Religion and Parish News
Prayer:
We thank you Lord, for this term.
For the challenges, the successes, and the mistakes from which we have learnt. God be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.
Give us strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith. Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays, to appreciate what others do for us, to give time and effort to help others. To be peacemakers in our family.
Keep us safe in our activities; give us good rest and good fun. Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term. We thank you for our classmates, teachers, parents and a community that cares for us.
May we always be conscious of you in our lives.
Amen.
2023 St Joseph’s Parish Sacramental Dates:
First Eucharist - 8:30am, Sunday 20th August, 2023 at St Joseph’s Church
Parent Night - Thursday 20th July, 6pm, at St Joseph’s Church (Week 1, Term 3)
Rite of Enrolment - Saturday 22nd July (6pm) OR Sunday 23rd July (8:30am), at St Joseph’s Church
Rite 2 Reconciliation - Friday 18th August, 11.45am at St Joseph’s Church, Gunnedah (Week 5, Term 3)
Retreat Day - Friday 18th August, St Xavier’s Primary School
First Reconciliation - 6pm, Tuesday 19th September, 2023 at St Joseph’s Church
Parent Night - Thursday 24th August, 6pm, at St Joseph’s Church (Week 6, Term 3)
Rite of Enrolment - Saturday 26th August (6pm) OR Sunday 27th August (8:30pm), at St Joseph’s Church
Retreat Day - Tuesday 19th September, St Xavier’s Primary School (Week 10, Term 3)
2023 Sacrament of First Eucharist:
Preparations will soon be underway for the Sacrament of First Eucharist, which will be held next term. The preparation of candidates occurs during Year 3 Religious Education lessons for the first half of Term 3, as part of their RE curriculum. If your child has recently enrolled at St Xavier’s (since Term 3 2022) and is Catholic and in Years 3-5, please email mfrend@arm.catholic.edu.au to ensure your child can be added to the list of 2023 First Eucharist candidates. Proof of baptism will be required if your child’s Baptismal Certificate was not included in their Enrolment Form.
Whole School Mass - Thursday Week 8
Last week, Stage 2 classes hosted a wonderful Eucharistic celebration in St Joseph’s Church. Students from Years 3 and 4 contributed to the Mass in various ways, from reading Scripture during the Liturgy of the Word to taking up the Offertory for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Fr Abmar led Thursday’s celebration and talked about how having God in our lives through prayer, attending Mass and making good decisions is the right tool to use in order to achieve eternal life with God.
Thank you to the families and parishioners who made the time to be able to join us for this celebration.
St Xavier’s Twilight Reflection - Wednesday 28th June
On the last Wednesday of Term 2, St Xavier’s is hosting a one-and-a-half hour Twilight Reflection (3:30-5:00pm), led by the Renewal Team from the Armidale Catholic Schools Office. We generally try to organise one of these Reflection Sessions once a term, but needed to postpone our Term 1 session due to members of the Renewal Team being committed elsewhere for Holy Week.
Families, friends and parishioners are invited to attend next Wednesday’s Reflection. If you would like to attend, please register your interest by calling the St Xavier’s Office on (02) 6742 1136.
Parish News
Altar Server Roster for June:
Saturday 24th June (6pm): Katie & Josh Spinks, Katrina Martin
Sunday 25th June (8:30am): Isaac & Hannah Redfern
To read about what’s happening in our parish, please visit this link to read the Parish Bulletin for the week starting Sunday 18th June.