Reflections on Faith 

Celebrate 100 Years of History at Our Upcoming Family Mass!

Join us for a special morning of faith, community, and celebration on Sunday, September 20th at 8:30 AM.

Our Family Mass will be held in conjunction with the regular parish Mass, bringing together all of our church family. 

Mass Details and  Anniversary Blessing

When: Sunday, September 20th at 8:30 AM

Where: St Patrick's Church

Special Event: 100th Anniversary Blessing of the Tenison Building & Parish Morning Tea

Directly following Mass, we invite everyone to gather in the Parish Hall for morning tea. Together, we will mark a major milestone: the 100th anniversary of the Tenison building (our School administration block). Father Thaddeus will lead us in a special prayer and blessing, which has served as a cornerstone of our school for the past century.

Whether you are a regular parishioner or haven't been in a while, your presence will make this event even more joyful. Please bring your family, invite your neighbours, and join us for tea, treats, and celebration!

The Angelus

Beginning this term, we as a school will be stopping together after First Break to pray the Angleus. This is a Diocesan wide initiative which is already very present in most of the Catholic schools within the Armidale Diocese. Bishop Murphy has bought back the Angleus as a purposeful time for us all to stop in our busy days and come together as one. 

Committing to pray together at a specific time challenges us to overcome common excuses, such as not having enough time or having more important tasks to finish. It serves as a reminder that whatever we are working on is infinitely less important than dedicating a moment of our lives to God.

Consider Mary's example: when the angel Gabriel appeared, she likely had her own important tasks and was right in the middle of something she wanted to finish. Although she was unprepared for such a drastic life change, she remained completely open. She set aside her own plans to embrace God's will.

Similarly, when we pray the Angelus, we set aside our schoolwork, assignments, and never-ending to-do lists to tell God, "Lord, let it be done to me according to your word. " Our children truly need this break. They need the reassurance that, whether they succeed or experience challenges today, they can trust God to provide. It teaches them a vital, comforting lesson: let go and let God.

The Annunciation (The Angel's Message)

The Angelus is a traditional prayer that helps us to stop and remember the mystery of God taking a human nature in the Incarnation.

The Name: The name "Angelus" comes from the Latin word for "the angel".

The Invitation: The ringing of the Angelus bell (often at 6 am, 12 pm, and 6 pm) is an invitation to pause, stop what we are doing, and pray.

The Symbolism of Three:

• The bell rings in three sets of three.
• This reminds us of the three "Hail Mary" in the prayer.
• More importantly, the three sets reflect the three main moments that made the Incarnation possible:

1. The Announcement: Gabriel tells Mary she will conceive.

2. The Fiat (Mary's Consent): Mary says "Yes" to God.

3. The Incarnation: The result of encounter, where “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”