St Bernadette's Parish - Sunshine North

This weeks message from Fr Silvio

Dear Parishioners and friends,

On the feast day (26th July) of St. Anne and St. Joachim the parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus, we celebrate Grandparents’ Day.  It is an occasion to honour our grandparents.  We have many grandparents within our church community, and we see in them the beloved elders of our families, the keepers of memories, and the gentle stewards of wisdom and faith. Grandparents are not only our roots in this world but also living witnesses of God's faithfulness across generations.

In a fast-changing world, our grandparents remind us of enduring values, like love, prayer, patience, and sacrifice. They teach us how to hope and persevere through the trials of life.  In their quiet witness, grandparents shape the hearts of their children and grandchildren for generations to come. 

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged.” – Proverbs 17:6

Pope Leo XIII (not the present pope) was often called the "Pope of the Family”.  He emphasized the sacred bond between generations. In his encyclical on Christian marriage (1880), he wrote: “The family may be regarded as the cradle of civil society, and it is in great measure within the circle of family life that the destiny of the State is fostered.”  In the same spirit, we see how grandparents serve not only their families, but also the wider Church and society through their faith-filled presence, prayers, and example. 

We also remember the words of Pope Francis: “Grandparents are a treasure. Often old age isn’t pretty, right? There is sickness and all that, but the wisdom our grandparents have is something we must welcome as an inheritance.”

On this Grandparents’ Day, may we celebrate, cherish, and listen to our elders with reverence and love. May their stories continue to inspire us, and may we honour them not just in word, but with our time, attention, and affection.  Let us give them the comfort of knowing that we find joy in sitting and listening to their story.  They have a lot to teach us through their life experiences.

Dear grandparents, today we give thanks to God for your presence in our lives.  We pray to God that He may bless you abundantly with peace, health, and joy.

God bless you.

Fr Silvio

 

Australian Catholic Your Festival

 

Fr Rob Galea and Archbishop Peter A Comensoli will headline this incredible night as we prepare to journey together to the Australian Catholic Youth Festival.

Open to all between Year 9 and 25 years old, it will be an amazing night for fun, testimony, live music and prayer.

Whether you are planning to go to the Festival or still thinking about it, this is the perfect opportunity for you to experience some of what the Festival will offer.

Encounter: ACYF Edition

Saturday 9 August 2025, 7pm for a 7.30 start

Cathedral Hall, Australian Catholic University, Ftizroy

Register: https://trybooking.com/DCEIC

Age range: Year 9 to 25 years old.

Cost: Free.

Please note: Parents/guardians/leaders of under-18 participants will be required to 'sign in' and 'sign out' their children.

Bookings are increasing so please register today to ensure you don’t miss out!

 

 

"Be part of HIS mission" - Prelature of Santiago Apostol of Huancane'

Click on the links below to know more about the Prelature of "Santiago Apostol of Huancane'" in the South of PERU.  Thanks for being a part of their mission with prayers and support.

Be part of God's mission.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1385380002084851

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0pjTEcYGys&t=63s

Formation Course - The Mass

 

During October/November a Formation Course on the Mass, based on Bishop Robert Barron’s talks, was held at the Parish with the participation of 30 parishioners.  Here are a few comments and reflections...

“Bishop Barron's formation on the liturgy offers a profound opportunity to grow together as a community, deepening our collective understanding of the sacred mysteries of the Mass. By exploring the rich symbolism and significance of its parts, we come to appreciate the beauty and transformative power of the Eucharistic celebration. This shared journey not only fosters unity but also inspires us to embrace continuous learning, recognising that our faith is enriched by ongoing discovery. Such formation equips us to be more effective in our mission of evangelisation, as we are empowered to share the profound truth, grace, and joy of the liturgy with the world. In this communal endeavour, we find renewal and strength, united in our calling to be witnesses of Christ’s love.”  (Maria Vella)

“I found the course to be quite enlightening.  It gave me a deeper and more thorough understanding of the ritual and the relevant purposes of each of the segments of mass.

“While the videos (of the talks) were quite informative, I got a lot of satisfaction out of the group discussions, where people were able to discuss the topical questions and listen to people's various thoughts on the matters.

“The networking and socialising with the various parishioners before and after the session started and finished was also extremely rewarding.” (Michael Vella)

Many thanks to the course participants, Amanda, and Brendan (School Principal) for their contribution to this formation course.  Looking forward to more next year.

Fr Silvio

    

 

Testimony: Advent Retreat Day

Saturday, 23rd November – “The Light Shines in the Darkness” (John 1:5)

The Lord works in wonderful ways to give us Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. On this blessed day, around 24 of us gathered to pray and prepare  ourselves for Advent. It was truly a special time as we awaited the coming of our Lord.

The retreat offered a serene and peaceful environment, allowing us to find stillness and listen to Him. In the quiet moments, the words of Psalm 46:10 resonated deeply within us: “Be still and know that I am God.”

This time of retreat and reflection was a precious opportunity to deepen our faith and draw closer to God. As we lit candles and shared in prayer, the light symbolized the hope and promise that shines even in the darkest of times.

We left the retreat with hearts full of gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to embrace the Advent season with anticipation and reverence. This time together was not only a testament to the power of prayer and reflection but also a       reminder of the ever-present light of God's love in our lives.

Audrey

      

Piety Stall

                                                        

Our Parish Piety Stall is now open with the help of these lovely people and a few more.  We have been blessed with wonderful Volunteers who will do their best to open the piety stall before and after every mass on Saturday 6.30pm, Sunday 8.30am, 11.00am and 7.00pm.

If you haven’t stopped to look for a while, please check out the new items, as we do try to add different things from time to time. 

Thank you for your on-going support. 

Scripture Reflection

Our Scripture reflection sessions continue every Thurday at 7pm and it is a great way to connect with Parishioners during our lockdowns.  It has been great to see some new faces over the past few weeks.   These sessions are held using the ZOOM video platform so you do not need to leave the comfort of your own home to attend.

If you would like to attend these sessions, send Amanda an email to brownieab75@gmail.com  and she will send you the ZOOM link weekly.

We would love to see many more faces at our meetings!!

 

MASS TIMES

Normal Mass times:

Saturday 6.00pm and 8.00pm Neo-Catechumenal (Pioneers Hall)

Sunday 8.30am; 9.45am (Polish); 11.00am; 12.30pm (Vietnamese) and 7.00pm                                                                                                               

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.15am

Wednesday Evening 7.00pm

 

Giờ Thánh Lễ bình thường:

Thứ Bảy 6:00pm

Chủ nhật 8:30am; 9:45am (tiếng Ba Lan); 11:00am; 7:00pm

KHÔNG CÓ THÁNH LỄ Ở TRUNG TÂM CỘNG ĐỒNG TẠI COOKE AVE

Thánh lễ tiếng Việt: Mỗi Chúa Nhật thứ nhất và thứ ba hàng tháng lúc 12:30pm

Thứ Ba và Thứ Năm 9:15am

 

 

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