From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 14th December, 2025

Hi everyone (and 'Thank God' for the rain!)
Christmas Volunteers
A Big 'thank you!' to those of you who have signed up to help out by volunteering at our Christmas Masses and to all the people who have already taken the Parish Christmas Cards and distributed them (like Diana and Joe Bechara pictured - who happily delivered a huge pile of them!!). Thank you to all of you, young and old; what a truly magnificent effort!

By the way, if your 'gated' apartment block or residential area hasn't received them, it may be because our volunteers have no access to your letterboxes. Could you please do it for us? Extra cards are available at the Parish Office.

We have brought the remaining cards up from OLQP Church, as the area is just as big as that of the SCB Church's historical boundaries but there are about a fifth of the number of regular Mass goers at OLQP. Could you please make a concerted effort this week as well to deliver these, even if they are further afield than Ryde/Putney? Thank you in advance!!

There are still a few areas in particular where we need help this Christmas. How about being a welcomer at one of the Masses, handing out a bulletin and saying 'Hello!’ or giving us a hand with the parking at SCB (vacancies especially at the Midnight and 8am Masses) - we usually need at least three people, especially when there are 'surges' just before the Mass begins, or to keep 'latecomers' from parking their SUVs on the access roads or grass areas. Or 'ushers' who politely find a space for people to sit down inside the Church. Give Judy a ring to find out how you can still help on 9807 2966

Need for a Skilled Gardener (or two??) at SCB Church Grounds
We have recently lost one of our long-time gardeners due to their moving way out of our area. The rose gardens at the Church particularly need an extra set of skilled hands to keep them looking good. This volunteer role, however, is not for 'just anyone'; it requires an accomplished and perhaps retired gardener to give me a hand once a fortnight to prune and care for them. Please don't apply if you only intend to do it for a few weeks or months ... I need someone who is both reliable and skilled for this volunteer role. The satisfaction comes from making our Church grounds look all the more inviting to those living around us and for that your Parish Priest and fellow parishioners will be eternally grateful to you!!

Evenings for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
Every year we compile a list of all the local Parishes who are offering an opportunity for you to experience the joy of God's mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and this year is no exception. We have an information box on the opposite page with details of eight surrounding Parishes (including our own) who are offering this (and with a Priest who probably 'doesn't know you from a bar of soap'!). Please feel free to drop into any one of these; our hope is that each and every one of you will avail of this service (which is also regularly available for about a half an hour before every Sunday/Saturay night Vigil service at our Parish).

Carols by Candlelight at Club Ryde Ex (7pm Saturday 20 December)
Next Saturday night our intrepid Youth at the Parish will be leading a Carols by Candlelight evening at Club Ryde Ex. You can catch them there next Saturday night from 7 pm onwards. This is now the third year they have been doing this, and it certainly rates a mention, and our support as well. Why not get along and enjoy the event? This is truly a marvellous family orientated event. I hope to see you there too...

Carols at West Ryde Christmas Celebrations (Anzac Park) last Saturday 6 December
I forgot to mention in previous week's bulletins another family event which featured our other combined RGCP Church choirs. They sang beautifully at the West Ryde Christmas Celebrations which were hosted by Ryde Council in Anzac Park West Ryde last weekend. By all accounts they acquitted themselves well at Christmas carols both new and old. My heartfelt thanks to all of you who participated but especially to the organisers of each event. I am so proud of the way the Parish is making its presence felt in the local community.

Adjustable Beds for Seniors
A parishioner working at a nursing home has six adjustable beds for seniors available at no cost. If anyone is interested in acquiring one of these please contact Judy at the office on 98072966 or ea@rgcp.org.au.

And that's about it for now. God bless and please don't get too stressed out on account of the coming Christmas rush...

Fr. Greg