From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 3rd November, 2024

Hi everyone!

Happy Feast Day, St. Charles Borromeo!
Well, though Monday is the official 'Feast Day' of one of our two Parish Churches, we will be celebrating St. Charles Borromeo 'big time' on Sunday with our Parish BBQ after the 10 am Mass in the grounds of St Charles Primary School, and again on Monday evening with a special Mass at 7.30 pm. We've made a point in the past of celebrating special solemnities of the Church's calendar when they fall on a Monday, and since St. Charles is the Patron Saint at Ryde, it is only fitting that there be an extra Mass on the 4th. St. Charles gave us all a great example of dedicated service, and one which we should seek to imitate as priests, teachers, parents, students and the like. AlI us Verbum Dei missionaries will be present, and we look forward to catching up with you at these celebrations.

Now as for the arrangements on Sunday, the basic organisation will be as follows. We will begin serving lunch from about 11.30 am onwards in the school hall. There will be some tables and chairs available, and limited seating, so if you pack your picnic chairs and blankets, you could make the mostly sunny weather predicted for the day.

We have tried to make things simple this year by using a ticket system at our 'Pay Stations' for the hamburgers ($5), sausage sizzle ($2), and gelatos ($3), just to help cover the costs. Coffee will be available from Dom and Jessica (Noah's Ark Van) from $4.50 (pay them directly). Everything else is for free - drinks, desserts, zooper doopers, maybe even a 'slushy' or two! Entertainment to be provided care of our Schools and Colleges, games by our Youth Leaders, and good conversation by your Good Selves. Good one, St. Charles!!

Toiletries Drive for the Annual "Street Feasts" for our Homeless
Our friends at St. Merkorious who provide meals in partnership with our own Our Lady's Kitchen, will be hosting the annual 'Street Feast" at both St. Patrick's Cathedral Parramatta (Wed 13 Nov) and St. Mary's Cathedral Sydney (Fri 15 Nov). (See info box on opposite page for more details). This provides a great meal and entertainment for about 500 homeless people, and they are in need of toiletries to give to them: such as hand and body wash, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products (see full list in the info box on the opposite page).

We need to get these in by Sunday 10th Nov to give enough time to make up the toiletry kits. That's a lot of toiletries, so everything you can give will be greatly appreciated. These can be left at the Parish Office during the week, and at both Churches on the weekends. Please help us to help them.

Annual Mass of Remembrance for Recently Deceased Tuesday 12 November 2024 7.30 pm
Every year we offer a special Mass for deceased loved ones during the previous calendar year (although we also open it to those from the previous year as well). There will be one glass enclosed candle available for each loved one, that will be presented on the night during the requiem Mass (please don't bring along your own candles, as space is limited in front of the main altar, and some candles create fire hazards).

As usual, a special Book of Remembrance will be there for your loved one's names to be remembered at the Eucharistic Prayer. Please contact the Parish Office by 12 pm Tuesday November 12. We regret that we cannot guarantee a candle if you just show up on the night, without registering the name of the recently deceased person with the Parish Office.

And that's about all for now. See you on Sunday for the Parish Feast Day

Fr. Greg