Religious Education

First Eucharist Family Workshop

Thank you to all of the families who attended the Sacramental evening (Eucharist) last Monday, and sincere thanks once again to Fr. Elio Capra for his wonderful, thought-provoking presentation.

First Communion Commitment Masses

First Eucharist candidates are asked to attend a Commitment Mass on 23rd/24th May at one of these Masses:

-Saturday, 23rd May, St. Patrick's Church, Mentone, 6:00 pm

-Sunday, 24th May, St. John Vianney's Church, 9:00 am

The children are given a Sunday Missal at this Mass.

Over the next week, please let me know via email which Mass your child/ren will be attending so that we have the correct number of Missals ready at each service.

kerry.slater@sjvparkdale.catholic.edu.au

The Ascension of Our Lord

This Sunday, May 17th, we celebrate the Ascension of Our Lord, a special day in the Church’s calendar. The Ascension marks the moment when, after His Resurrection, Jesus returned to His Father in Heaven. It reminds us that His mission on earth was complete and that He now reigns with God.

For our children, it’s a simple but powerful message: Jesus didn’t leave us alone. Instead, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide and support us. The Ascension encourages us to live with hope, knowing that Jesus is always with us, even though we cannot see Him.

As a school community, let’s reflect on this moment and ask for God’s grace to continue growing in faith and love.   

A Prayer for the Ascension:

Loving God,

As we celebrate the Ascension of your Son, Jesus,

Help us to remember that He is always with us,

Guiding us with love and teaching us to care for others.

May the hope of Heaven inspire us to live with kindness and peace,

And may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts with courage and faith.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,

Our risen and ascended Lord.

Amen.

Pentecost Sunday

On May 24th this year, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost. 

The word Pentecost is Greek and it means "50th day." Fifty days after Easter Sunday, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and their followers, and the commencement of their ministry to spread the news of Jesus.

It was right after Pentecost that Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, preached his first homily to Jews and other non-believers, in which he opened the scriptures of the Old Testament.

He also told the people that the Jesus they crucified is the Lord, and when they asked what they should do, Peter urged them to repent of their sins and to be baptised. According to the account in Acts, about 3,000 people were baptised following Peter’s sermon.

For this reason, Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Church — Peter, the first Pope, preaches for the first time and converts thousands of new believers. The apostles and believers, for the first time, were united by a common language, and a common zeal and purpose to go and preach the Gospel.

So, like the apostles on that day, let’s be open to the workings of the Holy Spirit in us. 

Key Dates for Term 2 2026 

                                      Weekend of 23rd/24th May:  First Eucharist Commitment Masses

                                      Tuesday, June 2nd: First Eucharist Reflection Day

                                      Tuesday, June 9th: Whole School Mass  9:15 am

                                      Sunday, June 14th: Sacrament of First Eucharist SJV 9:00 am 

                                      Thursday, June 18th: Preps Prayers in Pyjamas  6:00 pm