News

Parish Feast Day: We are looking for volunteers to help make our Parish Feast day on July 16 a success. Please refer to the Feast Day event on this website for access to the online volunteering form and details of where help is needed.

Music is a joyful service. Come serve with the Music Ministry.
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Do you Value Music at Mass? The challenge we face in our liturgy today is one that affects the whole parish. Our music ministry needs guitar and keyboard players specifically to meet the needs of the near future. All Sunday Masses would benefit from another musician to provide another option to those that currently are committed, sometimes without any break, from week to week. Those who come forward will be well supported with initial formation, resources and tuiton as needed, for as long as needed, before becoming “active” or “live”. There are many current musicians who are willing to share their experience of leading the worship of God through song. The commitment to playing at Mass is based on availability. So if you know anyone who is a competent guitar or keyboard player, and who wants to
belong to a friendly and supportive faith community, please encourage them to value this opportunity. For details contact the Parish office or approach the choir after mass. Let us all pray for the growth of this ministry as an expression of our thanksgiving to God.

State of Origin (Rugby League) is on Wednesday 31 May at 7.30pm.   The game will be on in the meeting room and you are challenged to come along and cheer for NSW (or QLD).   BYO drinks and snacks.

Rosters: New rosters will be issued this week.

Friday Faith & Supper on Friday 2 June in the parish hall.  It will be a social night with a conscience.  Sr Kerry will talk about The Voice to Parliament referendum. 

Fundraising Cash raffle: Available from next weekend we will be selling raffle tickets in a major raffle to be drawn on the parish feast day, July 16. Books will be available to take home and sell too.

Sacramental preparation dates are now available on the parish website.

Intercessory Prayer group  Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held every Saturday at 9:30-10:30am.  Everyone is invited to join the prayer. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation is available on Saturdays from 11am to 12pm.

Faith Circles is on every Monday at 2pm and 7pm via zoom.

The Samoan Mass will be at 12 midday on the first Sunday of every 2 months; June, August, October, December 2023

The Maori Mass is on the first Sunday of each month at 2pm.

The Journey, Weekly Podcast;  On The Journey This Week: Fr Joshua Whitehead says that Philip’s question in the Gospel, how can we know the way, is our question too. Mother Hilda says we must spend time staring at God. Plus, Fr Mike Delaney, Trish McCarthy and Fr Dave Callaghan, and some great contemporary Christian music. The Journey podcast is available at www.jcr.org.au.

Free Technology Training for Seniors:  Due to the popularity of the Cross + Generation technology program, CatholicCare, will again partner with St Benedicts Oran Park and CEDoW to help with the technology that you may be struggling with. Bring in your device, either your phone, laptop or tablet and the students will assist you with becoming more confident in downloading apps, sending messages or even using google maps.  The first day will be Tuesday 9 May from 12pm – 2.30. this will include lunch on the day, a briefing chat followed by training. The following dates will have afternoon tea provided.

· Tuesday 16 May 1pm-2.30pm

· Tuesday 23 May 1pm-2.30pm

· Tuesday 30 May 1pm-2.30pm

· Tuesday 6 June 1pm-2.30pm

Please join us in this unique opportunity to connect with seniors, and students for some information sharing in a fun relaxed setting at St Benedict’s Catholic College Oran Park. Places will fill quickly, so please contact Jane Hollier Parish and Community Officer CatholicCare on 0417018152   or janeh@catholiccare.dow.org.au

The Filipino Mass is on the third Sunday of each month at 11.15am.

The Divine Mercy Devotion is on the third Sunday of each month at 3pm

Could you provide a forever home? CatholicCare urgently needs foster carers to provide love, care and support to help children thrive and reach their full potential. Carers receive comprehensive support from the Fostering Futures team to ensure they have a full range of resources and networks to nurture their forever home. Our team have over 30 years’ experience helping carers give vulnerable children a loving home and a brighter future. We are currently looking for a forever home for two siblings, Liam* and Sofia* aged 10 & 8 years. Liam is an outgoing & active boy who loves to joke around and makes friends easily. He enjoys playing with Lego, fishing, being outdoors, riding his bike, watching movies, drawing and colouring in. His sister Sofia is a resilient, confident and kind young girl who loves playing with her friends, riding her bike, gymnastics and writing stories. Liam and Sofia are looking for a forever home with carers who are kind, loving and patient and who can give them safety, family and a sense of belonging. *names have been changed for privacy.  If you would like to learn more about becoming a carer with CatholicCare, please call 0418 783 956 or email fosteringfutures@catholiccare.dow.org.au for more information and we will support you every step of the way.

St Michael’s Parish Thirroul Centenary Monday 30 October 2023: Special events will be held on 28 October. Details will be announced in the coming months. Anyone with a connection with the parish is invited to join us. Organisers are also interested in any stories and photos of the parish to include   in a centenary  publication. Inquiries to Judy Bull, judy.bull@bigpond.com.

Mystery & Mission: The Art of Liturgical Celebration 28 – 30 September 2023, Brisbane. The Australian Pastoral Musicians Network and the National Liturgical Council are delighted to announce a combined Liturgy and Music Conference. Early Bird Registrations are now Open: For all enquiries contact liturgy@liturgybrisbane.net.au

Working with Children  If you are involved in a ministry that works directly with children it is your responsibility to ensure you have obtained a WWCC and submitted the approval to the parish office before you commence working in your ministry. Various ministries in our Parish involve adults working directly with children including Altar Servers, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Sacramental Preparation teams, Children’s Ministry, Children’s Choir and Children’s Pageant.

Chaldean Holy Mass at Oran Park:  Fr David Catterall, Parish Priest, St Mary MacKillop Parish, Oran Park, is pleased to announce that after a period of discussion with Archbishop Amel Nona DD – the Archbishop of the Chaldean Catholic Church – a Chaldean Holy Mass will be celebrated every second Sunday (2nd and 4th Sun of every month) at 12.30pm at St Mary MacKillop Church at Oran Park. This Mass will offer Chaldean Catholics residing in the diocese, especially the exponentially growing region of South-West Sydney, the opportunity to celebrate Mass in their own language and with their own customs and rituals. For more information, please contact the Parish Office on 4648 2226 or email oranpark@dow.org.au.

Get Connected with what is on around the Diocese Every week, there are many great opportunities to be part of special events, courses, free resources and to nurture and encourage you and your family in your faith. Stay informed by subscribing at dow.sh/stayingconnected or visit dow.sh/weeklybulletin to see a full list of notices sent to Parishes weekly.

Formed (Free for DoW Parishioners) Join hundreds of other families around the Diocese of Wollongong in nurturing your faith at home, in your own time and at your own pace? FORMED.org is a large Faith Formation Resource library website containing thousands of faith formation documentaries, courses, movies, audio and books covering all aspects of our Catholic faith. Materials for both adults and children. Sign-up for Free using our Diocesan Subscription by contacting darren.mcdowell@dow.org.au or helen.bennett@dow.org,.au

Faith Circles—free small group resource: During this period of COVID pandemic, you are encouraged to spend time in prayer and spiritual reading and faith Circles is one way that you can do this. The weekly Faith Circles resource is available for free to download. It is easy to use and could easily be done in your household or even by skype / phone with others at this time, with its questions and prayer points. It is available to download at www.dow.org.au/media-resources/faith-circles/ or have it sent to you each month via email subscription.

CatholicCare – Have you thought about becoming a foster carer? We need foster carers who provide love, care, and support to help these children thrive and reach their full potential. Carers receive comprehensive support from the Fostering Futures team to ensure they have a full range of resources and networks to nurture their forever home. Our team have over 30 years’ experience helping carers give vulnerable children a loving home and a brighter future. For more information, please call 0418 783 956, or email fosteringfutures@catholiccare.dow.org.au or go to www.catholiccare.dow.org.au

We’re always here if you ever need… These are challenging times for everyone and CatholicCare are here to support you and your family to navigate the uncertainty. We offer confidential online and phone counselling to support you with the frustration of managing family emotions, relationship pressures and employment changes. To find out more about CatholicCare’s counselling service call us on 4254 9395 or email intakeservice@catholiccare.dow.org.au

CAtHFAMILY CAtHFAMILY brings you a selection of activities, prayer rituals, crafts, and recipes from their website to assist parents and grandparents in being the first educators in faith for their kids. Don’t miss CathKids cathfamily.org/activities/

Promoting Adult Faith Formation with two popular FREE Catholic Podcasts – Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year
• Bible in a Year
Last year, Ascension Press ran the Catholic Bible in a Year Podcast featuring Fr Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins. It was the world’s number 1 Religious Podcast with over 250 million downloads. It will run again throughout 2023 – and while a new podcast is released daily, you can do it at your own pace by signing up at www.ascensionpress.com/biy and it’s not too late to catch up or just work through at your own pace.

• Catechism in a Year
Following on from this success, Ascension Press has commenced the Catechism in a Year podcast. This podcast will slowly and prayerfully read through and break open the Catechism over 365 days. We have been promoting this formation amongst our SRE Catechists but would encourage you to promote it amongst the faithful of your Parish. It’s not too late to catch up, and the daily podcasts can be listened to at your own pace – over two years or longer – if that suits you. It is available at www.ascensionpress.com/ciy