Every thoughtful Christian instinctively recognizes that Lent is a very special, grace-filled, and challenging time of the year. Lent is the season of the Christian year where believers examine their own humanity and ways they separate themselves from God to prepare for Jesus' death and resurrection. It lasts for forty days, reflective of the forty days Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. As Christians enter their own symbolic wilderness during Lent, they remember their own humanity, vulnerable to temptation, just like Jesus in the wilderness.

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Peace and greetings to you from Fr. Joe!

On behalf of the parishes of St. Gerard & St. Anne and Holy Spirit, it is a joy for me, again this year, to convey to each of you, warmest wishes for a Christ-filled Christmas and a New Year filled with the loving presence of the God of life.

Welcome Advent 2015! It is a season of longing for the coming of the Savior. We celebrate the coming of the Savior in three ways. We prepare for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. We long for the second coming of Christ at the end of time. Advent reminds us that one day we will meet our Savior and our life on earth is to be a time of preparation for that encounter. Finally, Advent reminds us that the risen Christ comes into our lives each day. We are to open our lives to Christ each day and allow Him to come into our hearts and lives.

October is the month of the most Holy Rosary and thereby Mary. Why does God wish us to pray to Mary? We pray to Mary because she is the Mother of God and her prayers are very powerful. When we pray the Hail Mary we combine worship of God and honour of Mary. We combine both our prayers to God and her prayers to God. We do not worship Mary; we only worship God. When we pray to Mary we honour her as the Mother of God, and as our Spiritual Mother. When we need help the most, we not only go directly to God by ourselves, we ask others to pray for us and with us. When we pray the Rosary, we have Mary, the Holy Mother of God, pray to God for us and with us. God wishes us to honour Mary because of her special role in God's plan of salvation. He wished her to contribute to the redemption of man, just as much as Eve contributed to the fall of man.

Father's Day is celebrated with a lot of vigour, fanfare and enthusiasm by children all across the world. It gives them a perfect opportunity to articulate feelings and gratitude to their dearest daddy. Right from throwing a grand party to hosting a brunch or even getting gifts and presents, there are a lot of things that children indulge in. While entertainment takes most of the celebration aspect, expression of love, care, concern and gratitude follows a close second.

It is a day to honour our fathers for the blessing that they are to us. This is good and right that we do this and be sure to honour your father today!

Holy Spirit Catholic Church Choir sing 'Abide O Spirit' by David Haas. This was a COVID-19 project to keep our choir occupied and singing during the May-June 2020 lockdown. Refer Parish Choir to find our more about our fabulous choir.

Reconciliation is now available on Saturdays by appointment. Please call the Parish mobile, 0434 244 483, and leave your name and contact number. Details will be passed onto Fr. Arsenio and he will call you back to make a time.

Fortnightly Zoom chats with Fr. Arsenio and parish friends will begin this Wednesday the 17th June @ 5 - 5.30 p.m. It's a time to take a break and check in with each other during these socially isolating times. Come alone or bring a family member or friend. BYO cuppa or pre-dinner drink. Please call Mary on 0410 654 357 for details or tech. support if needed. ALL WELCOME.

As adults we have been able to chat together and share what we are missing about our Parish, Mass and parish events to name some. I would like to ask the children of our parish to share with us what they are missing the most. Is it Children's Liturgy, coming to Mass and hearing about Jesus in the Gospel, not being able to serve as an altar server or being unable to meet Fr Arsenio yet? These are some of the things they may be missing so l would like to ask our parents and grandparents to ask the children and get them to draw a picture, write a short story or write a prayer and we will share these with all in our parish.

You can send these to me, Jacinta Bibby, and l will print them out and hang them in the church for us all to see and read and to understand how our children are feeling about missing church during this time of COVID-19.

This is our first mass video during the COVID-19 restrictions and first video of our new parish priest, Father Arsenio Tuazon, celebrating mass with us since he started at Holy Spirit Parish on 1st April 2020.

Video of Fr. Arsenio celebrating Pentecost Sunday Mass in our Parish Chapel on 30th May. Click here