Padre Pio Parish Glenmore Park

This week we have so much to celebrate! As well as our patronal Feast Day & the ground breaking ceremony with the Turning of the First Sod for the building of our new church, this weekend we rejoice in the fact that many of our young parishioners will receive our Lord in Holy Communion for the first time! This is the beginning of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ that will transcend space and time! Do you ever stop to ponder how significant was the day you first received Jesus as food for your spiritual life? Do you remember that day? Try and make this day as important and special for these children as it was for you.

They will experience what many older people take for granted: God gives Himself to them as food! Jesus Christ fulfils His promise that He will be with them until the end of time. They will be able to know the power that Jesus Christ can give them. They will be animated with His Holy Spirit. This incredible honour will scarcely dawn on them till later in life when they realise their need of God. Please pray that these children will continue to experience the magnitude of this holy Mystery by being part of our community worship on a regular basis. Also, pray a prayer that their parents will keep bringing them to Mass, that source of spiritual strength which will help them more than any soccer, netball or football team membership will ever achieve!

 I am holding my arms out as wide as I can to show you how grateful I am for the generosity of many people on the Turning of the First Sod ceremony held on the Feast of Padre Pio last Tuesday. Everyone deserves special thanks but I will acknowledge some who deserve mention: The one I forgot amongst the “mowers” during the week - Kevin Corrigan. The others were Terri & Cliff Foley, Martin Warda, Richard Clements, Joe Catania, Darren Bailey who with Denise and Jordan also spread the bitumen to fill the holes in the carpark. John Gately, David Baker and Paul Bodel who set up the shade we didn’t need, laid the section of dirt which the children turned, and cleaned the graffiti off the Padre Pio Parish billboard.

Thanks to those who provided food for the festive gathering. Vuong & Vui Nguyen and their family who provided and cooked the two calves on the spit. My Vietnamese friends from Cabramatta who at the 11th hour cooked spring rolls. Marilyn Miranda who made the special Feast Day Cake. Joe and Christine who shone the light on our blessings with their car lights. The Principals, staff, students (who put out the chairs, set up the altar or participated) and teachers of Bethany, Caroline Chisholm, and St Dominics who assisted or attended. A great help was given by Ted Langford who made sure the lighting, sound and stage was set for a perfect celebration. When I asked Ted during the day before for a loan of the school’s rideon mower Ted responded, “Anything we have is yours. We are one!” That statement means so much to us as parish! To Mr Beacroft, Mrs Quigley, Mrs Shillito & Mrs Williams and who among other teachers at Bethany did so much to rev the kids up with enthusiasm for the Feast Day Mass during the day.

The committee who organised the evening’s celebration and the Liturgy who were so dedicated and dependable. My friends from St Michael’s Baulkham Hills who came under personal sacrifice (and emotional blackmail from me). My other friends who travelled great distances to show their willingness to support my priesthood in this parish. Those who donated so generously to the Campanile campaign (Bell Tower). The musicians and singers Glen, Mary and Leanne as well as liturgical dancers Debra, Tayla, Cheri & Simone. Acolytes and servers, organisers and those who tidied up afterwards. Also to Trish our secretary who did so much coordination behind the scenes and also attended the night. I am sure I have probably forgotten someone but if I did, someone will let me know!

Blessings on your week Fr. Kevin