THE PARISH OF BAULKHAM HILLS

Click here to go to St Michael's church site.

Email St Michael's at admin@parishofbaulkhamhills.org.au

Phone: +61 2 9639 0598

 

Click here to go to Our Lady Of Lourdes church site.

Email Our Lady of Lourdes at olol@parishofbaulkhamhills.org.au

                                 Phone: +61 2 9639 8385

 

  

       

 

 

COVID UPDATE – FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18: A COVID SAFE PARISH

Dear Parishioners,

We continue to live in uncertain times, but it was good to see a number of people returning to attend Mass. You are always welcome! I hope you are all well.

Next Sunday is Social Justice Sunday, and the focus is on Mental Health. Please see details below.

1, MASS LINK

Firstly, for those unable to attend Mass at the moment, the live stream link for The Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time from OLOL Saturday 19th September at 6pm is

https://youtu.be/5GTFcZCevpc

 

2. Appeals

·        Thank you for your donations to the Collection for the Holy Places held last weekend. There is a further opportunity this weekend to put your donations in the white buckets

·        While there has been no formal Father’s Day appeal this year, owing to COVID, there will be some envelopes available on the seats for those who wish to make a tax deductible donation at both churches. Please leave in any of the boxes.

·        A few copies of of the Spring (September) edition of Catholic Outlook are available at the Church doors. It is expected to be available at catholicoutlook.org soon

 

 

3. Sacramental programmes

 

·        Please continue to pray for 98 children who have registered for the First Communion program at St Michael’s ad 62 children who have registered for First Reconciliation and First Communion at Our Lady of Lourdes.

 

4. A Reminder about the WELL

 

The Well is a ‘living library’ of many resources we create at the Diocese, as well from other relevant liturgical sources. Our hope is that it will be another way that people can connect with our Church, whether they attend Mass regularly, or are unable to, particularly at the current time.

 

Visit The Well at www.thewell.org.au and see it for yourself.

 

5.  MASS DETAILS  - It is safe to come back if you wish……..

 

There has been no significant change by the State Government to caps on the limit of those attending places of worship – still 100, but in one of those strange twists in the COVID era, since Tuesday, they are allowing 150 people to attend a wedding in a place of worship!!! 

 

Mass times at St Michael’s remain as

 

·        Sat evening        5.00pm and 6.00pm

·        Sun morning       8.00am, 9.00am, 10.00am and 11.00am

·        Sun evening        6.00pm

.

·        If you do come without having registered we may ask you to wait till a few moments before Mass begins, by which time we will know if the cap has been reached. If it has, we will ask you to wait for the next mass.

·        It might be easier to thus register for the other Mass times – Sat 6pm, Sun 9am and Sun 11am, 6pm.

Sunday Masses at Our Lady of Lourdes and weekday masses at both places are not affected and there is no change in mass times at this stage.

 

Remember:

·        The dispensation from attending Sunday Mass still holds, i.e. you do not have to attend Mass on Sundays.

·        Do not come to Church if you are feeling unwell.

·        If you have been in any designated or identified hotspots or in Victoria, do not come to Church and self-isolate.

·        Always use hand sanitiser

·        Always register

If you are wanting to attend Mass you are still asked to  register for the Mass you are attending, especially if you have not been attending Mass in the last few weeks.

St Michael’s                                             9639 0598 email admin@parishofbaulkhamhills.org.au

Our Lady of Lourdes                              9639 8385 email olol@parishofbaulkhamhills.org.au

If there is no answer please leave your name, phone number, email, date and time of Mass you are requesting.  If there is a problem, we will get back to you.

6.  SACRAMENT OF PENANCE – St Michael’s only

For the time being, the Sacrament of Penance will be celebrated at St Michael’s only on Saturday Morning from 9.30am to 10.30am

7. ON THE PARISH FACEBOOK PAGE

If you have Facebook please like Parish of Baulkham Hills, there are a few opportunities to catch up with various groups either via Facebook or ZOOM (no charge).8

8. HOME VISITS

We continue to provide an opportunity for home visits with either the clergy or Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, with a Liturgy of the Word with Holy communion (or even Confession). Please don’t hesitate to ask us – we’re really looking forward to this.

If you would like a visit, then please email via admin@parishofbaulkhamhills.org.au, ring the parish offices during office hours, or send a message via the Parish Facebook page

9. MAILING LIST

A reminder that if you would like to be part of a parish email list for updates plus copies of the bulletin, and are not currently receiving any emails from the parish, please send an email  to wimh@parishofbaulkhamhills.org.au – please also indicate if you are regularly a worshipper at Our Lady of Lourdes or St Michael’s.

 

 

YOUR PRAYERS

In your mercy please pray for those who have died recently – Emilio Bucci, Alfred Vella, Monica Mayo and those whose anniversary occurs around this time – Antonia Yap and Mr Antonio Yap Senior

In these difficult times, if you need pastoral support or hear of anyone in need of assistance from a priest, the Parish Office or Vinnies, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Fr Wim Hoekstra

SUPPORT DONATIONS

Thank you to those who continue to make contributions to our parish and priests at this time, especially those who are still staying at home. I again  include these details for your information.

 For EFT to the First Collection  - supporting the priests

               BSB                                      067 950

               Account No                       000004265

               Account Name                  Diocesan Clergy

               Reference                          6001 donation

 For EFT to the second (envelope and loose) Collection – for support of the Parish,

               BSB                                      067 950

               Account No                       000000214

               Account Name                 St Michael’s Baulkham Hills

               Reference                          Your Name (if you wish)

 

If you wish to pay by credit card, please use this link

https://www.bpoint.com.au/pay/stmichaelsparishbaulkhamhills

 

NEXT SUNDAY – 27 SEPTEMBER SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY – From Bishop Vincent

As the coronavirus pandemic deeply affects our public health and economy, now more than ever, we are called to reach out to one another and be the love that God calls us to be in the world. 

The ups and downs of the health crisis, as well as the reality of the economic situation, has meant that another element of this crisis – the pressure that it puts on our mental health - is being felt across our community. Many people are facing challenges they have never faced before and may be surprised at the mental strain they are feeling. Some may not know how to reach out for help or even feel an embarrassment about this. 

I join with the Bishops and the Church across Australia when I say that we are with you and we are praying for you. 

 

God’s unending love and mercy is always present in our lives, but in this time of upheaval it more than ever is our refuge in the storm and source of new life and energy. In moments of darkness and disconnect, it is our warmth and beacon of light and hope. I encourage you all to be instruments of God’s love in our community by calling your friends and family, visiting when you can do so safely, writing messages of support, advocating for proper resourcing, and seeking the care of mental health services. 

 

Each year on Social Justice Sunday, the Bishops of Australia release a statement. This year’s statement - To Live Life to the Full: Mental Health in Australia Today - focuses on the church’s role to remove stigmatisation associated with mental ill-health. The statement demonstrates how poverty, social, economic and political contexts can increase mental ill-health and calls for ‘policies and service provision to meet the needs of the poorest, most marginalised and recognise in them the face of Christ Jesus.’

 

 

https://mcusercontent.com/e54ab3f3d76f858d8cb604685/images/403bfce7-4574-416c-bad3-60f2db52016b.jpg

 

The Social Justice Statement encourages parishes and communities to make mental health a priority in their ministry and offers practical guidelines released by the Bishop’s Conference in 2019 called Do Not Be Afraid.

 

The Diocese is here to support during this crisis, too. CatholicCare Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains provides counselling services for individuals, couples, single parents, families, those experiencing grief and loss, seeking financial counselling or a way to reach out and support through volunteering. CatholicCare supports clients unconditionally through their outreach across our Diocese, and you can call 8843 2500 to arrange support.  

 

These are challenging times and while evil comes only to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus has come that we may have life and life to the full (Jn 10:10). So God is with us in these times and just as He gave His life us, for our salvation, He makes His love for us known in our hearts today. Now more than ever, we the church are called to be that radical love for the world.

So may we have the courage to align with God’s plan and may we move to the future where God beckons. 
God bless you.

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv
Bishop of Parramatta