MAY
UPDATE
Greetings of peace and hope that the Easter reality brings.
In this period of COVID-19 restrictions, you and your family members have been remembered and prayed for regularly.
Here is an update and some important aspects to note as a response to the latest developments and the fifth pastoral letter from Archbishop Anthony Fisher.
MASSES AND EUCHARISTIC ADORATION:
We have been broadcasting all our regular Masses live on the Internet via our Facebook page. Our Holy Week celebrations were viewed by more than 1500 people. We will continue to live stream all our celebrations that happen in church until restrictions are lifted completely.
You do not need a Facebook account to join in the Mass. Click the button below, then scroll down to view the Live coverage and past recordings.
Since 15 May, we are now allowed to have 10 people attend Mass in the church. Find out more.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION:
Individual confession is now available by appointment. Please call the Parish Office for available times and to make an appointment.
GIVING:
Many of our parishioners have been asking how they can continue to support the parish financially. The Parish Finance Team has worked hard to create a safe, secure and easy way of making donations or contributing to Planned Giving during this time. Find out more.
INTERCESSION MINISTRY:
In response to requests for prayer for various needs, we have created a new ministry for intercessions. A group of dedicated people will be praying at different times of the week for all the intentions that continue to come in. Many prayers have already been answered and people have come back with messages of thanksgiving. If you have any specific intention/s to be prayed for, please contact us and we will certainly add your intention to the list and you can be assured that this will be prayed for everyday. If you feel you have a calling to pray for others and want to join this ministry, please get in touch with us.
REACHING OUT:
Many of our parishioners have continued to actively reach out and care for those in need. If you are frail, isolated, elderly or need help, please contact us so we can work out how best we can serve you.
One Meal at Riverwood continues to feed about 50 needy people every Monday. We continue to keep in touch with our parishioners who reside in the aged care homes in the vicinity. Through our Lending a Hand Team, there are plans to honour the nurses and carers in these organisations, as well as offer support to Canice’s Kitchen and the thousands of seafarers trapped on ships coming into Sydney waters.
IF YOU ARE SICK:
Please get in touch with us. We want to assure you that our priests will anoint, give communion and pray for those who are seriously ill, including those who may have contracted COVID-19. Please contact the priests (Wed-Fri Day: 9533 2594; all other days and all nights: 9580 1310; in an EMERGENCY: 9580 1310).
FUNERALS:
The government has allowed funerals as an exception to the church closure direction. However, these are to be restricted to a maximum of 20 indoor mourners and 30 outdoor mourners. We will still need to follow social distancing rules inside the church, appropriate hygiene and a thorough cleaning of the church afterwards.
BAPTISMS:
If possible, baptisms should be postponed for at least six months. If there is a risk to the person's health, please contact the Parish.
There is a certainty that, in all this uncertainty we are experiencing, as we fix our gaze on our Lord and open our hearts and minds to Him, we will experience this promise: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these are the things God will reveal to us by his Spirit." 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
May the peace of the Lord be with you always.
Fr Tony Alex MGL and the Parish Leadership Team
8 May 2020
