News and Announcements

17th September, 2023

16th Sunday after Pentecost

Synodal Secrecy: Is a Tightly-Controlled Information Flow the Best Way to Go? By Russel Shaw – Courtesy of National Catholic Register

Prints & statues of the saints and other devotional art are available today (17th September) on the veranda of Maryvale, for anyone who can offer them a good home (a donation is welcome and may be given at the Bookstore).

Solemn Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral this Wednesday, 20th September, at 5.30 pm: the Mass will be that of Ember Wednesday, and the occasion is a Mass for ACSA (Australian Catholic Students’ Association). University Students are especially encouraged to attend, but of course all are welcome.

ACCC Holy Hour at St Aloysius’ this Friday, 22nd September, at 7 pm: usually once a year we host a Holy Hour for our brother priests in the Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy. We will have Eucharistic Adoration from 7 pm, Benediction, and then traditional Compline. Parishioners are warmly encouraged to attend the Holy Hour to pray for priests, and for priestly vocations.

Church cleaning day – Saturday, 30th September: volunteers are requested to assist. A light lunch will be provided. We will commence after the 10 am Mass and Rosary.

Bookings now live – Inaugural Oratorio: The booking link for the inaugural oratorio (i.e., concert of sacred music) is now live. Tickets can be booked at the following link, and bookings are essential: https://www.trybooking.com/CLFOI. The oratorio will be held 6–7pm on 11th November, 2023. The oratorio is an evangelistic initiative of the parish: it is intended to be something which non-Catholics might attend who would be unwilling to attend a mass. Parishioners are encouraged to bring non-Catholic (or non-practising) friends and family along. Entry to the oratorio will be by donation on the night, and there will be a wine and cheese reception immediately following the oratorio, for which admission will be $10 (children enter free). Posters are available in the vestibule if you would like to take one to display in a public area.

Ladies’ Choir of St Hildegard: Newman Parish has recently established the St Hildegard Ladies Choir. The Ladies Choir will sing at 10am First Saturday Mass each month. If you have any questions or to arrange an audition time, please contact Ronan Reilly at

Mass offerings & donations for candles: Mass offering envelopes are available in the vestibule. Please fill these in clearly indicating your intention or request (eg for whom the Mass is offered, and any particular intention), and your own name, and place with your offering (a stipend of at least $20 is suitable) in one of the Sunday collections (alternatively it may be handed directly to a priest). Please also note that gold coin donations are requested for devotional candles. There is a box attached to the candle stand at Our Lady of Fatima’s shrine, and another receptacle imbedded in the vestibule wall near the side door, for candles lit at St John Henry Newman’s Altar.

Centenary of St Aloysius’ Church: the foundation stone of St Aloysius’ Church was blessed on 19th August, 1923; the first Mass was celebrated in the Church on 25th May, 1924. We are currently in the process of forming a Master Plan for the restoration, upgrading and embellishment of the Church. Both suggestions and offers of assistance may be made by email to Fr Tattersall.

Novena of Rosaries on Saturday: join us in Acies Ordinata (Battle Array) to pray the Holy Rosary of Our Blessed Virgil Mother to “Restore all things in Christ”. Holy Church faces grave challenges (let us recall, for instance, that the Late Cardinal Pell called the upcoming Synod on Synodality a ‘toxic nightmare’). For nine consecutive Saturdays (26th August - 21st October) after the 10 am Mass we will pray a Novena of Holy Rosaries (in Latin) for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary over the enemies of Christ both within and without the Church.

Christus Rex Pilgrimage – 27th to 29th October 2023: The annual pilgrimage from Ballarat to Bendigo occurs over three days culminating on the Feast of the Kingship of Our Lord, which in the traditional calendar is the last Sunday in October. Registrations for the 2023 Pilgrimage may be made on-line at https://christusrexpilgrimage.com/. Fliers are available in the vestibule of the Church.

40 Days for Life: From 27th September to 5th November, please join in for 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion. Please also sign up to stand and peacefully pray during this time at the attached website: www.40daysforlife.com/en/melbourne. This year, there will be teams set up for various participating parishes. For further information, please speak to Josephine Okon 0405180979. A sign-up sheet and information flyers are also available in the vestibule. To make a donation: 40 Days for Life Melbourne BSB: 063 167 ACC: 11053337

Sunday 1st Collection - Support for our priests

Sunday 2nd Collection - Support for the Parish and its works