Parish Bulletin Sunday 19July 2026
Not from the Pulpit: Fr Richard Leonard SJ PP
Historically, our parish has had a college of Jesuit priests at its disposal. As a result, we have been very generous in fulfilling almost every request for baptisms, weddings, and funerals. We Jesuits believed that this generous response was an evangelical outreach to those who are often unchurched, in the hope that they would have a positive experience of these sacraments and, sooner or later, return to the practice of the faith. There is, however, limited evidence that these hopes have been realised.
Most of the people who seek a "hatching, matching, or dispatching" at one of our three churches are not parishioners or have only very tenuous links to our community of faith. Some want to have their baby baptised here because they attended school in the area. Some couples tell us they want to be married here because "it's on the way to the reception venue." Families arranging funerals have told us they chose our parish because "our grandmother was buried here nine years ago." We have already changed the way we celebrate baptisms, holding them three at a time after the 9.00 am and 10.30 am Masses. For the moment, this is working well enough, although a very significant number of these families are also not parishioners and we often do not see them again until First Holy Communion.
We continue to be delighted that couples and families choose to celebrate marriages in, or funerals from, the Church. However, we no longer have enough clergy to accept the constant requests for weddings and funerals. After Fr Andy Nguyen's departure, we will change both how and for whom the local Jesuits celebrate weddings and funerals.
As is already the practice at St Mary's Cathedral and many other Sydney Catholic parishes, unless a couple or family are registered and active parishioners, or have strong and established links with our community,
they will need to provide their own celebrant (deacon, priest, or bishop). Our churches will be available to them, but a local celebrant will not. We will honour all the weddings already booked in for the remainder of this year. We are, however, writing to couples with bookings for 2027 and beyond to explain this new policy and procedure.
In the future before a family or couple can confirm a booking at one of our churches, they will need either to demonstrate their active relationship with and support of the parish or provide a letter from their chosen celebrant confirming their availability. Once one of these requirements has been met, we will confirm the booking.
I want to stress that, to the very best of our ability, the Jesuits will continue to look after you and your family's sacramental needs. We want to hear from you if you believe there is a good reason why one of us should celebrate a particular wedding or funeral. The deceased, the couple, or their family may have strong links with our parish of which we are currently unaware.
The reality, however, is that the rubber has now hit the road. While we want to remain as hospitable as possible in Christ's name, we have gone from six Jesuit priests serving the parish ten years ago, to me and the most generous 86-year-old priest in Sydney. We must be discerning about what we can realistically continue to do Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (AMDG) in our corner of the world.
Parish Notices
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Thurs 23 July @ 5.00pm reception for 6.00pm, Sir Peter Cosgrove Centre, ACU, North Sydney
The parish community is invited to “Optimistic or Overwhelmed? Engaging Tech in an Age of Optimisation” by Associate Professor Victoria Lorrimar, Director, Centre of Technology and Human Futures, University of Notre Dame Australia. More info and RSVP: maryaikenheadministries.com.au
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Jesuit Refugee Service Parish Appeal – Weekend 15/16 August
Learn more about JRS and their work with refugees and people seeking asylum. Subscribe to the newsletter at: aus.jrs.net
SFX Development
Last August I wrote that our parish along with the Sydney Archdiocese and SVDP Housing are proposing a major redevelopment at Lavender Bay. The archdiocese property team and our consultants are planning to lodge the development application next month Mackenzie St and there is an opportunity for you to see the initial community engagement materials and make comments at: engage.hillpda.com.au There will be a further opportunity, probably around September, to review the detailed plans, give feedback and make comments. David Rothery
Collective Marriage Vow Renewal
Sunday 26 July @ 9am Family Mass, St Mary's Church, North Sydney
All couples are warmly invited to renew their marriage vows together in a joyful celebration led by Fr Richard Leonard SJ PP, surrounded by family, friends and our parish community. Now in its third year, this much-loved celebration has welcomed more than 50 couples each year.
Here's what one couple shared after renewing their vows...
"It was our 10-year anniversary and we had nothing special planned. This was a lovely way to celebrate the occasion."
Whether you've been married for 5 years or 55 years, we'd love you to join us.
Reserve your place now at https://www.trybooking.com/DNADG Please contact Julie Donnell on 8918 4101 if you have any questions.