From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 30th April, 2023

Hi everyone!

Holy Cross College Camp at Singleton
This weekend I will be accompanying the Holy Cross College Army Cadet Unit at their Annual Camp at the Singleton Military Area. It looks like it will be a very wet weekend so I am just praying that the rain comes (if at all...) after the cadets have set up their 'hutchies' (tents), so that at least they have dry land to sleep on (sleeping on soggy ground is not a pleasant experience).

We are certainly hoping the rain won't fall in 'biblical proportions' this time as we have had to cancel 5 camps over the past three years due to torrential rains, flooding and COVID 19 lockdowns.

We have 91 cadets from Year 8 to 12 participating so it should be a really great occasion. Pray for us!!

Called to Love Retreat at Holy Cross College on Saturday May 13th 9am – 5:30pm
Something really good is coming up for our married couples. On Saturday the 13th May at Holy Cross College Ryde, the Archdiocesan Life, Marriage, and Family Team have organised a day together to deepen your married life and spousal love. In all truth, amidst the bustle of life, setting aside some time to grow in your vocation as a married couple can be challenging.

Throughout the day you will hear from international speaker Chris Padgett, have time for reflection, discussion as a couple, an opportunity for prayer and quiet time, before renewing your marriage vows together.

The retreat commences at 9am and will conclude at 5:30pm. The couple ticket price is $50, which includes food and beverages throughout the day.

More information, events and registrations at www.trybooking.com/CEPXJ. Limited spaces available!

Charitable Works Fund May Appeal is on next weekend 6th & 7th May
Next weekend we will once again be taking up our tri-annual Charitable Works Fund Collection, to help fund services provided by Archdiocesan agencies such as CatholicCare, Catholic Chaplaincy Services and the Seminary of the Good Shepherd. These help thousands of people every year, offering comfort to people in crisis, provide advocacy, training and better access for the disadvantaged, support people in their faith development and train our future priests. These donations are also 100% tax deductible. Please help us to help them.

World Youth Day Fundraising Ball Thank You
The RGCP Youth organised a great fundraising evening last Friday night 21 April at the Canada Bay Club. I made it along to the occasion, which included silent auctions, raffles with fantastic prizes, plenty of energetic dancing and some wonderful live music from Modulation and DJ Sambo. Money raised will help send our youth to World Youth Day which is in Lisbon, Portugal in August this year.

A big thank you to all the organisers and sponsors who contributed to the success of the night.

Ministry Course Registrations
Just a reminder that Courses will be held later on this year at St Charles Borromeo Parish Hall for Extraordinary Ministers of Communion (in August), Acolytes (in September) and Readers (in October). The courses will be held on Wednesday evenings, 6pm –9pm.

Registration is via the Liturgy Office website www.trybooking.com/CEPXJ

I warmly and strongly encourage all ministers to attend these courses as a refresher course, at least once every three years, and which are free of charge. Please see the flyer on page 7 of the Bulletin for more information.

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

Fr. Greg