This coming Thursday, 15th August, is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For those able to attend Mass, the Assumption is a holy day of obligation. In Australia and New Zealand the two holy days of obligation are 15th August (Assumption) and 25th December (Christmas). Mass times this Thursday are as follows: St. Augustine’s, 9:45am, a parish Mass attended by Mount Carmel School; St. Francis Xavier’s, 12 noon with the Sacrament of Anointing for the frail and sick; St. Augustine’s, 5:30pm.
For those preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, a session will be held on Thursday evening at 7pm in St, Augustine’s. This gathering is for both parents and confirmandi and will be about thirty minutes.
Last Sunday, the feast of the Cure of Ars, Pope Francis wrote a letter to the priests of the world. It is worth a read as it demonstrates the understanding the Pope has of the complexities priests deal with in these turbulent times. A copy is on the noticeboard or can be accessed on the Vatican website.