From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday19th February

Hi everyone!
New 'Vinnies Vans' Should Be Up and Running by July 2023
We have received confirmation from St. Vincent de Paul that the new 'Vinnies Vans' - fruit of the "Let's Build a Vinnies Van” fundraiser last June, will arrive in the country sometime in May 2023, and should be fitted out by July. That means we need to start the work of getting our teams ready and completing the formation and compliance requirements to 'man the vans' and 'slice the sandwiches'.

With this in mind, Josie Charble, Metropolitan Vinnies Van Services Coordinator, will be coming to the Parish to give an information/expression of interest and registration evening for all aspects of the service on 1st Marsh 2023 at the SCB Parish Hall at 7.30 pm.
Josie will be presenting and will be to answer questions and explore volunteering opportunities to get us ready for the running of the vans, and operational aspects of the service. The service will also need an 'ongoing kitty', so that those who may not have the time to volunteer can still be a part of the sponsoring service for the running expenses of the van services in the area.

I invite all those who have expressed interest in being a part of this service to come along. The "Let's Build a Vinnies Van' 'built' the vans ... now it is time to 'Let's run a Vinnies Van"

Parish Stats for RGCP
You might be interested to know the 'stats' for the Ryde Gladesville Catholic Parish in 2022, which we have duly sent into the Archdiocese Chancery for their records. Our Mass numbers are currently back to where they were prior to COVID 19 in Feb 2020, with between 1050 to 1100 people each week (our average Mass count for 2022 was just under 900 people per week)

To give you a bit of an idea as to other services provided: we had 135 child baptisms, 25 of which were 1 - 7 years old. There were 125 First Holy Communions, 90 of which were from our two Catholic Primary schools (SCB/OLQP). The same number participated in our First Reconciliations. 8 Adults are enrolled in our RCIA programme (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and will all be accepted into the Catholic Church at Easter. 85 older children received the Sacrament of Confirmation. There was a total of 58 weddings last year, (15 of which were 'Mixed Marriages' between a Catholic and a non-Catholic). We had 52 funerals (of which 32 were full Requiem Masses).

That, by the way, doesn't include the many weddings and funerals we priests are asked to celebrate at surrounding Parishes/Cemeteries.

Our Primary schools are doing exceedingly well as well. This year there are over 580 pupils at SCB Primary School and 145 at OLQP Primary. And the numbers are ever increasing. Huge thanks to Peter Watkins and his team at both schools. Holy Cross College had a massive intake of 157 students this year, and are tipped to top 900 students annually within the next two years, Thanks to Phil Stewart and his team at the College.

We are chaplains to all three schools/colleges, as well as to Marist College at Eastwood. That is in addition to all the other things RGCP entails on a daily and weekly basis. So, in case you are wondering 'what do the Fathers do all day?" spare a prayer for us all!!

Brother Aengus Kavanagh fsp celebrates 70 years of Consecrated Life
This week we are marking the amazing milestone of 70 years of dedication to Christ's flock by our own dear Br. Aengus. Br. Aengus, by the way, was the College Principal of Fairfield Patrician Brothers when I was there - the 'some time nemesis' of Holy Cross College Ryde on the Football field!

We congratulate you, dear Brother, on your outstanding work in our community over that time, and thank the Good Lord for having chosen such a capable and magnanimous candidate for this service. God bless you and reward you for all your efforts to keep us on the 'straight and narrow'!!

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday
Lent begins next Wednesday 22nd February, so please note well the times and places for our Ash Wednesday Masses. This year we are offering four opportunities to attend Ash Wednesday Mass in the Parish, and we encourage everyone to attend one of them:

8 am at Holy Cross College with HCC staff and students

9.20 am at SCB Ryde (with years 3 – 6 SCB Primary School),

12 pm at OLQP Gladesville (with the full OLQP school cohort), and

7.30 pm SCB Ryde (for anyone else who couldn’t make the other three)

And that's about all there is for now. Have a lovely week ahead!

Your brother, in Christ's tireless missionary service,

Fr. Greg