From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 26th November, 2023

Hi everyone!

First Holy Communion Masses
Thanks to everyone who helped out with the First Holy Communion Masses over the last two weeks. We had a total of 139 children over seven Masses, so the last two weekends were pretty intense. Still, seeing that the Church were fairly full each time, with an average of about 250 people each Mass, I think it was best that we had the Masses for a maximum of 22 families each time, so as to have a more personalised approach to this vital sacrament.



Christmas Mass Times

Please note the changes to some of our Christmas Vigil Masses this year, which have been printed out in full at the bottom of this page. The three main changes are that :

1) the 6 pm Vigil Mass (24th Dec) will be held instead at OLQP Church at 6 pm. (In past years this has been celebrated on the lawn of Holy Cross College Ryde). Hence:

2) there will be no 8 pm Mass at OLQP this year (as it will be held there two hours earlier than last year at 6 pm); and

3) an additional Vigil Mass will be celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Ryde at 7 pm.

The principal reason for this move from Holy Cross College is due to the continual difficulties of getting volunteers on Christmas eve to help set up, assist, and then pack away after that Mass, in addition to the 4.30 pm Family Mass in the grounds of St Charles Primary School. The 4.30 pm Mass started just after COVID restrictions were relaxed, and has continued due to the very positive response from our young families to this earlier Christmas Mass time (the little children are in bed much earlier).

This also gives more protection in the case of either very hot or inclement weather, (in the worst of cases we can always make a 'last minute pilgrimage' to SCB Church if there are any late afternoon thunderstorms (something which has happened frequently over past years). We could not move the 6 pm Mass to SCB because of the clash of traffic that would eschew, moving in and out of SCB grounds at about the same time. All the other Christmas masses will be held at their usual times.

New banners, adverts in the TWT and postcard letterbox drops will all be used to highlight these changes, but please pass on the changes to friends and family within the community if you can. We intend to have someone posted at Holy Cross College from 5.30 pm to 6.30 pm, as well as at OLQP Church from 7.30 pm - 8.15pm should anyone turn up in the wrong place or the wrong time.

Invitation to 'Christmas at the Cathedral' Thurs 14 Dec - Free Bus Tickets Available

You are invited to join Archbishop Anthony for a "festival evening' at the Cathedral, when they unveil the "Christmas Lights" for this year on Thursday evening 14th December. It has grown over the years into a fairly dynamic event, with food stalls and entertainment. We will be chartering a bus that evening to bring parishioners there and back from St. Charles and tickets are free. We have opened a Trybooking page to register for your bus tickets., which you can find here:

https://trybooking.com/CNOXI

I look forward to accompanying you there on the bus and on the night.

Volunteers Thankyou Mass, with Presentation of Training Certificates Sat 2 Dec 8 - 10 am

We will be hosting our annual Volunteers Thankyou Mass, with morning tea and coffee provided care of Noah's Ark Café next Saturday 2nd December at 8 am. This is our way of thanking the hundreds of volunteers who regularly look after our ministries and liturgies, outreach and groups, and add so much value to them. We will be also be handing out the certificates we have received from the Liturgy Office at that Mass to those who have fully completed their training as Acolytes, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and Readers.

Calling All Calligraphists!!

We are in need of some help from someone with good Calligraphy skills to help complete the ceremonial certificates used at weddings we priests celebrate. Our past calligraphists have all moved out of the area due to work or marriage. The work is only occasional, and can be done at any time suitable to the calligraphist. Any takers??