From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 24th August, 2025

Hi everyone.
There are a number of things coming up that you might be interested in.

Father's Day Memorial Mass WILL BE ON Saturday 6th Sep AT OLQP CHURCH THIS YEAR!!
Just a 'head's up' that our annual 'Father's Day Memorial Mass' will be held at OLQP Church this year at 10.30 am on Saturday Morning 6 September, 2025. The reason is that we have a wedding booked on that morning at SCB Church, which was booked without realising it would conflict with the usual Father's Day Memorial Mass. So, please be aware that it will be held down at OLQP Church instead this year. And remember: at all the Father's Day Sunday Masses (including the Saturday night Vigil Masses) we will be calling on the Holy Spirit to determine our 'Father of the Year' ... so make sure you get your Fathers and Grandfathers along!

St. Charles Primary School Fete Sunday 14 September 11 am - 4 pm
It's on again, bigger and better than ever ... our own St. Charles Primary School is hosting its two yearly School Spring Fete. I love this event; it is a major item on our Parish calendar (being held every second year) and I heartily encourage everyone from the Parish to support this fun-and-fundraising event for this local school of ours.

The Fete opens its gates at 11 am, straight after the 10 am Mass that day at SCB Church which I will be presiding. Official 'welcomes' begin at about 11.15 am, and there will be the usual carnival rides, market stalls, showbags, face painting, crafts, games and fantastic food from all around the world... Also worthy of mention is the traditional 'dunk tank’, where (for a fee) you get a chance to both practice your ball throwing skills and show your... err...appreciation for the 'dunkees' on offer (including some of the Official Guests). This year they will have a special display of 'muscle cars' for the car enthusiasts ... (but then again, that seems to happen at a lot of our SCB Church weddings ). So, save the date and invite your friends and family along.

SAVE THE DATE - Information Evening: ‘Unpacking’ the Results of the NCLS Survey 7.30 pm Thursday 18 September 2025
On September 18th we will be holding an Information night to 'unpack' the results of the NCLS Survey we held at all the Masses at SCB and OLQP Churches last 31 May/1 June. We had over 1000 participants in the survey across the two Churches and primary schools, which was a fantastic level of involvement. Thanks for that! Dr. Sam Sterland will be coming along, he heads the team of research for the Survey and it will be great to hear his insights, in comparison with other Churches - both Catholic and otherwise - from across the nation. Starting at 7.30 pm, with coffee and nibbles from 7 pm onwards. RSVP will be necessary, as places may well be limited, as well as for catering purposes. More details next week.

'Sacraments of Initiation' Mass for 25 local High School Students (SCB Church Thursday 6 pm 25th August)

We are very pleased to be once again hosting at SCB Church a celebration of the 'Sacraments of Initiation" (Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation) for High School students who wish to receive them. Last year we had a 'batch' of 18 students from Holy Cross College, which was a catch up from many years. This year we have a combined group of 25 Students, with 11 from Marist College Eastwood, 9 from Holy Cross College Ryde, and a selection of 5 young ladies from other Secondary Colleges (including Marist Sisters College Woolwich and Santa Sabina Strathfield). Bishop Danny Meagher DD will preside, along with four local parish priests/college chaplains. Please pray for them as they finish their final preparations for this important event.

Pilgrimage "in the Footsteps of St. Paul" 17 - 29 May 2026.
Since I have been in 'pilgrimage mode' for the last month or so, I thought I would also let you know that I will be leading a pilgrimage in 2026 "In the Footsteps of St. Paul" to selected locations in Greece and Turkey. You may recall that I had a planned pilgrimage to the Holy Land cancelled due to a war that broke out five days before we were due to leave and which, sadly, is still ongoing. My first attempt to 'follow St. Paul' was also curtailed due to a Clergy Conference, so this time I hope nothing will get in the way...

The Pilgrimage will 'follow in St. Paul's footsteps' on his journeys around Greece and Modern day Turkey. In Biblical times, Turkey was known as 'Asia Minor', and included areas known by the Biblical names of Pamphylia, Lystra, Derby and Phrygia. Other places of interest there include Abraham's residence at Harran, and Mount Ararat, where Noah's Ark finally rested after the great flood. I am really looking forward to it, and hope that it will bring St. Paul's great missionary journeys to life, and help to picture his amazing adventures, struggles, triumphs and setbacks. Why don't you join me??

We start off in Athens, where St. Paul preached to the pagans about the "unknown God" at the Areopagus in Ancient Corinth (Acts 17). We then make our way to the Island of Patmos, where St. John was exiled for many years. We then enter Turkey to visit Ephesus, the prison St. Paul stayed in there as a 'guest', and the House where Mary is said to have spent the later years of her life. Then on to Thessaloniki, Phillipi and the ancient Neapolis, where St. Paul, Timothy and Silas landed from Troas. Fascinating stuff!

It is certain to be an edifying pilgrimage, and I am looking forward to it. If you think you might be able to join me, there is more information in the pamphlets at the entrances to both of our Parish Churches, and online at www.harvestjourneys.com/tour/st-paul/ . You can always ask me about it after one of the Masses…

And that's about it for now. God bless, and try to stay dry...

Your brother in Christ's missionary service,

Fr. Greg