R.E News - Assistant Principal - Mission

Catholic Missions

As mentioned in the previous newsletter, O'Connor has a tradition of supporting Catholic Missions at this time of the year. We support Catholic Missions by educating our students on the work of Catholic Missions and participating in fundraising activities to help the various projects around the world to support those living in poverty. Missions Week will be held from the 9th to the 13th of November. Some of our usual activities will be curtailed due to COVID19 but we will at least still hold the annual Big Handball Competition. The following is modified from the Catholic Missions website which I encourage you to check out.

Each year Catholic Missions highlights one of the many projects undertaken around the world. This year we will be looking at The Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang, in Northwest Cambodia, who have been assisting people with disabilities for over 20 years. Bishop Enrique “Kike” Figaredo founded initiatives like the Arrupe Centre in 2001 to specifically help children with disabilities to access education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. At the Arrupe Centre children, like Dara, (whose story appears below) who have been injured due to the presence of landmines, are able to access education.  

Cambodia’s recent history is a tragic one, perhaps most known for the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot’s rule in the 1970s. Since the 1980s, thousands of deaths and disabilities have been caused by the millions of mines that were laid by the Khmer Rouge and government forces. A large proportion of Cambodian people also suffer mental health problems having lost family members and witnessed untold trauma. From January 1979 to December 2019, there have been a total of 64,855 landmine casualties with 19,780 people killed, 36,026 injured and 9,049 amputated.

In Cambodia, people with disabilities are generally among the poorest of society and this is magnified by the obstacles they face in gaining access to education, basic resources, training and employment. Public awareness of disability is also slim and education to promote the full inclusion of people with disability is rare. While the rights of people with disability are recognised in the Cambodian constitution, discrimination and marginalisation, remain a problem.

This year in his  World Mission Day Message 2020 Pope Francis urges us to continue Jesus’ mission:

“…. the mission of Jesus in history …. sends us everywhere so that, through our witness of faith and the proclamation of the Gospel, God may continue to manifest God’s love and in this way touch and transform hearts, minds, bodies, societies and cultures in every place and time.”

Prayer Box and the Rosary

Our Lasallian Youth Ministers (LYMs) have set up a prayer box at the front office for students who would like to have an intention prayed for by the whole school in morning prayer. An intention is a prayer for a person, population, place or an event. The awesome traditional Catholic prayer, "The Rosary" is traditionally prayed particularly in the month of October. The Rosary is said in Break A in De La Salle and all students are welcome. 

Year 11 Retreat Day

Year 11 students participated in and enjoyed a wonderful retreat day last Friday. This was held at the show ground under strict COVID provisions. The retreat was facilitated by our Lasallian youth leaders Eliza, Brydie and Taryn. The theme of the day was "Journey", an overused term in reality TV these days but a most relevant one for our senior students as they reflected upon their past and present and then looked at where they wanted their lives to go. There was also a lot of fun and team building through bush dancing, games and conversation. An overriding perspective was where does God fit in with this journey. To this end the beautiful "Footprints in the Sand" was used as a focus. You may well have a copy of this famous work on a tea towel or a tapestry at home but it is reprinted here for your benefit.

One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,I looked back at the footprints in the sand.I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it."Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,You'd walk with me all the way.But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints.I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave youNever, ever, during your trials and testings.When you saw only one set of footprints,It was then that I carried you."

Vinnies Group at O'Connor

Vinnies Virtual Sleepout

The O’Connor Vinnies Students are participating in the Armidale Vinnies sleepout, our sleepout is on Friday 30th October. The Students will be sleeping in their own homes, on the floor, the lounge, the car or a tent. 

All funds raised from the Armidale Vinnies Community Sleepout will go towards the Starting Fresh program which aims to support and empower those engaged with Freeman House to achieve their recovery goals. 

To donate

Either use the link for the Virtual Sleepout Team O'Connor

https://my.fundraise.vinniesnsw.org.au/vinnies-community-sleepout-armidale-2020/o-connor  

OR Google Vinnies sleepout Armidale 2020 

and go to the leaderboard

- Under fundraisers select  teams

- type in O'Connor

- And Team O'Connor will appear

- make your donation following the prompts (thankyou)

Thankyou everyone for always encouraging and supporting the work the Vinnies Students do in trying to make difference.

Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral Parish

Keeping in touch with what is happening in the Cathedral Parish is easy through their website and facebook pages.