A HUGE THANK YOU!

I wanted to take the opportunity to thank the parishioners for their remarkable generosity in support of me and the parishes of Lilydale and Healesville, especially over the past few weeks. In particular I feel humbled and touched by the kind expressions of gratitude from so many parishioners, who left me Easter presents, cards and a medically objectionable quantity of chocolate! I will bravely accept the challenge notwithstanding! I renew my thanks to all those who contributed to the beautiful, solemn and uplifting Holy Week liturgies and the Divine Mercy celebrations last Sunday, especially Fr Michael Anghel for his generous assistance in helping with confessions. Thanks also to Clara de Iulio for her work behind the scenes in setting up and leading the various devotions for Divine Mercy Sunday.

 I’ve also wanted to for some time to thank the many kind parishioners for your prayers and concern for my mum following her heart surgery in February. The good news is that she is recovering well, no doubt aided by so many prayers.

OUTREACH TO THE NEEDY

A friendly reminder to return your Caritas “Project Compassion” boxes if you haven’t yet done so. We will tally up the contributions and notify you in the coming weeks of the full amount to go to Caritas. I thank you in advance for your generosity for those less materially fortunate than ourselves.

A reminder, too, that in the coming months we will have the opportunity to reach out to the local homeless with the Stable One initiative, in which local churches provide a comfortable refuge and meals for the homeless. St Patrick’s Community Centre will be set up to provide such accommodation on Sunday nights during winter. If you would like to volunteer your time, help with preparing meals or to provide financial support for this worthy charitable cause then please contact Stable One (more information in the bulletin.