

And if there are others reading this who would like to be a part of our RGCP volunteer effort, please contact our office on 9807 2906 during office hours, leave a message on our answering service, or write to us at office@rgcp.org.au for more details about these and other ministry groups operations in and out of our Parish.

Congratulations to Audrey Mashidi, elected Female School Captain at SCB Primary for 2023!!
One of our most faithful altar servers, Audrey Mashudi, was elected by students and staff at SCB as

School Captain, along with Jaxson Galea. We are proud of you, Audrey! Last year Andrea Yamine, another prominent altar server, was chosen as School Captain. Congratulations, Audrey, and well done, Andrea!

And that's about it for now. God bless!

Fr. Greg

 

Fr Greg receiving an Award from the Hon. Mark Coure MP for “Outstanding Service to the Community during Covid at NSW State Parliament last Monday night.