SICK CALLS AND OTHER URGENT MATTERS
IF YOU NEED A PRIEST URGENTLY,
PLEASE CALL THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER:
Business hours 9am-4pm Mon - Fri – Parish Office – 9949 4455
After hours (Evenings and weekends) – 0490 898 464
PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE – Mission Sunday – ‘We cannot but speak…’
Dear Friends,
On this World Mission Sunday, we continue our reflection on ‘mission’, our call to witness to God’s presence and action within creation, part of our dynamic relationship with our evolving world. Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Laudato Si is a timely reminder of our responsibilities as Christians to promote goodness in the world.
Mission has been viewed in different ways over the centuries – as our call to exercise dominion over creation, as a call to stewardship of the good things of the world, or as a call to kinship, building community and strong relationships. The last mentioned is the preferred priority in our times, especially when we witness the impact of human society on the world around us in the disparity of wealth among nations and the gap between rich and poor, the depletion of resources, and global warming. Whatever one’s view of environmental realities, the call to care for ‘our common home’ is part of our missionary call.
The theme for the Pope’s Message for World Mission Day – ‘We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard.’ {Acts 4:20) - invites us to draw strength from the wonder and vision so evident in the disciples’ experience of Jesus in the beginning:
LIVESTREAMING – SUNDAY MASS at 9.30am
For the next 2 Sundays (24th and 31st October) as we transition from the lockdown period, Sunday Mass will continue to be livestreamed from St Kieran’s Church at 9.30am. Please check the link
https://www.facebook.com/NorthHarbourCatholic or YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8Dxm0ehFt-5r1ie9xOjLw
2021…. COVID ‘Roadmap’ – UPDATE!
- ·PUBLIC MASSES have resumed in both of our churches according to their usual schedule. Please note that no vaccination status requirement applies.
- ·SUNDAY MASSES resume this weekend - 23-24 October and the 4 square metre rule applies.
- ·ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: The NSW Government has published requirements for parishioners to register their attendance at Mass.
* The preferred method is use of the QR code. It will be simple if people have the Service NSW App on their smartphone. If a person is unable to provide contact details, for example, due to age or language barriers, another person may provide contact details on their behalf.
* Sign-in permitted. If it is not possible for electronic check-in to occur, please record your name, contact number and entry time on the sheet provided. The Parish will hold this information for a period of at least 28 days so that it can be provided upon request to an authorised officer
In addition to the QR Code, all are expected to sanitize, and always wear a mask.
- ·IMPORTANT INFORMATION –
* Funerals – The number of persons attending funeral services is determined by the capacity of the church according to the 4 square metre rule – 140 (St Kieran’s), 80 (St Cecilia’s). Please note that those attending Funerals in our churches must be fully vaccinated. In the event that any person is not fully vaccinated, numbers are limited to 10.
* Parish Office and Parish Centre - Under health regulations at this time, only persons who are fully vaccinated may enter the Parish Centre or come to the Parish Office. If you are not fully vaccinated, please phone the Office and we will attend to your requests – 9949 4455.
OCTOBER IS WORLD MISSION MONTH
Catholic Mission, as the Australian agency of the international Pontifical Mission Societies, work on behalf of Pope Francis to support Church run mission programs around the world.
This year, we are invited to partner with the essential work of the Good Shepherd Sisters in Bangkok, Thailand, as they reach out to vulnerable mothers and their babies.
Please give generously today to help continue this life-giving program by going online at
catholicmission.org.au/thailand or by texting ’GIVE’ to 0488 854 436.
Your gift will also help many other similar Church-run mission programs around the world.
FEASTS OF ALL SAINTS AND ALL SOULS
This year the Feast of All Saints occurs on Monday 1 November. Mass will be celebrated at 8.30am in St Kieran’s Church.
The Feast of All the Faith Departed (All Souls) on Tuesday 2 November is a day of prayer and remembrance of all those who are with the Lord. Please note Mass times for All Souls:
- ·St Kieran’s Church – 8.30am and 7.30pm
- ·St Cecilia’s Church – 9.00am
- ·November – Month of the Holy Souls - Following the ancient tradition of our Catholic faith we dedicate the month of November to the memory of our departed loved ones, our families and friends.
- ·Books of Remembrance – Books are placed in our churches for us to record the names of those we especially wish to remember this year as well as envelopes for Mass Offerings to have Masses offered for the repose of their souls.
PLENARY COUNCIL- LET THE SPIRIT GUIDE US…
PLENARY COUNCIL- LET THE SPIRIT GUIDE US….
Taken from the First Assembly Concluding Statement– 9th October, 2021
In responding to the Agenda questions, we considered ways of living as Church today. Many affirmed what they value about their Catholic faith: spirituality, community, prayer, liturgy and sacramental life, and service through the vocation of all the baptised. Members spoke of the ministries of pastoral care and education, health and aged care, and the many social services and advocacy the Church provides in the Australian community. These are great gifts to a world that is seeking meaning and more authentic living.
Other interventions expressed hopes for renewal, offering perspectives on what might be possible for a Church facing crucial questions, tensions and uncertainties. Many called our attention to the importance of enhancing the role of women in the Church. We heard the call to conversion and fidelity, as well as to imagination and renewal. We were reminded of the needs of rural dioceses and parishes, as well as those of large cities. We celebrated the gifts that the Eastern Churches bring to the Catholic community in Australia.
Often expressed through the lens of personal experience, the discernment of this Assembly has threaded together conversations about what the Church can offer today’s world on the one hand, and how the world can inform the ways and structures of the Church on the other. We reflected on questions of leadership and governance in light of Pope Francis’ call for us to be more synodal. Part 3 next week...
Click on the link below to read the full statement:
https://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/First-Assembly-Concluding-Statement-FINAL.pdf
NEW PRINCIPALS IN NORTH HARBOUR - 2022
Catholic Schools Broken Bay has announced the appointment of new Principals to our Parish Schools in the Catholic Community of North Harbour, commencing in January 2022:
Balgowlah - Ms Louise O’Brien has been appointed Principal of St Cecilia’s School. Louise has 40 years experience in Catholic education, 27 years as Principal, and is currently Principal of St Francis of Assisi Primary School, Paddington. Prior to that she was Principal of Blessed Sacrament Primary (Clifton Gardens) and St Mary-St Joseph Primary (Maroubra). We look forward to welcoming Louise to St Cecilia’s.
Manly Vale – Ms Anna Marsella has been appointed Principal of St Kieran’s School. Anna brings 37 years experience in Catholic education to this position, 21 years as Principal in 3 schools. Anna is currently Principal of St Mary’s Primary School, Concord and prior to that she was Principal of St John Vianney (Greenacre) and St Joseph’s (Rockdale). We look forward to welcoming Anna to St Kieran’s.
Congratulations – The Catholic Community of North Harbour extends sincere congratulations to Louise and Anna as they prepare to lead our Parish School Communities in 2022.
Have you thought about becoming a Catechist?
Training for new Catechists is being offered via Zoom in late October, November and early December. There are 8 topics to complete and each topic consists of a two hour online course( can be completed over the course of a year). Training is free.
If you would like more information, please contact Ursula Halloway for a no obligation chat on:
0423 595 204 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please Note: The Catechist enrolment process must take place before you can begin your training.
City2Surf Augustinian Volunteers:
Augustinian Volunteers will again this year have runners taking part in the City2Surf to raise funds for the work of the 2022 Volunteers. COVID 19 has kept most businesses closed for much of this year but as we open up now the need for our Volunteers at places like Redfern and Mt Druitt will be even greater. We request you visit the site shown below if you can contribute and make your donation against one of the runners for the event which will occur virtually in the week from this Sunday to Sunday 24th. AVA are very grateful for the support shown them by this Parish over many years.
Vinnies Youth Newsletter
This is the link to the Vinnies Metropolitan Schools and Youth Term 4 2021 Newsletter:
bit.ly/VinniesSchoolYouthNewsTerm42021
The 2021 edition of the Mini Vinnies Formation Program (MVFP) for students in Years 4 – 6 is available for those who wish to undertake Social Justice Formation in their own time. For more information please go to https://bit.ly/VinniesMVFP
PARISH FAMILY CANDLES
Our stock of Parish family candles has been replenished and these are now available from the Parish office. If you are unable to collect one, please call or email the Parish and we will arrange to have a candle delivered to you.
HELPING THE AUGUSTINIANS - DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS
Each year at this time of the year, the Order in Australia promotes the Augustinian Appeal. The Appeal is being held over 2 Sundays.
We are very aware that many individuals and families in our ministries are struggling so this informing you of the 2021 Appeal is done with sensitivity. There are three causes for which the Order invites assistance – 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, however our greatest need is support for the community in Saigon, Vietnam. Frs Phu Tran, Minh-Tan Hoang, Quang Tuyen Pham and Michael Sullivan are doing great work in hosting young vocation enquirers learning about Augustinian community life and guiding pre-novices and professed in the formation programme. While of our three causes, this Vietnam Mission Appeal is not able to attract a tax deduction, we hope you will consider helping us in supporting this mission.
Donation envelopes are available in our parishes and can be placed in the collection basket or mailed to the Province Office, or you may wish to make a direct deposit as detailed below:
The September issue of Broken Bay News is now available online.
This issue features Bishop Anthony's message about looking after your spiritual wellbeing, the new Pastoral Discernment Project on the Central Coast, online parenting help in lockdown, Bishop David Walker's 25th anniversary and so much more. Read it online here: https://issuu.com/bbcatholic/docs/broken_bay_news_september_2021_issue_211
‘THINKING OF YOU!’ – Thanks to students of St Cecilia’s
Special thanks to the children from St Cecilia’s School, Balgowlah, who have written messages to parishioners who are unable to have visits from their loved ones to let them know ‘that we are thinking of you and you are not alone’. These messages have been delivered to parishioners in the 5 aged care facilities in the parish. The children and their families are experiencing the stresses of lockdown too and so this gesture to reach out to others is very thoughtful. Well done!
Family Resources
If any of our parish families would like some online Catholic resources for their children to use, please go to The Broken Bay Diocese Website (www.bbcatholic.org.au). The CCD Team have created some beautiful online lessons based on the Catechist “Walking with Jesus” learning program. They are very easy for the children to use and beautifully created. The lessons are on Power Point so children can scroll through the lesson independently.
To access all activities, click on the link : Catholic SRE Online
Planned Giving
Planned Giving receipts for the 2020/21 financial year have been emailed to all those with email addresses recorded by the Parish. Please call the office if you have not received your copy and we will post to you or update our records and email to you.
Weekly Collections during COVID
Dear Friends,
One very significant challenge we face as a Parish is that our income is largely derived from our weekly collections – which of course won’t be taking place whilst our church buildings are closed.
For those on Planned Giving credit cards, we thank you for your continued support.
For those who have supported us for many years by placing your donations or envelopes on the collection plate, we couldn’t exist without you. In our Parish, your contributions make up a significant part of our income.
We ask those able to consider going onto Planned Giving by credit card or making a donation to our bank account (details below). These options can be arranged for only the period when our churches are closed allowing you to resume your usual giving method once things return to normal. We know that some of you will be experiencing hardship and will not be able to contribute as you have in the past.
Thank you to all those who have made donations to our accounts, please note last week both the Parish and Priory have been issued with new bank account numbers as below. Please also note inward payments that have already been set up will continue to work.
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
CONFIRMATION UPDATE
Parish Sacramental Coordinator Janette Davidson has written to families of children preparing for Confirmation and will continue to keep you informed of what is happening.
Basically, the Confirmation program is on hold until further notice, with practice sessions and ceremonies cancelled for now. However, we are keen for the preparation groups to maintain their momentum in a COVID-Safe way and complete the preparation by the middle of August. That will allow us to reschedule other activities when the way forward is clear.
Bishop Anthony has sent a message of prayerful support and appreciation to the children, families and all involved in the program. Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation in North Harbour has been deferred to later in the year. In the meantime, Bishop Anthony stresses the importance of our communities remaining as safe as they can be during these challenging times and encourages us all to be generous in our flexibility and adaptability.