From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 16th Novemeber, 2025

Hi everyone!

Charitable Works Fund Appeal This Weekend 14 - 16 November
We once again have our CWF Appeal this weekend, as our way of helping to finance invaluable ministries run by the Archdiocese on our behalf. These include Catholic Care, Aboriginal Catholic Ministries, Good Shepherd Seminary and University, Hospital and Prison Chaplaincy services. All contributions to this Fund are 100% Tax Deductible and as we have a fairly hefty quota to fill each year, if we don't get enough donations from your good selves, we have to make it up out of the second collection donations. Thank you for helping us to help them..

Thanks to our 'Remembrance Mass Team' for a Beautiful Ceremony last Tuesday Night
A huge thank you to the people who helped get the annual November Mass of Remembrance ready, along with the individualised Glass candles (thanks to Lorna and Geoff Blanc from Candle Supply) and the Office Staff and volunteers (Mary and Josephine) who got everything ready. Thanks as well to all those who served, played and sang. Many many comments were passed on about how much the celebration helped those who are grieving loved ones recently deceased. I am indebted to all of you for your support.

'Volunteers Thankyou Mass' Saturday 6 December 8 am and Brunch afterwards
Speaking of volunteers, I want to invite everyone who volunteers here at our Parish (in our ministries, outreach, administrative work and so forth) to our Annual RGCP Volunteers' Mass and Morning Tea at SCB Church Saturday 8 December from 8 am onwards. There is so much work done around our grounds due to the volunteer 'service hours' some 300 of you put in, which is a great testimony of 'being Church' to those who come here.

So: 'Calling All RGCP Volunteers!" Please come along and let me give you a really lovely morning tea (consisting of bacon and egg rolls, ham and cheese croissants, fruit platters, cakes, fruit juices, and our Little Noah's Cafe offerings). All for free, all because you guys are amazing. Because you all help to make RGCP the welcoming warm worship community it is... And I want as many of you there to 'meet and greet' others whom you might normally not 'bump into'. So please SAVE THE DATE!

'Street Feast' Toiletry Packs Were Very Well Received
Thank you to all who brought in toiletries for the Street Feast outside St. Mary's Cathedral on Friday. It was a huge success, and the 'guests' were all treated to a lovely hot meal, gifts and toiletry packages. The organisers were blown away by all the toiletry packages given to them by your good selves. So, once again, on behalf of our 'city's poor and homeless', a big thank you to all of you who so generously participated.

Volunteers Still Needed for Many Ministries
Just in case you are thinking that we 'already have enough' volunteers, think again. There is a significant turnover of people because this Parish has a 'moveable Catholic population', and volunteers are here one year and gone the next. That means that we have to be renewing our Volunteer ranks all the time. So please, if you are reading this and wondering what YOU could do to help our Parish be what she is, that is, a missionary outpost in the middle of Sydney Suburbia, then here are some ministries that need more hands:


- Visitation personnel (weekends or weekdays)

- Musicians and Cantors (all Masses)

- Kid's Liturgy helpers (SCB Sun mornings 9 - 11 am)

- Our Lady's Kitchen deliverers (OLQP Tues afternoons 4 - 6 pm)

- Vinnies Van volunteers (many shifts still available)

- Welcomers and Hospitality (weekend and special Masses)

- Camera and A/V Operators (at all Masses and Funerals/weddings etc)

Kindly speak to me or contact the Parish Office to get more information and to put yourselves forward. We will get you the training you need to carry on these vital ministries at our Parish; we just need your service hours!

And that's about it for now. This Saturday and Sunday are our final "First Holy Communion Masses for this year, so please pray for our kids doing their First Holy Communion, and for their Parents and families coming along.

God bless you all, and have a lovely week ahead.

Fr. Greg