Mission and Religious Education

MRE Newsletter Term 2 Week 4

Mission and Religious Education

"Mary: Our Mother" Diocesan Art Competition 

Thank you to our students who submitted art entries in the 2026 Diocesan Art Competition: "Mary: Our Mother." All entries were very special and embraced the importance of Mary in our faith story. Good luck to everyone.

Connecting With the Mums of Our Parish

As part of our Mother’s Day celebrations, students in 2/3M made Mother’s Day Cards for the wonderful ladies of St Michael’s Parish. 

The ladies were able to choose a card and we have been overwhelmed with their response, with many writing letters and sending messages thanking the students for their thoughtfulness and good wishes for a happy Mother’s Day. One of our beautiful parishioners Di Taylor visited the 2/3M in person to let the children know how touched she was and the connectedness she felt. She took one card for herself and one for her daughter and one for her daughter’s mother in law. Di’s card was made by Rowan and Di’s son is Rohan who grew up in a house on Rowan Street, the same street as St Michael's school. Di’s daughter Elise had a card made by Max and Elise's mother in laws card was made by Mason complete with a purple heart - her favourite colour.

Di has a special place in the heart of our extended St Michael’s School family having been a student and the school secretary for a total of 65 years! Di’s connection continues as she often joins us to celebrate our fortnightly school Masses with us. 

Thank you to class teachers Emma Martin, Bronwyn Underwood, Michelle Paull and Ben Copland for helping the students with the card making.

The Ascension of the Lord

On Sunday 17 May we celebrate The Ascension of the Lord. On this day we remember Jesus’ return to heaven.

Laudato Si’ Week

Next Week is Laudato Si’ Week. Laudato Si’ Week is a celebration held annually from 17 - 24 May to mark the anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si’ on caring for the earth, our common home. This week encourages us to listen and respond together to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. 

St Michael’s is a Level 3 accredited Australian Catholic Earthcare school. To celebrate Laudato Si’ Week we are reflecting upon the key messages from Laudato Si’ and how we as a school are responding to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. Our staff and C2S (Called to Shine) Committee have been reflecting on our current practices and how we can renew our approaches. Next week we will be planting veggies - thank you to our groundsman Bernie for preparing the garden beds. We will be revitalising our integral ecological approach to living more sustainably by learning more about the R’s of sustainability and promoting them in our school. Each class will receive a new recycling bin. Our focus is ongoing and we are looking forward to introducing and sharing our new initiatives.

Our Attitudes

Reflect upon the messages in  Laudato Si’

Rethink our response to Laudato Si’

Renew & Refocus our efforts

Respect and care for one another 

Rejoice with one another and give thanks for God’s gift of creation

Our Actions

Reduce our consumption 

Refuse the materials we don’t need

Re-use whenever we can use materials more than once

Repurpose before we throw something out think if could be repurposed

Re-gift before we throw it out we ask ourselves, ‘Would someone else like this?’

Retail consider op-shopping and donating to charity

Recycle recyclables when we can’t re-use, repurpose or re-gift

Repeat making ethical choices

Replenish the earth by taking care of creation

“What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Dr Jane Goodall

School Mass

Mass has been cancelled for Friday 22 May.

Catholic Schools Week

Catholic Schools Week is being celebrated from Sunday 24 May - Saturday 30 May. During this week the Armidale Diocese celebrates all of the great things happening in Catholic schools across the Diocese. For Catholic schools in the Southern Deanery the Catholic Schools Week Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday 26 May at 11am in St Nicholas’ Catholic Church, Tamworth. St Michael’s School and Sport Captains will represent St Michael’s at this Mass. 

Confirmation

Students in Years 5 and 6 who have received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist are invited to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation will be celebrated on Saturday 25 July at the 5pm Mass. 

Each child has a sponsor who will be with them when they are confirmed - the sponsor is a spiritual guide for your child. A sponsor must be at least 16 years of age and be a baptised and confirmed Catholic. A parent is unable to be a sponsor for their own child but other family members and friends are. You might like to ask one of your child’s godparents to be their sponsor. The sponsor walks up with your child and the sponsor stands behind your child as they are being confirmed placing their right hand on your child’s right shoulder. The sponsor doesn’t say anything and will pass the Confirmation Card with your child’s confirmation information on it, so their confirmation name can be read to the Bishop. We encourage families to start thinking about who will be their child’s sponsor, so that they can ‘save the date’. 

Reconciliation

Eligible students in Year 2 will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday 12 August at 12pm with Father Damien. 

Australian Catholics

The 2026 Winter edition of Australian Catholics is being sent home today Friday 15 May. The Armidale Catholic Schools Office has subscribed to this magazine to provide interesting and contemporary articles, plus information about the Catholic faith, for all families enrolled in Catholic Schools across the Diocese of Armidale.

Connecting With Our Parish

Parish Priest: Reverend Father Damien Locke, Parish Priest

Phone: 02 6785 1094 

Email: manillaparish@armidale.catholic.org.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMichaelsParishManilla

Weekend Mass Times

We encourage all of our families to celebrate Sunday Mass with our parish.

Manilla Parish Mass Times 

1st Sunday of the month - Sunday 8.30am followed by morning tea

2nd, 3rd & 4th Sunday of the month - Saturday 5.00pm (5.30pm DST)

Attunga Mass Times 

2nd, 4th & 5th Sunday of the month - Sunday 12 noon

Manilla Parish Confession/Reconciliation/Penance Times 

30 minutes prior to weekend Masses or by appointment at any time with Fr Damien. 

If You Would Like To Be Involved In The Life Of The Parish

We encourage all of our families to be involved in the life of the Parish. There are many ways to be involved including:

• Altar Serving for those who have made their first Holy Communion
• Reading at Mass
• Taking up the Offertory Procession
• Visitations
• Odd Jobs

If you would like to be more involved in the life of our parish please contact Father Damien (02) 67851094 for further details.

Living Well, Learning Well 

Living Well Learning Well is a student support framework for Catholic Schools in the Armidale Diocese. The framework is based on a universal and unconditional positive regard for children and young people and supports faith, learning, wellbeing and positive behaviour domains.

St Michael’s School Rules For Living

St Michael’s School Rules For Living encompass those in the Living Well Learning Well Framework.

Parents As Partners

Armidale Catholic Schools work with Realtalk to offer families free premium access to resources to help navigate difficult areas children face, particularly in the digital world, from a catholic perspective in an increasingly complex world. SIGN UP FOR FREE ACCESS HERE

"Let Your Light Shine” support others to let their light shine and remember “We Shine Brighter Together”

Jacquelene Cronin

Assistant Principal - Mission