Season of Lent 2024:

Holy Thursday Visitation of the 7 Churches Pilgrimage:

Parishioners are invited to prepare for the Jubilee Year in 2025 with prayer. One way of entering into prayer during Holy Week is to visit an altar of repose after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The devotion of visiting 7 Churches is a centuries old tradition that involves meditating on the 7 events that lead to Jesus Christ’s Passion and Crucifixion. Families are invited to participate in this pilgrimage. A resource booklet with reflections and list of churches participating across the Archdiocese will be available in our parish from Palm Sunday. Click here to download the resource online:

St Kevin’s Eastwood will be one of the churches in the Northern Area that will be open to pilgrims ‘til midnight on Holy Thursday.

Parish Lenten Group:

Join our Parish Lenten Group every Thursday at 6pm in the Church. Parishioners are welcome to join any time or form their own groups. ‘Lenten Companion 2024’ now available in the church foyer.

Caritas Project Compassion 2024:

Please return any Project Compassion Boxes in the box provided at the main door. Thank you! You can also donate online visit: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion.

Project Compassion Boxes will be collected until Easter.

Stations of the Cross every Friday after the 5pm Mass during Lent.

Easter Food Basket Blessing on Holy Saturday, 30th March at 10am in the Church:

Blessing of the Food/Święconka

Blessing of the food for Easter breakfast is one of the most enduring Polish traditions. Baskets containing a sampling of Easter food: cold meat, boiled eggs, different kinds of bread/cake and other types of food that we would like to have on Easter.

Parishioners are welcome to bring their own basket of food.

The basket is traditionally lined with a white linen and decorated with evergreens. Poles or Polish people, take special pride in preparing and decorating their Easter basket. Looking at the beautiful food baskets prepared by parishioners brings a special joy to this event. The baskets are lined up on the table in front of the altar. The priest then says a special prayer to bless the baskets and sprinkles each basket with Holy Water.

Basket Contents and Symbolism:

  • Butter/masło– reminds us of the goodness of Christ that we should all have towards all things.
  • Bread/chleb– symbol of Jesus, the Beard of Life.
  • Horseradish/chrzan– symbol of Passion of Christ still in our minds, bur sweeten with some sugar because of the Resurrection.
  • Eggs/jajka or pisanki– symbolises new life and Christ’s resurrection.
  • Sausage/kiełbasa– indicative of God’s favour and generosity.
  • Ham/szynka– symbolises great joy and abundance.
  • Bacon/boczek– a symbol of the abundance of God’s mercy and generosity.
  • Salt/sól– indispensable element in our physical life, that Jesus used its symbolism “You are the salt of the earth”.
  • Cheese/ser– it is the symbol of the moderation Christians should have.
  • Candle/świeca– often marked like the Paschal Candle, it represents Christ as Light of the World.

Please note that these are the traditional items used for the basket blessing but any food items may be used.


Parish News:

  • This weekend is PALM SUNDAY. It marks the beginning of Holy Week.
  • Collect a copy of our Holy Week 2023 program as you leave the church. Thank you.
  • Our Lenten 2nd Rite of Reconciliation will be on Tues 19th March at 6pm. All welcome.
  • EXCITING NEWS!!! ALPHA is coming to Eastwood! Be part of the conversation! Details soon!
  • Thank you to all those who joined us for the Prayer Walk and adoration last Tuesday evening. We also thank Andrew for organizing this initiative to pray for our parish renewal.  
  • Easter Liturgical Roster now in the sacristy. We invite liturgical volunteers to put their names down if available to help. Thank you.
  • SINGERS NEEDED for Good Friday Stations of the Cross and for Easter Sunday 8am Mass. Please contact Suzanne on 9874 2809 if you can sing at either or both. Thank you.
  • Easter envelopes now available. Please take home and return on Easter weekend.
  • Sacrament of Confirmation Program Dates now available.
  • This Vigil Mass we welcome back our RCIA Program participants: Mandy, Maryam, Richard, Suki and Jack, for the Third Rite of Scrutiny. Please continue to include them in your prayers as they continue their journey to becoming Catholics.
  • Fit & Well Exercise Class for Parishioners has recommenced. Classes are held Tuesdays at 4:15pm in the Haseler Centre. For more info contact the parish office.
  • The Liturgy Office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has released their upcoming parish courses for Liturgical Ministers. Open to all Acolytes, /Senior Servers/Readers/Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. Hurry! Visit: https://liturgy.sydneycatholic.org/ministry-training-formation/ for details. Registration forms available in the church foyer.
  • St Kevin’s Playgroup meets every Wednesday from 9:30am to 11:30am in the parish hall during school terms. All parents/carers and little ones are welcome to join in the fun! For info grab a flyer from the church foyer or email our new St Kevin’s Family Educator:  [email protected] . We welcome Anne to our parish community!
  • Italian Prayer Group: Wednesdays, 12:30-2:30pm in the church. All are welcome to join us in praying the rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, reflection on the gospel, praise and worship. For more info contact the parish office.
  • Men’s Midweek Gospel Reflection: Tuesdays 7pm in the Holy Family Chapel in the church. For info contact the parish office.
  • St Kevin’s Men’s Choir – is rostered to sing at the following Masses each month: Sat 5:30pm 1st Week, Sun 9:30am 2nd Week, Sun 6pm 4th Week. Interested in singing or playing an  instrument with the Men’s Choir? Contact the parish office.
  • Children’s Liturgy: Sundays at 9:30am. The Children’s Liturgy is run by parent volunteers during school term. NEW Children’s Liturgy Volunteers Needed: No experience required, just a love for sharing Scripture with children. Training provided. You will be rostered once or twice per school term. To find out more, contact the parish office.
  • Volunteer Readers and AV Operators needed. If interested, contact the parish office by Email: [email protected]
  • If you know a parishioner who would like to receive Holy Communion at home because they are sick and/or unable to go to Church, please contact the parish office 9874 2533.
  • Altar Flower Donors/Arrangers Needed: If you are interested to help with the altar flowers or donate flowers for weekend Masses, please contact the parish office 9874 2533.
  • If you wish to offer a Mass for the sick, deceased, and other occasions, please collect an envelope in the church foyer. Please include the date when you want the Mass to be said, the name of the person who you wish to pray for and the intention, (tick the box ’For Publication’ if you wish for the name to be mentioned in the parish bulletin) and then place them in the weekend collection bags.

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary (QMHR) Jamaican Appeal:

While grocery shopping please consider buying extra items that can be donated to the Missionaries of the Poor Lenten Appeal in Jamaica. The Missionaries of the Poor have dedicated their lives to care for disabled & abandoned children, adults & elderly. See poster for details. Please place your donations in the church foyer by 30th April 2024. Thank you!

BREAKFAST FOR THE HOMELESS at St Patrick’s Church Hill:

Every Saturday & Sunday morning, St Patrick’s Church Hill opens its doors to the homeless community, providing them with breakfast that has been labelled as a “King’s breakfast”. To know more of what’s involved, watch the video.

To help St Patrick’s with their mission, we will have a grocery drive – non-perishable items only! Such as:

  • Milo
  • long life milk/juice
  • Cordial
  • Cereal
  • Pancake mix
  • Biscuits
  • Rice
  • Cooking oil
  • Oyster sauce     
  • tomato/BBQ sauce         
  • Tinned beans/corn/tomatoes

Kindly place donated items in the plastic tub in the church foyer.

Didaskō Adult Faith Formation:

ARE YOU KEEN TO EXPLORE MORE ABOUT YOUR FAITH, THE SCRIPTURES AND THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH? Join us for the Didaskō Adult Faith Formation courses organised by the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney Parish Renewal Team, together with the University of Notre Dame Australia.  Our parish has registered for these online courses and we encourage parishioners and young adults (18yo and up) to join us in the parish hall for an in-person gathering, with reflection and discussion. Cost: FREE! Coffee, tea & biscuits provided. To register, Ph: 9874 2533 or email the parish office: [email protected] .

The monthly topics include:

  • 2024 Mon Mar 4, 11 & 18, 7:30pm-8:45pm: Foundations of Theology
  • 2024 Mon Apr 15, 22 & 29, 7:30pm-8:45pm: Introduction to Christology
  • 2024 Thu May 9, 16 & 23, 7:30pm-8:45pm: Moral Theology

If you wish to take the online course privately, the cost (per short course) will be $35 per person (plus booking fees). Register at: https://gomakedisciples.org.au/didasko/

Original Baptismal Font Restored!

When Fr Pawel Kopczynski discovered that the original baptismal font from the old St Kevin’s Church, built in 1919, has been safely stored and kept for many years in the parish hall, he took it upon himself to give it a second life.

With the help of Fr Pawel’s friend, Jacek Luszczyk, sculptor and skilled restorer, the baptismal font has been carefully cleaned, polished and repaired, to return it to its former glory.

Finally, on Tuesday 19th December, the baptismal font has been installed in the Church.

A relic from the original St Kevin’s Church found its rightful place, back inside our beloved parish, for everyone to see and once more hold the baptismal water for the solemn administration of the Sacrament of Baptism.

Something old but looks new, ready to welcome the New Year! A wonderful achievement indeed! Thanks Fr Pawel!

Click here to see more photos.


Around the Archdiocese:

Donate to Charitable Works Fund:

Help keep alive vital ministries of the Church in service to those who need it most. In hospitals, churches, schools, communities and families, your donation is making our world a loving, caring and compassionate place. Give generously. Your tax-deductible gift changes lives. Thank you!

Donate at https://www.ourfaithourworks.org/give-to-cwf/


Safeguarding and Child Protection

Guided by the policies of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney (CAS), it is mandatory for selected parish volunteers, age 18+, to have a current WWCC. To check the list of parish roles that requires WWCC visit https://stkevinseastwood.org.au/becoming-volunteer/ . To apply/renew your WWCC go to: https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/working-children-check/applicant . Once your application has been processed, please forward your WWCC number and Expiry Date to the parish office for verification.

Thank you to all the parish volunteers who have completed the Online Safeguarding Induction Training. To maintain our current safe working environment, it is required that all parish volunteers in a child-related role must complete a Safeguarding Induction Training. Training can be completed online, to  register click here. To those who have completed the Safeguarding Induction Training in 2019/2020, you are now due for a refresher. To register for a Safeguarding Refresher Training, click here. The archdiocese requires safeguarding refresher training every 3 years.

A MESSAGE FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY:

Child sexual abuse is a crime. The appropriate people to deal with crimes are the police. If you or anyone you know have been abused, please contact the police. Alternatively, contact the Safeguarding and Ministerial Integrity Office at (02) 9390 5810 or [email protected]. You may also want to speak to your Parish Priest who will be able to provide support and guidance. The Archdiocese has a legal obligation to report crimes to the police.

SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT STATEMENT: The emotional, physical and spiritual safety, well-being and dignity of Children and Adults is an integral part of the teachings and values of the Catholic Church. The Archdiocese is wholly committed to ensuring the safety, well-being and dignity of all Children and Adults at Risk, and acknowledges its important legal, moral and spiritual responsibility to create a safe and nurturing environment for those Children and Adults. To access the Commitment Statement from Catholic Church Leaders, click here.

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY CHILD AND ADULTS AT RISK SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney Code of Conduct for Working with Children and
Adults at Risk

PROTOCOL FOR MANAGING SAFEGUARDING COMPLAINTS

SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION & RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE.

CLICK HERE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND IDEAS ON SAFEGUARDING PRACTICE.


Welcome to St. Kevin’s Parish, Eastwood

The Catholic Parish of St Kevin’s Eastwood is a welcoming and supportive community situated approximately 17 kilometres from the Sydney CBD, and 8 kilometres from Parramatta.  St Kevin’s is the most western parish within the Archdiocese of Sydney and is part of the Ryde Deanery.

Our vision is to make Christ present in our parish, in our local community and in our world.

Our mission is to know Christ and to make him known; to be a community committed to discovering Christ present in every person through our ministry to each other, our service to the wider community, the joyful celebration of the Eucharist and other sacraments, and our active concern for social justice.

The first Church was established here in 1919 and our current Church was completed in 1994. St Kevin’s Primary School and Marist College Eastwood are both integral parts of our parish community and are located on either side of the Church.



In the spirit of reconciliation the Catholic Parish of St Kevin, Eastwood, acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land on which our church stands. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.