Category Archives: Parish News

Thank you to all PREP families for supporting the community Mass on Saturday 27 May 2023. The children presented a Liturgical Movement calling upon The Holy Spirit before Mass.

Text supplied.

It was a wonderful evening enjoyed by all who attended. A big thank you goes out to all the choir members both the Saturday evening Mass and the Sunday Mass choirs who led the beautiful singing. The children was really excited with the arrival of Santa who then handed out goody bags to them. We would like to thank Prega our hospitality co-ordinator who organised sponsors for the sausages, buns and drinks for the BBQ. Thank you sponsors.

Text supplied.

As the year comes to a close, on 29 November 2022, the children from PREP (Parish Religious Education Programme), participated in a special end of the year Mass celebrated by Fr Thai before they had their party in the parish centre.

Text supplied.

On 10 November 2022, the children from the parish and Orana made their first Reconciliation. The children have been preparing all year with the guidance from their teachers and catechists. They had a workshop with their parents to learn about forgiveness, how to show forgiveness to those in our lives and how we feel when we have received it. They also attended a retreat at Schoenstatt lead by Sister Lisette. On Thursday 10th November, priests from our diocese listened to the confessions of these children and their parents. We would like to thank Father Thai and Father CJ for their guidance in preparing the children and celebrating this Sacrament with them.

Text supplied and altered as required.

Mission4Christ is a mission group comprising of young adults and their friends from within and outside the parish. For the fourth year running, M4C and friends have participated in the Cancer Council’s Relay For Life. The Relay is an 24-hour event, held annually to raise vital funds for cancer research and cancer patient support.

On 8-9 Oct, with the support of the parish community, the group held a Bake Sale after all masses. It was a great community event well supported by the whole parish community. The event raised a total of $3400.

By the conclusion of the Relay at 12 noon 16 Oct, the Mission4Christ team raised a total of $6325, the highest amount the team has ever raised. A big thank you once again to the community of Saints John & Paul, and all who have contributed in one way of another. God bless you!

Thank you to all who came and supported the JP Canteen on 18 September 2022.
Look forward to meeting all of you again in October.

On 10-11 September 2022, the children from Orana and the Parish received their Sacrament of Confirmation. The children have been working very hard to prepare for this Sacrament. The candidates attended a workshop with their parents, they completed projects about the Saints, they attended a retreat to develop their spirituality, they learnt about the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

We would like to thank Father Thai and Father CJ for their support. A special thanks to the teachers and catechists who prepared these children. There are so many people from the parish that helped with flowers, banners and ushering that heped the ceremony to be so special. Please pray for these children and their family that they are always led by the Holy Spirit.

Text supplied.

What is the secret to a long marriage? This was Fr Thai’s question to the most senior couple at our parish’s Wedding Anniversary Mass last Sunday. With the wisdom gained from 66 years of marriage, David Rath answered: “Do as you’re told!” This earned him a smile of approval from wife, Eithne (the lady in red in the photo) and applause from the congregation. This was one of many lighthearted moments which Fr Thai brought to the joyful celebration of Mass and Renewal of Vows.
Congratulations to the 13 couples who celebrated milestone wedding anniversaries at this year’s Mass. Your commitment to your marital vows is a fine example to the whole parish community and may we all draw inspiration from David and Eithne. As Fr Thai pointed out, they have been married longer than many of us have been on this earth!
The organizing team would like to thank Fr Thai for his continued support of this annual parish event, Fr CJ for his presence at the shared meal after Mass and our ever-reliable volunteer photographer Rudy Hendarman for a brilliant job. Our special thanks also go to the team of young parishioners who assisted with hospitality: Gavin, Cassie, Rebecca, Bronagh, Sam and Jacinta.

Text supplied.

More photos can be seen from the following link:

Wedding Anniversary 2022 Photo Gallery

Friends and families, our sincere gratitude for your support and encouragement for our participation at the Vinnies’ #CeoSleepoutAu this year. It has truly been a blessed eye-opening experience. Aside from the experience of sleeping out on a hard cement floor through a cold winter night, what touch us most are the stories of the homeless people. These are hallowing stories of abuse, despair and lost of dignity. But they are also stories of courage and of the indominable human spirit. At the sleepout, we met and heard from Matt Vapor, who through his youth and formative years, suffered domestic violence, lost of dignity, hunger, physical and sexual violence. Matt managed to turn his life around, completed his university degrees; and is today a successful business leader. Matt is able to channel his past traumas in positive ways, advocating and supporting social causes such as homelessness, domestic violence, mental health and addiction. But Matt’s struggle is not over. He continues to suffer from the many after-effects of his traumatic childhood and severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Matt posed this question to us on the night: “When does homelessness end for a person?” It is a sobering thought.

The experience of the Sleepout helps us understand we cannot solve homelessness by simply putting a physical roof over someone’s head. It is a complex multi-facet issue. We were introduced to the work of Passages, a youth engagement hub supported by the Vinnes and the Rotary Club, where displaced young people can come, not be judged, but just be themselves. Whether it is to speak to a councilor or just do simple tasks like laundry; in Matt’s words, “just to exist”.

Thanks to all our supporters, our team has reached a donation total of over $51k, a figure that exceeds our expectation. But this is but a little step. Today, let us individually reflect on how blessed we are. And whatever differences we might have in our own families, our loved ones are a blessing in our lives. Finally, if you would still like to donate to our team, the donation portal will remain open for a short period. Go to https://rebrand.ly/ceosleepoutau

Blessings to you, our friends and families. Fr Thai, Fr CJ, Louis, Ken, Byron, Howard

Welcome Fr C.J. Millen (which stands for Carmine-John)

Fr C.J. Millen was born in Kalgoorlie and grew up in several country towns of Meekatharra, Newdegate & Brunswick Junction and Perth due to his father’s work as a primary school teacher and principal. Faith and family have been integral in his development, with weekend Masses and prayers essential along with spending time with family through his mum’s Italian heritage. He has three siblings that consists of an elder brother and sister who are both married with children and younger sister who is also married.

Following secondary graduation from St Norbert College Queens Park, which Fr C.J. Millen attended from Year 8, he completed a Diploma in Computer Engineering at TAFE and an Education Degree at Notre Dame and Edith Cowan University. At the same he worked in many jobs such as electronics, telecommunication, Kmart as supervisor, a swimming instructor, and various others jobs. Despite his success and experiences, deep down he felt something was missing, which led to his various callings to the priesthood. With the help and guidance of family, friends, priests, religious and laity, Fr C.J. Millen decided to test this calling to the priesthood, in which he attended St Charles Seminary in Guildford from 2008. During this time, he completed a Theology Degree at Notre Dame University in Fremantle.

In November 2013, Fr C.J. Millen was ordained a Deacon at South Perth. In March 2015, he was ordained a priest and have been appointed to several parishes within the Archdiocese of Perth that include Ballajura, Greenwood, Lockridge, St Mary’s Cathedral Perth and now St John and Paul Willetton.

Fr C.J. Millen looks forward to getting to know everyone, as we work together to continue to make St’s John and Paul Parish and Orana Primary School a great place for all.

Text supplied and adapted.