The Catholic Parish of Frenchs Forest.

My Dear Parishioners,

What will decide our eternal reward or punishment? Our final decision for or against God — our choosing to obey Him gracefully by doing His will or our choosing to go against His will! Gifted with free will, we are the ones who choose our eternal destiny. 

Last weekend we had a wonderful celebration at the Confirmation ceremonies, it was very special to welcome Bishop Anthony Randazzo to our Parish to confirm 133 children. The day went very smoothly and I am grateful to all those involved in the organising of the Liturgies. I especially want to congratulate all the children who were well prepared and very reverent in their responses. I also thank the parents and grandparents for all their guidance and support. My deep appreciation to Fran, our Sacramental coordinator for her enormous support and dedication.

Once again, I remind you that the month of October is devoted to the Rosary, we will celebrate this in our Parish with ten days of Rosary at OLGC starting on Wednesday 4 October and going through to Friday 13 October at 7pm, please come and join us in prayer. Please remember the daylight saving begins on Sunday, 1 October.

The members of the XVI General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will gather soon to begin the first session. I invite you to keep in your prayers both Bishop Anthony Randazzo and Chancellor of our Diocese, Kelly Paget as they prepare to travel to Rome for this significant gathering. The synod of Bishops will be held in 4 – 29 October, 2023.

The Feast of St. Martin de Pores will be celebrated on Saturday 4 November with Mass at 5.30 pm at St. Martin’s Davidson. Followed by a multi-cultural foodfest and cultural program in the school grounds. Kindly mark this date on your calendar so that you won’ miss it.

Catholic Care Broken Bay express their gratitude to all our Parishioners for your generous support with the Catholic Care Homelessness Appeal. We have collected $ 6222 for this purpose. I also, acknowledge and appreciate your generous contribution to the OSH Appeal too.

May God bless you all.
Fr Satheesh Antony OSH
Parish Administrator

SEASON OF CREATION by Nick Brodie

In today’s parable where a son said yes but did nothing, Jesus offers a striking indictment of empty lip-service. In our age, one of the Church’s most insistent calls has been for people to work for the protection of the vineyard of the earth. Speaking of climate change, deforestation and chemical pollution, Pope Saint John Paul II declared in 1990 ‘that the ecological crisis is a moral issue’ and called on all people to ‘recognise their obligation to contribute to the restoration of a healthy environment’. In 2009 Pope Benedict XVI insisted that ‘technologically advanced societies can and must lower their domestic energy consumption’. In 2015 Pope Francis called on all of humanity ‘to recognise the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption, in order to combat this warming’ of the world’s climate which we are currently facing.

Successive Popes have therefore called us all to work for the protection of our planet and its people. But it is up to every Christian to ensure that these words are not just empty rhetoric.