Together, in Christ's love, for others.

There was a special sense of joy and anticipation at the 10:30am Mass today at St. Leonard’s Church today as our parish community celebrated the Second Scrutiny for our RCIA Elect on this Fourth Sunday of Lent. This Sunday is traditionally called Laetare Sunday . The word Laetare  means “Rejoice,” and in the middle of the Lenten season the Church invites us to lift our hearts in hope because Easter is drawing near. That spirit of joy was clearly present as our parish accompan

On Tuesday evening at 7:30pm , parishioners from across our three LNS churches gathered at St. Leonard’s Church, Naremburn  for our monthly Holy Hour, held every second Tuesday of the month. It was a truly beautiful and grace-filled evening that reminded us how powerful shared prayer can be. From the moment people stepped into the church, many felt immediately drawn into prayer. The atmosphere inside was strikingly peaceful. Soft candle decorations and the gentle lighting cre

LNS Young Adult Gathering at St Leonard’s Church, Naremburn Last night was truly a joyful and grace-filled evening for the LNS Young Adult Group at St Leonard’s Church, Naremburn. What began just two weeks ago with 18 participants during our launch has already grown to 21 young adults gathering together, a sign of the enthusiasm, openness, and hunger for community among our young people. Even before the evening officially began, many members of the group attended the 6:00 pm

What a beautiful and grace-filled day for our parish community! After the 10:30am Mass today at St. Leonard’s Church, Naremburn, we officially launched the LNS Youth 2026, and what a blessing it was to witness young people gather with enthusiasm, openness, and joy. The launch was not just about starting a youth group. It was about creating a space where young people can belong, grow, and encounter Christ in a deeper way. Our desire is simple but powerful: to help our youth kn

Last night at St. Leonard's Church Hall , something new, and long hoped for, came to life. The launch of our LNS Young Adult Group   2026 was nothing short of a blessing. What began as a simple desire to gather young adults from across our three communities and beyond, unfolded into a beautiful evening of connection, faith, and shared purpose. Unexpectedly, we welcomed 18 young adults , each bringing their own uniqueness, stories, gifts, questions, and hopes. It was a beautif

Last Sunday, 15 February, our Lower North Shore parish community gathered at St Philip Neri’s Church, Northbridge , to celebrate Catechist Sunday, a special occasion dedicated to honouring the generous men and women who serve in the Church’s teaching ministry. The 9:00am Mass was celebrated by Fr Stephen Wayoyi and was beautifully attended by catechists from across the Lower North Shore. It was a joyful and prayerful celebration, filled with gratitude for those who dedicate t

Last Sunday, 15 February 2026, St Thomas' School began the new academic year in the best possible way, gathered around the altar. The church was truly packed to the rafters, with school families and parishioners filling every seat, a beautiful sign of the strong partnership between parish and school. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Roger Delmonte, with the choir led by the St Thomas’ School teachers, whose joyful singing lifted the entire congregation. Students confidently pro

This morning at St. Thomas’ Church, we joyfully celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, united with the Flame of Love Devotion. Like Simeon and Anna, we came with expectant hearts to encounter Christ, the Light of the world, who dispels darkness and fills us with hope. The blessing of candles before the Mass reminded us that we are called to carry Christ’s light into our homes, our communities, and the world. Through the Flame of Love Devotion, our

On the evening of 24 December 2025, St. Leonard’s Church in Naremburn was alive with warmth, colour, and joyful anticipation as the parish gathered for the Christmas Vigil Mass. The church was truly filled to the rafters, with families arriving early to secure seats, especially those whose children were part of the much-loved Nativity play. There was a palpable sense of excitement in the air, the kind that only Christmas Eve can bring, as voices, laughter, and quiet moments o

Last Wednesday, 17th of December, shortly after the 9 am Mass at St. Thomas’ Church , the Church Hall in Willoughby came alive with laughter, festive decorations, and the unmistakable warmth of community. Our LNS Parish Cuppa and Conversations Christmas Party and Carols  was a wonderful mid-morning celebration, bringing parishioners together to share joy, friendship, and the true spirit of the season. The event was lovingly organized by our legendary parishioner, Marie Harri

A gentle sense of completion and gratitude filled the Lower North Shore Parish last night as we concluded our final Advent Reflection Evening for the year. What began four weeks ago as a simple invitation to pause, pray, and prepare for Christmas has blossomed into a deeply enriching spiritual journey for our community. The closing night, graced by Bishop David Walker as our final retreat speaker, became a fitting culmination of this beautiful series. Bishop David guided us t

St. Thomas Church – A Day of Grace, Healing, and Renewed Hope Today, our community at Lower North Shore parish was blessed with one of the most moving and grace-filled celebrations we have experienced in recent memory. In honour of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe , parishioners from our LNS churches and community, and many visitors from beyond, gathered for a Healing Mass  that touched hearts, renewed spirits, and reminded us of the gentle yet powerful presence of Mary

The third night of the LNS Parish Advent Retreat at St. Thomas Church in Willoughby unfolded with a spirit of warmth, anticipation, and deep reflection. Led by Fr. Hien Vu , assistant priest of Our Lady of Dolours, Chatswood, the evening took up the theme of the Third Sunday of Advent: “Joy in Waiting.” And true to its title, the night became a powerful reminder that waiting, though often difficult, can become a sacred space where God’s grace reveals itself. Fr. Hien began wi

Reflections on the 2025 LETS Immersion Trip – Alex Gorman   The flight from Darwin to Dili in Timor-Leste is surprisingly short-75 minutes and yet it is a world away from Australia in so many ways. The first thing you notice flying over the country is how mountainous the terrain is. I wonder how the population travels, communicates, connects, makes a living and accesses health and education- I know not very well. And yet I am aware that this mountainous country has also provi

Yesterday, 30 November 2025, during the 9:30am Mass at St. Thomas’ Church, our parish family gathered to witness and celebrate a truly special milestone: the Rite of Acceptance for our Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) candidates. Led by Fr. Vincent Nguyen, the liturgy marked the formal entry of our candidates into the RCIA journey. With reverence and warmth, Fr. Vincent welcomed them into the community of believers, affirming their desire to grow in faith and wal

Last Wednesday evening marked the first night of our LNS Parish Advent Retreat series, and what a beautiful start it was! The evening began with the calming rhythm of our parish rosary, uniting hearts in prayer and reflection. Following this, we welcomed Deacon Peter McColluch, who guided us through a thoughtful and inspiring session centered on the theme of “Staying Awake.” His message invited us to pause, prepare, and open ourselves more fully to the presence of Christ as w

Last Friday evening, 21 November 2025, our Catholic Parish of Lower North Shore community gathered on the grounds of St Thomas Primary School for a night filled with gratitude, joy, and heartfelt appreciation. The occasion was our LNS Volunteers Appreciation Dinner, and it was nothing short of wonderful. The evening was blessed with a large turnout, reflecting just how vibrant and committed our volunteer family truly is. The atmosphere was vibrant from the very first arrival.

Last weekend, our parish community gathered for a truly momentous occasion—the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone at St. Philip Neri School, formerly known as St. Ciaran’s. It was a day steeped in gratitude, memory, and hope. One hundred years ago, the original foundation stone was solemnly blessed and laid by the Most Reverend Michael Kelly, DD., Archbishop of Sydney, marking the beginning of what would become a century-long legacy of

Last Sunday, 9 November 2025, the community of St. Leonard’s Catholic Church in Naremburn came together for a beautiful celebration honoring the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven—a long-cherished tradition for many families, especially within the vibrant Italian-Catholic community of the parish. Although the official Feast of the Assumption falls on August 15, St. Leonard’s has lovingly kept the custom of hosting its annual Mass and procession on a nearby Sund

The LNS Parish extends its heartfelt gratitude to Deacon Peter McCulloch  for the four Tuesday evenings he spent with us, guiding parishioners through an inspiring and in-depth reflection on The Roman Catholic Mass – the Holy Eucharist. Deacon Peter reminded us that the Mass is not only the central act of Catholic worship but also the source and summit of our faith. He explained that the Mass consists of four main parts : The Introductory Rites The Liturgy of the Word The Lit