St Joseph Belmore

St Joseph Belmore St Joseph Parish Belmore
763 Canterbury Road, Belmore NSW 2192
Parish Priest: Fr Ita Koloamatangi
Deacon Rev.

Christopher Roehrig

MASS TIMES:
Mon - Sat: 9:00am
Sat Vigil: 5:30pm
Sun: 8:00am & 10:00am

ADORATION & BENEDICTION:
Wed: 6:00pm - 7:00pm MASS TIMES:
Mon - Sat: 9:00am
Sat Vigil Mass: 5:30pm
Sun 8:00am & 10:00am
Tongan Mass: 2:00pm (last Sunday of the month)
Filipino Mass: 3:00pm (first Sunday of the month)

ADORATION & BENEDICTION:
Wed: 6:00pm

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: (Confession)
Wed: 6:00pm - 6:45pm (during Adoration)
Sat: 4:30pm - 5:15pm

08/09/2026

At the time of Mary’s birth, who would have guessed for what she was being prepared?

Yet by the end of her earthly life, the heavenly and earthly portents will have surrounded her. An Archangel will have declared her “full of grace, the Lord is with you”, God-with-us.

If Jesus-title is God-with-us, Mary’s is given here as She-who-is-to-give-birth, the woman readied as it were from all eternity to be the Theotokos, the Mother of God. Mother of Jesus, Mother of God, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

07/09/2026

THE ONLY 3 BIRTHDAYS CELEBRATED ON THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR

• JUNE 24 - NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
The birthday of John the Baptist also is rich in symbolism. Again, we see the relationship of dates: John’s birthday is six months before the Christmas vigil because the Angel Gabriel told Mary that her kinswoman was in her sixth month of pregnancy, meaning John is six months older than Jesus.

• SEPTEMBER 08 - NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
The celebration of Our Lady’s birthday is also a treasure for Catholics. And just as Christmas is linked to the feast nine months prior, so too the September 8 celebration of the Virgin’s birthday points nine months back, to December 8 — when we celebrate that from the moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, St. Anne, Mary had no sin. She is the Immaculate Conception.

• DECEMBER 25 - NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
The birth of Jesus is obviously a central feast for Catholics, as it marks the day the world came to see the face of God-made-man. It is a feast complemented by the one nine months earlier, the Annunciation on March 25, when we celebrate the moment the Incarnation actually happened, when Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb.



Sources:
(1)HugotSeminarista

07/09/2026

🌹HOW DID THE CHURCH KNOW THAT MARY’S BIRTHDAY IS SEPTEMBER 8❓

Every year, on September 8, Catholics around the world celebrate something incredibly beautiful🌹:

🎂 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — the birth of Mother Mary.

But there is a mystery…

Did someone actually find Mary's birth certificate❓
No. 😮

The Bible does not give us the exact date of Mary's birth.

So where did September 8 come from❓

📜The story goes back to the ancient Church.

In the early centuries of Christianity, Christians began honoring the places and events connected with the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

By the 5th century, a feast celebrating Mary's birth was already being observed in Jerusalem.

According to ancient Christian tradition, the feast was associated with a church built near what was believed to be the home of Mary's parents, Saints Joachim and Anne.

🌹 The celebration gradually spread.

Then, in the 7th century, the feast became established in Rome under Pope Sergius I, who promoted a solemn celebration of Mary's Nativity.

But why September 8❓

Here comes the beautiful part. ✨

The date appears to have been connected with the ancient Eastern Christian liturgical calendar and the dedication of a church in Jerusalem associated with Mary's birth.

And there is another fascinating connection…

💙 September 8 is exactly nine months after December 8 — the Solemnity of Mary's Immaculate Conception.

December 8 → Mary's conception
September 8 → Mary's birth

Nine months.

🌹A beautiful liturgical rhythm.

The Church therefore does not say:

“Here is the historical document proving Mary was born on September 8.”

Instead, September 8 is an ancient and treasured Christian tradition handed down through the Church's liturgical life.

🫡And perhaps the most beautiful thought is this:

Before Mary became the mother who stood beneath the Cross…

Before she carried Jesus in her arms…

Before she said,

“Let it be to me according to your word.” ❤️

There was simply a little girl…

Born into the world according to God's mysterious plan.

🌹 Mary's birthday reminds us that God can prepare something extraordinary through an apparently ordinary beginning.

Her life began quietly.

But through her “YES”, the Savior of the world entered human history.

🎂 Happy Birthday, Blessed Virgin Mary❗

May your “YES” to God inspire our own.

💙🌹 September 8 — The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Did you know that the exact historical date of Mary's birth is unknown, but September 8 has been celebrated by Christians for many centuries? 👇

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07/09/2026

WHAT SEASONS DO WE USE RED IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH?

✝️ red is one of the most powerful liturgical colors in the catholic church. it represents the love of God, the sacrifice of christ, the fire of the holy spirit, and the courage of those who gave their lives for the faith.

✝️ red is used on palm sunday of the passion of the lord because it begins the celebration of holy week. it reminds us of jesus’ entrance into jerusalem and prepares our hearts to reflect on his suffering and sacrifice.

✝️ on good friday, the church uses red to remember the passion and death of jesus christ. the color points to the precious blood of christ, poured out for the salvation of humanity and the depth of his love for us.

✝️ red is also used on pentecost sunday to celebrate the coming of the holy spirit upon the apostles. it represents the fire of the spirit, the power of god’s presence, and the mission of the church to proclaim the gospel.

✝️ the church uses red during feasts of the apostles and martyrs because it honors those who remained faithful to christ even when it required great sacrifice. their courage becomes an example of true devotion and love for god.
✝️ red may also be used for special celebrations connected with christ’s passion and kingship, reminding believers that jesus reigns through love, sacrifice, and victory over sin.

✝️ whenever we see the color red during the liturgy, we are invited to remember the great love of christ, the strength of the holy spirit, and the call to live our faith with courage and devotion.

✝️ may the beauty of this sacred color inspire us to love god more deeply and remain faithful to christ in every season of life.

Great Amen Catholica 🙏🏼

06/09/2026

✝️ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘?

Many Catholics arrive at Mass and immediately begin conversations. Others leave the church the moment Mass ends and continue talking as though nothing sacred has just happened.

But there is something deeply beautiful about remaining silent before and after Holy Mass.

Silence is not emptiness.

Silence is an opportunity to listen to God.

✝️ 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦: 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧

The moments before Mass are not merely waiting time.

They are preparation.

When you enter the church, you are entering a sacred space where the Eucharistic Lord is present in the tabernacle.

Instead of immediately talking with friends, scrolling through your phone, or discussing ordinary matters, take a few moments to become recollected.

Kneel or sit quietly.

Make the Sign of the Cross.

Ask God to remove distractions from your heart.

Examine your conscience.

Thank Him for allowing you to be present.

You can simply pray:

“Lord Jesus, I am here. Help me to worship You with my whole heart.”

That short prayer can completely change the way you participate in Mass.

✝️ 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣𝗦 𝗨𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗭𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚

Imagine being invited to meet someone you deeply love and respect.

You would probably prepare yourself before the meeting.

The Mass is infinitely greater.

We are not simply attending another gathering.

We are coming before God.

The Church therefore encourages moments of sacred silence so that the faithful may prepare themselves for the mysteries they are about to celebrate.

Silence disposes the heart to prayer.

✝️ 𝗗𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦: 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗡

Silence is not only important before Mass.

There are also moments of silence within the celebration itself.

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal teaches that sacred silence is part of the celebration and that its purpose depends on the moment of the Mass.

There is silence during moments of recollection, after readings and the homily, and especially after Holy Communion.

These moments allow us to reflect on what we have heard and what we have received.

God does not always speak through noise.

Sometimes He speaks in the silence of a heart that has finally become still.

✝️ 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡: 𝗗𝗢𝗡'𝗧 𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗛 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬

This is particularly important.

You have just received Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

The King of Heaven has come to you.

Why immediately begin chatting?

Why rush to check your phone?

Why leave without giving Him even a few moments of thanksgiving?

Remain quietly with Jesus.

Thank Him.

Tell Him what is in your heart.

Ask Him for the grace you need.

You do not need complicated words.

Sometimes simply saying:

“Jesus, thank You for coming to me.”

is a beautiful prayer.

✝️ 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗦𝗦: 𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗜𝗡

When the final blessing is given, the Mass has ended, but your relationship with Christ has not.

If circumstances permit, remaining for a few moments of personal thanksgiving can be spiritually fruitful.

Think about what you have just celebrated.

Think about the Scripture you heard.

Think about the homily.

Think about receiving Christ in Holy Communion.

Ask yourself:

“What is Jesus asking me to change?”

“What grace am I taking home?”

“How will I live differently because I have encountered Christ?”

This turns Mass from something we merely attend into something that transforms our lives.

✝️ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛

Silence before Mass prepares us to encounter Christ.

Silence after Communion helps us remain with Christ.

Silence after Mass allows the grace of the celebration to settle deeply within us.

Of course, the church is also a place of fellowship, and there are appropriate moments for greeting one another and speaking with friends.

But we should distinguish between fellowship and unnecessary noise, especially when others are praying.

A Catholic church is not simply a meeting hall.

It is a place of worship.

So the next time you enter church, try something different.

Arrive a little earlier.

Put away your phone.

Say less.

Pray more.

And after Mass, resist the temptation to rush immediately into ordinary conversation.

Give Jesus a few moments of your undivided attention.

You may discover that the silence you once considered uncomfortable becomes one of the most beautiful parts of your prayer.

✝️ 𝗦𝗔𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬

“Lord Jesus, teach me to become silent enough to hear You, humble enough to receive You, and faithful enough to carry You with me when I leave the church. Amen.”

Ignatius Catholicum ✍️✝️

05/09/2026

Father’s Day is a wonderful opportunity for us to all reflect upon the importance of fatherhood, which we see very much in Jesus’ own life, both in His prayers to His heavenly Father and the example He received on earth through the nurturing love of St Joseph.

Our Lord regularly called upon His heavenly Father for assistance or praised Him. When He was exhausted He would go off to a lonely place to talk with Him.

When facing the horror of crucifixion, He begged His Abba to intervene. Jesus knew that all things were possible for His Father, that He was in his Father’s hands, and that He could trust all would turn out for the best.

Human paternity, then, at its best, images that of God our Father. It also take inspiration from the role model of St Joseph in his unfailing care and protection for Jesus and His Mother Mary. God bless our fathers and all who share in their paternal care of our world. Happy Father’s Day!

05/09/2026

✝️ 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗖 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗗

Saint Dominic did not treat prayer as something separated from the rest of his life. For him, his entire life could become an offering to God.

His prayer was not merely a matter of saying many words. He prayed with his time, his body, his study, his silence, his sacrifice, and his hidden moments with God.

✝️ 𝟭. 𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗢𝗗

While others slept, Saint Dominic often kept vigil in prayer.

The night became a privileged time of intimacy with God. In the silence of the night, away from distractions and ordinary activities, he would remain before God in prayer.

This reminds us that prayer does not always have to happen when everything is convenient.

Sometimes we have to deliberately make time for God.

Jesus Himself spent nights in prayer:

“During those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God.”

Luke 6:12

✝️ 𝟮. 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗬 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥

For Saint Dominic, studying theology was not simply an intellectual exercise.

He studied because he wanted to know God, understand the faith, and proclaim the truth more faithfully.

His study therefore became a form of prayer.

This is a beautiful lesson for students and anyone who works with knowledge.

You can pray while studying.

You can offer your reading, research, writing, teaching, and intellectual work to God.

When knowledge is pursued for the glory of God and the service of others, even study can become an offering.

✝️ 𝟯. 𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗗𝗬

Saint Dominic's prayer was not merely something happening inside his mind.

His body participated in his prayer.

He adopted different bodily postures and gestures: standing, kneeling, bowing, prostrating himself, and other physical expressions of reverence and supplication.

His body became part of his prayer.

This reminds us of something important: we are not angels. We are human beings, body and soul.

Sometimes kneeling helps us express humility.

Sometimes standing expresses readiness and reverence.

Sometimes bowing expresses adoration.

Sometimes raising our eyes or hands can express our dependence upon God.

The body can teach the heart how to pray.

✝️ 𝟰. 𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗩𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗟𝗦

Some of Saint Dominic's most profound moments of prayer happened when nobody was watching.

He did not need an audience.

He did not need people to know how long he had prayed.

He sought God in hiddenness.

This is deeply connected with the words of Jesus:

“When you pray, go into your inner room, shut the door, and pray to your Father in secret.”

Matthew 6:6

There is a kind of prayer that exists only between you and God.

No photograph.

No announcement.

No applause.

Just you and God.

✝️ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛

Saint Dominic teaches us that prayer does not have to be confined to one particular moment of the day.

Your night can become prayer.

Your study can become prayer.

Your work can become prayer.

Your silence can become prayer.

Your suffering can become prayer.

Even your body can become an instrument of prayer.

The goal is not simply to spend more time saying prayers.

The goal is to become a person whose entire life is gradually turned toward God.

“Pray without ceasing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17

✝️ 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗦𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗖

Do not wait until you feel like praying.

Give God a fixed time.

Learn to pray in silence.

Offer your studies to God.

Let your work become an offering.

Kneel before God when you can.

Make time for hidden prayer.

And when everyone else is sleeping, remember that you can still lift your heart to the One who never sleeps.

Saint Dominic, pray for us.

Ignatius Catholicum ✍️✝️

05/09/2026

WHY IS PRIESTHOOD SO IMPORTANT?

In Catholic theology, the ministerial priesthood is not merely a job or a role of community leadership; it is a sacramental mystery essential to the spiritual life and structure of the Church.

While Catholicism teaches that all baptized believers share in the "common priesthood of the faithful," ordained priests are set apart through Holy Orders to act as instruments of Christ Himself.

💥 Acting In Persona Christi

During the sacraments—most notably the Eucharist and Confession—the priest acts in persona Christi capitis ("in the person of Christ the Head").

When a priest says, "This is my Body" or "I absolve you from your sins," Catholics believe it is Christ Himself working through the human minister to dispense grace.

💥 Channel of the Sacraments

The Catholic Church views the sacraments as necessary visible channels of God’s invisible grace.

Without ordained priests, the Church cannot celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Real Presence) or offer sacramental Absolution of sins, which Catholicism sees as vital for spiritual nourishment and reconciliation.

💥 Apostolic Succession

Catholicism traces priestly authority directly back to Jesus Christ commissioning the Twelve Apostles.

Through the laying on of hands by bishops over two millennia, priests maintain an unbroken spiritual lineage, guaranteeing the continuity of authentic teaching and sacramental validity across generations.

💥 Spiritual Fatherhood and Service

Called to live out celibacy (in the Latin Rite), priests vow to give up earthly families to devote themselves fully to the Church as a spiritual father.

Their duty is to shepherd the flock: teaching doctrine, comforting the sick (Anointing of the Sick), leading prayer, and offering daily sacrifices on behalf of the faithful.

"The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus."

— St. John Vianney, patron saint of parish priests

While lay members share in Christ's mission through prayer and daily life, the ordained priesthood provides the indispensable foundation that makes Catholic sacramental life possible.

05/09/2026

WHAT CATHOLICS SHOULD DO WHEN ENTERING OR LEAVING A CHURCH

✝️ A Catholic church is a sacred place where believers gather to worship God and encounter the presence of Christ, especially in the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the Tabernacle. Entering and leaving the church with reverence helps us recognize the holiness of the place.

✝️ When entering a church, Catholics traditionally make the Sign of the Cross with holy water as a reminder of their Baptism and their identity as children of God. This simple action prepares the heart for prayer and worship.

✝️ Catholics should acknowledge the presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle by making a respectful genuflection or bow, according to the practice of the Church. This gesture expresses faith and reverence toward Christ truly present in the Eucharist.

✝️ Before Mass or prayer begins, it is important to spend a moment in silence and prepare the heart for worship. The church is a place for prayer, reflection, and encountering God.

✝️ Respectful behavior inside the church includes keeping conversations quiet, dressing appropriately, and avoiding unnecessary distractions. These actions show love and consideration for others who have come to pray.

✝️ When leaving the church, Catholics are encouraged to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the grace received and for the opportunity to worship God with the community of faith.

✝️ The Sign of the Cross can also be made before leaving as a reminder that we carry our faith beyond the church building. We are called to bring Christ’s love, peace, and kindness into the world.

✝️ The church is more than a building; it is a place dedicated to God and a home of prayer for His people. Every visit should be made with faith, respect, and love.

Great Amen Catholica 🙏🏼

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763 Canterbury Road
Belmore, NSW
2192

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