ReligiouReligious Education Dates for 2024

RE DATES:

Reconciliation

Wednesday 22nd May - Sacrament of Reconciliation - 6pm

Confirmation

Wednesday 5th June - Confirmation Information Night - 6pm
Saturday 15th June - Confirmation Commitment Mass - 6pm
Friday 14th June- Confirmation Reflection Day
Thursday 22nd August - Confirmation Reconciliation service - 11:40am
Bishop visit - Thursday 15th August at 2pm
Saturday 24th August - Sacrament of Confirmation – 1pm and 3pm

Eucharist

Thursday 31st July - First Eucharist Parent/Child Information Night at 6pm
Saturday 10th August – First Eucharist Commitment Mass – 6pm
Wednesday 23rd October - Eucharist Reflection Day
Thursday 24th October - Reconciliation at 11:40am and practise
Saturday 26th October - Sacrament of First Eucharist mass at 6pm
Sunday 27th October - Sacrament of First Eucharist mass at 9:30am

Whole School Mass/Events

Thursday 28th March - Easter paraliturgy at 12:45pm
Wednesday 24th April - St Mark’s Feast Day mass at 2:25pm and activities all day
Friday 17th May - Family Week mass at 2:25pm and activities during the day
Friday 31st May - Reconciliation Week liturgy and activities
Friday 28th June - Naidoc Week assembly (1pm)
Thursday 15th August - Feast of the Assumption Mass at 9am
Friday 25th October - St Francis Blessing of the animals service from 9am to 9:15am
Monday 11th November - Remembrance Day service at 10:55am
Thursday 12th December - Year 6 Graduation at 6pm
Friday 13th December - End of School Mass at 9am

50th Anniversary celebration activities

Wednesday 24th April - St Mark’s Feast Day mass at 2:25pm and activities on the day
Photo of whole school - Wednesday 22nd May 9.30 a.m.

Junior Information Nights

Preps in Pyjamas – Wednesday 19th June at 6pm
Year 1/2 Good Shepherd Night – Wednesday 7th August (6pm)

Children’s Liturgy

Wonderful news! The reintroduction of Children's Liturgy at St Mark's Church sounds like a great opportunity for the young members of the community to engage with the gospel in a way that is accessible and meaningful to them. It will be at every Sunday 9:30am mass. At the start of mass the Children’s Liturgy adult leader will take the primary school age children into the hall for a small lesson and activity about the gospel of the day. Parents are welcome to join the session if they would like. If any parents would be interested in volunteering to help with the Sunday sessions, please email Andrew Davies - andrew@smdingley.catholic.edu.au

Gospel Reflection

As we prepare to enter the sacred time of Holy Week, we look again at the significance of Christ in our lives. Though he was really in the form of God, Jesus came in the form of a slave. We have a saviour who was crushed for our iniquities, nailed to a cross as a convicted felon, and there endured the sense of abandonment. We have a saviour who was finally lifted up and exalted precisely because he emptied himself of his divine privileges. Unlike conquerors who triumph by putting down their opponents, Jesus was raised up because he himself was first willing to be put down. We have a saviour who first offered himself for us and then continues to offer himself to us as an example to follow. As he was willing to empty himself for our sake, so we must to be willing to empty ourselves for the sake of others.

The best way to enter Holy Week with Jesus is in the company of those with whom he has identified himself: the poor and the broken; the humiliated and the marginalised; those who suffer the abuse of others; those who never use rank to force their will. If we are to be saved, we must go where salvation takes place: in our streets and in our homes where violence rages; in the dark corners of life where despair holds sway; wherever the innocent are abused or the needy are neglected; wherever there is misunderstanding or fear or jealousy. We must go wherever Christ empties himself for our sake.

Harmony Day

On Friday 22nd March we celebrated Harmony Day as a whole school community. It was wonderful to see so many children wearing orange or their cultural attire.

Harmony Day takes place in Australia every March 21. It is a day to celebrate all the different cultures that are a part of Australia. It is also an opportunity to pay tribute to the original inhabitants of the country, the Indigenous Australians.

Catholic Education Week - St Patrick’s Day Mass

On Friday 15th March, 10 Year 6 leaders, Mr Davies and Stella Costantio went to St Patrick’s Cathedral as part of Catholic Education Week. As it our school’s 50th Anniversary our school leaders (Ethan and Havana) paraded in our school banner followed by a 50 year placard. Also Isobel read a prayer of the Faithful during the mass. After mass the children walked down to Treasury Gardens where there was a school band playing for all the school children to dance too. It was a wonderful day and the children had a lot of fun.

ST MARK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH HOLY WEEK & EASTER PROGRAM 2024

HOLY THURSDAY 28.03

The Lord’s Supper

Mass at St Mark’s: 7.30pm

GOOD FRIDAY 29.03

The Lord’s Passion Stations of the Cross at St Mark’s: 11am followed by soup lunch.

The Passion at St Mark’s: 3pm

HOLY SATURDAY 30.03

Easter Vigil

St Mark’s: 7.30pm

EASTER SUNDAY 31.03

Mass at St Mark’s: 9.30am

CONFESSION

Good Friday:

St Mark’s: 9am – 10am

Holy Saturday:

St Mark’s: 10am – 11.30am s Education News - Week 8 Term 1

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