Mission and Religious Education

Mission and Religious Education

Mission 

Primary Class Masses

On Friday 8 March we celebrated our Stage 2  (Years 3 and 4) Term 1 Class Mass. Father Curran invited the students to gather around the altar, during the liturgy of the Eucharist, enabling them to see and understand more fully what happens during this part of the Mass and help their active participation. This was very special and we thank Father Curran for his guidance and support in all we do. We were also joined by a number of the students' family members, which  was lovely and we thank them for their support.

Our next Class Mass will be celebrated by our Year 6 students on Friday 22 March. Everyone is invited to join Year 6 for this special celebration.

Twilight Prayer Retreat

Parents, carers and parishioners are invited to join with St Michael’s school staff in attending a Twilight Prayer Retreat on Tuesday 12 March 3.30pm - 5.00pm. This retreat is facilitated by the CSO Spirituality Team and is a time for adults to gather together in prayer.

St Patrick’s Day

This year St Patrick’s Day is being celebrated on Monday 18 March as the 17th falls on a Sunday. St Patrick is a favourite saint of many Australians because of their Irish heritage and because of the many Irish priests, brothers and sisters who came to Australia to share their faith.

St Joseph’s Day

On Tuesday 19 March we celebrate St Joseph’s Day. St Joseph was the foster father of Jesus. Our school was founded by the Sisters of St Joseph so this is an important feast day for us. St Joseph provides us all with an example of how to love and care for one another. 

Friday 22 March - Fundraiser for Project Compassion - 80s Mufti Day - Gold Coin Donation

This term during Lent we will be raising money for Project Compassion. 

Pull out your chunky jewellery and bright clothes and puff up your hair!! On Monday our C2S Committee decided to hold an 80’s themed Mufti (plain clothes or dress up theme) Day on Friday 22 March. On this day everyone can dress up in their favourite 80’s gear and donate a gold coin or more to Project Compassion. The C2S Committee also decided to donate money raised at school through Return and Earn to Project Compassion Boxes. Those contributing at home using the Project Compassion Boxes sent home to all families on Ash Wednesday should return these boxes to school on Thursday 28 March or before the end of term.

Holy Week

Week 9 of Term 1 is Holy Week, the most important week of the year for Christians. Sunday 24 March is Palm Sunday when we remember and celebrate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem when people waved palm leaves and welcomed him as a king. Thursday 28 March is Holy Thursday. On Holy Thursday we remember Jesus’ last supper with his friends. On this night Jesus washed his disciples' feet as a sign of love and service and that they and we should live lives of love and service to one another. After supper Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray and his disciples kept falling asleep. Here Jesus was arrested and taken away by the soldiers. Friday 29 March is Good Friday when we remember that Jesus gave his life for us. Jesus was put to trial, tortured, crucified and died on the Cross. Holy Saturday 30 March, is a time of waiting. Jesus’ body is in the tomb. On Easter Sunday 31 March, we celebrate Jesus rising to new life. As we all enjoy our Easter Eggs on Easter Sunday, we remember that the egg is a sign of new life and on Easter Sunday we celebrate Jesus rising to new life.

Holy Week and Easter Liturgies

This year as Holy Week falls within the school term we are able to celebrate Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday closer to the actual days. Our Liturgies will be celebrated outside under the COLA and parents/carers and other family members and friends are welcome to join us as we prayerfully celebrate these important days 

Holy Week Liturgies - Everyone Welcome

Monday 25 March 10.45am

Kinder: Palm Sunday Liturgy. 

Following the liturgy family members are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to sit and enjoy with their children.

Thursday 28 March 10.30am

Year 3 and 4: Holy Thursday Last Supper Liturgy

Year 2: Holy Thursday Garden of Gethsemane Liturgy

Year 5 and 6: Good Friday Liturgy

Following the liturgy family members are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to sit and enjoy with their children.

Tuesday 2 April 10.45am

Year 1: Easter Sunday Liturgy

Following the liturgy family members are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to sit and enjoy with their children.

Living Well, Learning Well - Pastoral Care and Wellbeing 

Legends of the Light Shine and Service Week

Our Legends of the Light Shine focus for Weeks 6 and 7 is “Service”. We are encouraging all of our students to engage in acts of service as we respond to Jesus’ call to “Love one another as I have loved you”. Next week - Week 7 is Service Week at St Michael’s and each class will be engaging in an act of Service. Contemporary research identifies that acts of service - doing things for others, is a key contributing factor to having a positive sense of wellbeing and connection to others and community.

C2S Committee Meeting

At our C2S Committee Meeting this week, we reviewed our 2023 Laudato Si’ Action Plan and worked on  our 2024 Laudato Si’ Action Plan. The students identified a key focus area for this year, which is working to reduce plastic waste. It has been wonderful to see the growth in environmental awareness that has been developing across our student body with many students engaged in picking up rubbish, watering plants and making posters to encourage others to pick up rubbish and to reduce plastic waste.

“Let Your Light Shine” support others to let their light shine and remember “We Shine Brighter Together”

Jacquelene Cronin

Assistant Principal - Mission