Catholic Identity 

Alleluia, He is Risen!

An excerpt from an Easter reflection by Michele Shipperley rsj (https://www.sosj.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-Easter-Sunday-reflection.pdf)

The Paschal Journey is a journey we all need to make. Jesus through his life had prepared for this time. On Holy Thursday he gave his all and he gave us himself. While he experienced anxiety and disappointment, he prepared the way for us. 

Easter Sunday, while a triumph for Jesus, was a disaster for the disciples and they were terrified. Their leader was dead, he was gone, he was not in the tomb, and life had changed for them.

For Jesus’ disciples, they needed further signs to give them hope. This is the Paschal Journey – a journey of twists and turns of dark and light, of courage and commitment.

We, like the disciples, at times lack the comprehension to realise that Jesus the Christ has transcended death and is now among us as he always was and always will be. 

The Paschal Journey is one event. It is about life and death. Ronald Rolheiser expresses so eloquently in his writings (Sacred Fire) the significance of being prepared to give away not only our life but also our death. A well-lived life can be a vital influence on those who know us. Jesus left us his legacy and his word to live by. We are called to bring hope to the world, to the Church and to each other. 

There has to be death before there is Resurrection. We are called to cross new thresholds and bring about change before transformation happens. This needs to happen time and time again by revisiting the call to Resurrection. “Resurrection is simply another word for new awareness. Resurrection is a quantum leap in complexity and consciousness.” (Cannato, Field of Compassion, p.182) We need the dark times to enable an abundance of light! 

May this Easter Season, as we rejoice in the Resurrection, give us fresh courage to consciously live our Paschal Journeys. May our hearts be stirred anew with hope and the possibilities of Resurrection.

Easter Blessing 

The blessing of the morning light to you, 

may it find you even in your invisible appearances, 

may you be seen to have risen 

from some other place you know and have known 

in the darkness and that that carries all you need. 

May you see what is hidden in you 

as a place of hospitality and shadowed shelter, 

may that hidden darkness be your gift to give, 

may you hold that shadow to the light 

and the silence of that shelter to the word of the light, 

may you join all of your previous disappearances 

with this new appearance, this new morning, 

this being seen again, new and newly alive. 

(David Whyte – Easter Morning, 2015. In Memoriam John O’Donohue)

Preps in Pyjamas Sacramental Evening

School Masses

Today we were able to come together as a school community to celebrate our first Whole School Mass for 2023. As we journey through this lenten season, the theme of our Mass was 'The Light of Christ' which illuminates our path during this time of reflection. Thank you to all of those from our school community - parents, grandparents and friends - who joined us for this Mass. 

This year, we are very fortunate to be able to celebrate a whole school Mass each term, as well as some smaller Masses in Terms 3 and 4. All Masses will be celebrated in the Sports Centre. Parents and families are invited to these celebrations and we hope to see as many of you as possible attend!

Here are the dates and times of our Masses for 2023:

Term 2, Week 6: Whole School Mass, Friday 2nd June at 2pm

Term 3, Week 6: LC1 and LC2 Mass, Friday 18th August at 2pm

Term 3, Week 8: Feast Day Whole School Mass, Friday 1st September at 10am

Term 4, Week 4: LC3 & LC4 Mass, Friday 27th October at 2pm

Term 4, Week 7: Whole School Mass, Friday 17th November at 2pm

Sacramental Program 2023

Information regarding First Eucharist and Confirmation for 2023 will be shared with students and families in the next couple of weeks, so please keep a look out. 

Dates of our 2023 Sacramental Program are as follows:

First Eucharist Sacramental Students - 2023

Confirmation Sacramental Students - 2023

John Dini

Catholic Identity Leader