From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 10th September

Hi everyone.
We are hosting a number of really helpful activities at our Parish that I would warmly and wholeheartedly invite you to participate in.

Grief and Loss Workshops.
Over the past six years at RGCP I have personally witnessed how important it is to equip ourselves better to work through this difficult period of grief. With this in mind, we have a wonderful programme coming up for learning to deal with it, starting Tuesday 19th September, from 10:30am to 1pm.

Grief is an incredibly challenging human experience and one which we should all prepare for. Rest assured, all of us at some stage of our lives will have to deal with this, either personally or with close family members and friends. There are also many misconceptions about grief and how it affects people and also how to both ease and manage its effects and respond to others' in their needs.This introductory workshop called, "Understanding the Grief and Loss Experience", aims to equip you to both understand what grief is and deal with it in its' many shapes and forms. You would do well to participate in these very informative and helpful session. The workshop is offered gratuitously by the Parish and Morning Tea will be provided from 10am onwards. I look forward to seeing you there.

Ageing Well Masterclasses
As you may recall, several months ago I mentioned in this column that our Parish would be hosting a number of 'Masterclasses' in 'Ageing Well', particularly designed by CatholicCare for our Seniors. Once we retire, there are all sorts of stages through which we will pass and this 'third age' should be both planned for and suitably managed.

They will be here in October and you can already register your interest. There are some really interesting courses available, from 'Social Connection'', 'Physical Well Being', 'Navigating Aged Care', 'Digital World', Elder Abuse', Financial and Legal issues', 'Ageing Gracefully and Living Fruitfully'.

There is much we can learn from these Masterclasses, and I invite you to sign up and invite your friends along as well. Morning Tea will be provided by our own Noah's Arc Cafe.

So please, as places are limited, book your spot as soon as possible at any or all of the workshops, otherwise you might miss out.

St. Charles Primary School and Parish Fete This Sunday 11am- 4pm

Please be advised that this Sunday is your biennial opportunity to 'Dunk Fr. Greg" at the St. Charles School and Parish Fete! It begins after the 10am Mass and we invite you to come over and sample the food and entertainment provided. It is also an excellent chance to catch up with friends and support both the school and parish.

So come along and be part of the fun and support them - and us - in this really important fundraising initiative.

Please note: VERY LIMITED PARKING at SCB Church Grounds this Sunday
Please be advised that parking will be VERY LIMITED at SCB Ryde due to the Fete, so you might consider 'ride sharing' or 'drop-offs' for this weekend's Masses. I apologise in advance to those of you who may be inconvenienced by this, and invite you to aim to arrive earlier than usual for the 10am mass so as to avoid disappointment.

Parish Verbum Dei Retreat Saturday 16 September 9am - 5 pm at Holy Cross
Our next Parish day of prayer and reflection, away from the bustle of life, on the grounds of at Holy Cross Ryde. Brought to you by your resident Verbum Dei people, it is free of charge - just bring your own lunch, a bible, pen and paper and a desire to find out more about your faith.

This time we follow on from the World Youth Day theme: "Mary arose and went with haste" ... from Luke 1, 39. See you there!

And that's about all foe now. God bless!

 
Fr. Greg