Education in Faith

Sacramental Dates for 2026

Parents please be aware of the following dates and note them in your calendar:

• Grade 2 will receive First Reconciliation in Term 4 on Thursday, 19th November 2026.

Reconciliation: baptised Catholics in Year 2.

If you have any further questions regarding your child receiving these Sacraments, please feel free to contact me at the school.

Fr. Antony’s Farewell 

Dear SFS family, You are invited to participate in a special liturgy to farewell Fr. Antony on Friday, 30th October at 2:15 pm at our school Multipurpose Hall.

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Year A

Theme: Give to God what belongs to God

This week’s readings invite us to stop and ask an important question: 

What belongs to God in my life?

In the First Reading, God reminds us through the prophet Isaiah that He is the one true God: “There is no other God besides me.” God speaks about Cyrus, a powerful ruler who does not even know God, yet God can still work through him to accomplish His purposes.

This reminds us that God is always at work, even in ways we may not recognise. God can work through people, circumstances and opportunities that we may not expect.

In the Responsorial Psalm ~ it calls us to “Give the Lord glory and honour” and to proclaim His greatness among all people.

This reminds us that worship is not simply something we do at Mass. Giving glory to God means recognising God's presence in our everyday lives and allowing our actions to show what we believe.

Our faith should be visible through the way we treat others with kindness, compassion, justice, patience and respect.

St Paul, in the Second Reading to the people of Thessaloniki, teaches them to give thanks for the Christian community at Thessalonica because their faith, love and hope are visible in their lives.

Paul says that their faith is not simply something they talk about. Their faith is expressed through action, their love is demonstrated through what they do, and their hope gives them perseverance.

This is a beautiful reminder that Christian faith is lived, not simply spoken.

We can say that we believe in God, but the real question is: Can people see our faith in the way we live?

Our faith might be seen when we include someone who is lonely, forgive someone who has hurt us, stand up for someone who is being treated unfairly, help someone in need, or show kindness when nobody is watching.

In the Gospel, the Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus with a difficult question: “Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Jesus knows that they are trying to trick Him. He asks them to show Him a coin and asks whose image is on it. When they answer, “Caesar’s,” Jesus responds:

“Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

Jesus is teaching them something much deeper than simply paying taxes.

The coin bears Caesar’s image, but we bear God’s image.

Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, when Jesus says, “Give to God what belongs to God,” He challenges us to consider what we are giving to God not simply our possessions, but our hearts, our time, our gifts, our choices and our whole lives.

This week take time to reflect and ask ourselves:

What am I giving to God?

Am I giving Him only an hour on Sunday, or am I allowing Him to influence how I live every day?

Do my choices reflect God's love?

Do I use my gifts to help others?

Do I give my time to people who need me?

Do I forgive?

Do I stand for what is right?

Do I recognise that everything I have ultimately comes from God?

When we place all four readings together, we hear one consistent message:

God is the one true God.We are called to recognise Him.We are called to live our faith through love and action.And we are called to give God what belongs to Him our very selves.

The First Reading reminds us that God is Lord over all.

The Psalm calls us to give God glory.

St Paul reminds us that faith, hope and love must become visible through our actions.

And Jesus challenges us to give to God what belongs to God.

Perhaps the most important question for us this week is not, “What do I have to give God?” but:

“What part of my life have I not yet given to God?”

Maybe it is our worries.

Maybe it is our time.

Maybe it is our relationships.

Maybe it is our gifts and talents.

Maybe it is something we are finding difficult to forgive.

Maybe it is a decision we are struggling to make.

God does not simply want a small part of our lives. He invites us to place our whole selves in His hands.

A Challenge for the Week

This week, think of one thing you can give back to God.

It could be:

• giving your time to someone who needs you;
• using one of your talents to help another person;
• forgiving someone;
• praying for someone;
• showing kindness to someone who is struggling;
• standing up for someone who is being treated unfairly;
• or simply taking a few quiet moments each day to thank God.

Discussion starters:

• Where do you notice God working in your life?
• Can God work through someone who does not share our beliefs?
• Why do you think God can use different people to accomplish good?
• Have you ever looked back at something and realised that God was guiding you?
• What does it mean to give God glory?
• How can our actions give glory to God?
• What might other people notice about us because we are followers of Jesus?
• How can we “proclaim” God without necessarily using words?
• What does “faith in action” look like?
• How can we show love without saying the words “I love you”?
• When can hope help us persevere when something is difficult?
• If someone watched the way we treated others, would they recognise our Christian faith?
• What do you think Jesus means by “Give to God what belongs to God”?
• What are some things in your life that you can give to God?
• How can we give God our time?
• How can we give God our talents and gifts?
• How can our choices show that we belong to God?
• What might it look like to put God first in our everyday lives?

God Bless  

Rozeta Ambrose ~ Religious Education Leader

rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

GRADE 5/6 SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM – MINI VINNIES

COMMUNITY SPIRIT HOUSE POINTS

Total House points so far:

But remember next term we have our Christmas Appeal. Another opportunity to earn house points for your houses!

MINI VINNIES CONFERENCE

Today the 10 Mini Vinnies Conference students shared with the rest of the group what the Conference was about. They shared the outline of the day, highlights of the day and things that Mini Vinnies might like to try next year that they learnt from the other schools presenting.

CELEBRATING SFS MINI VINNIES

Next Friday October 23rd we will have guest speakers from St Vincent de Paul to come and accept the rough sleeper packs Mini Vinnies have created from their Soup & Chat Night donations and a large cheque that represents the money Mini Vinnies donated to Gift a Night off the Street, once again from the Soup & Chat Night Donations. 

Our guest speakers will speak to all the Senior students in the Hall from 2.30-3.00pm. We will have Sarah and Tayla from the St Vincent de Paul Youth Engagement Team and Richie and Rebecca from the Soupvans Team. Mini Vinnies will host the session, introducing, thanking and presenting on the day. We will be celebrating the good works of the SFS Mini Vinnies!!! If any parents are able to come and join us you are most welcome.

Giuliana

Mini Vinnies Facilitator 

gfaiola@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au