Catholic Identity
Vinnies Winter Appeal
Thank you for your generous support of the Vinnie's Winter Appeal. As a school community, we raised a total of $744.60 for the local St. Vincent De Paul Society Chapter. This money will be used to support local families in need.
Lily and Maria ran a very successful craft stall to raise money for Vinnies. In their own time, they create craft items such as bracelets, bath bombs, and scrunchies to sell. They ran the stall at school during break time raising a total of $182.00. We thank them for their wonderful efforts and passion to support an important cause.
Our Social Justice Team also ran a successful casual clothes fundraiser. The student leaders met with the local St Vincent De Paul representative to learn about the organisation and their work, they spoke at assemblies raising awareness of local justice issues, particularly related to homelessness, and promoted the casual clothes day, which raised $562.00 for the Vinnie's Winter Appeal.
Grade Six Unit Mass
You are invited to join us as the Grade Six Unit leads us in the Eucharistic celebration.
Parish Sacramental Program - Confirmation and Eucharist
The Parish program for Confirmation and Eucharist preparation for students in grade 3 and above commences on the 25th of June. See the Parish News section of the newsletter for further information.
Weekly Gospel - 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Gospel Reading - Mark 4:26-34
Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”
He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables, he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables, he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples, he explained everything in private.
Reflection
This week we hear two parables Jesus uses to speak about the Kingdom of God. When we think of God's kingdom, we might tend to think of regal images, of things out of reach of the ordinary day. However, unexpectedly Jesus uses very earthy imagery when speaking of the Kingdom of God. This is the power of parables, they have the power to reveal God to us, to challenge us, and most commonly surprise us.
The parable of the mustard seed can be interpreted in many ways. One interpretation is that it is a parable teaching about the inclusivity of the kingdom of God. In the time of Jesus, mustard seeds were used to ward pests and birds away from crops. It would have been very surprising and challenging to the people of the time to hear that the mustard tree grows to let the birds of the sky "dwell in its shade", this line in the parable speaks of God's kingdom being open, and welcoming of all.
Who are the birds who rest in the shade of the mustard tree today? Who would I be surprised to hear Jesus saying the Kingdom of God is open to? How can I help grow the seed of the Kingdom in my community?