Dear parishioners of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish West Belconnen,

I write to you with gratitude for your participation in the recent consultation regarding our weekend Mass times.

After accounting the responses we received last weekend, the majority of parishioners have indicated their preference for 

Option B. Accordingly, the revised Sunday Mass schedule will be as follows:

Saturday Vigil – St John the Apostle, Kippax: 5:00 pm

Sunday – St Thomas Aquinas, Charnwood:    8:30 am

Sunday – St John the Apostle, Kippax:         10:00 am

Sunday – St John the Apostle, Kippax:           6:00 pm

This new schedule will take effect from the weekend of 3–4 July 2026.

I am conscious that this change will affect many parishioners in different ways. I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience or difficulty it may cause. Please know that this decision has been made with the pastoral and liturgical consideration of the parish and in response to the realities we face as a community. I continue to seek your prayers during this transition and at the same time encourage you to remain united in love and faith of Jesus.

I also invite you to save the date for our Parish Assembly on Saturday,

25 July 2026. This will be an important opportunity for us to come together, reflect, and continue discerning the future of our parish.

Thank you once again for your understanding, support, and commitment to our parish life.

With prayer and gratitude,

Gospel Reflection

The readings selected for Trinity Sunday provide an opportunity to reflect on the nature of God. Over recent weeks, we have celebrated the Ascension and Pentecost – both of which reveal something about the nature of God through Jesus and the Spirit. Trinity Sunday is an opportunity to celebrate the unity of God whom we acknowledge as Father, Son and Spirit. Today’s gospel reminds us that there is a seamless continuity between the different experiences of God. Although we sometimes regard the God of the Old Testament as judging and vengeful, today reminds us that God is, was, and always will be a God of love. The gospel reminds us that ‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son.’ Love is the characteristic of God that is experienced as Father, Son and Spirit. God loved the world into being and loved the people so much that God made a covenant relationship with them and repeatedly drew them back into that relationship when they strayed. God loved the world and the people so much that God became physically present through Jesus as yet another attempt to draw all people into an awareness of the loving relationship God desired for them. When Jesus could no longer remain a physical presence in the world, God’s Spirit became more evident to continue the work of drawing people into that loving relationship with God.

Rather than focusing on the mystery of the Trinitarian God, today is an opportunity to marvel at the single-mindedness of God who is so determined to reveal the length and breadth of God’s love to us. That revelation has been made manifest in different ways throughout time but remains constant and unchanging.

Gospel Reflection by Greg Sunter

PARISH OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We welcome

Fr. Partha Paniyadimai msc to our parish this weekend.

MSC MISSIONS

Fr. Roger Purcell msc from MSC Mission office will be in our parish on the weekends of 6/7 June and 27/28 June.

PUBLIC HOLIDAY NOTICE
PARISH OFFICE CLOSED

On Monday 1 June and Monday 8 June the parish office will be closed.

Sharon will be on leave from Monday 8 June and returning to work on Wednesday 15 July. During this period, Br Daniel will be periodically monitoring the parish emails. If you have any urgent matters during this time, please call the parish office on 6254 3236.

SAVE THE DATE

Parish Assembly 

Saturday, 25 July 2026

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PREPARATION

This weekend, several of our parish children are having their First Holy Communion.

Over the last four weeks, their catechists and families have journeyed with them to prepare for this special moment, and receive the Body of Christ. They learned that Mass is a time when we gather together as God’s people, listen to God’s word, give thanks for God’s love and blessing, and are sent forth to be the heart of God to others.

Thank you to the parish community for your prayers of encouragement and support.

FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Friday 12 June

9:30am Mass

St John the Apostle Catholic Church

There will be a Morning tea held in the foyer

Address of Pope Leo XIV regarding the presentation and promulgation of the Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas and the Encyclical Letter Magnifica Humanitas On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence can be found at 

https://olsh.org.au/wider-church-news/ 

ALPHA – series of conversations

Do you have questions about life and meaning? West Belconnen Parish is hosting a series of conversations called Alpha, beginning Wednesday the 13th of May for 8 weeks. Come to share some food, watch a video and discuss together. We will meet at St John the Apostle Church from 6 - 7:30pm.

Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,

Saturday 30 May 2026.

The Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart this year is the first time we will celebrate this special day for our parish. It is also an important feast day for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. To mark this special occasion, there will be an opportunity to learn more about Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on the Friday evening before the feast day, and to come together to celebrate the Eucharist on the Saturday.

Join us at St John’s Parish Centre, Kippax, on Friday evening 29 May at 6.30 pm. After a short liturgy, Sr Dain Inglis, a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred, will give a 30-minute presentation, “Our Lady of the Sacred Heart – to know her is to love her”. You are invited to stay for a cuppa/ coffee following the presentation.

On Saturday 30 May at 10.00 am we will celebrate Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at St Thomas Aquinas, Charnwood. We hope as many as possible will stay for an early lunch as part of our parish celebration.

The Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart will start on Thursday 22 May 2026 at 9:20am. This Novena will be prayed every morning and will conclude on Saturday 30 May for our Feast Day celebrations.

Spirituality of the Heart: 

Spirituality of the Heart:

If you are interested in deepening your understanding of Spirituality of the Heart, the Chevalier family invites you to join a series of Zoom presentations. Sr. Merle Salazar, a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, is presenting Four Movements of the Heart over a series of four Saturdays beginning on 16 May. The time for Australia is 3.30-4.30 pm. More information along with the Zoom links, Meeting IDs and Passcode is on the brochure that can be found on the   https://olsh.org.au/prayer-life/

MSC MISSIONS

Fr. Roger Purcell msc from MSC Mission office will be in our parish on the weekends of 6/7 June and 27/28 June.

https://australia.mscmission.org/

MOVIE NIGHT

7:00pm –26 June

St John the Apostle Catholic Church

Parish Library

We are watching

“Marnie”

BOOKCLUB New Members Welcome

Sunday 28 June 2026 – 3:00pm

St John the Apostle Catholic Church

Parish Library

We are reading:

“Wifedom: Mrs Orwell’s invisible life”

by Anna Funder

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Connecting with people living alone

Coffee Group –9 June

2:00pm - Ichi Café

Kippax Shopping Centre

Monthly Gathering

21 June 2026

3:30pm - 5:00pm

St John the Apostle Catholic Church Parish Library

Men’s Group

6:00pm Friday19 June

Parish Centre Kippax

beer, wine, soft drink , snack food and pizza

Pins & Needles

7:15pm – Monday 15 June

St John the Apostle Catholic Church

Parish Library

Women’s Breakfast

Tuesday 26 May  – 7:30am

Bean Origin Café

Nettlefold Street Belconnen

YCS BELCONNEN - 
After Sunday Mass -24 May
From 7:00pm – 9:00pm 
St John the Apostle Parish Centre 
Year groups 7 – 12 are welcome 
Join us for games, praise, prayer, food and social justice

Friendship Group Morning Tea

next meeting on Wednesday 27 May 10:15am – SJA parish centre

Please come and join us, you are all most welcome. Please bring a plate to share.

17 – 19 July | INSTAGRACE |

INSTAGRACE is a three-day Catholic residential program organised by Jesus Youth Canberra for teenagers aged 13 to 17. Running successfully for nearly a decade, it helps young people grow in self-understanding and develop a personal relationship with Jesus through talks, music, and life testimonies.

Venue: Outward Bound Australia, Naas Road, Tharwa, ACT

Date & Time: Friday, 17 July 2026 (9:00 am) to Sunday, 19 July 2026 (4:00 pm)

Registration Fee: $290

Registration Closes: 12 July 2026

For any further enquiries, please contact Jerin Niju on 0469 738 253.

Recently Deceased: :

Anniversary: 

Kevin McAlister, Pat Butchrer, Brian Durack, Alice Kurylowicz, Anthony Wade, Mary Blewitt, Rosemary Littlewood, Jeffrey Culnane, Leila Kurian, Maxwell Harmer, Anna Pisciotta, Bette Rutter, Beryl Moulis, Mary Clynch, David Mather, Wally Chymko, Eric Duve, Joan Kennedy, Hilary Hally-Burton, Olga Sarran, Margaret Coker-Godson, Terry Sheppard, Neryl Hogan, Marie Hill, Roxanne LeCornu, Mary Stinton, Stefanie Seaton, Margaret Keogh, Thomas Guy, Stephen Carew, Elizabeth Strike, Jack Draper, Mary Vague, Marie Johnson, Evelyn Weinman, Geoffrey Steward, Ian Cupitt, Denise Doyle, Marcia Jasper, John Bray, Dorothea Guilfoyle, William Briggs, Florence Kennedy, Terrence Jones, Genevieve Fitzpaatrick, Ilona Ham, Anette Connellan, Elsie Dickason, Robert Scarr

7 June             Acolyte Roster

7 June                         Lector Roster

7 June             Ministers of Communion

7 June             Hospitality Roster

Weekly Rosters

ROSTERS

7 June             Acolyte Roster

7 June             Lector Roster

7 June             Ministers of Communion

7 June             Music Ministry / Slides