Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Pauline RICHARDS (Cranbourne) (10:39): It was wonderful to join parishioners in celebrating St Agatha’s feast day. St Agatha was a woman of extraordinary courage and tenacity and is the patron street of breast cancer patients. It was a terrific honour to join Father Antony, Father Ajin and our wonderful Sisters of the Nativity sisters Faustina and Victoria, and the surprise visit of Bishop Greg Bennet added a sprinkling of joy. Principals from the local schools, including St Agatha’s Michelle Bruitzman and St Peter’s David Hansen, enhanced the joyous day. St Agatha’s is a place where we can truly belong. I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the many people observing the holy time of Lent through fasting and prayer and almsgiving, which is in fact, as we know, founded in acts of mercy and compassion, not just charity. My own mother and aunty are fond of reminding me not to eat meat on Fridays.