Our parish honoured in newest members' name.
Diane Marie Colombe Watine
A very special welcome to the world to Diane Marie Colombe, the fourth daughter for Céline and Martin Watine.
We sent flowers to the family on behalf of the parish and they sent a lovely reply with a beautiful message about the girls’ names.
“(Each of) Our daughters’ second name is Marie to give them the protection of our Mother in Heaven. We wish their third name is a mark of the place where they were born. Both Aliette and Béryl have Chinese names. Quitterie’s third name is Victoria. And for Diane, we have chosen Colombe after our beloved local parish. We will definitely never forget how easy was our integration into the parish community and we deeply thank all the members of this big family for their kindness to our lovely - not to say noisy! - family.”
We look forward to welcoming the beautiful family back to St Columba in the near future.
National Reconciliation Week 2021
27 May - 3 June
Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2021, More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.
To our new supporters, please remember the importance of privileging and amplifying First Nations’ voices as you add your voice to calls for reconciliation and justice.
Reconciliation is a journey for all Australians – as individuals, families, communities, organisations and importantly as a nation. At the heart of this journey are relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.
2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and almost three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process.
Find out more about National Reconciliation Week
#MoreThanAWord #NRW2021
Please take the time to read the Uluru Statement of the Heart. We encourage you to also watch the powerful video featured.
National Volunteers Week 2021
17 - 23 May 2021
Prayer for Volunteers
Loving God,
We acknowledge that your Spirit blows gently through our volunteers
who contribute their time, their gifts, their skills and their friendship
across the vast array of ministries in our parish.
Through their generous hearts,
we are able to create a place of belonging
that welcomes, enables, befriends and accompanies.
We honour their service with our gratitude,
and ask your blessing upon them
as they continue to witness through the heart of Jesus.
Amen.
We will be celebrating all of the wonderful volunteers in our Parish on the weekend of 22 / 23 May. Please join us for soup after Saturday 6pm mass or for cake after Sunday 9am and 11am masses.
Keeping our Community Safe: Safeguarding Weekend
1 / 2 May 2021
As part of our commitment to safeguarding in our Parish, we will hold our yearly Safeguarding Weekend on Saturday 1 / Sunday 2 May.
One tangible way that we will ask you to show your commitment to supporting all those who are vulnerable in our parish is by signing the Parish Safeguarding Code of Conduct. This was developed by the Archdiocese’s Professional Standards Unit and has been adopted and signed by our Parish Leadership and Development Team.
3rd Anniversary of Fr Ernie Smith's death
28 March 2021
We celebrated the third anniversary of Fr Ernie Smith, the inspiration behind and co-founder of Sacred Heart Mission at 11am Mass on Sunday 28 March.
Please see visit these links for a tribute from Kate Cleaves (Wilson) and the text of a reflection that Vin Corbett gave at mass.
National Carers Week: Recognising Care Given in Love.
11th October 2020
National Carers’ Week runs from Sunday, 11 October to Saturday 17 October.
We offer in thanksgiving the following prayer for the compassion and dedication of all the workers and volunteers from our Sacred Heart Mission, our parish pastoral team and our parish families who in providing care to others bear witness to God’s Spirit of love.
You have granted me life and favour, and your care has preserved my spirit (Job 10:12).
Prayer for Carers
Holy Spirit, pour out your gifts and fruits
on all those who provide care for others.
Grant them time and rest to rejuvenate,
courage and fortitude to face the day to day challenges
and wisdom and trust to know when to ask for help.
Blessed Trinity, inspire and awaken us to be a Church community
that is actively seeking to provide assistance and support to people
who care for our brothers and sisters,
who are witnesses of your gifts to our world. Amen.
[Australian Catholic Bishops Conference 2007]
Staying connected during the Coronavirus epidemic
March 20th 2020
As Masses and other public gatherings get cancelled, social distancing and panic buying happens around our community, many people are living with fear and uncertainty. Some in our community need support more than ever. Here are some resources on how you can access support and information and also how you can offer support and volunteer at this time.
Be the change you want to see in the world
February 7th 2020
This is the theme for our St Columba Primary School for 2020. The children, staff and families celebrated the beginning of the school year with a beautiful mass this morning.
Fr John's homily focused on the Paschal candle and the light that shines within all of us. He asked the children to name the 'thing's that give them and our community light and then a candle was lit from the Paschal candle honouring each of these - teachers, fellow students, parents, firefighters, Sacred Heart Mission.
St Columba Primary School - Seussical
September 15 2019
Huge congratulations to everyone involved in preparing for and performing in the school musical ‘Seussical’. It was a fantastic achievement and a wonderful success.
For other news and stories please see the online newsletter
Young women of Sacred Heart and St Columba
September 6 2019
Friday 6th September was the first young women’s dinner and talk series, “Full of Grace”, and what a fruitful night it was!
Renewing our Relationship
August 18 2019
On Sunday 18 August, we celebrated the renewal of the agreement between our Parish and Sacred Heart Mission at 9am and 11am masses. Thank you very much to Chris Stolz, Chair of Sacred Heart Mission Board and to Cathy Humphries, CEO Sacred Heart Mission for their attendance and support.
Plenary council
June 2019
A Plenary Council is a formal meeting of the bishops and other representatives of all the dioceses and eparchies of the Catholic Church in Australia. Its purpose is to discern what God is asking of us in Australia at this present time.
While the church should be asking that question continually, a Plenary Council is a particularly graced instrument for seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance. And it has the authority to make church laws on the results of its discernment.
Sacred Heart Memorial
August 18 2018
On Sunday 19 August 2018 we dedicated the Sacred Heart Memorial.
“We Remember” is a tribute to those who have died in our community. In erecting this memorial, we hold them forever in our hearts.
“We Remember”, depicts a small gathering holding their friend who has died. In this act of intimacy, through their grief, in some ways they hold each other. The figures are close with each other. They hold the body of their friend through the interweaving of their hands and bodies. This is an experience of deep intimacy in a place vulnerability.
Moving our ministry online
March 28 2020
As the Coronavirus COVID-19 continues, we are finding more ways to connect online right here on the website. So we have put together a resource page with handy links, information, prayers plus lots more.
We update our news and events as they happen, so check back often for the latest. You can also contribute by sharing your story on our Blog or get an item published in our Parish Bulletin by contacting us