75th Anniversary of the Capuchin Friars in Leichhardt & Special Masses and Confessions This Week

30 October 2021 / By

75th Anniversary of the Capuchin Friars in Leichhardt

Seventy-five years ago, the first Capuchin Friars from the United States of America set foot in Brisbane on 22nd October 1945. The following year, Fr Accursio Rasi, the Superior Regular of the Mission, came to Sydney at the invitation of His Eminence, Cardinal Gilroy. The result of the meeting was that the Parish of Leichhardt and the chaplaincy of the Italians in the Archdiocese of Sydney were entrusted to the Capuchins, starting from 5th November 1946.

The first parish priest was Fr Anastase Paoletti OFMCap, and Monsignor Bartlett solemnly installed him on the 17th November 1946. He had two assistants who helped him in the Parish: Fr Adalbert Salerno OFMCap and Fr Henry Kusnerik OFMCap. All three are from America, but they were fluent in the Italian language. Thus, since 1946 the Capuchin Friars have been working hard to serve the Parish and the Italian Community in Sydney. Therefore, the significant development in our Parish is the result of the hard work of three entities: the permission of the Church hierarchy, the cooperation among the Capuchin Friars, and the full support from all parishioners.

Seeing how important this history is for us, our Parish plans to celebrate a Thanksgiving Mass on Sunday, 21st November 2021. However, given that we are in the COVID-19 pandemic, and because of the limitations of the spot in our church, and that social gatherings for large scale are still not recommended at this time, we will celebrate this Diamond Jubilee in simple ways. We will give further information about this in subsequent bulletins.

Special Masses and Confessions This Week

The Catholic Church dedicates November to pray for those who have died and the souls in Purgatory. This year, the Vatican has granted one more time a plenary indulgence to Catholics who visit a cemetery to pray for the dead on any day in November. In addition to visiting a cemetery, Catholics who wish to obtain a plenary indulgence must also fulfil the ordinary conditions of an indulgence: confess their sins, receive the Holy Eucharist, and pray for the pope’s intentions (and other prayers).

We will have extra Holy Masses and Confessions at St Fiacre’s this week to accommodate these needs. The schedule is as follows:

  • Monday, 1st November (Solemnity of All Saints): Morning Mass at 7:00 AM ~ Confession at 6:00 PM ~ Evening Mass at 7:00 PM.
  • Tuesday, 2nd November (All Souls): Morning Mass at 7:00 AM ~ Confession at 6:00 PM ~ Evening Mass at 7:00 PM.

We hope to see you soon! May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. – Fr Pio.

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