'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.' 

Psalm 119:105

Grandparents Day

This Monday 26 July the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne - Mary's parents and Jesus' grandparents. Through their great love for Mary, and as the grandparents of Jesus, we are reminded of our own parents' and grandparents' love for us. 

Pope Francis says:

In their home, Mary came into the world, accompanied by the extraordinary mystery of the Immaculate Conception. Mary grew up in the home of Joachim and Anne; she was surrounded by their love and faith: in their home she learned to listen to the Lord and to follow his will. Saints Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary, who received the Son of God in her womb and who gave him to the world, to us. How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith! 

How important grandparents are for family life, for passing on the human and religious heritage which is so essential for each and every society! How important it is to have intergenerational exchanges and dialogue, especially within the context of the family. The Aparecida Document says, “Children and the elderly build the future of peoples: children because they lead history forward, the elderly because they transmit the experience and wisdom of their lives” (No. 447). This relationship and this dialogue between generations is a treasure to be preserved and strengthened! 

First Eucharist Year 5

The first parent and child formation evening is tomorrow night Thursday 22nd July at Holy Family Church Gowrie, beginning at 6:45pm. The second parent and child formation evening is next Wednesday 28 July, also beginning at 6:45pm. Attendance at one of these evenings is necessary for all families who have enrolled their child for First Eucharist. 

You are also required to present your child to the parish community at one of the following weekend Masses.

• Sat/Sun 24 & 25 July
• Sat 31 July & Sun 1 August
• Sat/Sun 7 & 8 August

You can choose one of the four weekend Masses. Mass times are: 

Saturday at 6.00pm

Sunday at 8.00am; 10.00am OR 6.00pm 

Please fill in the Commitment Form that was sent out on SZapp earlier today and BRING IT WITH YOU to the Mass. Spare blank forms will also be available in the foyer of the church.