Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Grant me your strength, so I will have courage in every situation;

Grant me your love, so I will never give up on anybody;

Grant me your wisdom, so I will show others the path to success;

Grant me your mercy, so I will forgive those who have hurt me;

Grant me your peace, so I will find the best in everybody;

Grant me your hope, so I will never give up;

Grant me your joy, so I will be thankful for all my blessings; and

Grant me your grace, so you will always be at my side.

Amen

National Mass - Celebrating 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia

Next Monday, the 24th May, Catholic schools around Australia will be recognising the bicentenary of the first Catholic school being established, which was founded in Parramatta in October, 1820 by Irish Catholic priest, Fr John Therry and run by convict and lay person George Marley. The school, which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter Street, Parramatta, taught 31 students. By 1833, there were 10 Catholic schools in the colony.

Over the 200 years, Catholic schools have grown to become the largest provider of schooling in Australia (outside government schools) with one in five school age students attending a Catholic school. This represents 777,000 students in 1,755 schools across the country and employing over 100,000 teachers and staff. Nearly 40 per cent of Catholic schools are located outside of metropolitan cities in regional, rural and remote communities.

The formal celebrations were due to be held from October 2020 to October 2021. However, due to pandemic restrictions, the celebrations were moved to be held during the 2021 school year, with the National Mass now being celebrated in states and dioceses on the Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians - Patroness of Australia (Monday, 24th May 2021).

If you are unable to attend a Cathedral or school Mass to celebrate the Bicentenary of Catholic education in Australia, you are invited to join in the celebrations via live stream.

The National Mass will be live streamed from a number of sites:

SYDNEY – St Mary’s Cathedral – 10.15am AEST via link
BROKEN BAY – Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral – 10.30am AEST via link
TOOWOOMBA – St Patrick’s Cathedral – 10.30am AEST via link
HOBART- St Mary’s Cathedral – 11.30am AEST via link
ADELAIDE – St Francis Xavier Cathedral – 10:00am ACST via link
MELBOURNE – St Patrick’s Cathedral – 10:00am AEST via link
BRISBANE – St Stephen’s Cathedral – 10:00am AEST via link
SANDHURST – St Kilian’s Church – 9:30am AEST via link
MAITLAND-NEWCASTLE – Sacred Heart Cathedral – 10:30am AEST via link
PARRAMATTA – St Patrick’s Cathedral – 10:00am AEST via link

2021 Sacramental Dates:

First Eucharist - 8:30am, Sunday 6th June, 2021

Confirmation - 9:00am, Sunday 20th June, 2021

First Reconciliation - 6:00pm, Thursday 9th September, 2021

Prayers for Fr Abmar

We offer our prayers and support for Fr. Abmar following the death of his sister and brother-in-law, Gertrudes and Edward Yap, in the Philippines. Sadly, the couple died just 10 days apart after contracting COVID-19. Please hold Fr. Abmar, Gertrudes and Edward Yap, and their extended family in your prayers.

2021 First Eucharist

Key Dates for the Sacrament of First Eucharist:

Payment of $10 for First Eucharist Program was due last Friday. Please make arrangements to pay via Qkr if you haven’t already done so.
First Eucharist Retreat Day, including Reconciliation:
- School Day - Friday 4th June. Reconciliation is at 10am at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Chapel, Gunnedah
Sacrament of First Eucharist:
- 8:30am Sunday 6th June at St Joseph’s Church

***Please note that COVID-19 restrictions can change at any time and may result in some alterations to how we organise these celebrations. We will keep you informed of any changes to any of these dates with as much notice as possible. Thank you for your understanding with this matter.

2021 Sacrament of Confirmation

Last Thursday evening, parents of this year’s Confirmation candidates gathered at St Joseph’s Church for the Confirmation Parent Information Night. We appreciate the time these families gave up for their attendance, as it demonstrates the commitment they have towards modelling faith for their child.

Please remember that booking-in for each weekend Mass needs to be done by ringing the Presbytery Office on (02) 6742 0200 between the hours of 8:30am-12:30pm, Monday-Friday.

Key Dates for the Sacrament of Confirmation:

Back-Up Confirmation Enrolment Mass:
- 5:30pm, Friday 21st May at St Joseph’s Church. Please bring your child’s red Enrolment Card and Mass Attendance Card
Payment of $10 for Confirmation Program (via Qkr)
- By Friday 28th May, 2021 (end of Week 6)
Reconciliation for Confirmation:
- 5:30pm, Thursday 17th June at St Joseph’s Church
Confirmation Retreat Day:
- School Day - Friday 18th June. Students will be visiting Bishop Michael Kennedy at the Church throughout the day.
Sacrament of Confirmation:
- 9:00am Sunday 20th June at St Joseph’s Church

St Joseph’s Parish Mass

Today, students from Years 5 and 6 attended Parish Mass at St Joseph’s Church at 9:15am. Next Thursday, the 27th May, Year 3 will be attending Mass, which will also serve as extra preparation for a lot of the students who will be making their Sacrament of First Eucharist just over a week later.

Parents are welcome to attend these celebrations, but will need to be prepared to sign-in upon arrival, under COVID-19 regulations.

Parish News

Here’s a link to the latest Parish Bulletin for the Sunday 16th May.

Community News

Click on the link for information and entry forms for Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards

These are some great initiatives being run by the Local Library.