21ST SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

Solemnity of Our Lady of Jasna Gora
The Solemnity of Our Lady of Jasna Gora will be celebrated on Wednesday 26th August.
Tradition tells us that the original Icon, which resides in the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa Poland, was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist.
The Pauline Fathers are custodians of the Icon and it holds a very special place in the spirituality of the Order.
There will be two Masses celebrated on 26 August for the Solemnity of Our Lady of Jasna Gora:
7:00 am at St. Therese Church – Fairfield West and
7:00pm at St Benedict’s Shrine-Smithfield – Wednesday evening.

 

*Please NOTE:
NEW PARISH MASS TIMES will take effect on weekend of 26/27 September 2020

Weekday Masses:
7:00 am Mass at St Therese Church Fairfield West in English
9:15 am Mass at St Benedict’s Shrine Smithfield in English (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)
10:30 am Mass at St Benedict’s Shrine on PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
7:00 pm Mass at St Benedict’s on Wednesday Evenings with Holy Hour and Novena to St Benedict.
Weekends:
8:00 am Mass on Saturday Mornings and Public Holidays at St Therese Church Fairfield West.
6:00 pm Parish Vigil Mass at St Benedict’s Shrine Smithfield
7:30 am Sunday Parish Mass in English at St Therese Church Fairfield West
9:00 am Sunday Parish Mass in Italian at St Benedict’s Shrine Smithfield.
10:30 am Sunday Parish Mass in English at St Benedict’s Shrine Smithfield
6:00 pm Sunday Parish Mass in English at St Benedict’s Shrine Smithfield
5:00 pm Vigil Mass in Vietnamese at St Therese Church Fairfield West
12:00 pm Sunday Mass in Spanish at St Therese Church Fairfield West
5:00 pm Sunday Mass in Syriac at St Therese Church Fairfield West

 

NSW HEALTH RECOMMENDATION:
Wearing face Masks Recently, the NSW Premier has now recommended that people wear masks when they are in crowded places and social distancing is not easy to maintain. She cites as examples public transport and places of worship.
We thank our parishioners for their great efforts in maintaining their social distance, but because people remain together there for 40 or more minutes, it would seem that masks will provide an additional safeguard.
It is not compulsory in NSW but strongly recommended.
The primary precautions remain hand sanitising and distance.

Communion to the Sick:
Due to the current health warnings from the NSW Government, the Parish is going to temporarily suspend regular Communion to the Sick. This is for the safety of the members of the public who are most vulnerable and for the safety of our priests. As soon as it is safe to do so, we will recommence this very Important Pastoral Activity. We apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Sacramental News:
With the continuing uncertainty at this time, and having reviewed the practicalities of guidelines set forth by the Archdiocese, the decision has been made for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation to be deferred to June 2021.
Children currently enrolled will prepare for First Holy Communion in May 2021 and ceremonies will take place in June 2021.
Similarly, due to timing constraints, social distancing restrictions, limited availability of catechists and adequate facilities to hold classes, the decision has also been made to postpone the Sacrament of Confirmation until September 2021. Families will be contacted in May, to organise class placement.
Any changes to the program will be published in the parish bulletin, should they occur. Enrolment information will also be posted to the parish bulletin at the appropriate time.
The Sacramental Office is currently closed. For all general enquiries, please email: sacraments@stgertrude.org.au.
Parental Petition – First Holy Communion, The Church has always held the view that parents are the first educators of their children in the Catholic Faith. Parishioners who attend weekly Mass, are known in our parish and to our parish priests, whose child is of age, and who feel that their child’s suitably prepared to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion, may contact the Sacramental Office to discuss eligibility for an individual ceremony.
Upon contacting the Sacramental Office, a meeting may be organised with the Parish Priest to discuss your circumstances further and a decision will be made at the Parish Priest’s discretion.