Dear sisters and brothers,

On Tuesday night, Archbishop Mark Coleridge confirmed 93 of our children. We congratulate them and their families and we will continue to accompany them as they prepare for First Communion next year. My thanks to all those who were part of the preparation and celebration of Confirmation. I would particularly like to thank Jane Cameron who has worked very hard over these weeks to support our families and ensure that this sacramental journey has run smoothly for everyone. My thanks also to our parish secretary, Rosemary Greer, who has provided administrative and organisational support to this process, and to Robyn Cuming for her music talents.

I would especially like to thank the parents who have nurtured and encouraged their children’s faith and fully participated in this time. May the light of God’s Spirit continue to shine through these children. The gifts that these children bring to our community is something to rejoice in.

Offering our gifts to the wider community is an important dimension of our Christian vocation. In coming weeks, we will be asking for nominations for our Pastoral Council (which will soon be called our Community and Mission Council). I invite members of this parish to be open to the possibility of nominating or accepting nomination for membership of the council. There will be a process of nomination and discernment over the coming months and, in the meantime, we have an opportunity to discuss and encourage others to consider the possibility of becoming a member of the council and becoming involved in implementing a road map for the future. Please consider saying “yes” to nomination.

At Wednesday night’s Pastoral Council meeting, we set a date for a parish family fun day, which was decided upon as Sunday, August 28th. More information will be provided in the weeks to come, but for the moment, please keep that date free as an important gathering day for our parish family. And later in the year, we are planning a retreat day for this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. This will be a valuable time of reflecting upon the theme of the mercy of God as it applies today to our lives and our world.
Fr. Anthony