Today, we reflect on the life and work of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, a devoted servant of God and tireless advocate for the poor. Frédéric’s life story is one of faith, compassion, and action, reminding us of our call to love and serve our neighbors.

Frédéric Ozanam, a devout Catholic, was deeply moved by the teachings of Jesus Christ, particularly His command to care for the least among us. He understood that true faith is not merely a matter of words, but of deeds. Inspired by his faith, Frédéric dedicated himself to alleviating the suffering of the poor and marginalized in 19th-century France.

Frédéric, along with a group of like-minded friends, founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, named after the patron saint of charity. This society, rooted in the principles of Christian charity and solidarity, aimed to provide practical assistance to those in need, offering material, emotional, and spiritual support to the impoverished.

Frédéric Ozanam’s work with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was characterized by his deep empathy and respect for the dignity of every person. He recognized that poverty is not merely a lack of material goods, but a deprivation of human dignity. Thus, he sought to empower the poor, not just through charity, but through solidarity and friendship.

Like the Good Samaritan in the Gospel, Frédéric Ozanam showed us that true love knows no boundaries. He reached out to the poor, the sick, and the marginalized, offering them hope and companionship in their darkest hours.

As we honor Blessed Frédéric Ozanam today, let us ask ourselves: How can we follow his example in our own lives? How can we reach out to those in need, just as he did, with love, compassion, and humility?

May Blessed Frédéric Ozanam intercede for us and inspire us to be instruments of God’s love and mercy in the world. Let us go forth, like him, with hearts open to the needs of others, and may we always remember his words: “Yours must be a work of love, of kindness, you must give your time, your talents, yourselves.”

Below is the summary of our parish profile based on 2016  2016 and 2021 Australian census. This report has been compiled by National centre for Pastoral research (NCPR) See the percentage of Catholic population on  diocesan level

Chris Long presented this summary at the last Faith and Mission committee.

Thanks Chris

Faith& Mission Committee April 2024 – commentary on parish profiles derived from 2016 and 2021 Census.

*  Predominantly born in Australia (70%) with significant others Philippines 5.8%, UK and Ireland 4.8%, India 2.1%, Italy 1.6%, Sri Lanka 1.3%, New Zealand 1.4%, Mauritius 1.2%, Poland 1.1%, Croatia 1.1% with the remaining 10% from many nations.

* Predominantly speak English at home (81%) with significant Filipino 4.5% and Italian 1.8%.  Only 1.7% report as not speaking English well.

 * Education levels are rising with 18% with a degree or higher.

* 69% of males and 60.5% of females are in the labour force with 5.1% male and 4.4% female unemployed.  27.9% are managers and professionals and 35.9% are “blue collar” workers.

* 75.1% are in households that own or are purchasing their home. This is an improvement of 2.4% on 2016.  Median loan repayments per month increased from $1646 in 2016 to $1805 in 2021.

* The number of households with income in the lower ranges up to $3000 per week is higher than the diocese average and the number in the higher ranges above $3000 per week are lower than the diocese average.  Overall our income is below the diocese average.

* Families with dependent children – 0 children 2256, 54%; 1child 971, 23%; 2 children 842, 20%;            3 children 243, 6%; 4 or more children 50, 1.2%.        Total 4172 families.

* One parent families – 0 children 266; 1 child 181; 2 children 137; 3 children 40; 4 or more 7.         Total 631

* There are not many large families and only 7 of them are one parent families. Those with no dependants now may well have had a large family earlier in their life.

* Of those married 24% are in a de facto marriage and 76% in a registered marriage.

* For whole Catholic population of Seaford Parish, including children, the marital status is:

                                    Male                Female

Never Married              1456, 38%        1322, 30%

Married                        1701, 45%        1877, 43%

Sep/ divorced               527,     14%         820,  19%

Widowed                     114,     3%           387,  9%

* 337 males and 471 females need assistance with core activities

* Numbers aged 55 and up are increasing and numbers 0 to 54 are decreasing.  Ther has been a substantial increase in higher age groups (60+) from 2016 to 2021.

Chris Long, April 2024

Mercy Melbourne

An occasion of prayer and reconciliation coming up.. Stay tuned for more.

Faith and Mission committee need more members from different ethnic groups

The current members of this group belong to one ethnic group. To ensure diversity and inclusivity within the Faith and Mission committee, we are actively seeking members from various ethnic communities. Your unique perspectives, cultural insights, and lived experiences are invaluable assets that can enrich our discussions and help us better understand and serve the needs of our diverse parish community. By coming together from different backgrounds, we can foster greater unity, empathy, and effectiveness in carrying out our mission as a faith community. please reach out to the parish office. Let’s work together to make our parish community a more inclusive and welcoming place for all. Meetings happen on Wednesdays evening.

Please find the terms of reference for the committee here.

Christmas Holiday office Closure

Parish office closed during these days

22 December to 2nd January.

Christmas Programme 2023 Contact us via email or phone.

We will try to address any important message.