The Catholic Parish of Frenchs Forest.

The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body, consisting of the clergy of the parish and a group of parishioners, whom the Parish Priest consults by reason of their knowledge and competence, in order to know his people more profoundly. It is a leadership group through which priests and people work together as partners in furthering the mission of Christ.

The members of the committee are appointed by the Parish Priest.

Meetings are held each quarter on the second Tuesday of the month, at 7.30pm and there are four meetings each year.

Name Title

Fr Satheesh Parish Administrator

Fr Shiju Assistant Priest

Fr Joseph Assistant Priest

Robert Pelletier Chairperson - St Anthony's Representative

Simone Bryant Secretary - St Martin's Representative

Daniel Younan OLGC Representative

Michaella Formosa OLGC Representative

John Heffernan St Martin's Representative

John Favaloro Ex Officio Finance Committee

Adrian Pulley Ex Officio Principal St Martins

Paola Brannan Ex Officio Principal OLGC

Maria Lynam St Anthony's Representative

2. Finance Committee

The Parish Finance Committee recommends procedures to carry out the financial affairs of the Parish and assists the Priest in the administration of the Parish finances. The committee provides advice on the Parish budget, reviews the budget throughout the year, and prepares the Parish financial report at the end of the fiscal year. The members of the committee are appointed by the Parish Priest.

Name Title
Fr Satheesh Parish Administrator
Fr Shiju Assistant Priest
Fr Joseph Assistant Priest
Chris Mooney OLGC Representative
Pam Devlin OLGC Representative
Ilona Dudek OLGC Representative
John Favaloro St Martin's Representative
Len Clark St Martin's Representative
Ross Del-Grande St Anthony's Representative
David Bennett St Anthony's Representative

3. Property Committee

The Property Committee comprises the Parish Priest and appointed lay leaders in our communities. The committee assists the Parish Priest with all financial matters relating to the operation, maintenance and planning of our Parish. The members of the committee are appointed by the Parish Priest.

Name Title
Fr Satheesh Parish Administrator
Fr Shiju Assistant Priest
Fr Joseph Assistant Priest
Peter Formosa OLGC Representative
Roberto Perez OLGC Representative
Kevin Nicey OLGC Representative
Stephen Newton OLGC Representative
John Favaloro St Martin's Representative
Frank Fitzpatrick St Anthony's Representative

4. Social Justice Committee

Justice is about fairness. Social justice concerns the relationship between different groups in society and examines whether all groups in society receive what is due to them in fairness or not. We are called to live in right relationship with others, to love and serve our neighbours. Treating people and groups in society fairly is the minimum that we should do. (Extract from Faith Doing Justice, published by the Australian Jesuits)

Frenchs Forest Parish has a very active group of people dedicated to the pursuit of social justice for all. (add webpage link here) This group, has the following objectives:

To develop and nurture our commitment to social justice for all people
To promote awareness of social justice issues
To support and encourage social justice activities, and
To engage in social justice activities as resources allow

Name Title
Leo Ward St Martin's Representative
Anne Lanyon St Anthony's Representative

for more information go to https://socialjustice.ffcp.org.au/

5. Acolytes/Senior Servers and Altar Servers Ministry

The Acolytes/senior servers with the assistance of the Junior Servers, are responsible for setting up before Mass, ensuring that the other rostered ministers have arrived and made alternate arrangements if they haven't, for coaching and prompting Junior Servers in their tasks, and generally for trying to ensure that everything runs smoothly during liturgies. The Acolytes organise volunteers to run the money collection during the Mass; ensure someone is appointed to do the Offertory; and ask a volunteer to do a head count at the Mass and record in Mass count notebook.

Children who have received their First Holy Communion and who have an interest in the role of altar server within the parish are encouraged to become involved.

5. Catechesis Ministry

Catechesis is an education in the faith of children, young people and adults. It is intimately bound up with the whole of the Church’s life. We are sent out by the Church to make disciples. (Mt. 28) How can we achieve and fulfil this vision through Catechesis Ministries?

Special Religious Education (S.R.E.) / Scripture

Public Primary School SRE is available to all state schools in our Parish. Parents/Carers are offered the opportunity at school enrolment to choose to send their child/children to Catholic Scripture. Also, parents are welcome to join in the classes at any time during the year.

What are the benefits for the children? They have the opportunity to share with us the basics of our Catholic Christian faith.
Classes are once a week, thirty minutes of face-to-face teaching.
Our curriculum is authorised by the Bishop of our Diocese and the NSW Education Department.
Each child is given a book “Walking with Jesus” each year ranging from Kinders up to Year 6.
A Teachers Manual is also provided and training for the teachers is available from CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine).
All teachers complete a Working with Children Check.

High School Scripture is available at 2 of the 3 high schools in our Parish.

6. Sacramental Programmes

Sacramental Programme

We support children and parents in preparation for the Sacraments of Confirmation, First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

The programme commences with enrolment and Parent Information sessions (for parents only).

After enrolment we then commence three sessions for the preparation to receive the Sacrament.

Resources are available through the Parish to assist in the preparations for each Sacrament. Leaders from the Parish will guide these sessions.

for information on current programs go to sacraments.ffcp.org.au

R.C.I.A. /Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

The Rite grew from a need for guidelines to help prepare people for Church membership. Christian initiation is a process of coming to faith and becoming part of a faith community. In the Catholic Church we initiate with conversion as our agenda, community as our context and discipleship as our goal.
Christian initiation is concerned with a process of progressive development and a climax or high point for adults and children of catechetical age is participating in the celebration of Baptism (if it is required), Confirmation and Eucharist in the one liturgy, usually at the Easter Vigil.
In our Parish the RCIA journey involves six months of teaching sessions, using a resource called “Evangelium”, 8 formal rituals, various Catholic experiences, personal prayer and reflection on the Word, usually the weekly readings.
We have an RCIA team and sponsors to journey with our candidates.

7. Hospitality Ministry

We greet parishioners/ visitors and handout parish bulletins’ as they arrive for Mass
We ensure everyone feels welcome
We encourage the creation of a warm and friendly community
Morning Tea is provided by a rostered team each Sunday morning after Mass.

In addition, Hospitality is called upon via the Social Committee to look after catering at many special functions and events that take place in our Parish.

8. Liturgy and Support Ministry

The Proclamation of the Word is a key feature of the Mass. Our readers are rostered over a month to be of service at each of our Sunday Masses

The balance of the liturgy is assisted by AV/ PowerPoint Operator – Training will be provided.

9. Church and Altar Support Ministry

A team of parishioners on a rotating roster action the following duties

Responsible for ensuring that the altar and church is at its best when we get together to worship, these responsibilities include:
Cares for the Linen that dresses our altar, which needs laundering.
Church Cleaning - Cleaning the church according to needs and ministry resources available.
Flower Arranging - Buying and arranging the flowers for the altar and church

10. Grounds Maintenance Ministry

This ministry involves attending to the maintenance of Church grounds.

A team of parishioners on a rotating roster work in pairs to mow the lawns in the Church grounds.
This work also includes weeding and watering as required.

11. Music Ministry

Supporting our liturgies and services with songs of praise and worship. These include:

Cantors
Choirs
Instrumentalists

12. Outreach Ministry

Visitations of the Aged and the Sick.

Pastoral care for the aged and the sick is at the heart of our Christian vocation and those who are aged and sick are encouraged to receive the sacraments, to ask for prayers and to receive support. (Volunteers will require police check)

13. Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry program is designed to help youth, from 6th grade up to young adults, to build a community of support for their journey of faith.

Frenchs Forest Parish youth group meetings run monthly on the second Friday of the month. The youth group gather in the OLGC Parish Centre for Pizza and games.

At OLGC Church each fourth Sunday of the month the group gather to be involved in the Sunday Mass. The youth are encouraged to be readers, singers and then run and serve the morning tea to Parishioners after Mass.

The groups aim is to be an opportunity for our young people to gather, have lots of fun, develop friendships with like-minded people, and grow in their faith through formation.

Volunteering at FFCP

Frenchs Forest Parish is blessed to have many volunteers in various different roles and ministries. If you would like to serve your Christian Community and join our team of Parish volunteers, volunteers are always welcome to assist in various ministry roles listed below.

If you would like to volunteer your services to help our Parish in some way but are unsure how to best contribute, please contact the Parish Office and we will be able to talk to you about possible options and what best suits your talents and time