Religious Dimension
Mission Month - Socktober
October is World Mission Month, a time when
Catholics all over the world join together to
support and celebrate global missionary work.
Pope Francis released a message for mission month and spoke about it being an opportunity to “recall with gratitude all those men and women who by their testimony of life help us to renew our baptismal commitment to be generous and joyful apostles of the Gospel. Let us remember especially all those who resolutely set out, leaving home and family behind, to bring the Gospel to all those places and people.”
When we contemplate their missionary witness, writes the Pope, “we are inspired to be courageous ourselves.” He also points out that “the call to mission is not a thing of the past, or a romantic leftover from earlier times.” Today too, Jesus needs “messengers and agents of compassion,” he says.
Concluding his message for Mission month, Pope Francis stresses that “Always, but especially in these times of pandemic, it is important to grow in our daily ability to widen our circle, to reach out to others who, albeit physically close to us, are not immediately part of our “circle of interests.”
To be on mission, he adds, “is to be willing to think as Christ does, to believe with him that those around us are also my brothers and sisters.”
Here at St John's, students are participating in the Socktober Program for schools. https://www.socktober.org.au/
Sacraments
The Parent Information Night for the sacrament of Reconciliation will be online this year on Thursday 28 October at 7pm. We are waiting for more details on easing restrictions before we reschedule the dates for celebrating the sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation.
Parish Sunday Mass
Although churches are still closed, Fr Dispin is recording Mass each week. You may view the mass on the parish website: https://www.stjohnsmitcham.com.au/
Dates
October, Thursday 28 - 7.00pm
Sacrament of Reconciliation Parent Evening
Monica O'Shannassy
moshannassy@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au