March'12

March 10 -  1st Bollard Completed! The Salesian Garden starting to take shape!! Wow!!  Thanks to the workers. 
March 11 -  Social Justice Group. Planning day facilitated by Sr Jan Barnett RSJ
March 13 -  Seniors Mass.  9.20am - Thanks Fr Ted and the Bosco Friendship group!
March 17 -  St John Bosco Family Fun Day and Parish Expo.  Tragedy as it was washed out :(
March 18 -  Engadine Antioch 30th Anniversary Pilgrimage Walk Awesome effort by the walkers!!

February '12

Feb 2 Thursday:  Thanks to the 20 young leaders who gathered for a formation evening to prepare for the running of Connect in 2012.
Thanks to the 15-20 couples who gathered for a baptismal enquiry night, and to Donna Coote for her sharing!  Well done baptismal team.

Ash Wednesday. -  Mass times:
6.45am Engadine   8 am Heathcote   9.20am Engadine     2.30 pm  The HUB     7.30pm Engadine

Feb 23 Evening for Parents + Children wishing to share in Confirmation in 2012 
Thanks to the parents and children who attended and participated.

Feb 28  NAPPA Conference at Paramatta. 
"Family, School and Parish - How do we work together to live God's Mission?"  thanks to those who attended.

January '12

Jan 17 Tuesday:  Gathering of parish ministry leaders &/or their representatives.  Preparing for March 17.   
Thanks to the 50+ who attended with enthusasim. 

Jan 18-20 Camp for Y4-6 on Hanley field.  3 days of awesome fun - thanks to Matty H and the leaders and outside supporters.

Jan 21 PPC Planning.  Thanks to the PPC members and Richard McMahon for facilitating.

Jan 29   9.30am at Engadine - Family Mass -
followed by a gathering in Mazzarello hall due to rain. It was a great gathering with a large group staying back in the hall.  Emma Nesbitt's presence was an inspirtation to many.

December '11

Dec 24/25 -  Thanks to everyone for the Christmas Celebrations!   To all the musicians and to all the helpers and to all the active participators.   

Dec 23 - 7-9 pm - Carols by youth musicians (led by Jerard Barry) at JPV - 

Thanks to all another great celebration of community..

Dec 21 - Parish Christmas Cabaret 
- 6.30- 9 pm in the New Primary school Hall.  What a great night!!

Dec 20 - 2nd Rite of Reconciliation  - St John Bosco Church 7.30pm

College awards night, Y6 graduation mass, and Primary school Graduation masses... and more ..

5 Dec. 9.20 am - mass of thanksgiving for our catcheists
     7-9 pm - Carols by parish youth musicians at JPV Hub

6.Dec. 9.30am - mass in the new Primary school hall Primary school saying thanks and farewell for now to Sr Sarah.

November '11

Nov 19 National 'Forget Me Knot day'.    Working to support those abused as children.    Read more ...

Nov 18-20 Connect Camp 2011 - at Canyonleigh, thanks to all our leaders and the kids had a great time.

Nov 19 Welcome rite for our 6 RCIA canditdates for 2011-2012 - Blessings to you all ..

Nov 20 Congratulations to the 28 children who made their first communion!  -another great celebration!

Nov 13 70th Anniversary for Sr Esperanza:  -a great celebration!

Nov 13 JPV Remembrance Ceremony:  - Thanks to all for a very moving ceremony ...

Nov 10 Thursday 6pm - Connect Movie Night-

Nov 11 Friday 7.30pm   Newly Married ’s end of year gathering:  A great night was had at the Strudwicks ... thanks to Matt Gurney for catering. Nov 4  - Connect Talent Night
Thanks to Matty H. and the team of Connect leaders and kids. It was a great family night in which the kids shared their gifts.

October '11

Oct 28-30 Bosco YC Father & Son Camp -

Oct 23 First Communion for St John Bosco Students - thanks to all who contributed to this special experience for the children.  Those who were there might make sense of the following two questions

- what do they hope to get from Eucharist? and what do they hope it helps the children become?

Sarah Walsh representing Bosco College at the NSW All Schools won 3 gold medals in the AWD 100m, 200m and Longjump. She also broke her own Australian under 16 100

m and Longjump record and broke a 12 year Australian open age 400m record while competing with the able bodied athletes.  Well done Sarah - we are proud to know you.

Oct 19 "SIP" Why bother about Church?
Annalisa Ovens and Matt Humphreys shared inspirational presentations on this topic - thank you!

Oct 19 "JPV Foundation Day" Activities happening at the Village - the bake off and the honouring of staff with memorable years of service.

Oct 15 John Paul Village Heathcote Fete Thanks to all the helpers and all who gathered. It was a great day.

Oct 16 Family mass  - another special gathering of this group in our parish family .. remember the tug of war - and it is not this or that - but this and that!

Oct 16 "Pray and Play" Sausage Sizzle Menshed Park  - Thanks to the  KSC for this initiative.

Oct 16-22  "Anti Poverty Week"  - read more ...We did not have a big focus on this .. but it is something worth reflecting on.

Oct 8/9  Parish Gratitude w/e  At all masses parishioners were thanked and offered a card of thanks - see Stewardship page to see the card. 
A parishioner shared on what they are thankful for in their lives and in the parish.  Sally Allessi, Colleen Boland, Dan Ovens, Jen Turner, Sue Parker and Judy Madden - thanks for the great sharings you offered our parish community!  A list of ministries and people was also presented!   Thanks to the Stewardship Committee for organising and following this through - it was life giving and inspiring.

Oct 7/8 Prayer Vigil - 24 hour. thanks to all who attended and Fr Marc & Gabrielle Kingsley for organising this event.

Oct 8  First Reconciliation for those that missed out.  4.15 pm at Engadine church

Oct 6  Holiday Play groups  (for Kindy to Y3)  Craft, games,
no cost - Bring Morning Tea, Drink and a Hat.  Mazzarello hall.  9.30am - 11.30 am Thanks to Rebecca Rowan and the Y9 Connect youth who did a mighty job for this group.

Oct 6  Baptismal enquiry night 
Thanks to Nicole McKenzie and Zoe Abella for sharing with the 18 couples who came to reflect on their children being baptised.

Oct 5  Camp Song Recording At Youth matters

Oct 4  Sports Day.  Caringbah Sports Centre.  Meet at Youth matters at 1 pm. (for High School above)  contact Matty H.

September '11

The New Awning for the Engadine Church was begun late Sept 2011.  Hoping to be completed by early Dec.

More ....

The first week of the holidays saw a number of special events offered to our youth. Thanks to Matty H. and the YM leaders. 

Sept 29  Holiday Play groups  (for Kindy to Y3)  was started by Bec and supported by the Y9 Connect Youth.  Thanks for this inititative. 

Sept 29  Band Gig by - 'Missing Tam'  (for High School and above)  not the biggest crowd - but they were involved!!

Sept 28  was a Salesian Actitity Day (for Y4-6).   

Sept 24/25 The Australian Bishops - Social Justice statement (Building Bridges, Not Walls: Prisons and the justice system.) was launched.

Sept 24/25 Information was shared at the masses on the new Awning for Engadine, and other projects the finance committee is working on.  

Sept 24 Catalyst for Renewal Forum “What Difference Can the Catholic Church Make?”   A group of Engadine parishioners - myself included shared in this very rich presentation. - Fr Mick

Sept 18 Family mass - was shared at Engadine followed by morning tea.  Thanks to all involved.
Fr Marc and Kevin Gurney went to Ballarat for a conference on Stewardship.

Sept 2/3 Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Vigil for Vocations. Thanks to Fr. Marc and Gabrielle Kingsley for organising and for all those who gathered to pray!

Sept 4 Fathers day - Fathers spoke at the masses.  I heard 4 of them and they were inspirational!  Thanks so much to the dad's who shared from their hearts.   Patrick Alessi, Mark Portlock, Marcel Arendse, Harvey Ward, Paul Abella, and Matt McKewan.

July '11

Our editor was away during July - so we are bit thin on parish news.

1 July  Term 2 concluded in the schools - we wished students and staff a special time with families.
Feast of the Sacred Heart 24 hour adoration vigil in the Mazzarello Chapel - Thanks to the prayers who gathered and prayed with Jesus during this time.

July - JPV Advisory Committee welcomed 4 new members who generously are giving of their time and their expertise to help steer this signfiicant arm of our parish.
The JPV Strategic plan was presented to the board, and now we are involved in the living of it!

30/31 July  Parish Celebrtions of 125 Confirmations with Bishop Terry Brady!
Thanks to all who helped prepare them from classes to music to liturgy, the parents and the students themselves.  Most of all thank you God and may you continue to work through the hearts of these children. 

June '11

30th June/1st July  Primary School Celebration of the Sacred Heart
Thanks to teachers and students - especially the Young Vinnies group. It was a great celebration of this feast and the children shared generously both gifts of food, blankets and money for St Vincent de Paul. I will attempt to get access of their special DVD to promote Young Vinnies.

30th June  Gathering of Parishioners around concerns of the New Translation of the Mass. They reflected on what the changes are, and the process by which they were decided ... they wish to respectfully engage in conversation on both these issues.

29th June   Parish Caberat!  What a great night by all who came and how special were the performers?!! It was a real showcase of the youth in our parish and the not so young - sharing their gifts to build community. Thanks to Matty H., Emma A, and the Salesian Leadership group for doing all the work to make it happen - thanks to all who performed and thanks to all who came to watch!

26th June   Thanks to all the parishioners who offered themeselves to be Eucharistic ministers and were blessed in Commissioning services at all masses at Engadine over this weekend.

Thanks to the Sacramental team for another Sacramental focus session, this time for First reconciliation and first communion students.

24th-26th June   Antioch w/e -  Thanks to parishioners who provided food and their homes to support the youth. Thanks to Tony and Janice Laws for their amazing commitment and support to the teenagers involved and young adults involved. Thanks to Fran and Ken Postill, Robbie and Fiona (& Laura) for their support in providing food to the hungry troops, and to the past Antiochers who came back and helped out. Thanks also to the young people who commited themselves to the weekend and to this youth group!

24th June   Funeral to farewell Bernie Cowie - a longtime resident at JPV and a special person to many people.

22nd June.  2nd Night of Eucharistic Ministers Course 7.30pm at Mazzarello Chapel

19 June: Thanks to Matty H. and Youth matters for another Sunday Sessons!

Thanks to Claire and Ruth who made special things for the 130+ confirmation children.  1) Prayer cards - we began distribution over this weekend.   Thanks to the parishioners who have taken on this support to the children.  2)  Special candle holders in the shape of the Spirit and the gifts written on them. 

Thanks for those who prepared and celebrated with us the Family Mass on the weekend!  :)    A group of families began a new tradition of gathering at the local park after the mass to let their children continue to enjoy each others company :) and for the parents to get to know each other.  All are welcome and it will continue now after every family mass - if it rains they will be in the Mazzarello hall.

Thanks for those who prepared and celebrated the candle mass on Sunday night ...

15 June: Thanks to the new people who came to the Eucharistic ministers training night. Thanks to Bryan and Jan for leadings us.

14 June: Progress report:
Harrison Lloyd, who is now 4 years old, has been cancer free for 3 years, his health continues to improve but he is not yet classified as being in remission.
We would like to thank all the parishioners who have prayed for Harrison over the past 3 years and to those who will continue to keep him in their prayers.  He is a beautiful child and has such a positive attitude and is a real inspiration, never ceasing to amaze everyone he comes in contact with, especially the doctors and nurses at the Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick.        Our very best regards,    Bob and Nan Lloyd

11/12 June - Parish Celebration of Pentecost.  Thanks for all who learnt to 'huddle' and then with the Spirit to be sent forth! Thanks to the parishioners who offerered everyone in the parish a special card with the gifts of the spirit and a special prayer praying for one of those gifts.
Thanks to the Sacramental team for another Sacramental focus session, this time for Confirmation students.

10th June - Farewell and thanks to Theo Van Gestal for the gift of your life among us.

Congratualations - Doug and Shirley McCray who celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary 10 June!!!!

5th - 9th June -Fr Frank Moloney provincial of the Salesians visited the Salesian community and some of our parish works at Engadine - Dunlea centre, College, and JPV.
8th June - Night on Social Justice.  ‘ … A new Heaven and a new earth’ Is a new world possible in our time?'
Sr Jan Barnett rsj.  This was an amazing evening! and the quality of the content and process were a great gift to all who attended. Those attending have a deeper understanding of the gospel applied to life. Thank you Sr Jan, the PPC members who initiated and facilitated this happening, and the parishioners who attended.   Read More

7th June - New Translation for any interested Parishioners.  Focus was on deepening our understanding and praying of the Eucharistic prayers.  Thanks to Bryan and Jan and the parishioners who attended.

4/5th June - Celebration of the Ascension  Thanks for those who put themselves forward to sing in a smaller group and even to sing alone - a way in which the call of the Ascension was felt and demonstrated at some of the masses. 

May '11:

Thanks to Ruth, Ela and Amely for their special gift to Mothers of the parish on Mothers day:
29 May 4 New Acolytes instituted into our parish. 

26 May    Thanks to ministers of the Liturgy (Acolytes, lectors, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, musicans etc) who gathered for more formation on our celebration of liturgy with the New Translation of the Mass. Report

24 May    Thanks to those who gathered and prayed at the parish celebration for Mary Help of Christians.

22nd May.  Antioch Reunion thanks for gathering and the memories.
21st May.  Pilgrimage Walk in the spirit of Fr Tom Dunlea from Sutherland to Engadine: Thanks to the 13 people who had a great time and started a tradition!!  Report ...

Friday 20th Thanks to the catechists who gathered for the Southern Region mass - this is a special ministry.

Thanks to the 10 new alter servers who began training.

18th and 19th Wednesday and Thursday:  Retreat for the Children of the parish preparing for Confirmation.  Thanks to the parents, teachers, helpers and children for 2 special days.
Thanks to PPC members and also the Boys Town board for gathering and helping to animate and guide these parish groups.
Tues 17 - JPV Strategic Planning meeting
Sun 15:   Family mass + Picnic - Thanks to those who organised, helped and shared in this great day :))
Parish Catechist Confirmation Classes began - Our prayers are with the children - thanks to the helpers.

Sat 14: Christine Delany and Gaston Pons wedding: Congratulations and prayers are with you. 

Friday 13th:  Family Fun Film night - thanks to organisers, Connect kids who helped, and all who attended - great night
40th Anniv. Dinner for Bosco Soccer Club -
Congratulations and thanks to all who have made that club with their 900+ players what it is!