MESSAGE ON THE 22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YR A)
Friday 1st September 2023
My dear people,
What a wonderful and life changing experience the Parish Mission has been! I particularly liked one comment from a participant, “this was the best thing that ever happened in our parish.” I must say I agree with it. In my six years here, no talk had attracted such a large crowd. I hope and pray that everyone who participated had a great experience of God’s love, mercy, and healing, which were the themes of each of the nights. I, for one, was deeply moved by the “healing session” of the last night. I would like to thank John Pridmore for the wonderful way in which he led the Parish Mission. I also thank everyone who was involved in the preparation of every night’s activities. It would be wonderful to record more testimonies from parishioners who came to the Parish Mission. I invite you to send an email to the parish office if you are able to do that. If you would like your testimony to remain anonymous, kindly leave a note in the letterbox at the front of the presbytery.
We congratulate and continue to pray for our younger parishioners in Grade 4 who will receive their first Holy Communion over the next few weekends. Most of these will take place at the 6pm, 9am and 10:30am Masses. Seats will be reserved for the first communicants and their families for these Masses. As these children progress to this most significant part of the initiation into the catholic faith, let us pray for a renewed sense of the presence of God in their lives and an increase in their desire to be disciples of our Lord.
As mentioned before, Natasha Berchy has resigned from the position of Evangelisation Coordinator. I sincerely thank Natasha for the wonderful contributions she has made to our parish in her very short time in the position. She leaves behind a great legacy which will influence many of the activities of our parish in terms of evangelisation. Natasha is not leaving the parish altogether and as a parishioner, will continue to have an input in the life of the parish. The position of Evangelisation Coordinator has been advertised and details regarding how to apply are in the bulletin.
On 28th October this year, there will be a Fund Raising Concert for our parish. It will be a Live Show Tribute to Elvis Presley at the Performing Arts Centre of CRC, on site here. More details available at ELVIS – Greatest Hits Tickets (123tix.com.au). The
funds raised will go towards helping with the operational costs of running our parish. With the increase in interest rates over the past several months, the costs of financing the loan for the church have increased and we need another form of income to help with these costs. Your generosity will go a long way and is very appreciated.
I would like to let you know that I will be away from the parish for my annual from 18th September to 15th October this year. This year, Fr David Cartwright, Fr Greg Bellamy and I are off to Europe where we will visit England, Italy, Greece, France and Scotland. Fr Frank Buhagiar will be here for Mass and Confession from Monday to Saturday and one of the Columban Fathers from Essendon will be here for the three Masses on Sunday.
We continue turning to our patron saint and we ask for her intercession.
St Catherine of Siena, Pray for us.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Fr Richard Rosse PP