Holy Family Parish, Mt Druitt

12/09/2026

Reflection for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

MERCY and FORGIVENESS (Mt 18: 21-35)

“Lord, how often must I forgive? ... Seven times?”
In today’s Gospel [Mt 18: 21-35] Peter asks this key question. He probably thinks he is being very generous if he forgives his brother seven times. However, when Jesus immediately answers “Not seven but seventy-seven times,” Peter and his companions really get the message. There is to be no keeping count: occasions for forgiveness are unlimited.

Following this brief response from Jesus, Matthew inserts the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant [18:23-35]. A lengthy story, it surprises the audience (and us) and turns our world upside down.

Firstly, we hear about the servant who owes an astronomical sum of money. The debt-collector feels deeply sorry for him, shows him mercy, and restores his freedom. This is what the kingdom of God is like.

We then hear about the forgiven servant moving in the opposite direction. He meets a fellow servant who owes him a trivial sum of money. Refusing to forgive, he resorts to violence, showing no mercy whatsoever. Consequently, he comes to a horrible end, and the parable concludes with a stark warning that we will suffer the same fate unless we “forgive... from the heart.”

Thus, today’s Gospel confronts us with two challenging lessons: the need to cultivate a living awareness of God’s infinite MERCY towards us, and a stance of constant FORGIVENESS of others. Both lessons are neatly encapsulated in the Lord’s Prayer: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

12/09/2026

Parish Bulletin: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time in Year A - Safeguarding Sunday (13 September 2026)

12/09/2026

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary, honouring the mother of Jesus and the deep reverence we hold for her name. This feast reminds us that in Mary we find both a powerful intercessor and a model of faith, humility, and trust in God.

Her name, full of grace and sweetness, draws us closer to Christ. As St Bernard of Clairvaux wrote: “In dangers, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her name be ever on your lips and in your heart.”

Wishing the Holy Name of Mary Parish, Rydalmere a blessed and happy Feast Day!

Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.

12/09/2026

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Luke 6:43-49

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.
‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord” and not do what I say?
‘Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them – I will show you what he is like. He is like the man who when he built his house dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man who built his house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!’

12/09/2026

🌟 Come on board! 🌟

The Mt Druitt Family Holiday Program has been bringing local families together since 1981! 💙

Enjoy affordable family outings, new experiences, happy memories and opportunities to connect with others in our community.

Register your family to hear about upcoming activities and express your interest in joining us.

🚌☀️🌳🎡

Supported through the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) Child and Family Support Community Strengthening (CAFS) program.

10/09/2026

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Luke 6:39-42

Jesus told a parable to the disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’

09/09/2026

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

08/09/2026

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Luke 6:20-26

Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said:

‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.
Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.

Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.

‘Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’

07/09/2026

Happy Birthday Mother Mary!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the most ancient Marian feasts. Originating in the 6th century with the dedication of a church in Jerusalem believed to be built over the traditional home of Saints Joachim and Ann, the feast spread to Rome in the 8th century under Pope Sergius I. It is one of only three “nativities” on the Roman Calendar.

This feast day is a sign of hope. Mary’s birth prepared the way for Christ, in whom God’s plan of redemption was fulfilled. Mary was the first disciple, whose faith, obedience, and trust in God made her a model for all Christians.

In her readiness to serve, whether at the Annunciation, in visiting Elizabeth, and interceding at Cana, she shows us how to live as true disciples of her Son. For this reason, the people of God have always found in her a source of refuge, comfort, and protection.

07/09/2026

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Matthew 1:18-23

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son
and they will call him Emmanuel,

a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’

07/09/2026

Congratulations to the Winners of the Father's Day Raffle 2026.
First Prize to Verela Foreti - ticket number 0699.
Second Prize to Jade Watt - ticket number 2514
Third Prize to Hong Binh - ticket number 2908

Thank you all for your support HolyFamily Parish Mt Druitt. It's a wonderful celebration with the morning tea after 10:30am Mass.

Thank you also to Judy Petelo and helpers who organised this raffle.

Thank you also to our supporters who helped to bring it to success.

May God bless you and your family.

Fr Cao SJ, Parish Priest.

06/09/2026

Celebrating Father’s Day with a morning tea after the 10:30 am mass today.
Thank you to our Fund Raising Team led by Judy, and to some members of our Youth Group. Following the morning tea was the Father’s Day raffle which was live streamed.

06/09/2026

Fathers Day Celebration

05/09/2026

**A Father’s Day Prayer**

Today, we give thanks for all fathers, grandfathers, godfathers and father figures, and for the love, guidance and strength they bring to our families.

Loving God, bless them with wisdom, patience and joy. Strengthen those facing difficulties, comfort those who mourn the loss of a father or child, and welcome into your eternal peace all fathers who have died.

May the example of St Joseph inspire them to lead with faith, humility and love.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers and father figures in our parish community. May God bless you always. Amen.

05/09/2026

Reflection for the Season of Creation (6 September 2026)

Season of Creation – “Living Water”

Today is the first Sunday in the Season of Creation (1st September to 4th October) and out theme for 2026 is "Living Water". Hence, during this time, our Church invites us to pray, reflect, and take action for ecological restoration, climate justice and care for the poor.

In his message for this five-week Season, Pope Leo says: “It is not yet too late to change course and redirect what has been used for destruction towards life and to be aware of our responsibility for creation and the poor.

Pope Leo says “from contemplating creation and encountering its Creator, there arises an awareness of our particular place within God’s wondrous plan, and of the responsibility that we bear both personally and collectively for preserving the original harmony. Thus, as we become conscious of our shortcomings and failures, we can renew our commitment to restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator.”

Pope Leo also says “if the Lord does not fail to bestow such splendid beauty upon plants and animals and provide for all their needs, how much more attentive will he be to the needs of his beloved sons and daughters!”

What can we do?
Pope Leo suggests.
Take time out to be in nature. Contemplation of nature "is a first step towards an authentic ecological conversion."
Pray that the work and research of those working in artificial intelligence "may be increasingly oriented toward the common good, safeguarding human work and service of fraternity and peace."

In practice, we can
Plant a garden to enjoy native flowers, trees, or vegetables.
Save water
Turn off lights when leaving a room and unplug appliances that are not in use so to save electricity.
Take a walk, ride a bicycle, carpool, or use public transportation to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Care for the poor
Assist people and neighbourhoods directly affected by extreme weather and changing climate conditions.
Reach out to visit, to be with and to listen to them. We can help by meeting immediate physical needs, offering long-term empowerment, and treating individuals with dignity. At least, we can donate unused clothes and food. We can donate time in volunteer works.

Let us remember to pray daily during this week.

Loving Father, we come to You today deeply grateful for Your creation. As we look around, we are amazed at the greatness and majesty of all that You have made. The beauty of nature speaks of Your greatness—the vast sky, the mountains, trees, and streams. May we show our love and reverence by caring for all that You have created. Amen.

For full version of Pope Leo’s message please go to

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/creation/documents/20250630-messaggio-giornata-curacreato.html)

05/09/2026

Parish Bulletin: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time in Year A (6th September 2026)

03/09/2026

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Luke 5:33-39

The Pharisees and the scribes said to Jesus, ‘John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees too, but yours go on eating and drinking.’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely you cannot make the bridegroom’s attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come, the time for the bridegroom to be taken away from them; that will be the time when they will fast.’
He also told them this parable, ‘No one tears a piece from a new cloak to put it on an old cloak; if he does, not only will he have torn the new one, but the piece taken from the new will not match the old.
‘And nobody puts new w**e into old skins; if he does, the new w**e will burst the skins and then run out, and the skins will be lost. No; new w**e must be put into fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old w**e wants new. “The old is good” he says.’

03/09/2026

02/09/2026

02/09/2026

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Luke 5:1-11

Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point.
When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’ Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.

02/09/2026

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

Luke 4:38-44

Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. Leaning over her he rebuked the fever and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to wait on them.
At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them. Devils too came out of many people, howling, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them, but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his preaching in the synagogues of Judaea.

31/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DgoJ4eVT6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🏅 On Friday 28th August, it was announced that the article 'Epiphany in the desert' by Fr Joshua Choong SJ, won an ACPA award!

The Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) awarded Fr Joshua's article for the category of Best Content, Faith Formation.

The judge commented: "A writer wrestles with the implications of his faith in Jesus as he walks in the footsteps of migrants. This is writing that takes the religious impulse seriously."

Read the winning article:
👉 https://jesuit.org.au/epiphany-in-the-desert/

📸 Photo courtesy of Chris Nguyen SJ

29/08/2026

Reflection for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Social Justice Sunday August 2026
“Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division.”

“We are living through an era of heightened community tension and a growing normalization of abusive behavior, incendiary language and violence,” said Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, S.D.B., of Perth, the president of the bishops’ conference. “The Gospel offers a different path. It calls us back to Jesus Christ, who meets division not with hostility but with mercy; not with the logic of ‘us and them’ but with the costly love that heals and transforms.” How do we see and experience what is happening in our Australian Society? What do I want to say about this from a Gospel perspective? What is our work in this world all about? Why do we do what we do? What values should govern our choices?

Summary of the Social Justice Statement “Living the gospel in times of social change.”
Choose love over division – Jesus calls us to love our neighbour, including those with whom we disagree.
Respect human dignity – Every person is created in the image of God and deserves respect, compassion and justice.
Listen before judging – In a world of strong opinions and social media conflict, Christians are called to listen with patience and understanding.
Stand with the vulnerable – The Gospel asks us to notice people experiencing poverty, loneliness, homelessness, discrimination or exclusion.
Be peacemakers – Rather than adding to anger and hostility, Christians can build bridges between people and communities.
Care for creation – Responding to environmental challenges is part of our responsibility to future generations.
Live with hope – Change can be unsettling, but Christians are called to trust that God's presence remains with us.
Witness through action – The Gospel is not only something we preach; it is something we demonstrate through kindness, service, forgiveness and solidarity.
Build a more compassionate Australia – Faith calls us to contribute positively to Australian society by promoting inclusion, justice, reconciliation and the common good.

In times of social change,
the Christian response is not fear or withdrawal,
but faith, hope, love and action.
We are called to be people
who bring Christ's compassion
and peace into a divided world.

26/08/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1LucE9By6o/?mibextid=wwXIfr

📸 ✝️ From the archives! Here is a photo from 1972, when Jesuit, Fr Renato Zecchin SJ, met Saint Mother Teresa during her visit to Melbourne, Australia. Fr Renato was a novice at the time at Loyola, Watsonia, where this photo was taken.

Fr Renato is now assistant priest at Holy Family Parish, Emerton in the Parramatta Diocese.

Holy Family Parish, Mt Druitt

24/08/2026

Congratulations to Richard and Gennevieve Ward on your 60th Anniversary of Marriage. We pray God will continue to bless your marriage & thank Him for another year of joyful memories.