welcome
Living and sharing the Christian life as a growing parish family.
HELP NEEDED!!!
We need volunteers to help with the cleaning. We are required to regularly disinfect commonly touched surfaces (e.g. door knobs, pews etc.) in accord with guidelines from NSW Health.
If you are able to help after Mass (the Mass that you attend) and have a spare 20 minutes, could you please contact the parish office on 9543 2677 or email hfpmenai@gmail.com
Thank you in advance for you much needed help!
PLEASE NOTE: Parish Office New Email Address – hfpmenai@gmail.com (if you have sent an email to menaihfp@bigpond.net.au after 29 April 2020 could you please resend it to the new email, apologies for the inconvenience). Thank you so much.
RECONCILIATION
Every Saturday 4.30 – 5.30pm or by appointment.
Inside the Church in accordance with the Government guidelines with social distancing.
From Fr Mani's Desk
Missing each other…missing the Lord.
Ever since the suspension of public masses in mid-March we have been encouraged to tune into live stream masses and TV masses. We have been making lots of sacrifice in all areas of life to protect health and life and to support the common good. Thankfully the sacrifices are bearing fruit slowly; now our Churches are open and 10 people can be in the church at one time. Watching Mass on TV and other technologies, we come to realise that it is less than the real Mass; it is only a virtual Mass. People tell me, ‘It is wonderful to watch the Mass from different sources and at my convenient time. But I miss my Church Family’.
Whatever the Church is doing now to keep the parishioners connected, we miss something real. The rhythm of our life is affected dramatically by this pandemic. It has also affected our faith, our pattern of prayer life.
Pandemic restrictions have affected the Sacraments of baptism, First Holy Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation. Those in the hospitals and nursing homes are deprived of Holy Communion and sacrament of the sick. Some grandparents who are not used to modern technology could not access to the live stream and parish communications. Those who have passed away could not bid farewell to their loved ones, extended family and friends.
What most of us miss is the loss of community dimension of our faith and church life. We all know that Church is the people of God come together to pray and experience the Spirit of the Risen Lord around the Eucharistic table. Liturgy is not a film or being a spectator or a passive participant. It is a poor substitute for a real parish Mass.
We look forward to a time when it will be possible again to share our lives, to gather in our own church to celebrate and be nourished by the bread of life for our life journey together in a good and ordinary way. Let our prayer be, “Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
Let us pray for a new Pentecost for our world and pray to The Holy Spirit to guide all the leaders of the nations and religions to build up a new civilisation of love and respect among all men and the nature.
Special Directives for Churches and Liturgies following the further relaxation of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, 29 May 2020 according to directions given by the Archdiocese of Sydney.
What will be happening at Holy Family Parish during this time
- Confession will be held in the Church on Saturdays from 4.30pm until 5.30pm.
- Please feel free to ask any priest for confession around the Daily Mass times or otherwise.
- Weekday public Mass will continue with a maximum of 50 attendees at each Mass. Masses will be offered to public at 9.15am, Tuesday to Saturday (Friday Mass will be followed by Adoration and Benediction). First Friday Sacred Heart Mass will commence on Friday 5 June at 7pm.
- Adoration in the Church at 8.30am each day prior to weekday Masses (maximum 50 attendees).
- Saturday Vigil at 5.30pm, Sunday 8.30am, 10am & 6pm Masses will commence from Saturday 6 June with a maximum of 50 attendees at each Mass.
- You can sign up for Sunday Masses by either completing the online Sign Up Form or by calling the Parish office on 9543 2677 or email hfpmenai@gmail.com.
- There will be no offertory procession, no passing out of daily prayer books or collection plates.
- Sign of peace – given without any physical contact. You can say “Peace be with you” and offer a smile, wave, nod or bow.
- Holy Communion shall be distributed by the priest and on the hand only. The Precious Blood will not be distributed.
- Hand sanitiser will be available at the entrance of the Church.
- Prior to entering the Church each attendee will be required to record their contact details on a register in the foyer of the Church. Satisfying the CovidSafe regulations, this will also enable us to improve our parish database for provision of pastoral care.
- Private Prayer – the Church will be opened Tuesday to Thursday from 9.45am (after the completion of Mass) until 4pm and Friday from 10.30am until 3pm for up to 50 people at one time. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel will be available for private prayer, but with a maximum limit of 4 people.
- At risk parishioners are strongly encouraged not to attend (eg. the very elderly, those with any symptoms, those with compromised immune or respiratory systems).
WHAT THE FAITHFUL CAN DO TO KEEP HOLY THEIR SUNDAY
Set aside some time for prayer at home
Read the Scriptures of the day
Watch Mass on television or online
Spiritual Communion Prayer
Pray the Rosary
Divine Mercy Chaplet
Stations of the Cross
And ask God for the graces you would normally receive in Holy Communion.
The Catholic Weekly is fully available online and offers regular news updates. The full digital edition of the newspaper can also be accessed.
CORONAVIRUS PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, you travelled through towns and villages curing every disease and illness. At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.
Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.
Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbours from helping one another.
Lord Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.
Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.
Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.
Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.
Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the wellbeing of the people they are meant to serve.
Lord Jesus Christ, heal us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
COVID-19 WINTER APPEAL – click ↑ for more information
The Parish office will continue to be opened Tuesday to Thursday 9am until 3.30pm and Friday 9am until 3pm, you can contact us either by phone on 9543 2677 or email hfpmenai@gmail.com
The Holy Family Youth Movement welcomes anyone between the ages of 12 and 16. We meet every second Sunday at 6.00pm – 8.00pm at Holy Family church. Learn more
YOUTH GROUP CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
For more information please click on Safeguarding Children.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
— Colossians 3:16