Happy Feast of Our Lady of Fatima to all! Thank you for joining us for a special Easter edition of our Lourdes Young Adults Group Night! The theme for the month of May, the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary is: “Love one another…” based on the Gospel Reading of John 13:31-33,34-35. Thanks to Darwin Bautista who shared with us about the mystery of our Lord’s sacrificial love from The Last Supper to The Cross.
Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto, dear shepherd children of Fatima, you were chosen by Heaven to see Our Blessed Mother and to deliver her message of conversion to a world that had strayed far from God. We trust, as you did, in the words of our Blessed Mother who taught you to, “pray the rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, because only She can help you.” Amen.
Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto, pray for us. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Thank you to the Lourdes Young Adults who shaped our Stations of the Cross reflection a very meaningful way as we journey along the CYP Good Friday Night Walk 2022!
The route this year was a 21km walk: 1. Blacktown – St Patrick’s (Mary, Queen of the Family) 2. Seven Hills – Our Lady of Lourdes 3. Toongabbie – St Anthony of Padua 4. Wentworthville – Our Lady of Mount Carmel 5. Harris Park – St Oliver Plunkett’s 6. Parramatta – St Patrick’s Cathedral
Thank you for joining us for this month’s Lourdes Young Adults Group Night! As we journey through the Season of Lent and enter the Holy Week the theme for the month of April was: “A humble and glorious entrance!” based on the Palm Sunday Readings.
Thank you to our guest speaker: Padmi Pathinather who shared with us some insights on the humility and divinity of Christ and allowing us to share our stories of welcome to one another.
MARCH 2022
Thank you for joining us for this month’s Lourdes Young Adults Group Night! As we journey through the Season of Lent the theme for the month of March was: “Transfigured through the Cry of the Poor” based on the Gospel of Luke 9:28-36.
We welcomed along our guest speaker: Dr Sebastian Salaske-Lentern, Peace, Justice & Ecology Coordinator of the Diocese of Parramatta who shared with us some insights on how we can recognise the face of Christ in others around us but also all living things where we have a duty and responsibility to look after all of God’s creation and the natural environment.
Thank you for joining us in our first Lourdes Young Adults Group gathering for the year 2022!
The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family. The special devotion which proposes the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as the model of virtue of all Christian households began in the 17th century. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ’s public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family.
We also celebrated the World Day of Prayer for the Sick on February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, a special feast day for our parish community at Seven Hills.
The theme for the month was: “BE.ATTITUDES” based on the Gospel of Luke 6:17,20-26.
Darwin Bautista shared with us about “The Beatitudes” which means happiness but from a different perspective of the cardinal virtues and focusing on why we need it to live a happy and good life.
DECEMBER 2021
Thank you for joining us in our last gathering for the annual Christmas Hamper Drive.
The month of December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season known as of Advent and are represented by the liturgical color purple — a symbol of penance, mortification and the sorrow of a contrite heart. The remaining days of December mark the beginning of the Christmas season. The liturgical color changes to white or gold — a symbol of joy, purity and innocence. Theme: “He sent us to bring Good News!”
Thanks to our guest speaker Dr Brandon Wong, Youth Coordinator – International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) NSW Branch
Topic: Bringing peace to all (Interreligious Dialogue).
NOVEMBER 2021
Happy Feast of Saint Columbanus, Abbot and Missionary to all (November 23)! Thank you for your presence for this month’s OLOL Young Adults Group Night November 2021 back in person after 5 months of lockdown and for those who joined us on Zoom!
The month of November is dedicated to the Souls in Purgatory. During November, as in all of Ordinary Time (Time After Pentecost), the Liturgy signifies and expresses the regenerated life from the coming of the Holy Spirit, which is to be spent on the model of Christ’s Life and under the direction of His Spirit. As we come to the end of the Church year we are asked to consider the end times, our own as well as the world’s. The culmination of the liturgical year is the Feast of Christ the King which we have just celebrated. “This feast asserts the supreme authority of Christ over human beings and their institutions…. Beyond it we see Advent dawning with its perspecitive of the Lord’s coming in glory.”
Special thanks Adrian Walker, Parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes and Vinnies Confernece Member who helped us explore the theme of “Stay Awake! He is coming!” based on the Gospel of Mark 13:24-32 and shared with us about the attitude of ‘stay awake’ and being ready to recognise Jesus in the present moment!
OCTOBER 2021
Happy Feast Day of Saint Pope John Paul II to all! Thank you for your presence for this month’s OLOL Young Adults Group Night October 2021! This is the month of the Holy Rosary and we are asked to try to make a more concerted effort to pray the Rosary and to read St. John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter “Rosarium Virginis Mariae” (the Rosary of the Virgin Mary) to understand the beauty of this devotion more deeply, and to pray the new Luminous mysteries.
As we prepare for World Mission Sunday this weekend, we explored the theme of “Dare to Bear, Care and Share” and extend our gratitude to our guest speaker, Fr. Kurt Zion Pala from the Society of St. Columban for sharing with us his Missionary Journey as a Columban Missionary priest living and working among the peoples of Myanmar through interreligious dialogue and being of missionary service by actively participating in the life of the community.
To dare is to lose your footing temporarily. To not to dare is to lose your life. There is nothing with which every man or woman is so afraid as getting to know how enormously much he or she is capable of doing and becoming. Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. Be that self which one truly is. – Soren Aabye Kierkegaard
Thanks to all who donated, packed and delivered approx. 50 hampers to the 19 families in Western Sydney. We hope this initiative will provide a bridge for our communities to connect better, break down barriers and build more understanding giving life to Pope Francis’ encyclical “Fratelli tutti” especially as neighbours. God bless us all.
This is gesture of solidarity between the two neighbouring faith communities to celebrate the 107th World Day of Migrants and Refugees and the inaugural Global Ismaili CIVIC Day which were both celebrated last Sunday, the 26th of September 2021.
Throughout this month of October we are requesting a number of items which will be collected and packed once lockdown restrictions have eased. Because of COVID-19 we could not meet physically together however feel free to contact us for any arrangements. List of non-perishable goods requested for the hampers: Tea/Coffee, Hot chocolate packs, Chocolate, Snacks, Beverages, Face masks, Sanitizer, Body Wash, Lotions, Perfume, Toiletries, Coffee mugs, Books, Magazines, Candles, Knitting supplies, Toys, Blankets, Games, Colouring books, Colouring Pencils, Painting kits.
We hope this initiative will provide a bridge for our two communities to connect better, break down barriers and build more understanding giving life to Pope Francis’ encyclical “Fratelli tutti” especially as neighbours within Seven Hills.
Special thanks to Carmen Garate & Luis Ortiz of The Good Shepherd Parish Plumpton and Spanish-speaking community in Western Sydney for sharing their migration story from Chile to Australia, Khatidja Gilani – Program Lead for TheIsmaili ANZ CIVIC sharing about inititatives of Global Ismaili CIVIC Day, Sebastian Salaske-Lentern – Peace, Justice and Ecology Coordinator of the Diocese of Parramatta for sharing with us about the World Day of Migrants and Refugees & Aisha Amjad, Family Services Manager at the Community Migrant Resource Centre for sharing with us our call-to-action.
Thank you for your presence for this month’s OLOL Young Adults Group Night September 2021 via ZOOM! During the month of September, we follow the life of Christ through the Gospels, and focus on the teachings and parables of Jesus and what it means for us to be a follower of Christ. We explored the theme of “The Restless heart: What are we made for? (Through the lens of JP2’s Theology of the Body)”. Special thanks to our guest speaker, Lynell Alimangohan for sharing with us her insights reminding us that we are created for a greater purpose, a restlessness that calls us to do something more in our virtuous relationships, through self-sacrificial love, that is “willing the good of another” – CCC 1766.
Let us pray:
Heavenly King, You have given us archangels
to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth.
Saint Michael is our protector;
I ask him to come to my aid,
fight for all my loved ones,
and protect us from danger.
Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News;
I ask him to help me
clearly hear Your voice
and to teach me the truth.
Saint Raphael is the healing angel;
I ask him to take my need for healing
and that of everyone I know,
lift it up to Your throne of grace
and deliver back to us the gift of recovery.
Help us, O Lord,
to realise more fully the reality of the archangels
and their desire to serve us.
Holy angels, pray for us.
Amen.
AUGUST 2021
Tonight may be the last night of Winter 2021 but it’s not too late to continue to donate to the Vinnies Western SydneyGood Shepherd Plumpton, OLOL 7Hills & OLOR Kellyville join Vinnies WSyd ZOOM Winter Sleepout 2021! Thank you all for coming together in solidarity and spending one night in the shoes of Aussies doing it tough whether it was sleeping overnight outdoors in your backyard, balcony, car, on the floor or couch surfing to raise crucial funds for people experiencing homelessness, and many more at risk in the local community. Share with us your experience!
Special thanks to Faith & Janice Stokes from Vinnies Western Sydney and Zoe Grant & Anjali from Jesuit Refugee Service ‘JRS’ Australia for sharing with us some valuable insights and the next steps we can do to solve homelessness in Western Sydney. The fundraising pages will still be active till the end of September 2021. Thank you and we are immensely grateful for your support. God bless.
Happy Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to all! Thank you for your presence for this month’s Lourdes Young Adults Group Night via ZOOM!
The month of August is dedicated to The Immaculate Heart of Mary. August is often considered the transitional month in our seasonal calendar. The Church in her holy wisdom has provided a cycle of events in its liturgical year which allow the faithful to celebrate the major feasts in the life of Christ and Mary. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the most perfect example of Christian perseverance, but she is also our advocate in heaven where she is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.
We explored the theme of “Yes! – You (are) Encouraged (to be) Saints!” focusing on the Gospel of Luke 1:39-50 – The Magnificat ‘The Almighty has done great things for me’. Special thanks to our guest speaker, Sr M Luka Juenemann ISSM (Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary) for sharing with us her insights on how we can be saints here and now living in harmony with the love of God, love of neighbour and love of God’s creation.
Let us pray:
Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
St Elizabeth, the Mother of John the Baptist, pray for us.
Happy Eve of the Feast of St Kateri Tekakwitha to all (July 14)!
Whilst Greater Sydney is in lockdown, thank you for your presence for this month’s Lourdes Young Adults Group Night via ZOOM!
The month of July is dedicated to The Precious Blood of Jesus. The Readings of Ordinary Time remind us that our earthly pilgrimage is also a journey, a great adventure towards union with Christ, the Beginning and the End of our journey. May the Precious Blood of Jesus sustain us as we journey to our true home, with Mary and the angels as our companions on the way.
We explored the theme of “Call of Duty: Mission to Care for the Earth” focusing on the Gospel of Mark 6:7-13, where the twelve Apostles were called to do extraordinary things.
Special thanks to our guest speaker: George Castline on sharing with us his passion for bringing out the truth to young people on the topic: Climate Change and is Christianity the answer.
Reflection Questions:
1. Who in your family over packs for a trip? And why?
2. What excess baggage stops you from following in the footsteps of Christ? How have you overcome this obstacle?
3. What are some things you can do to care for our Mother Earth? Who can you ask to help you achieve this be accountable?
4. Where has God sent you to share about the Kingdom? How is it going?
Let us pray:
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, our elder sister in the Lord, discreetly, you watch over us. May your love for Jesus and Mary inspire in us words and deeds of friendship, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Pray that God will give us the courage, the boldness, and the strength to build a world of justice and peace among ourselves and among all nations. Help us, as you did, to encounter the Creator God present in the very depths of nature, and so become witnesses of Life.
God our Father, Whom Kateri Tekakwitha liked to call the Great Spirit, We thank you for having given us this young woman as a model of the Christian life. Despite her frailness and her community’s resistance, she bore witness to the presence of Christ. With her companions, she drew close to the elderly and to the sick. Every day, she saw in nature a reflection of your own glory and beauty. Grant that by her intercession we may always be close to you, more sensitive to the needs of those around us, and more respectful of creation. With her, we shall strive to discover what pleases you and endeavor to accomplish it until that day you call us back to you. With you, we praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us
We look forward to seeing you all again next month on Friday, 13th of August 2021 from 6:45pm.
Stay safe and God bless us all.
JUNE 2021
Happy Solemnity of the Heart of Jesus (June 11) and Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (June 12)! Thank you for your presence for a special Prayer Vigil and Stations of the Cross for the people of Myanmar and this month’s Lourdes Young Adults Group Night! The month of June is dedicated to The Sacred Heart of Jesus. We explored the theme of “Sowing the Seeds of Hope in your Heart” focusing on the Gospel of Mark 4:26-34, “The Parable of the Mustard Seed”. The symbol of hope of the sprouting seed arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. The great saints of the Church took care to cultivate the garden of the heart. They understood and knew that natural growth would occur if they allowed the right conditions to exist – through the sacraments, prayer, reading and active participation in the Church.
Special thanks to Flora for sharing her testimony and witness of faith as well as giving us an insight about her family’s experience of the military coup in Myanmar and the need to continue to continue to pray for the Burmese people. We look forward to seeing you all again next month. Please share and invite your friends! God bless. 🙏🏻
Discussion Questions:
Based on what you heard in the Gospel reading, share a time when your faith was like a small mustard seed and when you became more curious about nurturing and growing your faith?
Have you felt isolated in your daily life e.g. workplace, uni/school? And have you been treated differently because of your beliefs?
MAY 2021
Happy Feast of the Ascension of the Lord (May 16) and Our Lady of Fatima (May 13)! Thank you for your presence for this month’s Lourdes Young Adults Group Night and the Catholic Youth Parramatta Lifted Sports Day! The month of May is dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary. We explored the theme of “Mission Possible: The Hand Over” focusing on the Gospel of Mark 16:15-20, “The Ascension of the Lord”. We were reminded that the risen Christ as our King works in us and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit and has called us to continue his mission by preaching the Good News in our everyday lives by being Christ to all who we encounter. The Sports Day taught us to be disciplined and go beyond ourselves through team building by focusing on others and working as part of a team. God bless. 🙏🏻
Discussion Questions: 1. Who did Jesus send to you to tell you he had risen? Did you have trouble believing that person? How were you finally convinced of Jesus’ resurrection?
2. To whom is Jesus sending this message? How will you accomplish this mission?
3. How would your life be if Jesus did not rise from the dead?
RAMADAN FOOD DRIVE MAY 2021
Eid Mubarak and Happy Solemnity of Pentecost to all! The Lourdes Young Adults Group of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish Seven Hills have teamed up with our neighbours, the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim Civic (Young Adults) Seven Hills for the annual Ramadan Food Drive as a gesture of solidarity between the two faith communities for the month of Ramadan. We shared an Iftar dinner together and learned about the commonalities between the two faiths providing a bridge and dialogue for our groups to connect better, break down barriers and to build on the fraternity and social friendship giving life to Pope Francis’ encyclical “Fratelli tutti” as neighbours within Seven Hills. Thank you to both communities who have donated a number of food items to Vinnies Blacktown helping those who need it most.
APRIL 2021
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday!
Thank you for your presence for last month’s Lourdes Young Adults Group Night! As we continue to journey in the liturgical season of Easter, this month of April is dedicated to The Holy Spirit. We explored the theme of “Happy the Sightless Believers” and focused on the Gospel of John 20:19-31, when Jesus appears to his Disciples and the story of Thomas, the doubter. Thank you to our guest speaker, Dr Paul Morrissey, President of Campion College Austraia for providing us his reflections on Justice & Mercy reminding us that worship is an act of justice and that God is perfectly just. Mercy goes beyond justice and that Christ reveals God as he gives us his mercy, that in God, justice and mercy must go hand-in-hand and that in Him they are fully one.
Discussion Questions:
1. How does Jesus deal with Thomas’ doubt, verse 29, (Jesus said to him. ‘You believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have no seen and yet believe)? What is significant about the way Thomas responds? How did you first acknowledge Christ as your king?
2. Where could you use Jesus’ ‘peace’ right now. In some relationship? In some inner fear? In your work?
3. What doubts or questions about God are you struggling with? What have you found helpful in dealing with doubts?
GOOD FRIDAY NIGHT WALK APRIL 2021
Our Lourdes 7Hills Young Adults completed the Catholic Youth Parramatta Good Friday Night 19km Walk from St Patrick’s Church (Mary, Queen of the Family Parish) Blacktown to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta visiting various parishes whilst praying the Stations of the Cross along the way. Pray for us!
Reflections:
Share about a time you have helped another carry their cross.
Share about a time when you felt defeated and overcame this.
Share about a time when things are taken from you.
Share about a time when you helped another carry their cross.
Share about a time when you had to let something go to let something grow.
MARCH 2021
As we continue to journey in the liturgical season of Lent, we joined the Parish community to pray together the Stations of the Cross. We explored the theme of “Redeemed by the Light” focusing on the Gospel of John 3:14-21, an apt description of the season of Lent: a transforming encounter with a person, the Son of God, who gives us life, direction, purpose; a time to come into the light and to embrace the gift of eternal life. Like Nicodemus, let us journey from darkness to light! As this month of March is dedicated to St Joseph and also the Year of St Joseph we are also encouraged to follow his example and read Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter “Patris Corde: With a Father’s Heart”.
Discussion questions:
1. When confronted by Jesus, do we come to the light that our deeds may be known or do we shun the light?
2. When did you begin to see God as saving you, rather than condemning you?
FEBRUARY 2021
Happy Lunar New Year 2021 and Happy Feast Days of Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernadette to all! Thank you for your presence for this month’s Lourdes Young Adults Group Night! In this month of February dedicated to the Holy Family we explored the theme of “Knowing the Healing Touch” and Mental Health for Young People. We focused and re-enacted the Gospel of Mark 1:40-45 “The Cleansing of a Leper”. We were reminded of why we say the “Kyrie elesion/Lord have mercy” in the Mass; God’s divine mercy from the Hebrew word “chesed”, which can be loosely translated as “great mercy”, “goodness”, “loving-kindness”, “steadfast love”, “covenant “faithfulness”, “favour”, “grace” or “love and mercy”, and which refers to God’s love for us. As we experience Christ’s mercy and healing love in our lives, we too can let ourselves be moved with excitement and spread the word about Jesus Christ. Let us, like the healed leper, allow similar joy and gratitude to rise up in us so that we cannot help but share the Good News with others.
Discussion Questions:
a. Why is the leper unsure of Jesus’ desire to help? Why is the leper unsure of Jesus’ desire to help? b. What is significant about Jesus touching the leper prior to healing him?
How would you refer a friend to seek help for Mental Health?
For each person….. Self- Reflection a. Where do you need Jesus’ special touch this week? b. How can you touch/help/inspire others?
How can this group pray for you?
JANUARY 2021
Happy New Year 2021 and Happy Feast Day of St John Bosco to all! Thank you for your presence for this month’s Lourdes Young Adults Group Night! In this month dedicated to Holy Name of Jesus, we explored the theme of “The Right Word at the Right Time” and focused on the Gospel of John 1:35-42 “The First Disciples of Jesus”. Why do we come? What do we seek? The early disciples of Jesus must have asked themselves those questions. They would come and see something new. The public appearance of the Messiah. The Baptist’s declaration, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” revealed both the character and the mission of Jesus. First in our call to follow Christ comes prayer and getting to know Him, before we can actively work for Christ and bring others to share His joy! We were also reminded of the meaning of ‘Cephas’ and the words that brought to mind the foundation rock of the Second Temple at Jersusalem (eben shetiyyah) which sealed off a long shaft in the earth leading to sheol (Hades). His words about building also recall the great kings of Israel, David and Solomon (in contrast to the false builder kings Herod). David laid the preparations and Solomon did the construction to the First Temple.
2020
The Lourdes Young Adults Team thank all who joined us for praise and worship during the Catholic Youth Parramatta Worship Wednesday! You can watch it again on replay via Facebook or YouTube!
Our junior youth group Four2Eight meets on the first Sunday of each month from 10:45am (after the 9:30am Mass) in the parish meeting room. All kids from year 4 to year 8 most welcome to come along and join in the fun!
The 12 parishes of the Central Deanery has both well known and hidden talents from our youth, young adults and the young at heart. From musicians to designers, singers, dancers, photographers to cartoonists, painters and writers, poets and sculptors – The Central Deanery is filled with artistic gifts and vision, that deserves it chance to be shown to all.
The Central Deanery Ambassadors have established an initiative for the Deanery called ‘Centralis Artem’ in Latin meaning Art Central. Within this initiative, the Ambassadors have created and planned their very first arts and music ‘pop-up’ gallery called ‘MAGNIFY’, an acronym meaning ‘May All Gather Now in Faithful Yes’. Because this event will commence over the weekend of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, the Ambassadors thought it was perfectly fitting to entitle this exhibition, in honour and reverence of Our Lady, who, as we all know, said a great, confident ’yes’ to her calling from God.
Leaders of the youth of CYP Central Deanery, Catholic Youth Parramatta and beyond connected via the MYNE Central Deanery on ZOOM for fellowship, sharing of knowledge, ideas and faith formation to find new ways to continue to journey and pray together. We explored Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation ‘Christus Vivit – Christ is Alive!’ where we are encouraged to reach out to others and grow the development of the ‘Kerygma’; proclaiming, accepting and responding to new life through Christ’s death and resurrection and to grow in fraternal love, community life and service; standing up, daring to be different and to be changed by the Risen Christ. Fr Paul Marshall, Dean of the Central Deanery reminded us to keep going for we are the church and are alive in Him! God bless us all.
Stay up to date with the latest news in the Central Deanery! Check out our Facebook page for more information! https://www.facebook.com/CypCentralD/ or email us at: cypcentraldeanery@gmail.com
