All Saints – Solemnity 
1 November

 

Weekly Bulletin; 1 November 2020 Bulletin

Upcoming this Month of November:

Monday 2 November
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

All Souls Day
Mass Times:
7:00 am St Therese Church
9:15 am St Benedict’s Shrine-Smithfield
7:00 pm St Benedict’s Shrine -Smithfield

 

14 and 15 November
St Gertrude’s Feast Day
St Gertrude’s Patronal Feast of Our Parish.
We will celebrate this feast in our churches during the weekend of 14/15 November

 

November Mass Offering
During the month of November, it is a tradition to pray for the souls of the Faithful Departed. November Mass Offering Envelopes are available this weekend at both Churches
You can return these offerings by leaving them in the collection boxes or by leaving them in the Office Letterbox.
Each day during the Month of November the Mass will be offered for the collective intentions of the deceased at St Benedict’s Shrine Smithfield and at St Therese.

Wedding Anniversary Blessings – Sunday 10th November
Wedding Anniversary Blessings will be recommenced on second Sunday of this month and starting with Sunday 10 November.
All Married couples celebrating a Wedding Anniversary during the month of November are invited to attend and receive a Blessing

Jasna Góra Monastery – Poland
Your prayers are asked for the Pauline community in Poland, especially at our Mother House and Monastery of Jasna Gora in Częstochowa where a Covid-19 outbreak has infected some members of the community, hospitalising four of our monks, one of whom is critical and in a coma. We pray through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother for a return to good health of those infected.

New Church Regulations
The NSW Government has amended the number of people able to attend a place of worship. The main change is that from this weekend up to 300 people are permitted indoors, subject to the 4m2rule.
This means that St Benedict’s Shrine will now have an increased capacity to 150 people.
St Therese Church and Montefano Hall will continue with their current regulations (50 and 90 persons, respectively.).
Funerals are limited to 100 persons and Weddings 150 persons.
Outdoor gatherings are limited to 30 people.
The Archdiocese will be asking the NSW Government to reconsider outdoor restrictions with a view to Christmas celebrations.
We will keep you updated as soon as any new information is given.

Parish Sign-in
Please ensure that when attending Parish events that you continue to sign in with your name, contact details on the given

Overflow of Mass 10:30 am Sunday
In recent weeks it has come to our attention that the 10:30 1m Mass is a popular choice for our Parishioners. In order to follow NSW State Guidelines and to ensure your access to celebrate Sunday Mass, there will be an overflow Mass in the Montefano Hall.
Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter

Parish Maintenance
Over the past few months there has been a lot of activity in the church with Maintenance Projects. There are a number of maintenance projects that still need to be completed. Some have been put on hold due to Covid-19 but others are unavoidable and urgent. In particular: repairs to the roof at St Benedict’s Shrine. This work was completed during the week at a cost of $12,000 to the Parish. Thank you for the anonymous donation of $3,000 towards this project. Installation of CCTV Security, due to occur in the next few weeks at a cost estimated at $12,000.
These works are only made possible by the generous donations of Parishioner and Benefactors. Thank you to those who have already contributed to our maintenance. If you are able and would like to make a contribution to our maintenance, please contact the Parish Priest via the Parish Office. Thank you for your continued support of your Parish.

Church use during Covid 19
Please take note that during the current Pandemic situation if a family has chosen a priest from outside the Smithfield Parish to preside at a Wedding or Funeral or other religious service, then it is a requirement that the family arrange for the church to be cleaned and sanitised.
The Parish will only take responsibility for Parish events without our priests.

Thank you
The Parish would like to extend our thanks to the generosity of our Parishioners who have been donating cleaning products and hand sanitisers. This is a real help to the Parish and ensures that the environment is kept clean and as safe as possible. Thank you for keeping us safe!

Thank You!
The Parish would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to all those who are keeping us safe during this time, especially those who are keeping our churches clean and sanitised after services.
Your commitment to keeping us safe is greatly appreciated.

Sacramental Program
First Reconciliation, First Holy communion and Confirmation preparation has been deferred to 2021. Children currently enrolled will be contacted when classes are ready to resume.
Enrolment information and any changes to the programmes will be published in the Parish Bulletin.
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 is 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.

Communion to the Sick
Communion to the sick will be given on a fortnightly basis. The dates for Communion to the sick for November will be Tuesday 10 November and Tuesday 24 November.

Spam emails
It has come to out attention that there are a number of SPAM Emails circulating in the community with the sender as Fr. Jarek Zan.
Please note that it is a policy of the Parish not to ask for money via email.
If you receive any of these emails, please delete them immediately. This matter has been reported to the Police and the Archdiocese.