From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 7th May

Hi everyone!

Greetings from the Philippines.
I write to you from a ‘borrowed desk’ at our Verbum Dei Formation House in Barangay Pansol, Quezon City, Manila, (Philippines), where I am at present, en route to a retreat house near the Taal Volcano at Tagaytay and two weeks of silent retreat. Tagaytay is a four hour bus trip from Manila (depending on the traffic, of course!!), so I won’t be sending you my column over the next two weekends, but please know that RGCP and all of you are in my prayers as I go through my own annual retreat.

Holy Cross College Camp last week at Singleton

The cadet camp at Singleton last week was a very challenging experience for our Holy Cross College
cadets, as indeed for your Parish Priest! True to form (we have had to cancel three cadet camps over the past two years due to very heavy rainfall and flooding) it ‘bucketed’ rain last Saturday, but that didn’t deter us from sleeping under ‘hutchies’, similar to the one in the photo (that was my ‘home away from home’ for five nights). It was very cold but the experience was rewarding and positively stretched the cadets - and their levels of resilience- way beyond their comfort zones. Hopefully we have all come home better men. 

Annual Mother’s Day Mass for Deceased Relatives: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 10.30 am next Saturday 13th May.

As previously advised, due to the new management of Field of Mars Cemetery by the government's newly created OneCrown Cemeteries, we were notified that they will no longer be offering a marque at the three memorial masses we used to have (before Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and the Feast of all Souls). They will, however, continue to support one such event each year, and I, after consultation with the Parish Pastoral Council, have advised OneCrown that we would prefer the marque to be erected for the feast of All Soul’s in November, and hold the other two Masses at SCB Church Ryde instead.

Hence, the Memorial Mass for mothers (and grandmothers) is still going ahead next Saturday 13th May at 10.30 am at St. Charles Borromeo Church Ryde instead of at Field of Mars Cemetery.

You may then travel up to the cemetery of your choice to lay flowers or fix up graves. Please note the change of venue for the Mass and let your friends know accordingly.

Called to Love Retreat at Holy Cross College grounds next Sat 13th May from 9am – 5:30pm
You can still register for the upcoming Archdiocesan retreat day for married couples “Called to Love” with guest speaker Chris Padgett (the founder of the Center for Holy Marriage) next Saturday the 13th May at Holy Cross College Ryde to deepen your married life and spousal love. Throughout the day you will hear from Chris’ wealth of experience, have time for personal reflection and discussion as a couple, and of 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!

And that's about it for now. Have a blessed couple of weeks, and Happy Mother’s Day to all of you for next weekend.

God bless!

Fr. Greg