From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 2nd April 2023

Hi everyone!
Memorial Masses at Field of Mars Cemetery.
We have been advised by the newly formed 'Office of OneCrown Cemeteries', who have taken over the running of Field of Mars Cemetery, that they are no longer able to provide us with a Marquee at all three of our usual Memorial Mass celebrations - Mother’s Day, Father's Day and All Souls’ Day.

We have, in past years celebrated a Mass for all our deceased loved ones buried there. They are willing to cover one of these days however. In light of this, I have suggested that we celebrate the All Souls’ Day Mass (on the Saturday before or on 2 November) at Field of Mars, with the Marquee provided by OneCrown, and hold a Mother's Day and Father's Day Memorial Mass at St. Charles, Ryde instead, as per usual, at 10.30 am. You could pop up to Field of Mars afterwards to visit the graves of loved ones.
Would that be an acceptable solution to the problem? Let me know if you have any other suggestions for me to consider, otherwise I will go ahead with this suggestion.

Need for Restaurants/Kitchens to make meals for Our Lady's Kitchen.
In order to vary the food being offered to our food delivery service of Our Lady's Kitchen, given up until now by St. Merkorious charity, (twice weekly, usually 50 weeks per year), we would be very pleased to source some local restaurants or canteens to cook and package food for a particular delivery day. This could be on a monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis and would entail producing and packaging about 80 meals in small plastic containers to be either delivered the same day or placed under refrigeration for next day delivery.

Do you have any contact details of owners of any local restaurants who might be able to help us out, occasionally? Please get in contact with me directly [pp@rgcp.org.au] and I will arrange a visit to discuss.

Chrism Mass Holy Thursday Morning 10.30am at St. Mary's Cathedral
Next Thursday there will be no morning masses at either OLQP (at 6.30am) or St. Charles (at 9.20 am). You are, however, cordially invited to take part in the annual Chrism Mass at 10.30 am St. Mary's Cathedral, where all four of us Priests will be concelebrating with the Archbishop, along with all the other clergy of the Archdiocese.

No booking is necessary, but you may need to get there early to reserve a seat for yourselves, as it is usually well attended.

Need a Gluten Free Communion Host at Mass?
Gluten Free hosts are always available at our Masses, at both our SCB and OLQP Churches. However, if the Acolyte/Priest is not notified beforehand there may not be any consecrated hosts available at Communion time, as they may need to be consecrated at that particular Mass.

Please direct anyone you know who requires a 'gluten free' host to contact the Acolyte or Priest just before Mass begins to ensure they may be accommodated.

Signing in of all Wardens, Communion Ministers and Acolytes at all Masses

The Safeguarding Office of the Archdiocese is obliging us to comply with registration of all Collectors (money)Acolytes, Communion Ministers, musicians, Choir members, wardens every time you serve in our Churches.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, but I reiterate how this is now obligatory in all our Sydney Archdiocesan Churches. Please make my life easier by signing off each time!!

And that's about it for now. Happy Holy Week to you all!

Fr. Greg