Religious Education News - Week 10 Term 2

Religious Education Dates for 2025

Confirmation

Saturday 16th August- Sacrament of Confirmation – 1pm and 3pm
- Wednesday 18th June- Confirmation Reflection Day
- Thursday 14th August - Confirmation Reconciliation service - 11:40am

Eucharist

Wednesday 30th July - First Eucharist Parent/Child Information Night at 6pm
Saturday 9th August – First Eucharist Commitment Mass – 5pm
Thursday 23rd October - Eucharist Reflection Day
Thursday 23rd October - Reconciliation at 11:40am and practise
Saturday 25th October - Sacrament of First Eucharist mass at 5pm
Sunday 26th October - Sacrament of First Eucharist mass at 9:30am

Whole School Mass/Events

Friday 4th July - NAIDOC Week assembly (1pm)
Friday 15th August - Feast of the Assumption Mass at 9am
Friday 7th November - St Francis Blessing of the animals service from 9am to 9:15am
Tuesday 11th November - Remembrance Day service at 10:55am
Thursday 11th December - Year 6 Graduation at 6pm
Monday 15th December - End of School Mass at 9am - TBC

Year 6 Confirmation Reflection Day

On Wednesday 18th June all the Year 6 children participated in a reflection day based around the theme of Confirmation. The whole day was situated in the school hall. The presenter for the day was Gill from The Character Project. Below is the program that they participated in throughout the day.

9:05am - SESSION 1- Create the Connections

- Connect with others and spread love.

- Build empathy.

- Love your neighbour as yourself – Who is your neighbour?

- Strengthen relationships by investing in our "Relationship Bank Accounts."

11:40am - SESSION 2- Connect to Spirituality & the Bigger Picture

-Mindfully take time to slow down.

- Explore ways to deepen our connection, peace, and love.

- Reflect on where and who God is in our personal lives.

- Considering different images of God.

2:20pm - SESSION 3- The call to contribute

- The hero's journey

- What does the call to adventure look like - the everyday Saint.

- What did the call look like in the lives of the saints

- looking to serve before being served.

It was a wonderful day and the children had a lot of fun participating in the activities. This was a great way to start the Confirmation program as it talk about the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit but also looked at the saints in our everyday life.

Gospel Reflection for Sunday 29th June Mass - Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Throughout most of its history, the Church has linked the two major figures of Peter and Paul, so it is fitting that they share this feast day. However, also throughout most of the Church’s history, Peter has been given greater regard and has held a more significant place in the tradition. In fact, the Church itself is often described as ‘Petrine’ – in the tradition of Peter. Much is made of the line of Popes being traced back to Peter. The authority and structure of the Church is linked to the Petrine model of Church. Describing Peter as the ‘rock’ upon which the Church was built is an excellent image of stability and constancy.

In something of a contrast, the apostle Paul is best known as the great traveller who spread the message of Jesus all around the shores of the Mediterranean, establishing communities of faith wherever he went. His letters – or epistles - to these communities were some of the first Christian writings; predating by 20 years or more the four gospels of the New Testament. Rather than stability and constancy, Paul is identified with growth and change; expansion and openness. Many would argue that without Paul the early Christian communities may not have survived beyond the end of the 1st Century.

Peter and Paul represent two great traditions within the Church: the strength of tradition and oneness associated with Peter; and the valuing of new ideas and outreach to others that typified the work of Paul. Although the Petrine tradition has been dominant for most of the Church’s history, the Pauline tradition was rediscovered in the latter part of the 20th Century and it is now clearly evident that the church needs both of these arms to embrace the world.

Scriptural context

When the gospel writer has Jesus declare that he will give to Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven, he is quoting almost directly from a verse in Isaiah, ‘I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.’ (22:22). The passage in Isaiah is about the appointment of a steward – a caretaker – for the people of Jerusalem. It makes clear that the one appointed carries the authority of the Lord who appoints him. When almost the same words are used about Peter, it carries the meaning from its original context.

Living the Gospel – Who do you say I am?

The question Jesus puts to his disciples is the very same question that he puts to us every day of our lives, ‘Who do you say I am?’ How we choose to answer that question will be reflected in our attitude towards self, others and to life itself. How we answer that question will change frequently throughout life as experience and changing spirituality lead us into asking other questions of ourselves. If we hold that the teaching and example of Jesus are important to us, then we are bound to strive towards emulating them in our own lives.

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled

in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

reawaken in us the blessed hope

for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us

into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos

in the sure expectation

of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee

reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,

a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace spread

the joy and peace of our Redeemer

throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed,

be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

Children’s Liturgy

The reintroduction of Children's Liturgy at St Mark's Church is up and running and looking for more volunteers!

The Children's Liturgy provides a great opportunity for primary aged children to engage with the gospel in a way that is accessible and meaningful to them. It runs every Sunday at the St Mark's 9:30am mass during school terms. At the start of mass the Children’s Liturgy adult leaders take the primary school age children into the hall for a small lesson and activity about the gospel of the day. Parents are welcome to join the session if they would like. If any parents are interested in volunteering to help with the Sunday sessions, please email Andrew Davies - andrew@smdingley.catholic.edu.au

Extra Curricular Programs at St Mark’s in 2025