From Fr Greg's Desk: Sunday 8th February, 2026

Hi everyone!
Nice to see everyone back after the school holidays, and the Churches once again filled with so many people at our Sunday Masses. It is going to be a big year this year, and we thank you for your patronage of our Parish and for all the help so many of you give during the year. We did a tally of all the regular volunteers at the Parish and it came to about 340 across all our ministries and outreach services. (Actually, if you count all the others who make sandwiches and snack packs for our regular Vinnies Van nights, it would be well over 400).

Still, with the change in year, people move on to other schools and, because of that, other Parishes. This has had an impact on some of our ministries, so we will be 'putting the call out' for more volunteers in a number of these (last week we got about 20 'expressions of interest' for Catechists ... thank you!).

Here are two more ministries very much in need of helpers:

New Helpers needed at SCB Kid's Liturgy 10 am Mass
With the New Year we have had about five of our regular Kid's Mass helpers tell us they are no longer available. We get an average of around 30 to 40 kids each week (aged from 3 up to Year 3) and we need about four volunteers every week to keep it running. Duties include setting up mats and tables and things, bringing the kids to and from the Church, then supervising the activities run each Sunday. It is certainly not rocket science, we can easily train you up for it. If we could get a 'once a month' roster going, that would mean about 15 - 20 people all told. Could you please help out??

Need for Parking Wardens at 10 am Mass
Also, due to the large number of people attending our 10 am Family Mass (and 6 pm Youth Mass) at SCB each week, the parking spaces at SCB fill up quite quickly and it can get a bit chaotic at times. It would be great if we could have one or two people to help park the cars in so as to 1) make the most of the available space and 2) not 'park in' others or park on the access roads or lawns.

So, I am making this call out for volunteer Parking Wardens each week to help get the parking sorted (before the 10 am and 6 pm Sunday Mass services at SCB). Any takers please contact me after Mass or get in touch with the Parish Office on 9807 2966/office@rgcp.org.au.

Reminder: Sacramental Programme Information Evening coming up Tuesday 10 February
We have already begun our School Year, having recently had the opening Masses for all our Catholic Schools and Colleges. Our Sacramental Programmes will kick off next Tuesday 10th February with an "Information Evening" (via zoom) with our Sacramental Coordinator Tessa Quan. I will also be present at this meeting.

Please remind anyone you know with kids in Year 3 at either our local Catholic or State primary schools of this meeting, so that we can clarify with as many people as possible as to what to expect from the Program and the crucial dates that need to be noted. So please help us to get the message out so as to avoid disappointments. Every year we hear someone say: "Well, why wasn't I told about it!". Hopefully this year will be different...

Footsteps of St Paul Pilgrimage May 17 - 29 2026
I will soon be accompanying a pilgrimage with Harvest Tours to Greece and Turkey to visit the lands where St. Paul did his missionary trips in the first few decades of Christianity. We currently still need a couple of more people to fill the minimum quota for the trip, so if you were thinking of joining me for the trip (with just three months remaining) NOW is the time to book your place.

These pilgrimages are really special; they make the Sunday readings come alive, having been at the places they speak of, and we delve into the history, culture and background to what St. Paul did and said. Besides this we get to see where St. John wrote his Gospel, and the places where Mary lived with the Beloved Disciple at Ephesus. Guaranteed to inspire, edify and captivate you. There is more information in the info box on the opposite page.

And that's about it for now,

Fr. Greg