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Fr Asaeli Raass profile pic 150As I write this message, Sydney has been placed into another ‘COVID lockdown’. The timing, just days out from Christmas has been a blow for many as interstate family Christmas celebrations have to be cancelled and many people face the prospect of celebrating alone.

Despite these challenges, it is my humble prayer that the celebration of Christmas lifts our hearts above present trials and difficulties as we recall the angelic proclamation: “To you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord.”

Raja 150When Fr Rajaskhar Reddy SVD, found himself stranded at home in India during the COVID border closures, he saw first-hand how hard-hit the Indian people were by the impacts of the virus.

Fr Raja was in India for three months’ home-leave at the beginning of this year and was due to return to his parish in Thailand in March, but just a week before his departure, Thailand announced it was closing its borders.

Mass returns at Santa Teresa 150It was an emotional moment for Fr Prakash Menezes SVD when, after weeks of celebrating Mass in front of a phone camera at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart church in Alice Springs, he was finally able to look out and see his parishioners again.

The Northern Territory government relaxed its COVID-19 restrictions on Friday, May 15, and that very same day Fr Prakash celebrated Mass for the people.

Fr Asaeli Raass profile pic 150If the coronavirus and the enforced social isolation that has come with it has taught us anything, it is that we are social creatures who crave connection.

When we were asked to stay at home it wasn’t shopping or consumption that we missed the most, rather it was visiting our family, hugging our parents, attending our niece’s first birthday party, hanging out with our workmates or enjoying a dinner with friends at a restaurant.

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Upcoming Events

29 Mar
Stations of the Cross
Date 29.03.24 10:00am - 11:00am
29 Mar
The Passion of our Lord
29.03.24 3:00pm - 4:00pm
30 Mar
Easter Vigil
30.03.24 6:30pm - 7:30pm
31 Mar
Easter Sunday Mass
31.03.24 9:00am - 10:00am

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

In the spirit of reconciliation, the Society of the Divine Word, Australia Province, acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, sky, and community.

We acknowledge their skin-groups, story-lines, traditions, religiosity and living cultures.

We pay respect to their elders, past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to all indigenous peoples of New Zealand, Thailand, and Myanmar.

We are committed to building with them, a brighter future together.