News and Events across the Diocese of Parramatta and beyond
Diocese of Parramatta Notices
Positions Vacant:
- Sacramental Coordinator – Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Greystanes – Applications close Wednesday 16 September
More details at: parracatholic.org/employment
Diocese of Parramatta COVID-19 update
Parishes across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains have COVID-Safety plans in place requiring social distancing, maximum attendance figures and other safety measures. We also highly recommend wearing masks to Mass and other services. You are encouraged to check with your parish on what measures they have in place before attending. For more information, please visit the Diocesan website www.parracatholic.org/covid19
Catholic Outlook Magazine September Edition
Look out for copies of the next edition of the Catholic Outlook Magazine in your local Catholic Church, Catholic school or Catholic office from early September. Catholic Outlook is an A4 magazine published quarterly with a focus on Catholic faith formation, spirituality and a look at what is happening across the agencies and ministries of the Diocese of Parramatta.
What Will Be Your Legacy of Faith, Hope and Charity?
During Include A Charity Week (7 – 13 September), we invite you – after providing for your loved ones – to consider leaving a Gift in your Will to our Parish, or a ministry in our Diocese. Legacy gifts advance Christian works of faith, hope and charity for future generations. For information on remembering the Church in your Will, visit www.yourcatholicfoundation.org.au/giftsinwills
Welcome to The Well
The Diocese of Parramatta proudly announces its latest initiative – The Well. In what can be described as ‘Netflix for Catholics’, The Well is a new online platform that provides free, ‘on-demand’ inspiration for families, children, young people and faith communities. Explore fresh offerings every week on topical issues that inform, entertain and challenge. Check it out at www.thewell.org.au
Diocese of Parramatta celebrates the Season of Creation
The Diocese of Parramatta is celebrating the Season of Creation (1 September – 4 October) by creating a video to be released on 4 October, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. We invite all parishioners to be involved. Send your photograph, video, art or poetry of your favourite nature spot in the Diocese to comms@parracatholic.org by 25 September. Details can be found at https://www.parracatholic.org/socialjustice/
CatholicCare is still open and operational
CatholicCare Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains services remain open and operational during the current COVID-19 outbreak. Individual offices have been closed to clients, but the service continues to operate with care and support offered via phone, video conferencing/telehealth and online. Some programs are continuing to run groups via video conference. To make a referral, call (02) 8843 2500 (Mon-Thu 8.30am-8pm, Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm), email – enquiries@ccss.org.au or visit ccss.org.au.
Natural Fertility Services is still open
Following COVID-19 restrictions, Natural Fertility Services has reintroduced face-to-face instruction. We will, however, continue with Zoom meetings as this has enabled more couples access to information. We have educators available to teach any of the three methods of Natural Family Planning. If you would like more information, or to book an appointment, please contact Catherine via email catherine.bourne@parracatholic.org or call 0400 427 605.
Office for Worship Resources available
The Office For Worship has a range of resources available for purchase for individuals and parishes. Resources such as parent material for a child’s baptism and a collation of prayers can be purchased from the Office For Worship by contacting (02) 8838 3457.
Catholic Youth Parramatta engaging young people in new ways
Catholic Youth Parramatta has established a dynamic schedule of networking opportunities, formation and resources to support ministry and engagement with young people of the Diocese in new ways. From inspiring quotes and scripture references on Mondays, to faith-filled live performances on Wednesday to launching new home-grown resources on Friday. Check out CYP’s Facebook and Instagram pages and https://www.parracatholic.org/cyp/ to download and share the resources.
Diocese of Parramatta Tribunal remains open
The Tribunal of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Parramatta remains open and committed to assisting anyone who has questions regarding marriage annulments. Please direct all enquires to the Tribunal office on 8838 3480 or email tribunal@parracatholic.org. The office is open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm.
Out of School Hours Care accepting enrolments
The Diocese’s network of 27 Catholic Out of School Hours Care services are all open and accepting enrolments for children in Years K-6 for Term 3. Significant subsidies on child care fees are available depending on your family circumstances. For more information and bookings, please contact eyec@parra.catholic.edu.au
SRE learning from home
During the school shutdown, CCD designed some faith resources for families to access for their children as they learned from home. These lessons, which are fun and prepared specifically for each age group 5-13, are a good way to encourage children to converse about topics of faith at home. These lessons which affirm that they we are loved by God can be found at https://www.ccress.org.au/learning-from-home-sre-lessons/. For more information contact cecilia.zammit@parracatholic.org
St Bernadette’s Lalor Park Wednesday Evening Devotions
St Bernadette’s Parish, Lalor Park, is hosting weekly devotions to Mary Immaculate and St Bernadette every Wednesday evening at 7pm, followed by Mass at 7.30pm. All are welcome. For more information, contact the parish office on 02 9672 4037 or admin@stbernadetteslalorpark.org.au
Social Justice COVID-19 Food and Toiletries Drive
Jesuit Refugee Service and House of Welcome are dealing with a 400% increase in emergency assistance calls and are needing to feed over 1,000 people facing destitution each week. You can help by running a food and toiletry drive or donating yourself. For more information, contact Patrice Moriarty 0409 399 505 or, House of Welcome office@houseofwelcome.com.au or JRS amelia.savage@jrs.org.au
ACBC Social Justice Statement Diocesan Workshop: 31 August
Join with people from across the Diocese to break down the ACBC Social Justice Statement 2020-21 on 31 August from 7pm to 8.30pm via Zoom. Hear from the experts on Mental Health and the everyday tools you can use in your life and ministry, what resources are available in the diocese and how we can work together. To RSVP, please contact patrice.moriarty@parracatholic.org
Bishop Vincent Catholic Earthcare Convocation Address: 3 September
Bishop Vincent Long will be speaking during a session of Catholic Earthcare’s Convocation – a virtual meeting celebrating the Season of Creation on Thursday 3 September from 2pm. Bishop Vincent will be discussing ‘Francis and Francis lighting the path: Franciscan eco-spirituality in light of Pope Francis’. To register for his session, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/o/catholic-earthcare-australia-30859548231
Clergy Support Foundation Father’s Day Appeal Update: 5 – 6 September
Due to the pandemic and its social and financial impact on families, communities and Churches, the Diocese’s Clergy Support Foundation will not be holding its annual Bishop’s Collection for Retired Priests, also known as the Father’s Day Appeal, this September. However, donations will always be accepted via their BPOINT portal at www.parracatholic.org/csf. If you wish to donate by other methods, please contact csf@parracatholic.org for more information.
CEDP Safeguarding eSafety Commissioner Webinar: 7 September
Catholic Education and the Office for Safeguarding and Professional Standards are partnering with the eSafety Commissioner for a series of free webinars for parents and carers. The second session, ‘Tech, teens and time online’ (for secondary students) will be held on Monday 7 September from 7pm to 8pm. To register, please visit bit.ly/39EtexJ. For more information, please contact safeguarding@parra.catholic.edu.au or visit https://safeguarding.org.au/prevention-education-and-training/
Pastoral Planning Celebrating and Sharing Our Gifts: 9 – 23 September
The Pastoral Planning Office are offering an opportunity for prayerful discernment about the spiritual gifts God has given us to bring to life God’s mission. Join us for 3 Wednesday evenings of prayer, input and discussions beginning on 9 September from 7.30pm to 9pm. You can register these for evenings at www.tinyurl.com/celebrate-and-discern.
Office For Worship RCIA Workshops: 14 September – 19 October
The Office For Worship will be running RCIA workshops for RCIA coordinators & teams and anyone who might be interested in understanding the RCIA process. The workshops will run with limited numbers due to social distancing measures on four Monday evenings between 14 September and 19 October at the Institute For Mission, Blacktown. To RSVP by 7 September, or if you would like more information, please contact the Office for Worship on 02 8838 3456 or anne.alimangohan@parracatholic.org.
Life, Marriage and Family Office Pre-Marriage Weekends: 18 and 20 September
The Life, Marriage and Family Office will host another pre-marriage education course on the weekend of the 18 and 20 September 2020. Social distancing and hygiene measures will be in place, with other arrangements to be made if government requirements change. To view course dates for the remainder of 2020 and to book and pay for your preferred pre-marriage course, visit www.parracatholic.org/pmp or call (02) 8838 3460.
Other Notices
Positions Vacant:
- Head of Campus – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College, Traeger, Alice Springs, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 31 August
- Assistant Principal Religious Education – St Joseph’s Catholic College, Katherine, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 31 August
- Assistant Principal Religious Education – Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School, Santa Teresa, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 31 August
- Manager – Aboriginal and Islander Education (Engagement and Workforce Development) – Catholic Education Northern Territory Office, Darwin – Applications close Monday 31 August
- Deputy Principal – Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Palmerston, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 31 August
- Deputy Principal – Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Darwin, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 31 August
- Deputy Principal – St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Darwin, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 31 August
- Deputy Principal – St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, Humpty Doo, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 7 September
- Religious Education Coordinator – St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, Humpty Doo, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 7 September
- Religious Education Coordinator – St Francis Xavier Catholic School – Daly River, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 21 September
For more details, please visit https://www.ceont.catholic.edu.au/employment/current-vacancies/
ACBC Social Justice Statement 2020-21
The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the mental health of many members of our parishes, schools and communities. In the Social Justice Statement 2020-21, To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today, the Bishops invite us all to reject stigmatisation and to call for policies and service provision that meets the needs of the poorest and most marginalised members of our community. Download the Statement at http://bit.ly/SocialJustice_2020
St Mary’s Towers Retreat Centre Staged Reopening
St Mary’s Retreat Centre in Douglas Park, NSW, is commencing a staged re-opening of its facilities from 3 August, as a lead up to their advertised retreat program commencing on 2 October. As places will be limited for the time being, all appointments and visits will need to be booked through the Administrator: contact@towersretreat.org.au or phone (02) 4630 0233.
54-Day Rosary Novena for the Coronavirus
The National Rosary Crusade 54-Day Novena invites you to join them in prayer for a nation-wide 54-day rosary novena to Mary Help of Christians, the national patroness. The novenas will be run between 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption through to 7 October, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page.
Rachel’s Vineyard Healing after Abortion
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat offers women and men a sanctuary in which to rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion in a safe, supportive and non-judgmental environment. The next healing retreat will be held 4 to 6 December 2020. Rachel’s Vineyard has created a confidential free online individually guided reflection at a time to suit you. To enquire about these programs, call their confidential number (voice mail): 0400 092 555 or visit www.rachelsvineyard.org.au
Pontifical Holy Land Good Friday Collection: 13 September
Due to the global pandemic, Pope Francis moved the annual collection for the support of the church in the Holy Land from Good Friday to Sunday 13 September. This collection helps to provide welfare assistance to local Christians in the Holy Land in areas such as health, education, employment and housing. Please remember the Christians of the Holy Land on 13 September and please also keep them in your prayers.
Worldwide Marriage Encounter Marriage Enrichment Weekend: 20 – 22 November
The Worldwide Marriage Encounter are hosting a Marriage Enrichment Weekend from 20 to 22 November at the Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville, NSW. Learn to become the best version of yourselves together and live your best life in love. Book online at www.wwme.org.au or contact Christine and Terry Mahony on 0490 774 419 or nswbookings@wwme.org.au
For more events please go to: parracatholic.org/events
Please note, some of these notices have been provided to the Diocese of Parramatta, with the request they be made available to parishes and parishioners. The Diocese of Parramatta makes these notices available for information purposes only and does not expressly endorse any of this material, unless otherwise specified. The Diocese of Parramatta cannot be held responsible for any inaccurate or defamatory content.
