Our Faith - Religion - Prayer
St Patrick's Church Walcha
For Baptism or Marriage enquiries phone Monsignor Ted Wilkes 67784070.
Monsignor Ted Wilkes would like to invite parishioners to Sunday Mass 10am.
Term 2 Mass Dates
*Friday 28th June: Mass at 11.30am
Term 3 Mass Dates
*Thursday 15th August: Mass (Feast of the Assumption) at 11.30am
*Friday 6th September: Mass at 11.30am
*Friday 20th September: Mass and Blessed Exposition at 11.30am
Reflection
I'll always remember the first time I saw Michelangelo's masterpiece sculpture, 'La Pieta' at the Vatican. The sheer size of it as well as the fine intricate detail made me wonder how could it be possible that one man could create something as beautiful as this?
Michelangelo was one of the greatest artists, architects and sculptors who ever lived. He was commissioned to paint the ceiling and one of the walls in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, Rome (the chapel in which the cardinals gather to elect a new pope). Michelangelo was the architect of part of the massive church of St Peter’s, Rome, and he designed its great dome.
Michelangelo thought of himself mainly as a sculptor. Two of his most famous pieces of sculpture are ‘David’ (in Florence) and ‘the Pieta’ in St Peter’s (the dead Jesus in his mother’s arms).
Michelangelo often saw potential in things that others did not see. On one occasion he was seen to be studying carefully what others simply saw as a large block of marble, and someone asked him just what he was doing. He was looking at the grain of the marble and its strengths, and he said: “I can see an angel imprisoned in the marble, and I must set it free.” He began the long and skilled job of carving a beautiful angel out of this stone."
The story is a reminder that some people only see things as useless; others see beauty and potential.
Also, today is World Refugee Day. There are tens of millions of displaced people- refugees and asylum seekers- around the world. Many have lived their whole lives in refugee camps. We ask ourselves today what we can do to help them.
Prayer
God our Father,
give us the power of your Spirit
that we may see and love in others
what you see and love in them.
We want to see the positive in people
and bring out the best in each other.
It’s easy to say that, but not always easy to live it out,
and so we ask you to help
and inspire us to live as you would like us to live this day.
Amen.
Mass on Friday 28th June at 11.30am
Our last celebration of Mass for the term will be on Friday 28th June commencing at 11.30am. Everyone is invite to join us for this special occasion.
Calling for Altar Servers
It was great to see we had four students receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time recently. Did you know that once a child can receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion they can take part in altar serving at both of our school and parish Masses?
Monsignor Wilkes is looking out for any of our students who would like to become an altar server. Altar Servers must be Catholic and have a basic understanding of the mystery of Jesus present in the Eucharist and of the importance of prayerful reverence in their role as Altar servers.
Servers will be shown how to serve commencing in the near future during lunchtime.
A questionnaire has been sent to all of the families whose children have completed the Sacrament of Holy Communion Preparation Program. If you have any questions regarding altar serving, don't hesitate to get in touch with Mr Hyatt.
.
Sacrament Dates for 2024
2024 First Reconciliation: Date has been set for our Catholic students in Years 2 and 3 for Friday 1st November 2024.
Catherine McAuley
Catherine’s spirituality was centred on the mercy of God…prayer in action…action in prayer.