6th JUNE 2021
26th SEPTEMBER 2021
26th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
NO MASSES WILL BE CELEBRATED IN THE PARISH UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
A MESSAGE FROM FR KEVIN
Dear friends of our Parish,
As I write this note, we find ourselves again in lockdown. While most of us might grumble a bit and just do what we have to do, for many it is a time of anxiety and despair, when hope abandons them and the pathway out of this ongoing situation looks unclear. So, I encourage you to reach out to your family and friends and, especially, to those who might seem to be struggling. A simple phone call and a warm chat will help them greatly and will make the difficult times a little easier. I thank those members of our parish who have organised a contact program to those people who are particularly vulnerable at the moment.
Pope Francis was one of the earliest world leaders to promote vaccinations, receiving his jabs. This week, he has again spoken in favour. Following the Pope’s lead, I encourage all our parishioners to get the vaccination if it is appropriate to do so.
As I have written before, our Parishioners have been affected by the uncertainty of the past 18 months with lockdowns and other restrictions. Our working and social lives have been greatly reduced. Sunday Masses, Baptisms and First Eucharist’s have not been celebrated and delayed until restrictions are lifted.
Again, a significant impact on the parish has been financially. With fewer parishioners being able to give generously in the manner to which you are accustomed, our income has dropped dramatically and in the now absence of the Government’s JobKeeper program which supported us greatly during 2020, we expect that our income will be down by almost 50% on the previous year. Of course, we have been able to reduce expenses to some extent with reduced operating hours of the Parish Office. The parish’s finance team has worked hard to ensure that the parish continues to manage financially in a challenging situation.
I encourage you to continue to make your contributions to the parish in whatever manner suits you best. As I have mentioned previously, our parish staff can assist you to establish an easy electronic payment method and when we return to the celebration of Mass, you will see the new “Tap and Give” system is in operation at St. Anne’s Church.
As we return to our Parish Masses please be assured the continued safety of all parishioners is overseen by the Mass Coordinating Team which includes representation of the Risk Management Team, a subcommittee of the Parish Finance and Development Committee. The Mass Coordinating Team ensure that the latest COVID safety requirements are strictly adhered to.
I wish to assure you that you are in my thoughts and prayers. In particular, I pray for those who have lost loved ones and are not able to say farewell in the manner in which we are accustomed to. I pray for those suffering financially and mentally in this uncertain time.
If there is anything we can help you with, please contact the parish office. At the moment, our office is open only when it absolutely must be but if you leave a message, someone will respond to you.
The 8th August was the feast of St Mary MacKillop born in Fitzroy in 1842. She has left us a good example of trusting in God. As a poor child, Mary often heard her mother Flora say, “God will provide”. Through the difficulties in her adult life, she continued to place her trust in God’s providence. St Mary was a great letter-writer keeping contact with others. May we follow her example by reaching out to our friends and families by phone and internet during these lockdowns.
God bless you.
Fr Kevin McIntosh
AN OCCASIONAL SERIES OF TALKS FROM ARCHBISHOP PETER
PARISH OFFICE HOURS:
With Covid-Normal restrictions (or whatever we’re calling it, now) in place the Parish office is staffed on a part-time basis. Phone calls and emails are still being attended so please call or email if you need assistance during these challenging times. Thank you for your understanding.
