News and Announcements

24th September, 2023

17th Sunday after Pentecost

The Papacy, Doctrine, and Development by Anthony Esolen – Courtesy of Crisis Magazine

Michaelmas: the feast of St Michael, the Archangel, falls this Friday, 29th September. It is also a public holiday. In addition to the various Low Masses (at 7 am, 8 am & 6 pm) there will be Solemn Mass in the Dominican Rite at 10.30 am.

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.

October – the Month of the Most Holy Rosary: the Circle of the Immaculate Heart will have a stall after the morning Masses on Sunday, 1st October, with rosaries, literature on the Rosary, and also cakes (donations requested). The month of October is a good time to introduce or restore the family Rosary. The “October prayer to St Joseph” should also be added to the Rosary in this month. Let us show our total reliance upon Our Lady of Victories, who through the Holy Rosary overcomes the enemies of God and of His Holy Church.

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.

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. 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. The Oratorio was developed in the context of the Oratory of St Philip Neri (hence the name, “Oratorio”). It is not a conventional or “secular” concert, but a selection of sacred music outside of the liturgy, designed to raise the mind and heart to God. Given that it is performed in a sacred place (the Church), silence is maintained before, during and after the performance, and expressions of appreciation (such as applause) are given afterwards (in the hall, before supper), and not in the Church.

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

Items to be blessed: we receive many requests for items to be blessed. It is usually not convenient to confer these immediately upon request, as often there are members of the Faithful to whom we must first give our attention (especially on Sundays), or the blessings themselves (eg for St Benedict medals) are quite lengthy. That is why we ask your patience and cooperation, by giving your items to one of the porters or sacristans. Your items should be kept together in a bag or box, with your name and contact number attached. Items left on one Sunday may be collected the following Sunday (or otherwise by arrangement with the porters). The porters are on duty in the vestibule of the Church before and after each Sunday Mass, and can readily be identified by their badge.

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. We are especially looking for parishioners with the following skills and qualifications who may be willing and able to help with the Master Plan:

a. Architectural to assist in measuring the church and creating a digital as-built survey.
b. Structural Engineer - to provide initial advice for some elements of the church.
c. Electrical & Lighting Consultant to improve the lightning and general electrics.
d. Audio Visual Consultant to review current system.
e. HVAC Consultant. (HVAC = Heating Cooling Air Conditioning)
f. Cost Consultant or Quantity Surveyor.
g. Land surveyor.

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