News and Events Weekly Update

News and Events across the Diocese of Parramatta and beyond

Diocese of Parramatta Notices for Sunday 19 October 2025

Positions Vacant

• Senior Employment Relations Advisor – Diocese of Parramatta
• Principal Risk Lead – Diocese of Parramatta
• Administration and Projects Coordinator – Diocese of Parramatta

More details at: parracatholic.org/jobs

Design our next Catholic Outlook Magazine front cover!

We’re inviting you to design the front cover of the Catholic Outlook Magazine’s Christmas and Summer 2025 edition! People of all ages from across the Diocese of Parramatta are welcome to submit their artwork for consideration. Let’s make this Advent and Christmas season a canvas of faith and joy – together. Please submit your entry by Friday 7 November 2025 – with a short description of your artwork – via parracatholic.org/artcomp

Download promotional material here.

Safeguarding Face-to-face Training Opportunities

The next sessions of face-to-face Mandatory Safeguarding Training will be held on the following days:

• Saturday 18 October for Initial training (Modules 1-3) from 10am to 3pm at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, St Marys
• Saturday 25 October for Initial training (Modules 1-3) from 10am to 3pm at Corpus Christi Parish, Cranebrook
• Saturday 15 November for Initial training (Modules 1-3) from 10am to 3pm at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wentworthville.

Please register directly for this training or for other convenient dates and locations by clicking on the training event at: https://parracatholic.org/connect/events/?series=safeguarding-training. For more information, please email: safeguardingtraining@parracatholic.org

LIFTED Live in the Forecourt: 25 October

Join Catholic Youth Parramatta as they celebrate the 10th anniversary of LIFTED Live in the Forecourt on Saturday 25 October at St Patrick’s Cathedral. All are welcome to attend Youth Mass at 6pm, with festivities kicking off at 7pm. Coinciding with Parramatta Lanes, we invite everyone for an exciting night of Catholic worship and prayer, friendship and community, showcasing the talent and passion of the Catholic Church in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. For more information, visit https://parracatholic.org/events/lifted-live-in-the-forecourt/

Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass: 26 October

Join us for the annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass to be held on Sunday 26 October at 2pm at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, followed by afternoon tea. Those celebrating a significant wedding anniversary will receive a certificate. If you would like to attend, please register your name, numbers attending and any dietary requirements. Family and friends are welcome. RSVP to marriage@parracatholic.org or call 0408 233 478 by 20 October.

Download promotional material here.

Ministry of Communion to the Sick and Dying Formation: 8 November

Are you currently taking Communion to the sick and dying in the Diocese of Parramatta? If so, please join the Office for Worship for a day of ongoing formation to further your knowledge and understanding of this important topic. Saturday 8 November from 9:30am – 2pm at the Bishop Bede Heather Centre, Blacktown. Morning tea and Lunch provided. For more information and to register before 3 Nov, please contact the Office for Worship Team OFW@parracatholic.org or 0488 000 211.

Download promotional material here.

Parramatta Street Feast: 19 November

You are warmly invited to the Parramatta Street Feast, a Festival of Welcome on 19 November 2025 from 11am–3pm at St Patrick’s Cathedral Precinct, Parramatta. It’s a space for people from all walks of life to come together in a spirit of community, solidarity and friendship, and to enjoy delicious food, free services, creative activities and great music! You can support the Street Feast as a volunteer, or share your talent by hosting an activity table. Find out more and express your interest at parracatholic.org/streetfeast

Download promotional material: Social Media tile and A3 Poster.

Registrations now open for Diocesan Retreat Opportunities

The Diocese is hosting one final retreat opportunity for adults of all ages to engage more with this Jubilee Year of Hope. Take the time to step away from your usual routine to experience a diocesan retreat – a sacred space for prayer, reflection, renewal and encounter with God. Registrations are now open for the final retreat on 15 November. Visit https://parracatholic.org/events/diocesan-retreat-15-november/ for more details.

Download promotional material for 15 November.

Diocese of Parramatta Tribunal Office    

The Tribunal of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Parramatta is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, to offer advice and assistance regarding marriage annulments and dissolution of marriages. Interviews are preferably conducted in person with Zoom and telephone interviews in special circumstances. Please contact the Tribunal Office on (02) 8838 3480 or email tribunal@parracatholic.org.

Volunteer Communicators Network

Are you savvy with a camera, writing or social media? We want to hear from you! Share your interest with us to support our storytelling in Catholic Outlook, our websites and social media. Name/contact details are required: parracatholic.org/communicators

Download promotional material here.

Across our Parishes 

Plumpton Parish Talk on Interreligious Dialogue: 23 October

The Good Shepherd Parish, Plumpton, invites you to attend a talk on Interreligious Dialogue with Fr Patrick McInerney on Thursday 23 October from 7.30pm at the parish centre. Fr Patrick, the Director of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, will present our missionary responsibility to practice interreligious dialogue. To register, please visit forms.gle/U7xKZPSf5Nn4xS5B8.

Download promotional material here.

Mercy Works 25th Anniversary Celebrations: 23 October

Mercy Works, the development arm of the Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with an evening of inspiration, storytelling and connection on Thursday 23 October at St Patrick’s Cathedral Hall from 5pm to 7pm. Tickets are $60 per person. Please RSVP by 12 October or while tickets last by visiting https://events.humanitix.com/mercy-works-25th-anniversary-celebration-and-fundraiser. For more information, contact MercyWorks on (02) 9564 1911 or visit mercyworks.org.au.

Download promotional material here.

Castle Hill Parish Melbourne Cup luncheon: 4 November

St Bernadette’s Parish, Castle Hill, are hosting a Melbourne Cup Lunch on Tuesday 4 November 2025 from 12pm-3:30pm at The Heritage House, Kenthurst. Tickets are $120pp, and includes canapes on arrival, 2 course lunch (mains and dessert). Drinks are buy-as-you-go. Sweeps and games will be available to enter, with prizes to be won! Tickets on sale now at the St Bernadette’s Parish Office, Castle Hill, or online via the QR Code. All Welcome.

Download promotional material: flyer and QR code.

Blue Mountains Deanery Christ the King Eucharistic Procession: 23 November

The Blue Mountains Deanery will be commemorating the Solemnity of Christ the King with a Eucharistic Procession on Sunday 23 November in Springwood. The procession will start at 9.30am at St Columba’s Catholic College, Springwood and go to St Thomas Aquinas Parish, where Mass will be celebrated at 10am. Morning tea will follow Mass. All are welcome to attend.

Noël! Noël! at St Patrick’s Cathedral: 16 December

Step into the splendour of the season with Noël! Noël!, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Choir’s much-loved Christmas tradition at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta. This uplifting concert weaves together Baroque masterpieces, timeless carols, and festive songs from across the centuries, performed with the Brandenburg’s signature energy and joy. Join us on Tuesday 16 December for a night of reflection, celebration, and pure musical delight: a radiant reminder of the beauty, hope, and spirit of Christmas. Buy tickets now from https://www.brandenburg.com.au/live-concerts/events/noel-noel-2025/

Volunteers needed at Catholic Care Emerton!

Catholic Care is looking for volunteers to help at their Walk-In Centre in Emerton on Tuesdays to Thursdays. Volunteers would assist welcoming people into the drop-in centre, greeting clients for counselling appointments, assisting the local Aunties’ yarning and art gatherings, reception of the OzHarvest food delivery and overall assistance with Catholic Care projects and programs. For more information, please contact Catholic Care on (02) 8843 2500.

Volunteers needed at Catholic Care’s Mamre Creche

Are you great with young kids? Catholic Care is looking for friendly, caring volunteers to support staff during crèche sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm at Mamre House, Orchard Hills. If you enjoy spending time with young children (aged 0–5) and have a few hours to spare, we’d love to hear from you. Volunteers will need to obtain a Working with Children Check and Police Check. To help make a difference in the lives of local families, call Catholic Care on (02) 8843 2500.

Fr Joseph Lam book on Pope Leo XIV

Fr Joseph Lam, Parish Priest at the Parish of Baulkham Hills, has produced a new book that explores the traces of St Augustine in the words and messages of the successors of St Peter since 2005: Benedict XVI, Francis and Leo XIV. The book is $45, with proceeds to help the renovation of the old heritage building at Baulkham Hills. To pre-order the book, please contact admin@parishofbaulkhamhills.org.au.

Catholic Care Sewing and Crochet classes

All are welcome to join Catholic Care’s weekly sewing and crochet classes every Thursday during school terms, 10am-1pm at Mamre House and Farm, 181 Mamre Rd, Orchard Hills. Learn new skills, connect with others, and enjoy a friendly, supportive environment. Perfect for anyone wanting to meet new people! To register, contact Catholic Care on (02) 8843 2500 or email enquiries@catholiccarewsbm.org.au.

Download promotional material here.

Low Cost Counselling Services

Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains provides low cost and affordable counselling services for individuals seeking support. Whether you’re looking for general guidance or assistance with specific challenges like grief, loss, or family matters, Catholic Care is here to help. Call Catholic Care on 8843 2500 for a friendly chat today. 

Mount Schoenstatt Monthly Shrine Time for Youth and Young Adults

Join us for Monthly Holy Hour for youth and young adults at the Schoenstatt Shrine, Mulgoa, every fourth Sunday of the month for praise, worship, silence, prayer, reflection and benediction at the Shrine. There is the opportunity to go to confession and there is a small social gathering afterwards. For further information please contact Sr M Rita via srrita@schoenstatt.org.au or 0493 026 628. Web: https://schoenstatt.org.au/

Mount Schoenstatt Monthly Shrine Time for men

Men at the Shrine is a monthly hour for men at the Schoenstatt Shrine in Mulgoa, held on the second Wednesday of the month from 8-9pm. The hour includes a brief reflection, silent personal prayer and the opportunity for confession. The Shrine has been a place of pilgrimage in the Diocese since 1968 and in 2025 is also one of the three locations in the diocese to gain the Jubilee Indulgence.

Other Notices      

Divine Retreat Centre offerings for October

The Divine Retreat Centre in Somersby, NSW is hosting a variety of single-day and weekend residential retreats throughout October including a Marian Retreat and its last Sunday day retreat. All are welcome. For more information, please visit www.divineretreatcentre.org or contact (02) 4372 1598.

Download promotional material here.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Marriage Enrichment Weekend: 24-26 October

We are offering an opportunity for you to learn to become the best version of yourselves together and live your best life in love! Come and join us on 24-26 October at a Marriage Encounter Weekend at Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, Varroville, NSW – a stunning & tranquil oasis on the edge of Sydney. Book online at  www.wwme.org.au  or contact Christine & Terry Mahony on 0490 774 419 or nswbookings@wwme.org.au

Catholic Mission Bishop Edwin Mulandu Presentation: 24 October

During World Mission Month, Catholic Mission is hosting Bishop Edwin Mulandu to share inspiring stories from the Diocese of Mpika in Zambia and discover how Catholic Mission supporters are making a real difference through projects that care for mothers and babies, and strengthen food security with a maize mill. You are warmly invited to join us online for a special webinar on Friday 24 October at 11:30 am (AEDT). Come and be part of this moment of connection and hope. Please register your attendance here: https://events.humanitix.com/world-mission-month-with-bishop-mulandu

Missionaries of God’s Love Immerse Silent Retreat: 31 October – 2 November

Dive deep into the graces of silence and contemplation. Immerse yourself in the love of God who waits for us to abide in Him. Join with the Saints and complete the Jubilee Year with a retreat focused on redemption, rest and refreshment. Join the Missionaries of God’s Love sisters from Friday 31 October to Sunday 2 November at Carmel House, Varroville. To register, please visit trybooking.com/CZPWY

Responding in Mercy – Pilgrims of Hope: 5 November

The Mercy Futures team is privileged to present Sr Áine Barrins RSM all the way from Ireland, who will be joining them in Parramatta to share her invaluable insights into Catherine McAuley, Woman of Hope. The conclusion to this presentation will take place on 5 November. Come along and bring a friend (or few) and be part of this unique presentation. The session will also be livestreamed, and the link will be provided closer to the date. Please RSVP to mercyfuture@parrasom.org.au with any dietary requirements by 29 October.

Download promotional material here.

Catholic Engaged Encounter Weekend: 8-9 November 

How prepared are you for marriage? Engaged Encounter provides you with deeper insights into each other and into married life. We give you a chance to spend time together to strengthen and enrich your relationship. The next Engaged Encounter Weekend will be held on 8-9 November, with future dates in February and May 2026. For further information, visit www.engagedencounter.org.au