From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 13th August, 2023

Hi Everyone,
Welcome back, Fr. Daniele and Fr. Dan!
Last weekend we happily welcomed back Fr. Daniele after his two month absence from the Parish, with his yearly month of retreat, a home visit and his attendance at a Symposium on Mission hosted by our own Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity, representing all four of us. He is now back 'on board' at Macquarie University, where he is their full-time Chaplain, and celebrating the usual Masses and things. Welcome back, Fr. Daniele!
Fr. Dan should arrive back in Sydney on Saturday evening after his three week pilgrimage through Rome, Assis and World Youth Day in Lisbon with a bus load of students and teachers from the Catholic Colleges close by (Marist College Eastwood, where he is the Chaplain, Holy Cross College Ryde, and Marist Sisters’ Woolwich). The photo of Fr. Dan and Fr. Steve, with the backdrop of the WYD Mass - and about 1.5 million others - looks terrific! (see photo) Welcome back, Fr. Dan!

Fr. Steve, on the other hand, will not be back here until the middle of September, as he will be doing his own month of retreat in one of our retreat houses near Valencia, Spain until then. He sends his usual friendly greetings to you, as he farewells the World Youth Day cohort on their return flight to Sydney (they will be arriving home over the coming week or two).

Br. Antonio, who accompanied Fr. Dan on the same trip (and even the same bus!). will also be staying behind a month longer to do his own month of retreat with our 'Formation Group' in Spain, but should be back here again at the end of September. He sends his big smile and his enthusiastic greetings all the same!

We look forward to hearing from Fr. Dan at the 6 pm Youth Mass on Sunday night at SCB, and to welcoming back our inspired - if a bit tired - youth contingent as well at next weekend's Youth Mass.

And that's about it for now. God bless, and have a wonderful week,

Fr. Greg