Principal Message

Be Kind, Be safe, Be respectful, Be responsible, Be resilient, Be ready

Dear Parents and Carers,

Oftentimes, our life can be made up of a series of compartments: work, family, entertainment, finances, relationships, and God. However, each of these compartments can be integrated into a meaningful whole by prayer.

We have all had times of great wonder during which we experienced God’s presence: a sunset, a piece of music, or a baby’s smile. If we're willing to see and listen to life around us, we will experience God speaking to us through the wonder of His creation in all its forms.

Often, our understanding of prayer can be too narrow and can exclude everyday experiences because they don't fit our definition of what prayer is or is supposed to be. If prayer is any activity that nurtures our relationship with God, then, if having a cup of tea with a friend nurtures this relationship, that is prayer. If sitting still in a garden or park feeds your soul, that is prayer. Listening to music, assisting at children's liturgy, and coaching a team can all be prayer.

Sometimes our prayer can be brief but meaningful: “God, I need Your help.” “Walk with me, Jesus , for I am unsure of myself.” “Spirit of God, I need the gift of understanding-NOW!” “Praise the Lord.” “Thanks be to God” These short bursts of prayer, recognise God’s on-going presence in our daily lives.

The practice of prayer can be comfortable or challenging, easy or difficult. Like human relationships, our relationship with God will go through many stages; sometimes it will fill us with joy, other times it will seem boring or stale. We may even have times when we break our relationship with God, going our own way, paying no attention to God or to prayer. But God does not turn away. God keeps calling. After a while, a longing to return to God will arise. This longing is a sign of faithfulness; we have been touched on some way; we have heard God’s call. When this occurs it is not a time for feelings of guilt; it is a time for rejoicing.

Keep Smiling

Cathy