From Fr Greg's Desk

Hi everyone, and thank you for all the kind "Welcome Back's" I have received over the past week since flying in last Saturday morning. I was away at the 'Chapter" of my Fraternity, at which we elected our new Congregational Leaders - President Anne Healy fmvd, and General Superior of the Male Branch, Fr. Sergio Rodrigues, fmvd, and reviewed our Fraternities' Constitutions and other matters. It was a full month of meetings and interactions, with over 80 participants, so yes, it was a fairly intensive time. I look forward to having them come visit here in Australia sometime in the near future, just as Fr. Ismael and Fr. Rodrigo have done in past years.

As usual, I 'hit the ground running' with a very full weekend, and a lot of jet lag from which I am only just now recuperating. But it is lovely to be back and to see how good the Churches are looking.

Painting Progress at Our Lady Queen of Peace Gladesville

I am delighted with the effect of the 'baby blue' on the ceiling and front wall of OLQP Church. Blue and white are Mother Mary's traditional colours, so they seemed to us the most appropriate colours in which to 'revest' the Church, especially given that the Centenary celebrations are now less than five months away (Archbishop Anthony Fisher will be presiding, God willing, at a Centenary Mass at OLQP on Sunday 9th March 2025, at 9 am). We have work to do before then, both inside and outside the Church, and around the car parks. Many thanks to our Maintenance Man, Keith Stanshall, for supervising all these works at the Parish and making sure the Churches and grounds are kept in 'tip top' condition. See photo opposite.

Upcoming Feast Day RGCP Parish 3rd Nov 2024

Please make a big entry in your diaries for Sunday 3rd November, as we will be celebrating our 'Being the One Parish' on that day with the help of our friends from the P & F at St. Charles Primary, who will be 'manning the BBQ". We need your help though, with the donation of drinks and desserts, to make the day all the more celebrative. Gelato will be on sale as well, and there will be not one, but two different Kiddies Castles, games (care of our Youth Leaders), entertainment and the like.

It will start as usual once the 10 am Family Mass at SCB is finished, and wind up when the mirth runs out (I am very happy for people to make a family day of it, and bring your own picnic chairs and blankets to set up family circles on the lawn), So, come along and let's make it a wonderful family event.

Little Noah's Cafe Looking to Expand Service to Tuesday Mornings

Without doubt, one of the most helpful additions to our SCB grounds has been the purchase and running of 'Little Noah's Cafe' from Dom and Jessica Herring. They began the initiative with their own "Noah's Ark Cafe" brand, and have kindly permitted us to maintain the little van in their colourful designs, as a more permanent reminder of little Baby Noah.

Until now, we have fielding volunteers four days a week - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday mornings. But we would be keen to add another day (during school term, of course) and so we are making a call out for people who could man the Cafe on Tuesday mornings, just as others are doing to keep the community spirit - and great coffee!!! - thriving at SCB. We are happy to provide the training ... we just need for people to commit to perhaps one morning a month in between everything else, and make the extra day a reality. If you are interested, talk with me or get in touch with the Parish Office.

Funeral Mass for Mons. Vince Redden

Details for Mons. Vince Redden's Funeral Mass (he was Parish Priest at St. Charles Borromeo Ryde from 1979 - 1990) are as follows:

A Parish Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 6:00pm with Fr Denis Minns OP, on Wednesday 16 October, at St Mark’s Catholic Church, Drummoyne.

His funeral mass, with Bishop Danny Meagher as principal celebrant, is on Friday 18 October 2024 at 11:00am at St Mark’s Catholic Church, Drummoyne.

And that's about it for now!!

God bless,

Fr. Gre