St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Toongabbie 
Petition for people in detention
Please consider signing a petition by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre against Minister Peter Dutton’s push to restrict or ban mobile phones from refugees and people seeking asylum in immigration detention. Mobile phones have been critical for accountability and for maintaining access to loved ones and legal representation. The petition is here: https://www.asrc.org.au/
Catholic Outlook article: Social justice groups welcome support
Mary Brazell has written a wonderful article in the Catholic Outlook about the response of social justice groups to the NSW government support for temporary visa holders, including refugees who were excluded from any COVID-19-related government payments. She mentions the work of groups across the Diocese, including our own Altera group, with parishioner Joan Wharton speaking on our behalf so clearly. On our behalf, Fr Joby also wrote to Seven Hills MP Mark Taylor requesting state funding for those who had missed out. Have a read here: https://www.
Thank you to all our lovely and generous parishioners who donated essential items for the hundreds of families in our area through Vinnies and the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). We were blown away by the amount of food and hygiene products that were brought to the church. Please keep up the 'One in the Basket' effort as the need increases each week.
We particularly need winter blankets. Thank you!
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To Parishioners of St Anthony’s and our neighbours in the local community.
Hi, we are a group of parishioners. We are gathering names of people who either need help
and connection or are able to provide help or connection.
In these times of social distancing and self-isolation many people are unable to do their own
shopping, pick up prescriptions and are lonely from lack of contact. Also, there are many
people who have the time and ability to help them out.
This is an attempt to try to connect these people so that we can all support each other.
If you need help or are able to give help please consider filling in this form.
We will keep your details private except to the extent required for someone to contact you.
We will not use your data for any other purpose.
We will contact you after you have completed this form to discuss how you can help/be helped
and to match you up with someone.
If you know of someone else in our local community who might need assistance, please let
them know that they can fill in this form.
Join Bishop Vincent Long for Palm Sunday Mass.
You are invited to watch a livestream of Palm Sunday Mass with Bishop Vincent. The private Mass starts 10am on Sunday 5 April.
Watch the Mass live on Facebook and YouTube.
Readings for the Mass, provided by Universalis, can be found here.
