SICK CALLS AND OTHER URGENT MATTERS
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
PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE – ‘Easter Faith – Healing the Broken!’
Dear Friends,
‘Have you anything here to eat?’ I’ve always been fascinated by the ‘earthiness’ of Jesus’ appearances to his disciples. Perhaps his question to them in today’s Gospel is his way of helping them to appreciate and understand that his rising from the dead makes a difference in the ordinariness of our everyday lives.
After Jesus’ Resurrection, the disciples experience him personally, either individually or as a group. Today, Jesus comes to them just as two of their number are telling their story of meeting Jesus on the road to Emmaus and recognizing him at the breaking of bread. Again, the setting is a meal being shared on the first day of the week, the day of the Eucharist celebrations that re-live this great event.
The disciples’ response is agitation, fear and doubt but Jesus reassures his astonished disciples, ‘Touch me and see for yourselves.’ A significant aspect of these appearances is the way in which Jesus uses his wounds to quell their doubts and in his wounds, the disciples recognise him. There are echoes here of Jesus’ encounter with Thomas who needed to be convinced that Jesus was still alive by touching his wounds.
ACCOUNTS MANAGER (AUGUSTINIANS)
The Augustinians wish to employ on a part time basis (up to 10 hours per week) an enthusiastic person to manage its accounts and finances. Duties include data entry for all Augustinian entities into MYOB databases, invoicing, payment of accounts, credit card reconciliation, donations, bank reconciliation/system balance, payroll, tax, superannuation, BAS and ACNC reporting.
The successful applicant will have strong bookkeeping skills that may include appropriate qualifications. Sound knowledge of MYOB would be a significant advantage.
Enquiries to Fr Dave Austin OSA, 02 9938 0200. Resume to be forwarded by Fri 7 May 2021 to:
Fr Dave Austin, Order of St Augustine, 44 Alfred Road, BROOKVALE NSW 2100
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Friends of St Augustine
Next Gathering—7.30pm Tuesday 27 April - Parish Centre
We live at a time of tremendous upheaval and these are the times in which we called upon to be believers.
Join us as we look at the challenges of our times and how St Augustine and St Paul, who also lived through times of great change, can offer us insight into how to nurture our own spiritual life and the life of our community.
We will end the session with a guided meditation.
All welcome, please RSVP to the Parish Office or to Jacky at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
LINK TO BISHOP ANTHONY’S EASTER MESSAGE 
REVISED COVID GUIDELINES
COVID REMINDERS
Further changes to COVID guidelines for places of worship announced by the NSW Government to take effect on Monday 29 March:
The main change affecting the Parish is that there are now no restrictions on singing including in places of worship – good news for our community;
The 1 person per 2 square metres rule still applies. All seating can now be used but you are asked to follow the ticks on the seats and maintain 1.5 metre social distancing;
Maximum capacity in our parish churches - St Kieran’s – 280; St Cecilia’s – 160. All participants must be seated;
The Parish must continue to keep accurate records of all attendances, including through QR Codes, to enable fast contact tracing in the event of any community transmission. All must continue to check in at the churches and/or Parish Centre every time you visit.
Sunday Homilies Online
SUNDAY HOMILIES are online - this weekend, Fr Abel is the homilist.
You can watch the video on the parish YouTube channel:
St Cecilia's Sunday Mass - 9.00am - Volunteers Needed
1st Sunday of the Month - 2 x Junior servers
2nd Sunday of the Month - 2 x Junior servers
5th Sunday of the Month (only 3 or 4 times a year) - Volunteers needed for Coordinator, 2 Readers, Hospitality, Senior Server and 2 x Junior servers
Year of Reflection on Pope Francis' Amoris Laetitia
The Year Amoris Laetitia Family has begun! As part of journeying together as a Church, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has released the first of a series of 10 videos reflecting on various aspects of family life. The video is accompanied by a print resource to be used as an aid to small group or family discussion.
Please find a link to the video and print resource here.
In Pope Francis’ message for the commencement of the “Amoris Laetitia Family” Year, the Pope indicated the main intention of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia is “to communicate, in a profoundly changed time and culture, that today there is the need for a new outlook on the family on the part of the Church”. The Pope suggested “it is not enough to reiterate the value and importance of doctrine, if we do not become protectors of the beauty of the family and if we do not take compassionate care of its frailties and its wounds.”
(The Joy of Love) 2016 Apostolic Exhortation
Each week we read an extract from the Pope's letter and reflect on how it might relate to our family lives.
PARISH SCHOOL YOUTH MASS
This Youth event will be held twice a term at 6pm Mass. Remaining dates for the first semester are.
- ·Sunday 9 May (Term 2)
- ·Sunday 13 June (Term 2)
Mini Vinnies
Vinnies is proud to announce the 2021 edition of the Mini Vinnies Formation Program (MVFP) for students in Years 4 – 6, who wish to undertake Social Justice Formation in their own time. For more information please go to https://bit.ly/VinniesMVFP
This is the link to the Vinnies Metropolitan Schools January 2021 Newsletter: https://youthnsw.vinnies.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/School-Newsletter_Metro_Term-1-2021.pdf
Project Compassion
BE MORE—Every year, countless people turn Lent into a demonstration of faith, love and generosity. You can be a part of this incredible community, who believe that there are simple actions we can all take to “be more” for our world.
Make a donation to Project Compassion, start a fundraiser with your school, parish or community; give something up for Lent… there are many ways to put your compassion into action. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll be contributing towards a more just and compassionate world. https://lent.caritas.org.au/
A reminder to return your Project Compassion donations now to the church or parish office.
Information about the current Sacramental Program
Welcome to the Sacramental Program 2021-2022
Parish News
Baptism of Young Children Program
Works of Mercy an Opportunity for Family Reflection
Sacramental Program News for parents of children in Year 3 and older
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM OVERVIEW PARENT MEETING for parents new to the program (1 hour) :
Tues 11 May, 9.30am OR Wed 12 May, 7.00pm both in St Kieran’s Church
Parents new to the program are required to attend this meeting to gain an understanding of the program, timeline, and process.
CONFIRMATION INFORMATION SESSION FOR ALL PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM (approx. 1 hr):
Tues 15 June, 9.30am OR Wed 16 June, 7.00pm both in St Kieran’s Church.
A copy of the program is available at the back of both Churches and can be downloaded from the parish website at
Online Enrolment information will be available early in Term 2.
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
Parish ALPHA Program
The parish ALPHA program runs in the parish centre on Thursday evenings at 7pm and will run until the end of May.
Everyone is welcome and light refreshments are provided.
Bookings can be made through the parish office on 9949 4455.
QR Codes
IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE ASSIST THE PARISH STAFF WITH RECORD KEEPING BY DOWNLOADING THE SERVICE NSW APP AND SIGNING IN TO MASS WITH IT. Thanks
The Service NSW app is recommended by NSW Health and it can be downloaded via the following link:-
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/being-covid-safe/check-in#download-the-service-nsw-app
or go to the App Store on your mobile phone.
The app is very easy to use and you only need to verify your information once, subsequent uses only require you to click one button.
The QR Code is in the church entrances. There will be several available for use to reduce crowding.
Tap 'n' Go
We have a Tap ‘n’ Go terminal at the back of each Church for donations to the Parish 2nd Collection
The amount is set at $10. Funds donated here go toward the main source of income (2nd Collection) for our Parish and are used for the day to day running of our Parish, including altar and church requisites, pastoral programs, repairs & maintenance, wages, insurance and utilities. It is also used to fund any shortfall in the Charitable Works Fund and the many, many other expenses incurred in keeping our Parish vibrant and functioning.
HELPING THE AUGUSTINIANS—DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS
Thank you to all who supported the Augustinian Order in Australia through the Augustinian Appeal last weekend. Donations can be made to our Community in Vietnam, the Augustinian Seminary and Augustinian Volunteers Australia. You are welcome to choose to which of these you may wish to contribute. Donation envelopes are available in the churches and can be placed in the collection basket. Details of account numbers are on the flap of the envelope in case you wish to donate by direct deposit. We thank you for your generous support!
VIDEO - The Parish and Covid-19
Recently, we viewed a short video containing excerpts from our livestreamed Masses during the past few months and film clips from contemporary events during that period from Australia and overseas. Much positive feedback has been received. To view this video, please follow the links below:
Direct link to the Covid video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaSwQtu713k&t=7s
Link to the Parish YouTube channel where all the Masses (except the first few) and the Covid video sit:
PRAYER UNITED AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS - Provided by the Augustinians:
Almighty 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.