News & Events Weekly update

News & Events across the Diocese of Parramatta and beyond.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv with Parramatta's permanent deacons and wives. Image: Diocese of Parramatta.

Discernment Afternoon for the Permanent Diaconate

Single men and married couples aged 35-55 who are interested in the ordained ministry of the permanent deacon are invited to a discernment afternoon on Sunday 2 April 2017 to meet the permanent diaconate vocations team. The discernment program consists of five sessions and each session deals with a different aspect of the permanent diaconate. This session is the start of the 2017 program. From 3.00pm-5.00pm at St Anthony of Padua Parish, 27 Aurelia Street, Toongabbie. For further information about the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Parramatta or to make an online inquiry, click here. You are most welcome to contact Deacon James deacon@stanthonyschurch.org.au or Deacon Tan deacontan@john23rd.org.au

We’re hiring!

The Diocese of Parramatta is seeking applications for the position of Archives and Records Manager. Applications close on Friday 7 April 2017. For further details, click here.

Diocesan News & Events in 2017

The Diocese of Parramatta is developing an app to help you keep in touch with what is happening in the Catholic Church in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. You will be able to find the latest news, events and local Mass times. To sign up to be the first to know when the app is released, click here. You can also keep up-to-date with news and events across the Diocese of Parramatta and beyond by subscribing to Catholic Outlook’s website to receive daily updates, click here.

Palms Australia Volunteering Information Session: 6 April 2017

Catholic agency, Palms Australia, has been recruiting, preparing and sending Australians to mission since 1961. Palms Executive Director Roger O’Halloran will explain Palms’ program, which connects experienced professionals, business or trades people, in any area, especially education, to overseas community programs looking to reduce poverty through skills exchange. From 5.45pm-7.45pm at the Aquinas Academy, 141 Harrington St (close to Wynyard Station), The Rocks. Details and RSVP tel 0431 995 058 or send an email to joey@palms.org.au

Holy Hour for Vocations: 6 April 2017

Young adults aged 18-35 are invited to join the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth for a Holy Hour of Prayer for Vocations from 7.00pm-8.00pm followed by a pizza supper. Holy Spirit Convent, 120 Capuchin Way, Plumpton. RSVP to Sr Paula tel 0451 965 638, vocationscsfn@gmail.com

Grace & Silence Retreat Days for Young Women: 8 April & 10 June 2017

Open your soul and allow God to speak to your heart. Program 1: 9.00am-4.30pm for General Retreat Day. Program 2: 9.30am-4.30pm for Vocation Discernment to Marriage & Family, Single Life or Consecrated Life. Cost: $30 includes morning tea, warm lunch, afternoon tea and materials. To register or for more information, contact Sr M Julie juliebrcar@gmail.com or tel 0408 738 334.

Journey through Holy Week with Catholic Youth Parramatta: 9 & 14 April 2017

All are invited to join youth and young adults of the Diocese for the Palm Sunday Procession, World Youth Day Mass & Event at St Patrick’s Cathedral, 1 Marist Place, Parramatta, on Sunday 9 April 2017. The procession down Church Street with Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv will depart at 5.30pm from Parramatta Town Hall following a short liturgy. Details on CYP Facebook event.

On Friday 14 April 2017, the Good Friday Night Walk will take place at 10.00pm through the night departing St Patrick’s Church, 51-59 Allawah Street, Blacktown, and concluding at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta at 7.00am. Building on the success of more than 1300 pilgrims participating last year the journey will again take us through the parishes of Blacktown, Seven Hills, Toongabbie, Wentworthville, Merrylands and Parramatta. Details on CYP Facebook event. Inquiries to James Camden, Director of Catholic Youth Parramatta, (02) 8838 3428 or jcamden@parra.catholic.org.au

‘Come and See’ Weekend Retreats for Women

The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth offer weekend retreats for women aged 18-35 who want to discern their vocation to religious life. These retreats offer a one-to-one encounter and include prayer time, talks and accompaniment. Bring only a holy Bible and a smile! Holy Spirit Convent, 120 Capuchin Way, Plumpton. For more information contact Sr Paula tel 0451 965 638, vocationscsfn@gmail.com

Nigerian Mass in Igbo: 9 April 2017

Rev Fr Chukwunonyerem Akamadu, Chaplain to the Nigerian Catholic community, will celebrate Mass at 11.30am at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes. Contact Fr Akamadu tel 045 11 744 38, Stella Nwosu (02) 8834 8504.

Stations of the Cross at Mt Schoenstatt on Good Friday: 14 April 2017

Commences at 10.00am in the valley to the Shoenstatt Shrine. Please arrive early as the walk to the valley will take 5-10 minutes. Bring your family and church communities. For further information please call 02 4773 8338 or send an email to info@schoenstatt.org.au

Good Friday – quiet meditation at the end of the day: 14 April 2017

The traditional candlelight presentation of music of JS Bach, complemented by Sacred Readings from the Passion of Christ, will be held at St Finbar’s Church, 46 Levy Street, Glenbrook, at 7.30pm on Good Friday evening on 14 April 2017. The Blue Mountains Chorale conducted by Robert Ampt will sing poignant excerpts from St John’s Passion and all will be encouraged to participate in singing congregational hymns, accompanied by the magnificent pipe organ. The service will conclude with quiet meditation. There will be a retiring collection. Suggested donation: $15 and $10 concession. Inquiries tel (02) 4754 1780.

Discover Retreat for Young Women: 21-23 April 2017

A self-knowledge weekend on identity and personality, dignity, womanhood, personal ideal, vocation and mission. From 7.00pm on Friday 21 April 2017 till 4.00pm on Sunday 23 April 2017. Mount Schoenstatt, 230 Fairlight Rd, Mulgoa. For more information or to register: Sr M Julie Brcar ISSM, tel 0408 728 334, juliebrcar@gmail.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1094246107354311/

Invitation to Fr Arthur Cook’s farewell: 23 April 2017

Fr Arthur Cook is retiring from parish life and will be leaving the Diocese of Parramatta at the end of April 2017. To mark the occasion and to thank Fr Arthur for his years of service to the parishes of the Diocese, there will be a celebration on Sunday 23 April 2017 at St Matthew’s Catholic Church, 12 Tebbutt Street, Windsor. An invitation is extended to anyone who would like to farewell Fr Arthur. The celebration will start with morning tea after the 9am Mass and will be followed by a BBQ lunch. For catering purposes, please RSVP by 12 April 2017 to the parish office, tel (02) 4577 3073 (BH) or send an email to stmcc@tpg.com.au

Time for Us to go on a Date: Saturday 29 April & 30 June 2017

An evening for couples to dance, dine and prayer together at Mount Schoenstatt from 5.00pm-10.00pm. For more information or to register: Sr M Julie Brcar ISSM, tel 0408 728 334, juliebrcar@gmail.com For the Facebook event, click here.

Nigerian Catholic Women’s Group Retreat: 30 April 2017

Theme: Mary our model. A one-day retreat to enrich us in preparing spiritually for our Mother’s Day celebration and beyond. Guest speaker/moderator Rev Fr Suresh Kumar – Mary, model of humility for Christian women; and guest speaker Sr Grace  Roclawska CSFN – Praying with Mary, our Mother. St George Preca Parish Centre, Our Lady Queen of Parish, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes. Arrive 3.00pm for 3.30pm start, closes 7.00pm with dinner. This retreat is hosted by Rev Fr Chukwunonyerem Akamadu, Chaplain to the Nigerian Catholic community, tel 045 11 744 38, Stella Nwosu (02) 8834 8504.

May Procession Waverley College: 7 May 2017

The annual May Procession at Waverley College will take place on Sunday 7 May 2017 from 2.00pm-3.00pm in the College grounds. The May Procession is a devotional act in honour of Our Lady. This is also the College Feast Day, celebrating the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice. All Old Boys of the College are invited to attend. For further information, please see the College website.

LIFTED Live! Featuring Steve Angrisano: 13 May 2017

Join Catholic Youth Parramatta for our first LIFTED Live! in 2017 at our new central venue in the Rooty Hill RSL. Last year, more than 400 young people were inspired by Catholic musician, singer, songwriter and storyteller Steve Angrisano. You can expect music, prayer, worship, adoration, drama, laughs and a great night as the LIFTED Band and Steve join forces in faith, formation and fun! $5 entry fee to be inspired and upLIFTED for your ongoing ministry! From 7.00pm-10.00pm at Rooty Hill RSL, 55 Sherbrooke Rd, Rooty Hill. RSVP thru the Catholic Youth Parramatta Facebook event. Inquiries to James Camden, Director of Catholic Youth Parramatta, tel (02) 8838 3428 or jcamden@parra.catholic.org.au

Nigerian Mass in Igbo: 14 May 2017

Rev Fr Chukwunonyerem Akamadu, Chaplain to the Nigerian Catholic community, will celebrate Mass at 11.30am at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, 198 Old Prospect Road, Greystanes. Contact Fr Akamadu tel 045 11 744 38, Stella Nwosu (02) 8834 8504.

Good Friday Night Walk: 14 April 2017

The annual Good Friday Night Walk will take place at 10.00pm through the night departing St Patrick’s Church, 51-59 Allawah Street, Blacktown, and concluding at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta at 7.00am. Building on the success of more than 1300 pilgrims participating last year, the journey will again take us through the parishes of Blacktown, Seven Hills, Toongabbie, Wentworthville, Merrylands and Parramatta. Details on Catholic Youth Parramatta’s Facebook event. Inquiries to James Camden, Director of Catholic Youth Parramatta, (02) 8838 3428 or send an email to jcamden@parra.catholic.org.au

New Testament Workshops: 10, 12 & 13 May 2017

The internationally respected Scripture scholar Prof vanThan Nguyen SVD will be conducting three face-to-face workshops at The Broken Bay Institute in May 2017 which will be of practical interest to teachers, parishes and religious communities. Prof Nguyen is the Chair of Catholic Missiology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and the Director of its widely respected Master of Divinity Program. He has published extensively in the areas of New Testament Studies and on Spirituality in a Pluralistic Society.

Topics: Interpreting and Preaching the Gospel of Matthew (10 May from 5.00pm-8.00pm), The Lukan Spirituality of Jesus (12 May from 9.30am-12.30pm) and Reading the Bible in the Context of World Christianity (13 May from 10.00am-noon). For further information and to register, click here.

Christian Meditation Introduction & Renewal Day: 21 May 2017

Presentations, Introduction to Christian Meditation, two periods of meditation, Eucharistic Celebration and information exchange. BYO picnic lunch – tea & coffee provided. Arrive 10am for 10.30am, concludes about 3pm. Books & CDs for sale. St Benedict’s Monastery is at 121 Arcadia Rd, Arcadia, tel (02) 9653 1159. Self-catering accommodation may be available in the monastery guest house. Contact Br Terry 0438 282 318. Inquiries: Ann Bergman (02) 9498 2625, anniebergman@hotmail.com or Ann Lomas (02) 9456 4775, atlomas@bigpond.com

St Anthony’s Parish, Clovelly, Centenary Mass: 21 May 2017

St Anthony’s Parish was formed in 1917, and St Anthony’s Primary School opened in 1918. Past parishioners, students and friends are cordially invited to the Centenary Mass at 10.00am on Sunday 21 May 2017, at which Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP will be Principal Celebrant. Refreshments will follow in the parish grounds. For more information or to indicate attendance, send an email to centenary@stanthonyclovelly.org.au  Facebook: St Anthony’s Clovelly Centenary.

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: 30 June 2017

Hear Rebekah Rojcewicz, highly experienced leader in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd from the US, speak over dinner on ‘The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – A Gift to the Church at this Time’. Cost: $60 per person. From 6.30pm at North Ryde RSL, cnr Magdala & Pittwater Rds, North Ryde. To book, click here. For more information about the Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, click here.

Updated on 28 March 2017.

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