Letter from Father John

THE CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE OF GOD - UPDATED DIRECTIVES OF BISHOP BRIAN MASCORD

Suspension of CatholicCare Group Work courses

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Important information    The health, safety and wellbeing of you, your families and our staff are of the utmost importance to our organisation. With consideration of the current COVID-19 public health crisis, we have made the difficult decision to suspend face-to-face delivery of our group work programs until further notice. .  We are aware a number of our clients are required to complete our groups for purposes such as court proceedings or for child contact arrangements. Please use this letter as confirmation of CatholicCare's decision to suspend face-to-face service delivery.   We will continue to monitor the situation and consider other options moving forward. We will support you to ensure you are able to complete the group via flexible service delivery and receive your completion certificate.  Our caring group work staff will still be available for phone support with the option to refer you to phone or online counselling if required. They will be contacting you via phone over the coming weeks.  If you have any questions or enquiries please phone 02 4254 9395 (lines are open Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm) or email intakeservice@catholiccare.dow.org.au. We also encourage you to like our Facebook page where regular updates will be available.  Please visit our website for some tips for your family including helpful ideas to maintain wellbeing during this challenging time and also how to help kids understand the COVID-19 outbreak. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time of adversity. Kind Regards,  CatholicCare Copyright © 2020 CatholicCare Wollongong, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a part of CatholicCare Wollongong's emailing list. Our mailing address is: CatholicCare Wollongong 35A Cordeaux Street Campbelltown, NSW 2560 Australia

Letter to St John's Parishioner from Fr John Ho

The Church is the People of God

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Donate

Direct Credit

You can direct credit to our bank account. Please email campbelltown@dow.org.au to advise of your donation.

International Swift Code: CTBAAU2S

First Collection
BSB: 066-711
Acc:  002036

Second Collection
BSB: 066-711
Acc: 001875

You can go to the Wollongong Website to find out our Parish Account and to apply to give Electronically.
https://www.dow.org.au/plannedgiving/

Why?

No weekly mass also means no weekly mass collection on the plate. But the work of the Parish goes on, albeit in a new and different way.

Many people are also struggling with job losses, reduced working hours, or just uncertainty about their future.

Our staff and volunteers will be called upon even more to minister to the physical and psychological needs of our community.

Many are already donating their time, expertise, materials and finances to keeping the Parish accessible and active via online means.

Any financial or other assistance that you can give at this time would be most welcome.

Envelopes

You can continue to securely and safely drop your planned giving envelopes or other donation through the Parish Office letterbox.

🙏 Sunday Mass online with Bishop Brian Mascord this weekend!

View this email in your browser Commencing 9:00am this Sunday 29 March (5th Sunday of Lent), we will be premiering on our website and Facebook page a live recorded celebration of Sunday Mass online with Bishop Brian Mascord. These online Masses will continue on Sundays (while possible) giving parishioners throughout the Illawarra, Macarthur, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands (and everyone else watching from around the world) the opportunity to join with their bishop and make an act of spiritual Communion together as a diocese. It has long been a Catholic understanding that when circumstances prevent one from receiving Holy Communion, it is possible to make an act of spiritual Communion which is a source of grace. Spiritual Communion means uniting one's self in prayer with Christ's sacrifice and worshipping him in his Body and Blood. Acts of spiritual Communion increase our desire to receive sacramental Communion and help us avoid the sins that would make us unable to receive Holy Communion worthily. As Jesus said, "For where two or three gather in my name, I shall be there with them" (Mt 18:20). Imagine the grace that will abound if all 190,000 Catholics in the diocese gather online for Mass with their bishop. Please extend this invitation to all your family, friends and loved ones. The premiere link will be posted on the website and Facebook page 24 hours prior to the online Mass. WATCH ON DIOCESAN WEBSITE WATCH ON FACEBOOK Copyright © 2020 Catholic Diocese of Wollongong, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you either opted in to receive Faith and Life Enews from the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong, the Journey Catholic Radio Podcast or you are a Catholic School or Parish in Australia. Our mailing address is: Catholic Diocese of Wollongong PO Box 1239 Wollongong, Nsw 2500 Australia

Church will not be open

Tuesday, 24 March 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Bishop Brian Mascord updated the directives as Prime Minister Scott Morrison defined places of worship as non-essential and directed churches, religious gatherings, and places of worship close from midday today, Monday 23 March 2020.

He directed the following for the Diocese of Wollongong:
• Public Masses and liturgies—both indoor and outdoor—are suspended until further notice (as directed in my statement on 19 March 2020).
• Baptisms on church premises are to cease from midday on Monday, 23 March 2020.
• Church buildings, adoration chapels and other church buildings used for prayer and religious services are to remain closed from midday on Monday, 23 March 2020.
• Holy Communion is not to be given to anyone, including the sick, except as Viaticum for the dying. If Viaticum for the dying is celebrated this is done according to the procedures set out in my previous directives on 19 March 2020.

* The NSW government has advised that the shutdown of religious gatherings and places of worship exclude “small weddings and funerals that comply with the 4m2 rule, which can proceed”. with only immediate family in attendance.

So with our Parish we will follow the directives of our Bishop
- The church will not be opened for adoration.
- Baptisms and Sacramental Programs will be postponed until the pandemic is over
- Our weekday Mass will be lived streaming at 9.00am instead of 9.30am.
- Our Weekend Mass will be lived streaming at 9.00am on Sunday.
- Any suggestions that you would like to suggest that we should do in this time please email us.
- We, your priests, are always with you and for you. We are in your service. If you need us please ring or email the parish office.

In the meantime, keep safe, look after yourself, your family, and people from your neighbourhood. We should pray for each other and trusting that God is still in control.

Yours in Christ,
Fr John Ho
Parish Priest

No Public Masses Until Further Notice

 

IMPORTANT: THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC MASSES THIS WEEKEND AND ONWARD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

 

After considering the recent advice from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and direction from the Federal and NSW Governments, the following measures will be in place, effective Saturday 21 March 2020:

• No public Masses will be celebrated in the Diocese of Wollongong.
• All faithful in the diocese will be dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Mass on Sundays. However, parishioners can honour their Sunday obligation by participating in a time of prayer within the home, reading the Scriptures, or watching Mass on television/online (canon 87 §1 , canon 1248 §2).
• Mass will continue to be said privately by priests throughout the diocese on behalf of the faithful on a daily basis.
• Churches will, as far as possible, remain open for private prayer.

These decisions have not been made lightly. I understand this news may be upsetting, and I share your sadness. However, it is our responsibility as a pastoral community to put the care of our members—especially the most vulnerable—first. At this stage, the most effective way we can do this is to temporarily suspend public participation at Mass.

The St John’s Nerds are investigating ways to make mass and other devotions available via the interweb.

 

More info at https://www.dow.org.au/covid-19/

 

 

SCY News | What do I worth-ship?

SCY NEWS March edition What do I worth-ship? The way we react to the idea of losing something is a good indicator of how much we value it. In fact, I think we can make it a little rule of thumb; the more worth we give to something, the harder we would find it to live without. ...  then I've come to notice that there are many things in my life to which I assign way too much worth. Read the full homily of Fr Dan Russo here Fr Daniel Russo is a young priest of the Archdiocese of Sydney Learn more FACES OF SYDNEY |  Jemille, Ryde-Gladesville Parish Jemille is widely known by her parish community as an extremely dedicated and vibrant young woman of faith, helping coordinate three different youth groups for her parish community (Ignite Youth, Sparc and Set Alight). She's also one of the Y-Factor leaders serving at Y-Factor 2020: I AM these Easter school holidays! 🙌 If you're looking for a youth group near Ryde and Gladesville, follow the Ryde-Gladesville Catholic Youth Facebook page here.   Youth Ministry Resources As we enter deeper into LENT, here are a few resources that can help you and your youth groups during this Penitential Season. VIDEO: How to Live Lent for Others CATECHESIS: The One Word You Can't Say During Lent ENCOURAGING ALMSGIVING: Caritas - Phany's Story MERCY:  How do I go to Confession? (for those who haven't been in a long time)  UPCOMING EVENTS REGISTER FOR Y-FACTOR 2020! New Year, Next Steps Saturday 14 March, 9:30am - 6pm FOR YOUTH LEADERS Break into 2020 and forge your youth ministries with this jam-packed training day for youth leaders, with interactive workshops, youth forum, direction for the year, and access to tools and resources. RSVP MERCY NIGHT Saturday 14 March, 5pm - 9:30pm FOR ALL YOUTH & THEIR FAMILIES Pray with St Therese of Lisieux and Sts Louis and Zelie Martin at our MERCY NIGHT. There will be a Youth Mass followed by free dinner, a talk on 'Mercy' based on the teachings of St Therese, Confession, Adoration & Veneration of the relics (followed by an all-night vigil). MORE DETAILS The Upper Room Monday 23 March FOR YOUTH LEADERS & YOUNG ADULTS The Upper Room is a monthly gathering for youth leaders in Sydney, where we come together for conversation, prayer and community. MORE DETAILS Youth Ministry Safeguarding Training 28 March - FULL | Next Date: Saturday 4 July FOR ALL YOUTH LEADERS & COORDINATORS Safeguarding Training is for all Youth Ministry Team Leaders in the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney who are aged over 18 years. This training will equip you with the basic tools necessary to safeguard and protect the young people we are responsible for. MORE DETAILS Get social! Connect with us on FB, IG or Twitter to see what our team is up to and what's happening around Sydney Events Find an event in and around Sydney for Catholic youth and young adults Want to join a group? We'll connect you with a group of like-minded young people for you to journey deeper in your faith with                                              sydneycatholicyouth.org

Sydney Catholic Youth, Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, 133 Liverpool St, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia