RE NEWS

Holy Spirit,

Strengthen our students with your gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord, and serve as a disciple of Christ. Grant that they may grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ. Fill them with the joy of your presence. Increase in them the fruit of your Spirit. Help them experience and trust your dwelling within so they can count on your guidance today and every day. Show us the way to help one another become better disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing your love with our world and with each person we meet. Come, Holy Spirit! Come!

Amen.

Shrove Tuesday

Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is significant in Catholic traditions as it marks the day before Ash Wednesday, which initiates the Lenten season. Thank you to the children who purchased pancakes last Tuesday. Your donations have begun our collections for Project Compassion.

Project Compassion

Project Compassion boxes were sent home with the children last week. At the end of Week 10, they can be returned to classroom teachers.

Ash Wednesday & Opening School Mass

Thank you to the families that were able to attend and celebrate Mass with us last Wednesday. 

Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of the Church’s season of Lent. The sprinkling of the ashes on our heads on Ash Wednesday is an expression of our faith and a sign that we are asking God for forgiveness. It is a time of prayer, fasting and giving to others. 

When we pray, we come closer to God, and we are better able to realise our baptismal promise to live justly, as Jesus teaches us. 

Fasting helps us remember the needs of the poor, who often have no choice but to go without basic needs such as food, water and shelter. 

Giving to the poor, or ‘almsgiving’, is a sign of our commitment to justice. It reminds us of our blessings and allows us to give thanks for all that God has given us. 

On Ash Wednesday, we are encouraged to think about what we will pray for, what we will give or give up, and how we can make a difference to others or the environment this Lent. 

As we prepare for Easter, the most important time in the Church’s calendar, let us remember Jesus’ messages of love and mercy, and ask God to bless us so that we can ‘Be More’ in our own lives and in the lives of others. 

2025 Sacramental Program - Confirmation

Sacrament of Confirmation:

Sunday 6th April @ 9am - St Joseph’s Church, Gunnedah

Rite of Enrolment: 

Saturday, 22nd March @ 4pm - Sacred Heart Church, Boggabri

Rite 2 Reconciliation:

Thursday, 3rd April @ 11:40am - St Joseph's Church, Gunnedah. This will occur during the Retreat Day.

Retreat Day:

Thursday, 3rd April - St Xavier’s Primary School (Week 10, Term 1). Mrs Ryan will take the candidates to Gunnedah on this day to work with the other candidates from St Xavier's school. The Confirmation Candidates will meet with Fr Abmar at 11:40am. There will be a BBQ lunch shortly after @ 12:30pm.

Altar Serving - Are you interested?

Commissioning Mass - Saturday, 28th June @4pm - Sacred Heart Church, Boggabri

Parent Information and Session 1 with students - Tuesday 10th June

Session 2 with students - Tuesday, 17th June

Session 3 with students - Tuesday, 24th June