News and Events across the Diocese of Parramatta and beyond
Diocese of Parramatta Notices
Diocese of Parramatta COVID-19 update
Due to stay-at-home orders from the NSW Government, all church buildings, adoration chapels and other buildings used for prayer and religious services are closed. Public Masses have ceased. Many parishes around the Diocese are celebrating Masses online. For more information, please visit the Diocesan website www.parracatholic.org/covid19
‘The Well’ offers spiritual nourishment during lockdown
Need some inspiration and spiritual encouragement during lockdown? Why not check out The Well? The Diocese’s ‘on demand’ streaming site has a tonne of video and prayer resources for you to explore and engage with during this difficult time. Check it out on www.thewell.org.au
Join us on ‘Home Ground’
While in lockdown, you’re invited to ‘HOME Ground’. Online every weeknight until 20 August, join us for chat, music, prayer, hot topics and most of all – fun and connection. See the free line-up at parracatholic.org/homeground. The Diocese of Parramatta’s Mission Enhancement Team look forward to seeing you on HOME Ground soon.
Parish Online Ministry during COVID
There are an extraordinary amount of initiatives taking place online across the Diocese in a number of parishes. These include games nights, trivia competitions, formation, scripture studies and wellbeing check-ins. If your community is willing to share these opportunities beyond your own Parish, the Mission Enhancement Team (MET Parramatta) would love to hear from you and help connect others who are struggling at this time. Email met@parracatholic.org
Manage your Fertility Naturally!
Are you looking for a natural effective method to manage your fertility? Are you trying to achieve pregnancy? Are you breastfeeding and looking for a natural way to space your children? Natural Fertility Services – Diocese of Parramatta might just have the answers you’re searching for. For more information, or to book an appointment, contact Catherine on 0400 427 605 or catherine.bourne@parracatholic.org or visit www.parralmf.org.au
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.
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. Find more information at parracatholic.org/diocesanfooddrive.
Life, Marriage and Family Office Marriage Preparation Courses
Dates for the Diocesan Life, Marriage and Family Office’s in-person marriage preparation weekend courses in 2021 are now available, with the SmartLoving Engaged Online course another option to prepare for your marriage. For more information, or to book your course, visit www.parracatholic.org/pmp or call (02) 8838 3460.
Rouse Hill Parish Mandarin Mass: 15 August
The next Catholic Mass in Mandarin celebrated at Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Rouse Hill, will be held online on Sunday 15 August at 3pm. The Mass will be livestreamed on the parish’s Facebook page. The regular Chinese Tea held after Mass is postponed until further notice. For more information, please contact the parish office on (02) 8883 4063 or email parishoffice@ourladyoftheangels.org.au
Pastoral Formation Reflective Ministry Program: Begins 24 August
The Reflective Ministry Program is an online self-paced leadership development program to renew or encourage people in ministry. Produced by the Pastoral Formation team, the program covers biblical spirituality, ministry skilling and pastoral theology. Kick off for the program is 24 August 2021. Express your interest today via https://tinyurl.com/RMIFM
Pastoral Council Formation and Training Session: 25 August
The next Parish, Deanery and Diocesan pastoral council formation and training session will be held on Wednesday 25 August from 7.30pm to 9pm via Zoom. This session will be on ‘Listening to the hopes, needs, ideas and concerns of Parishioners’ and presented by Sr Ailsa Mackinnon RSM, Chancellor for Ministries in the Diocese of Parramatta. Register at https://tinyurl.com/erb692mm. For any further information, please contact Tanya Quinn on tanya.quinn@parracatholic.org or call (02) 8838 3441.
Other Notices
Positions Vacant:
- 2022 Teaching Vacancies – Urban and Regional schools, Catholic Education Northern Territory – Applications close 4pm Tuesday 10 August
- 2022-2023 Teaching Opportunities – Aboriginal Catholic Community Schools, Catholic Education Northern Territory – Applications close 4pm Tuesday 10 August
- Principal – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic College, Wadeye, Northern Territory – Applications close Wednesday 11 August 2021
- Re-Advertised Assistant Principal Religious Education – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College, Alice Springs, Northern Territory – Applications close 4pm Sunday 15 August
- Pre-school Teacher – Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School, Santa Teresa, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 16 August
- Re-Advertised Principal – St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, Humpty Doo, Northern Territory – Applications close Monday 23 August 2021
For more details, please visit https://www.ceont.catholic.edu.au/employment/current-vacancies/
Fan the Flame – Towards Plenary Assembly One October 2021
“His mercy reaches from age to age” Luke 1:39-56
God is asking us to refrain from putting barriers and obstacles in the way of God’s mercy reaching the least, the lost and those who feel excluded, especially those who do not yet know the love of God. God is asking us to be a Church that walks together and does not leave anyone behind. (Humble, Healing and Merciful – Discernment Paper p. 6)
www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/fantheflame/
Support Mass for You at Home
Many people who are isolated, in prison, in hospital or don’t have internet rely on Mass for You at Home. The Catholic Mass is broadcast free-to-air each Sunday morning on Channel 10 and WIN at 6am. Find some familiar faces from the Diocese of Parramatta celebrating Mass over the coming weeks. Find out more at www.massforyou.com.au
Get vaccinated for the common good
Vaccination against COVID-19 is a morally good thing, providing protection for the person vaccinated and the wider community. Some COVID-19 vaccines are associated with ethically questionable production and research practices, but Pope Francis and the Australian Bishops have advised that it is morally permissible to receive any vaccine made available. More information is available at https://www.catholic.org.au/coronavirus
Madonna magazine – a gift of spiritual sustenance that lasts a whole year
Madonna magazine, published by Jesuit Communications, is an ideal spiritual companion – containing daily prayers, deep reflections and faith-focused articles. We invite you to subscribe or consider taking out a gift subscription for a loved one for only $53 a year. You can find out more about Madonna, how to subscribe, purchase a gift subscription or donate a subscription on the website: www.madonnamagazine.com.au/article/subscriptions
St Mary’s Towers Retreat Centre offering online retreats
St Mary’s Towers Retreat Centre in Douglas Park, NSW, is offering a series of online live retreats throughout the month of August. All retreats, ranging from a single day to 5 days, start at 9am on the first date and conclude at 5pm on the final date and will be presented using Microsoft Teams. For further information or to register for any of the retreats, email contact@towersretreat.org.au or visit https://towersretreat.org.au/
Divine Retreat Centre Daily Silent Adoration Livestream
From 1 August, the Divine Retreat Centre in Somersby, NSW, is livestreaming daily silent adoration from 8.45am to 8.45pm on their ‘Divine Healing & Retreat Centre Sydney Australia’ YouTube Channel. You are free to send prayer requests at any time during the adoration. To tune in, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFdwfRHPRD95UYnOIFa-lQ
Catholic Theological College Engaging Your Faith Series: 21 August – 16 September
The Catholic Theological College is hosting a series of online lectures via Zoom on Engaging Your Faith from 21 August to 16 September. The Engaging Your Faith offers short sessions on a variety of topics including: Meditation and Compassion and Mercy in the Gospel according to Mark. Sessions are $20 each. For more details, and to register, please visit https://ctc.edu.au/news-and-events/engaging-your-faith/
Australian Cardijn Institute Webinar – ‘Lay People and Synodality’: 19 August
The Australian Cardijn Institute is presenting a webinar with French Xavierian Sister Nathalie Becquart, Under Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, on Thursday 19 August at 7pm via Zoom. Sr Nathalie will speak on “Lay People and Synodality,” an important topic in view of the Plenary Council. For more information, and to register, visit https://australiancardijninstitute.org/sr-nathalie-becquart-lay-people-and-synodality/
**CANCELLED** Worldwide Marriage Encounter Marriage Enrichment Weekend: 21 – 22 August
Dear Friends. With much disappointment, we would like to inform you that our Worldwide Marriage Encounter “Live Out” weekend from 21 to 22 August in Engadine has been cancelled. For more information, please contact Christine and Terry Mahony on 0490 774 419 or nswbookings@wwme.org.au
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth Online Discernment Weekend: 20 – 22 August
The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth offer an online discernment retreat for single women aged 18 to 35 who want to discern their vocation to religious life. The retreat will start at 5pm on 20 August and finish at 12.30pm on 22 August. If you would like to participate, or for more information, please contact Sr Paula on 0449 656 406 or vocationscsfn@gmail.com.
Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform Convocation 2: 26 August
The Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform invites Australian Catholics to the second in a series of Convocations on Thursday 26 August at 7.30pm to 9pm via Zoom. The second convocation, ‘The Future of Catholicism in Australia’, will bring together diverse perspectives on the current state, and future prospects, for our Church in Australia. For more information, and to register for this free event, visit https://garrattpublishing.com.au/blog/post/convocation-2-august-26/
Mission: One Heart Many Voices Virtual Conference: 1 – 3 September
The fifth biennial Mission: one heart many voices conference will be held online from 1 to 3 September, with an additional day with young people on 4 September. The conference, convened by Catholic Mission and Catholic Religious Australia, directly identify and explore the challenges of living the Gospel and Leading Mission Now in Australia and globally. To view the program and to register, visit www.mohmv.com.au.
Worldwide Marriage Enrichment Virtual Weekend: 10 – 12 September
Worldwide Marriage Enrichment is hosting a Virtual Marriage Encounter Weekend on 10 to 12 September via Zoom. Open to married couples, priests and religious, this is an opportunity for you to 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 & 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.
