MESSAGE ON THE 26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YR C)
Wednesday 21st September 2022.
My dear people,
The weekly message reaches you a bit earlier this week because of the two public holidays tomorrow and the day after. I hope that this long weekend is going to be very restful for you and a great opportunity to strengthen the familial and friendship bonds.
As we continue to progress in our recovery from the two years when our lives were affected by COVID, we can see a return to a more “normal” way of living in our society. As you know, the wearing of masks has been simply recommended for many months now. From 1st October, it will only be recommended that our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion wear a mask to give Holy Communion. At the same time, we will remove the sanitisers from the worship space of the church and have them in the gathering space only. They will still be available for hand sanitisation before entering the worship space but not at the time of Holy Communion. Those who wish to sanitise their hands before Holy Communion are welcome to go to the gathering space at that time or bring along their own personal dispensers.
One of the constant struggles we have had at the office is the absence of parking both for staff and visitors. To that effect, the area just in front of the presbytery will be reconfigured in such a way to make it possible for more parking. Over the next weeks, works will be carried out.
It is with great sadness that I announce that Mary Borg has decided to stop her voluntary work at the parish office from the end of October 2022. As you will recall, Mary started working as our parish secretary at the beginning of 2021 on a voluntary basis. She then reduced her hours to working only on a Tuesday from this year, again purely as a volunteer. Mary has discerned that the time has now come for her to stop working at the parish office completely. She will continue with all the other volunteering she was helping with before February 2020. From the bottom of my heart, I thank Mary for all that she has done and will continue to do for our parish.
Starting from 1st October, with Mary and Natasha not being in the office anymore, the decision has been made to reduce the office opening hours to 9:30am to 1:30pm Monday to Friday. The Human Resources department of the Archdiocese has agreed to work with Robert and me to conduct a review of the office to work out how best to move forward. In due course, there will no doubt be a need to employ someone to work at the office. I thank Robert in advance for having to carry a heavier load until such time that a new person is employed in the office.
Several years ago, I remember asking people who prefer that the photos of their children not be featured on our social media page to contact the parish office and let us know. It is time to ask you to do this again. Given we are now having events in the parish on a more regular basis with more photos taken and put on social media, it is opportune for you to let us know if you do not want your photo or the photo of your children to be on our social media.
Tomorrow, we will celebrate the 9th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Church. What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the wonderful parish that we have! I will offer my Mass for all of you tomorrow. Mass will be at 9:30am, as usual, and since it is a public holiday, it will be great to see many of you there. Happy Feast Day to all of us!
We continue turning to our patron saint, and we ask for her intercession.
St Catherine of Siena, Pray for us.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Fr Richard Rosse PP