About
Welcome to the St Paul the Apostle Parish Winston Hills website! We hope this website provides parishioners and visitors alike with useful information about community. For further information please see the tabs below or contact us.
Thank you to the many volunteers who help with the running of our Parish. Our Parish Groups are listed below with a brief description. If you'd like to be involved in or would like assistance from any of the Parish Groups, please contact the Presbytery.
Parish Pastoral Council
Advisory Body of parishioners. Meets on the 1st Monday of each month, except January.
St Vincent de Paul
The Society is a lay Catholic organisation, the main work of the Society is to visit people in their homes to provide support, friendship and material assistance. We have a very active conference at St Paul's; they meet in the parish centre on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm for about an hour. Members have wonderful support from parishioners to continue the work. New members to help with this great work are always welcome.
Catechist Group
Teaches Scripture in three local state primary schools in Winston Hills.
Liturgy Group
Meets as advised in bulletin.
Music/Choir
Co-ordinates music and singing for weekend Masses.
Leisure Group
Social Group for over 50’s. Meets alternative Wednesdays for outings and meetings.
Readers/Commentators
As per roster for Masses each weekend.
Acolytes/Ministers of Communion/Altar Servers
As per roster for Masses each weekend.
Children’s Liturgy Group
Children 4-6 years old meet during the Sunday 9:30am Mass during School Terms. The Childrens Liturgy is not run during school holidays.
Sacramental Programmes
Arranges preparation of children for 1st Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation as required.
Parents & Friends Association
Advisory Body of parents at St Paul's School.
Knights of the Southern Cross
Meets 1st Tuesday every month at 33 Aberdeen Rd, Winston Hills.
The Council exists to advise and assist the Parish Priest in matters relating to the Pastoral life of the parish. It provides a voice to the concerns and needs of the parish community. Parishioners are invited to raise their concerns, questions or ideas at any time by emailing the Council directly on council@stpaultheapostleparish.org.
The Parish Pastoral Council meets on the first Monday of each month, except January.
PARISH PRIESTS
Father David Scott ~ 3rd February 1970
Father David Hume (Administrator) ~ 1st October 2009
Father Ranillo Creta ~ 1st May 2010
ASSISTANT PRIESTS
Father Greg Hogan ~ 28th September 1979
Father Jim Fowler ~ 11th May 1982
Father George O'Mara ~ 21st November 1985
Father Alan Glendenning ~ 8th December 1988
Father W Brymora ~ 11th August 1989
Father Val O'Brien ~ 4th January 1991
Father Peter Quinn ~ 15th January 1993
Father Basil Ekot ~ 11th June 1996
Father Lancy D'Souza ~ 15th May 1999
Father Suresh Kumar ~ 5th February 2013
Father Tovia Lui ~ 12th December 2015
DEACONS
Deacon Greg Walsh Commenced work in the parish 3rd December 1971 at the request of the Carmelites
Deacon Jim Phelan commenced work here 11th July 1997 until 21st November 1998
Seminarian Larry Torentino commenced work here February 2011
Deacon Shinto Francis commenced work here 27th May 2017
Photos from the Parish
Take a look at our gallery of images that span all the way back to the very beginning of our Parish. Witness the landscape, fashion and faith of the 1970's to present day in our preserved archive of images.
Mass Times
SATURDAY
MONDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
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Sacraments
Baptism is the sacrament of entry into the Church. The sacrament is administered by the priest or deacon who pours water over the head of the person to be baptised while invoking the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Baptism takes away original sin, all personal sins and all punishment due to sin. It makes the baptised person a participant in the divine life of the Trinity through sanctifying grace, the grace of justification which incorporates one into Christ and into his Church. It gives one a share in the priesthood of Christ and provides the basis for communion with all Christians. It bestows the theological virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. A baptised person belongs forever to Christ. He or she is marked with the indelible seal of Christ (character).
The Church baptises infants because they are born with original sin. They need to be freed from the power of the Evil One and brought into that realm of freedom which belongs to the children of God.
Baptisms can be booked for the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, commencing at 11am. Please contact the Parish Office to book.
The essence of the sacrament of confirmation is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into the life of a Christian. With Baptism and Eucharist, Confirmation shapes us as Catholic Christians. Each of these sacraments focuses on a different aspect of our life as believers: birth, breath and nourishment.
The Sacramental Programme
The Sacramental Programme involves the organisation for the conference of the sacraments, including Confirmation each year.
Further details are published in the monthly parish magazine The Note Book.
For further details, please contact our parish sacramental co-ordinator Sandra Sheehan at the Parish Office on (02) 9639 6516 (Mondays and Wednesdays)
In a sacramental marriage, God’s love becomes present to the spouses in their total union and also flows through them to their family and community. By their permanent, faithful and exclusive giving to each other, symbolized in sexual intercourse, the couple reveals something of God’s unconditional love. The sacrament of Christian marriage involves their entire life as they journey together through the ups and downs of marriage and become more able to give to and receive from each other. Their life becomes sacramental to the extent that the couple cooperates with God’s action in their life and sees themselves as living “in Christ” and Christ living and acting in their relationship, attitudes and actions.
How to Book your Wedding
Weddings can be booked by appointment. Please contact the Presbytery for more information.
Pre-Marriage Education Courses
As part of your marriage preparation you are required to attend a Pre-Marriage course. The celebrant will usually work with you on this, but there are many such courses conducted by Centacare at several venues in and around Sydney. Please book early, as numbers are limited. Diocesan contact numbers for Centacare are as follows:
- Diocese of Parramatta: 9630-7788
- The Archdiocese of Sydney: 9660 2044
- Broken Bay: 8425-8707
- Wollongong: 4254-9336
Books to assist you in preparing for your wedding ceremony are available at some of the Pre-Marriage courses or at Catholic bookstores.
The Eucharist is the sacrament of bread and wine and is celebrated as part of the Mass. Catholics also call this communion and it is the high point of a Catholic's spiritual life. Catholics believe the bread and the wine become Jesus. For Catholics this is more than a symbol it is a real presence of Jesus in the appearance of bread and wine.
The Eucharist is the spiritual food that connects the receiver to Christ. The person receiving the Eucharist is also connected to all the people. The Eucharist is soul-food that helps a Catholic live out the promises made at their baptism.
The Sacramental Programme
The Sacramental Programme involves the organisation for the conference of the sacraments, including First Holy Communion each year.
Further details are published in the monthly parish magazine The Note Book.
For further details, please contact our parish sacramental co-ordinator Sandra Sheehan at the Parish Office on (02) 9639 6516 (Mondays and Wednesdays)
It is called the sacrament of conversion because it makes sacramentally present Jesus' call to conversion, the first step in returning to the Fathers from whom one has strayed by sin.
It is called the sacrament of Penance, since it consecrates the Christian sinner's personal and ecclesial steps of conversion, penance, and satisfaction.
It is called the sacrament of confession, since the disclosure or confession of sins to a priest is an essential element of this sacrament. In a profound sense it is also a "confession" - acknowledgment and praise - of the holiness of God and of his mercy toward sinful man.
It is called the sacrament of forgiveness, since by the priest's sacramental absolution God grants the penitent "pardon and peace."
It is called the sacrament of Reconciliation, because it imparts to the sinner the live of God who reconciles: "Be reconciled to God." He who lives by God's merciful love is ready to respond to the Lord's call: "Go; first be reconciled to your brother."
Availability
Reconciliation is available every Saturday from 4.30pm-5.30pm.
There are further reconciliation times during special religious periods such as Easter and Christmas. For details, refer the weekly bulletin or contact the Parish Office.
The Sacramental Programme
The Sacramental Programme involves the organisation for the conference of the sacraments, including Reconciliation each year.
Further details are published in the monthly parish magazine The Note Book.
For further details, please contact our parish sacramental co-ordinator Sandra Sheehan at the Parish Office on (02) 9639 6516 (Mondays and Wednesdays).
Funeral Masses may not be held on Holy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter), Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), Holy Saturday (the Saturday before Easter), or Easter Sunday. Funeral Masses are also prohibited on the Sundays during Advent (the period starting on the fourth Sunday before December 25 through December 25), Lent (the 40-day period before Easter), and the Easter Season (the 50-day period after Easter). A Funeral Mass may be held on Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), though ashes would not be distributed in the church.
Funerals can be booked by appointment. Please contact the Parish Office for more information.
Calendar
Resources
Thank you to the many volunteers who help with the running of our Parish. Our Parish Groups are listed below with a brief description. If you'd like to be involved in or would like assistance from any of the Parish Groups, please contact the Presbytery.
St Vincent de Paul
The Society is a lay Catholic organisation, the main work of the Society is to visit people in their homes to provide support, friendship and material assistance. We have a very active conference at St Paul's; they meet in the parish centre on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm for about an hour. Members have wonderful support from parishioners to continue the work. New members to help with this great work are always welcome.
Catechist Group
Teaches Scripture in three local state primary schools in Winston Hills.
Liturgy Group
Meets as advised in bulletin.
Music/Choir
Co-ordinates music and singing for weekend Masses.
Leisure Group
Social Group for over 50’s. Meets alternative Wednesdays for outings and meetings.
Readers/Commentators
As per roster for Masses each weekend.
Acolytes/Ministers of Communion/Altar Servers
As per roster for Masses each weekend.
Children’s Liturgy Group
Children 4-6 years old meet during the Sunday 9:30am Mass during School Terms. The Children’s Liturgy is not run during school holidays.
Sacramental Programmes
Arranges preparation of children for 1st Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation as required.
Parents & Friends Association
Advisory Body of parents at St Paul's School.
Knights of the Southern Cross
Meets 1st Tuesday every month at 33 Aberdeen Rd, Winston Hills.
The Council exists to advise and assist the Parish Priest in matters relating to the Pastoral life of the parish. It provides a voice to the concerns and needs of the parish community. Parishioners are invited to raise their concerns, questions or ideas at any time by emailing the Council directly on council@stpaultheapostleparish.org.
The Parish Pastoral Council meets on the first Monday of each month, except January.
The Children's Liturgy Group is organised for children between the ages of 4-7 each Sunday at the 9.30a.m. Mass during school terms. Each Sunday there are lessons prepared for the children and these lessons relate to the Readings of the day but at the child's level. Father has purchased some new and lovely resources for the Leaders to use. The programmes for each term are prepared in advance. Children leave Mass at the beginning to attend the Children's Liturgy and return to Mass after the Homily and in time for the Offertory.
The Sacramental Programme involves the organisation for the conference of the sacraments each year:
- First Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- First Communion
Further details are published in the monthly parish magazine The Note Book.
For further details, please contact our parish sacramental co-ordinator Sandra Sheehan at the Parish Office on (02) 9639 6516 (Mondays and Wednesdays)
Finance Committee
This groups meets quarterly and aids Father in making financial decisions for the Parish.
Music
The St Paul's organists performs regularly at the Sunday 9:30am service, and at the Easter and Christmas services.
Piety Stall
There is a large assortment of religious books and artefacts available at the Stall, which is open for the Vigil Mass and all Masses on Sunday.
Lending Library
A large selection of books and DVDs of a religious nature are available to borrow.
St Vincent de Paul Society
The Society is a lay Catholic organisation, the main work of the Society is to visit people in their homes to provide support, friendship and material assistance. We have a very active conference at St Paul's; they meet in the parish centre on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm for about an hour. Members have wonderful support from parishioners to continue the work. New members to help with this great work are always welcome.
Solo Parent Services (Division of CatholicCare Social Services)
Solo Parent Services particular focus is with those who are grieving the loss of their spouse or partner following separation, divorce or death. We recognise that these people who are grieving also face particular challenges associated with adapting to a new identity.
The role of Grief counselling is to accompany and assist people to come to a point of being able to reinvest their emotional and physical energy back into life and living.
Solo Parent Services offer individual counselling, support groups, psycho-educational programs and seminars which are conducted in a safe and supportive environment. These services are offered separately for those in the process of a separation and divorce or grieving the death of their spouse or partner. Our groups and services are currently offered from our offices at Parramatta and Blacktown, or Parish based in the Western Suburbs where required.
For more information contact Rita Chater on 8822 2222 or email: soloparentservices@ccss.org.au
A message from the principal
St Paul the Apostle Primary School, Winston Hills is a welcoming Catholic community, valuing our unique partnership of family, school and parish; providing opportunities for individual growth and striving for excellence in teaching and learning. Our vision is to 'reach new heights through a community celebrating faith, life and learning'.
The motto of St Paul the Apostle Primary is: ‘Victory Through Faith.’
The commitment and contribution of the Holy Faith Sisters to the faith development of the school community has been, and still is, significant. The pastoral leadership provided by the sisters has ensured that our school motto is truly reflective of the school philosophy and spirit. The community spirit in the school is very evident and parents are welcomed and valued members of our school community. The quality of education provided is a high priority and the school leadership team and staff endeavour to do this in an environment which values the dignity and giftedness of every student and teacher.
The school’s academic record continues to improve as evidenced by our results in NAPLAN – National Assessment Program in Literacy and Numeracy. In 2015 our Year 3 students were above the state average in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation and numeracy. In 2015 our Year 5 students were above the state average in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation.
The school is fortunate in having a very committed Parents and Friends Association (P&F) who work in partnership with the school staff. The P&F Association provides a positive link between the school and parent body and helps build the strong community spirit of Saint Paul the Apostle Primary School. These strong links complement the academic learning to help the children grow into well-rounded people. As the first teachers of their children, parents play a vital role in the children’s learning and are welcome visitors as they assist in literacy and numeracy activities, creative and practical arts and a variety of sporting activities.
Religious Education is an integral component of all curriculum areas and our sacramental program is parish based and family centered. We are fortunate in having the parish church located in close proximity to the school.
You are always welcome to come and visit our learning spaces to see what excellence in education looks like today. All enquiries regarding the school can be made by phoning the school office on 8841 3800 between the hours of 8.00am to 4.00pm.
Yours sincerely,
Marian Bell
Principal