From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 21st April, 2024
I am back again this week after my absence due to both the Clergy Conference and the Cadet camp with Holy Cross College Cadet Unit. Thank you for your patience in my dealing with things as best as I could while I was physically away. I am very grateful to the Parish Team, led by Judy Raumer, and my Verbum Dei brothers who carried on in my absence.
We were blessed with good weather, thank God, for the duration of the Cadet camp, and it only started to 'sprinkle' when we were in the buses on the way home, so I consider that a lovely little gift from the good Lord.
On that note just a reminder that:
Thursday April 25th is Anzac Day
Anzac Day is once again upon us next Thursday. We will be dedicating our usual 9.20 am Mass to pray for our deceased members of the Armed Forces, and for those who defend our shores in the present tense. Holy Cross College Cadet Unit will be present at the Ryde Ex Cenotaph, providing the 'catafalque party' to honour those who have gone to war and have not come back.
In Australia, 'catafalque parties' act as sentries for the ANZAC Day commemorations, so it is wonderful to see our own Holy Cross cadets 'stepping up to the podium' and providing that service. I will also be giving a short address at that service. The Cadet Unit will also be present at other services in the local area. A modest breakfast is offered free of charge at Ryde Ex afterwards. I look forward to seeing you there.
Little Noah's Cafe ...
We had a very fruitful meeting last Wednesday, as we discussed the project of continuing on with a coffee service, albeit much simpler than what Dom Herring has provided over the last two years. We are going ahead with the purchase of the smaller version Coffee Van - the one Dom would bring to schools and other venues - and we hope to have it up and running for a basic Sunday service, although perhaps not every week.
The name will have to change from Noah's Arc Cafe to another, as it is a business name belonging to Dom and Co. For now, in keeping with the memory of little Noah, we will keep the current 'animal livery' and call it 'Little Noah's Cafe' or something similar, but I am very open to other suggestions.
The service offered will in any case depend on the availability of suitable volunteers to run it - both on Sundays, as well as perhaps extending it to some week days or special events. We also invite people to form little teams that might take on one Sunday morning a month, and take responsibility for that morning service, in a similar way to how the Vinnies Van is organised. If you are interested in helping out please email the office at office@rgcp.org.au or call 980702966.
We will also have a simple coffee cart available every day outside the Parish Office with instant coffee, tea, and biscuits, so that you can meet and greet, or sit and read, and avail of the beautiful weather while it lasts. Thank you in advance for helping us out with this invaluable hospitality outreach ministry of the Parish.
Please join us in praying insistently for peace...
Let's pray for peace both abroad, neighbourhoods, streets and families. Jesus, after the Resurrection, walked through those closed doors and said, "Peace be with you" ... and he said that three times, to make a point of it all. May we strive all the harder to bring Jesus' peaceful presence into our own little worlds, because it seems to be all too fragile right now. To quote Mother Teresa:
"Let us not use bombs and guns to overcome the world. Let us use love and compassion.
Peace begins with a smile. Smile five times a day at someone you don't really want to smile at; do it for peace. Let us radiate the peace of God and so light His light and extinguish in the world and in the hearts of all men all hatred and love for power.
Today, if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other-that man, that woman, that child is my brother or my sister. If everyone could see the image of God in his neighbor, do you think we would still need tanks and generals?
Peace and war begin at home. If we truly want peace in the world, let us begin by loving one another in our own families. If we want to spread joy, we need for every family to have joy.
God bless, and take care of one another.
Your missionary brother, in Christ’s service,
Fr. Greg
Thursday April 25th is Anzac Day
Anzac Day is once again upon us next Thursday. We will be dedicating our usual 9.20 am Mass to pray for our deceased members of the Armed Forces, and for those who defend our shores in the present tense. Holy Cross College Cadet Unit will be present at the Ryde Ex Cenotaph, providing the 'catafalque party' to honour those who have gone to war and have not come back.
In Australia, 'catafalque parties' act as sentries for the ANZAC Day commemorations, so it is wonderful to see our own Holy Cross cadets 'stepping up to the podium' and providing that service. I will also be giving a short address at that service. The Cadet Unit will also be present at other services in the local area. A modest breakfast is offered free of charge at Ryde Ex afterwards. I look forward to seeing you there.
Little Noah's Cafe ...
We had a very fruitful meeting last Wednesday, as we discussed the project of continuing on with a coffee service, albeit much simpler than what Dom Herring has provided over the last two years. We are going ahead with the purchase of the smaller version Coffee Van - the one Dom would bring to schools and other venues - and we hope to have it up and running for a basic Sunday service, although perhaps not every week.
The name will have to change from Noah's Arc Cafe to another, as it is a business name belonging to Dom and Co. For now, in keeping with the memory of little Noah, we will keep the current 'animal livery' and call it 'Little Noah's Cafe' or something similar, but I am very open to other suggestions.
The service offered will in any case depend on the availability of suitable volunteers to run it - both on Sundays, as well as perhaps extending it to some week days or special events. We also invite people to form little teams that might take on one Sunday morning a month, and take responsibility for that morning service, in a similar way to how the Vinnies Van is organised. If you are interested in helping out please email the office at office@rgcp.org.au or call 980702966.
We will also have a simple coffee cart available every day outside the Parish Office with instant coffee, tea, and biscuits, so that you can meet and greet, or sit and read, and avail of the beautiful weather while it lasts. Thank you in advance for helping us out with this invaluable hospitality outreach ministry of the Parish.
Please join us in praying insistently for peace...
Let's pray for peace both abroad, neighbourhoods, streets and families. Jesus, after the Resurrection, walked through those closed doors and said, "Peace be with you" ... and he said that three times, to make a point of it all. May we strive all the harder to bring Jesus' peaceful presence into our own little worlds, because it seems to be all too fragile right now. To quote Mother Teresa:
"Let us not use bombs and guns to overcome the world. Let us use love and compassion.
Peace begins with a smile. Smile five times a day at someone you don't really want to smile at; do it for peace. Let us radiate the peace of God and so light His light and extinguish in the world and in the hearts of all men all hatred and love for power.
Today, if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other-that man, that woman, that child is my brother or my sister. If everyone could see the image of God in his neighbor, do you think we would still need tanks and generals?
Peace and war begin at home. If we truly want peace in the world, let us begin by loving one another in our own families. If we want to spread joy, we need for every family to have joy.
God bless, and take care of one another.
Your missionary brother, in Christ’s service,
Fr. Greg
Comments
Post a Comment