sea sundayToday is Sea Sunday, when the church prays for those who live and work on the sea. Stella Maris, Apostleship of the Sea is the official maritime welfare agency of the Catholic Church. Today’s Appeal supports seafarers both practically and spiritually. During the COVID-19 pandemic, seafarers continue to bring products to sustain our population and economy, often at personal risk to their health. To support this ministry, please send your donations to: 
bit.ly/seasundayaustralia

www.aos-australia.org

IF YOU NEED A PRIEST URGENTLY, PLEASE CALL THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER:

Business hours – Parish Office – 9949 4455

After hours (Evenings and weekends) – 0490 898 464

Click here to see the Covid-19 safety plan

Fr DaveDear Friends,

Today’s Gospel of the Parable of the Sower helps us to reflect on our responsibilities as Church, as families, Parish and School Communities, and as Augustinians. God the Sower is almost wasteful in scattering the seeds wildly but then God’s love is like that. The parable could apply to the many areas of our lives where our openness to the Spirit varies – times when we are very receptive to God’s grace, times when we’re perhaps a bit shy, and times when we resist strongly. Life knocks us around – certainly our recent experience - but thankfully Jesus’ parables turn reality on its head. A seven-fold return was considered a good harvest but Jesus says otherwise, ‘Imagine… imagine the kind of seed that can produce up to a hundredfold in spite of the difficulties involved!’

Keeping our faith fresh is an engaging task at any time and we must ‘imagine’ and ’keep sowing’!  Comments from parishioners ‘returning’ to our churches reflect relief and fresh energy that we can now gather again. Some of you may find spiritual support in a favourite ’app’. Pope Francis’ homilies and reflections can be found on the Vatican News App or the Click to Pray App.  I find Laudate particularly helpful because it has a remarkable menu which includes the Prayer of the Church, the Daily Readings, prayers and devotions, the Order of Mass, the Catechism, 2 versions of the Bible, major Vatican documents from the Popes and Vatican II, and even the Code of Canon Law – in case I ever need it!

sunday mass

Numbers in our churches are now being determined by the size of the church and the 4 sq m rule:

  • ·Sunday Masses – REVISED number limits as follows:

                      - St Kieran’s – 140 per Mass

                      - St Cecilia’s – 80 per Mass

  • ·NO Bookings required – All persons attending must SIGN-IN on arrival.
  • ·Hygiene and Social Distancing - Please use the hand sanitiser and observe the marked seating (tick) and correct spacing. Families can sit together;
  • ·If you are unwell, please stay at home. All are urged to follow medical advice.

 

 

PPC

‘Buildings are closed, not the Church. We are the Church… and we remain open in faith, hope and love!’ This important statement a few months ago heralded a new awareness among us as the spread of Covid-19 increased – a new awareness as Church! This was a call to action….

Well, it’s time again - time for action! We need nominations for membership of the Parish Pastoral Council for 2020 onwards. The PPC and its members serve the Catholic Community of North Harbour through Our Parish Mission to witness to and to proclaim the word of God and to pray and celebrate the Liturgy in word and sacraments so that we may be of service to others and form a community of “one mind and one heart on the way to God.’ (St Augustine).

The PPC promotes our Parish Vision to be a community which is welcoming, friendly and hospitable; open to change, willing to learn, grow and collaborate; served by the rich diversity of our talent and ethnic composition; paying particular attention to the needs of families and youth; celebrating both socially and liturgically; striving to be Christ centred while reaching out to others

Like to know more? Talk to a member of the PPC or one of the Augustinians. The Parish Office can arrange for a PPC member to contact you.

NOMINATIONS PROCESS - Parishioners are invited to nominate a fellow parishioner to the PPC. Forms to facilitate this are available in our churches. Please give prayerful consideration as you reflect on this important duty and speak to the person beforehand. PLEASE RETURN THE FORM TO THE PARISH OFFICE NO LATER THAN MONDAY 13 JULY 2020.

vinniesYour Vinnies members wish to thank so many people for their generous support in such financially difficult times.  The Winter Appeal raised a magnificent $9100 which we hope will keep us operating for another six months.

catechistWe are in need of some parishioners to fill in for our regular Catechist teachers (who are in the vulnerable group for Coronavirus) until the end of this year. If you think you can help out our Catechists, please ring Ursula on 0423 595 204.

The times of classes needing teachers are:

  • ·Kindergarten Seaforth PS: Wed 1:10-1:40pm
  • ·Year 4 Seaforth PS: 11:45am-12:15pm
  • ·Kindergarten Manly Vale PS: 9:00-9:30am
  • ·Year 5 Balgowlah PS: 10:30-11:00pm

planned giving

  • sacramentalWelcome to the Sacramental Program  2019-2020
  • Registration Form  2019-2020
  • Photocard
  • Parish News
  • Baptism of Young Children Program
  • Nurturing Faith
  • Stations of the Cross

    Sacramental Program Update

    Parents of Children in Year 3

    Congratulations to all the children who received the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in recent weeks.

    An email was sent to all parents with an outline of dates for the preparation and celebration of First Communion which will commence Week 1 of Term 3.

    Please contact Janette if you did not receive this email.

    Your group facilitators will be in contact to organize your child’s family preparation group meetings which will commence in Week 2.

    Parents of Children in Year 2

    There has been no update from the Bishop’s Office to indicate a date for the Sacrament of Confirmation.  However as restrictions ease we may have more information in Term 3.

    Please contact Janette on 0408 866 521 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions on the above.

augustinian logo

A Statement from the International Augustinian Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation

The recent death of George Floyd, an African American man, at the hands of a white policeman in Minneapolis, has ignited worldwide protests under the banner of Black Lives Matter. Demonstrations have been taking place not only in the United States but in many other countries beyond. The Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the Order wishes to express its solidarity with those campaigning for justice and equality for black people and all who are the victims of discrimination, especially in the most economically advanced societies of the world, while condemning the violence of a minority of protesters.

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This year’s Annual Appeal to support our Vietnam Mission, Seminary Trust Fund and Augustinian Volunteers will be held in August, around the time of St Augustine’s Day. Some may wish to make donations prior to the end of the financial year. There are various ways you can contribute to the Order and receive a tax deduction: 

'Connected in Christ' is a DBB weekly resource, allowing generations to remain connected even while physically separate. Grandchildren can share their discoveries with grandparents and vice versa.
We hope that, in some small way, this resource will bring hope, joy and comfort to the people of Broken Bay as, together, we navigate our way through these unprecedented times.

Click here to download this week's Connected in Christ resource. 

augustinian logoaugustinian logoAlmighty and merciful God, refreshment in our weariness, support in our weakness, comfort in our sadness. 
We come to you to invoke your mercy, since today we still experience the fragility of the human condition 
in the presence of a new viral pandemic. Listen to the prayer we offer, comfort your children, 
save us from the present distress and open our hearts to be people of hope. 
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 
Amen.

childrens liturgy

The children’s liturgy ministry is always looking for new mums, grandparents and carers to be involved in this wonderful and rewarding ministry.  Being a volunteer in this ministry involves helping with children’s liturgy that takes place on Sundays at the churches of St Cecilia and St Kieran’s.  You will be placed on roster alongside another volunteer who is currently doing children’s liturgy to help out about once to twice a term. 

hospitalityWe are looking for volunteers to serve tea, coffee and bickies after the 9:30am mass at St Kieran’s Church. You are welcome to volunteer just once a year or more if you can manage it. It is a very easy way to volunteer and keep the community spirit alive in our parish. Setting up takes 15 minutes before mass and serving/cleaning up after mass takes about 30/40 minutes.

It is very easy and everything is provided, including training!

I hope to hear from some parishioners as it is a lovely part of our Sunday morning gathering as well as a great way to meet more parishioners.

Have a wonderful day Ursula 0423 595 204 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St augustine

St Augustine—  

You, Who always are, both before we were and before the world existed, have become for us a refuge in which we have turned to You.

Commentary on Psalm 89, 3

       

Augustinian MagazineClick here to see the latest edition of the Augustinian Magazine

Low gluten hosts re now available on the table with the offertory gifts in both churches. Parishioners wishing to receive a low gluten host are asked to place a low gluen host in the pyx or glass dish marked low gluten before Mass. These hosts will be consecrated at Mass and available from the priest at Communion time. Alternatively, parishioners are welcome to follow our current practice and speak to the priest or senior server ahead of time to request a low gluten host.

Gluten Intolerant? - The Coeliac Society NSW has issued the following advice about low gluten Communion bread.

The low gluten hosts contain traces around 6 parts per million (ppm) and in Australia, the Food Advisory Board say that no detectable gluten must be found in order to label foods gluten free which is why the communion wafer is called low gluten.  If low gluten products were on the supermarket shelves we wouldn’t be able to consume them.

Because communion is taken in such a tiny amount, it is an exception to the rule and therefore safe for Coeliac’s.  

If you are gluten intolerant, low gluten hosts are available at the church. Let the priest know prior to Mass to receive one at Communion.

music ministry