Religious Education
Marylene Douglas
All students attending St Louis de Montfort's Aspendale have the right to feel safe. The care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people is a fundamental responsibility of all within our school.
On Thursday evening, many of our wonderful Year 6 students celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation. Students, parents and teachers should be very proud as the students comported themselves beautifully, with respect and reverence.
Bishop Tony questioned the students about their chosen saint and about the gifts that particular saint dispalyed. In his homily, the Bishop reiterated the need for students to use these gifts of the Holy Spirit in order to be 'witness' to the Word of God and to be the 'Face' and 'Voice' of Jesus to all those we meet.
We are Jesus' brothers and sisters, and just as we share some physical and behavioural attributes with our earthly families, we aspire to resemble God our Father and Jesus our Brother, through our words and actions. In that way, others can recognise that we belong to God's family.
One of my favourite Gospel readings, Matthew 25:35-40 states:
"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me"
Through Confirmation, we are reaffirmed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord, are designed to be used in the world for the purpose of transforming that world for Christ. May the students who were blessed with these gifts continue to grow in faith and holiness and be the Face of God in our world today!
A Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Lord Jesus Christ, send down your Spirit upon me.
When I am uncertain, grant me wisdom.
When I am confused, grant me understanding.
When I am ignorant, grant me knowledge.
When I am wandering, grant me counsel.
When I am afraid, grant me fortitude.
When I am separated from you, grant me piety.
When I am selfish, grant me the fear of the Lord.
I ask for an outpouring of your Spirit with all of these gifts in your name.
Amen.
May we also keep Ben's great-grandma Jean in our prayers as she was taken to hospital on Thursday evening.
May God keep her in His loving care.