Sacrament of Eucharist - Parent Formation Evening - Thursday 8th May

A focus of the Parish Sacramental Program is the role of family in nurturing the developing faith of our young people. In 2025, parents of Year 4 students from our three parish primary schools are invited to attend a Parent Formation Evening focussed on the Sacrament of Eucharist. The evening will be held on Thursday 8th May at the OHR Church.

Project Compassion

A huge thank you to everybody who donated to our Project Compassion fundraiser. At this stage, we have raised $3,491.95. This amazing total means that all of the teachers who volunteered will be getting dunked by a bucket of icy cold water.

This will take place outside the tuckshop at 3.15pm on the following dates:

Tuesday 13th May - Mr Byrne, Mrs Gorgeous Golds, Mrs Jackson, Mrs Mitchell, Mrs Hollow

Thursday 22nd May - Mr Dame, Mrs Hautot, Mrs Gill, Mrs Hansen, Ms Mackay, Mr Gulavin

You are most welcome to come and watch.

At our next Assembly, Monday 12th May, our special guest will be Michael McGirr - Mission Facilitator for Caritas Australia. Michael will thank our school community on behalf of Caritas and also share stories of some of the projects Caritas is currently supporting.

In the meantime Caritas are still accepting donations so feel free to click on the link below.

Family Led Sunday Mass

During 2025 the Parish, in conjunction with the Parish Primary Schools, has planned Family led weekend Masses. These Masses will be celebrated once a term and be followed by hospitality. They will be a great opportunity for children and their families to be involved in a Mass within the parish community.

Family Masses will provide an opportunity for families to come together and to support each other in faith. They can particularly be important for families who are presenting their children for Sacraments throughout the year. There may be opportunities to reconnect with our own faith as adults. There may be opportunities to engage with parish life and learn more about the faith, for those who are not so familiar with our local worshiping community. All families are welcome at these family Masses no matter what your religious background or affiliation.

Family Masses have been scheduled for the following dates this year:

Saturday 15 March at 6.00 pm (OHR Church)

Special invitation to Year 3 & Year 5 students and families

Sunday, 18 May at 5.00 pm (OLGC Church)

Special invitation to Year 4 students and families (includes First Eucharist Commitment)

Sunday, 17 August at 5.00 pm (OLGC Church)

Special invitation to Year 6 students and families (includes Confirmation Commitment)

Saturday, 15 November at 6.00pm (OHR Church)

Prep, Year 1 & Year 2 and new families for 2026 are particularly invited to this Mass

RE Learning in 2TH

Our Gospel Value this term is Persistence. We brainstormed on what persistence means and how we display this value in our lives daily. Persistence means to keep on going and to never give up with something that we believe in and want to accomplish. Students then explored the story of Noah's Ark and how Noah showed persistence in building the ark and continuing with what he had promised God. Students reflected on how they demonstrate persistence in their lives and their reasons for working so hard.

I show persistence when I play tennis. I want to improve and achieve the top level. - Charlotte G.

I show persistence because I want to improve by motorbiking. I want to be awesome and get to the finals. - Corbyn

I show persistence in gymnastics because I want to improve. - Sienna

I show persistence in basketball training. It was very upsetting when we lost to a team in B grade even though our team was in A grade. We had even made it to the semifinals. - Roy

I show persistence when I go to Greek school so I can learn Greek. -Christopher

I show persistence when I do basketball for Hawthorn Magic because I want to improve and show my coach how good I am. I want our team to be on the top of the ladder. -Harvey H.

I show persistence when I do basketball training to improve my skills. I show persistence because I do acrobats to try and get better at the things I can't do. I show persistence when I do singing lessons to be an amazing singer. - Elle

I show persistence when I do basketball. - Lucy

I show persistence at wrestling because I want to get to the highest level. - Koto

I show persistence when I pick up a book and start reading. Reading helps me improve and read more fluently. -Samuel

I am persistence when I do soccer training and I am good at it. -Dion

I show persistence when I do gymnastics. -Hazel

I show persistence when writing at school. I enjoy writing and it's one of my favourite things to do. - Caleb

I am persistent when I play footy and cricket. - Oscar

I was persistent when I was trying to make a food truck. It took me a while. - Milan

I am persistent when I play soccer and I never give up. This improves my skills. - Charlize

I am persistent when I play cricket for Maccas. I never give up. - Seth

I show persistence when I play basketball and training. I can practice shooting, dribbling and passing to improve. - Harvey A.

I show persistence when I do singing lessons. I want to get better and I love my teacher! - Stella

I show persistence when I am at Titans basketball training. It's important to me because we got smashed last time. I want to make it into A grade. - Harvey T.

I show persistence at my brother's basketball training because I am not as good but I try my best. - Frank

I show persistence when I go to basketball training because I want to make A grade. - William

I show persistence when I do basketball. - Scarlett

I show persistence in swimming lessons because I want to go fast and free swim. It's hard though. - Hamish

Sunday Gospel

The liturgy of the Catholic Church provides a framework for reflection which is used by Catholics throughout the world. Each week in the Newsletter, you will find the Sunday Gospel as well as some discussion questions to have with your child/ren.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. It was by the Sea of Tiberias, and it happened like this: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two more of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’ They replied, ‘We’ll come with you.’ They went out and got into the boat but caught nothing that night.

It was light by now and there stood Jesus on the shore, though the disciples did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, ‘Have you caught anything, friends?’ And when they answered, ‘No’, he said, ‘Throw the net out to starboard and you’ll find something.’ So they dropped the net, and there were so many fish that they could not haul it in. The disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ At these words ‘It is the Lord,’ Simon Peter, who had practically nothing on, wrapped his cloak round him and jumped into the water. The other disciples came on in the boat, towing the net and the fish; they were only about a hundred yards from land.

As soon as they came ashore they saw that there was some bread there, and a charcoal fire with fish cooking on it. Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore, full of big fish, one hundred and fifty-three of them; and in spite of there being so many the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples was bold enough to ask, ‘Who are you?’; they knew quite well it was the Lord. Jesus then stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them, and the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after rising from the dead.

Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever been fishing?

2. What is it like when you are waiting for a bite and nothing happens?

3. Jesus told his disciples to put out their nets even though they had caught nothing all night. What would the disciples have thought when Jesus told them to try their nets again.

Jesus gave them hope when they thought they would not catch any fish.

Jesus gives us hope when we are not sure what to do next.

Let us pray for Jesus to strengthen our faith and give us courage to do what he asks.

Nick Byrne

RE Leader

Camp Australia