Catholic Identity
PRAYER
May is universally celebrated in the Catholic tradition as the "Month of Mary," featuring several feast days dedicated to our Heavenly Mother. Three of the main Marian feast days celebrated in May include:
Our Lady of Fatima on May 13th
Commemorates the first 1917 apparition of Our Lady to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal.
Mary, Help of Christians on May 24th
A title promoted by St. John Bosco, celebrating Mary's intercession and aid for the Catholic Church.
The Visitation on May 31st
Celebrates the Blessed Mother's visit to her pregnant cousin Elizabeth, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke.
Under the title of Help of Christians, Mary was chosen as Patroness of Australia by Archbishop John Bede Polding, in Sydney in 1844. As Catholics we believe we are helped through Mary's powerful intercession and through the example of her life that we find in the Gospels.
A Prayer for Australia
Loving God,
You place deep in our hearts
The love of Mary, Help of Christians.
Through her prayers
Grant wisdom to our leaders
and integrity to our citizens.
Under her protection may Australia,
Be granted harmony, justice and peace.
Amen
PARISH DINNER DANCE
The Parish will be holding a Dinner Dance on Saturday 25th July from 6:30 pm onwards in the St Andrew’s School Hall. On the night there will be live music and a buffet dinner. This is a wonderful way to support the vital work of our Parish. Families wishing to represent St John’s on the night at a school table of 10, can contact the school office on 8754 4300 to secure your tickets.
COMMUNITY MASS
It was wonderful to see so many of our families at Mass at St Andrew’s Church last Saturday. Children preparing to celebrate their First Holy Communion received a Children’s Mass Book. Fr Albert was very thankful to all the families present who had travelled from Tarneit to attend this Parish Mass. Our next Community Mass will be here in the St John’s School Hall on Saturday 25th July.
Below is a list of the remaining Mass dates for the year, we look forward to seeing many of our families there:
Saturday 25th July
Saturday 22nd August
Saturday 24th October
Saturday 28th November
SACRAMENTAL DATES TERM 2 & 3
Below are our Sacramental Dates for the remainder of the year. These dates are particularly important for Baptised Catholic students in Years 4 & 6:
Sacrament of Eucharist
- Thursday May 28th Family Meeting @ St John’s School Hall
- Thursday June 4th First Holy Communion 7:00pm @ St Andrew’s Church Werribee
Sacrament of Confirmation
- Tuesday July 21st Family Meeting 6:00pm @ St John’s School Hall
- Saturday August 8th Sacrament of Confirmation @ MacKillop College Werribee
SACRAMENTAL JOURNALS
All baptised Catholic students in Year 3, 4 and 6 are celebrating a Sacrament this year. Students in Year 4 will receive their First Holy Communion later in Term 2 and our Year 6 students will be Confirmed in Term 3.
An important aspect of preparing for any Sacrament is to attend Mass each weekend. Fr Albert is encouraging every child in the Parish of St Andrew’s who is preparing to celebrate a Sacrament this year, to attend Mass regularly, to receive God’s abundant graces.
All students celebrating a Sacrament this year, have received their Sacramental Journal. These Journals are given to all children in the Parish who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, their First Holy Communion or to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. The Journal is an easy way for families to record the Masses they attend throughout the year. Please remember to take a pen to Mass so the priest can sign your Journal for you at the end of Mass.
PARISH NEWSLETTER