At St Nicholas of Myra Parish, Penrith, generations of parishioners gathered recently to celebrate the gift of life – from young adults marking their 18th and 21st birthdays to couples celebrating decades of marriage, and parishioners who had reached their 90s and beyond.
For Parish Priest Fr Jose Manjaly, the occasion, on Saturday, 19 September 2026, was an opportunity to recognise the many blessings represented by each milestone.
“It is important to thank God for the gift of life. Whether it is our married life or our ordinary daily life, every year is a blessing from God, an opportunity to experience His unconditional love and mercy and to share that love by caring for one another,” he said.
The special Mass brought the parish community together to celebrate these milestones while also marking the 180th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of La Salette.
Concelebrating with Fr Jose were Fr Rojan George, Assistant Priest Fr Peter Wood and Deacon Willy Limjap.
Image: Alfie Ramirez / Diocese of Parramatta
Giving thanks for the gift of life
The celebration brought together parishioners marking birthdays ranging from 18 to 98 years, with special milestones including 21, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90.
Among the oldest celebrants were Stuart Paterson, who marked his 94th birthday, and Holland D’Souza, who celebrated his 98th.
The parish also honoured couples celebrating significant wedding anniversaries, ranging from 15 to 50 years, including Grace and Jose Cacnio, Vincent and Marianne Cutajar, and Nga Thi Tuyet Nguyen and Huy Thanh Vu.
The longest-married couple recognised on the day was Joseph and Kelly Fenech, who celebrated 60 years of marriage.
In his homily, Fr Jose reflected on the Gospel of the workers in the vineyard, using the parable to invite the parish community to consider the generosity of God and the blessings they can sometimes take for granted.
“God calls us to be generous,” he said.
For Fr Jose, the celebration was therefore more than an opportunity to recognise the achievements of those who had reached particular milestones. It was an invitation for the entire community to cultivate gratitude and generosity.
“Having received that love, we are called to share it freely with others,” he said, reminding the parish community that the Church is called to be a place where people experience the generous love of God.
Image: Alfie Ramirez / Diocese of Parramatta
Sixty years of marriage
For the Fenechs, reaching their diamond anniversary of marriage has meant experiencing the joys and challenges of life together while remaining faithful to their commitment.
Asked by Fr Jose to reflect on their six decades together, Joseph acknowledged that their journey had included its share of “ups and downs, like everyone else”.
Yet, he attributed their enduring marriage to God’s grace.
“I thank the Lord that we are still together,” Joseph said.
Kelly spoke warmly of her husband, describing him as “a very good husband and a good father” and highlighting the pride their children have in him.
“He has always been there for them,” she said.
Their 60th anniversary offered a fitting testimony to Fr Jose’s homily: that a life of love is not measured simply by the number of years, but by the grace, generosity, sacrifice and faithfulness shared throughout those years.
Image: Alfie Ramirez / Diocese of Parramatta
Remembering Our Lady of La Salette
The milestone celebration also coincided with an important anniversary for the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, whose presence and ministry are part of the life of St Nicholas of Myra Parish.
On 19 September 1846, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to two young shepherds, Maximin Giraud and Mélanie Calvat, at La Salette in France.
The apparition became the foundation for the Congregation of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, whose charism is centred on reconciliation and responding to Mary’s call at La Salette.
For Cheryl Clark, Coordinator of Mothers Who Pray for their Children (MWPFTC) in Penrith, the 180th anniversary carried a particular significance for the movement, with Our Lady of La Salette as its patroness.
“Celebrating the 180th Anniversary of Our Lady of La Salette, patroness of our movement, with milestone birthdays and anniversaries created a powerful shared theme of reconciliation, spiritual renewal and thanksgiving for the life of the community,” Cheryl said.
Cheryl Clark on the right-hand side of Fr Jose. Image: Alfie Ramirez / Diocese of Parramatta
The connection between the anniversary and the milestone celebration also reflected the movement’s focus on prayer, family and the restoration of relationships.
“Our MWPFTC movement is designed to pray for our children, and all children around the world, and is built entirely around the charism of restoring families through the power of prayer,” Cheryl said.
“We are anchored by three pillars – obedience, humility and unity,” she said, explaining that these pillars help mothers step into their vocations as spiritual intercessors for their homes.
For Cheryl, the occasion was also an opportunity to share the movement’s mission with the wider parish community and invite more mothers to its Tuesday prayer gatherings. She hopes to see the movement continue to grow spiritually and in numbers, with mothers from other parishes across the Diocese encouraged to begin their own prayer groups.
Parishioners gathered following Mass. Image: Alfie Ramirez / Diocese of Parramatta
A community giving thanks
Following the Mass, parishioners gathered for a light supper, with the cutting of the celebration cake providing another moment for the milestone celebrants and wider community to share in the occasion.
Smiles, laughter and happy conversation continued as parishioners gathered around the birthday and anniversary celebrants, celebrating not only the milestones reached but the relationships and faith that have sustained them along the way.
For St Nicholas of Myra Parish, the day was ultimately a reminder that every year is a gift and every journey carries God’s grace.
As Fr Jose prayed, the community was encouraged to receive God’s love with grateful hearts and to share that generosity with others.
“Let us pray that God may create in us a generous heart, a grateful heart in our life,” he said.
This celebration is an example of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan priorities of Prayer, Mission and Community. Visit Synodality to learn more.
View the photo gallery for more images from the day.
