Religious Dimension
A prayer for our First Eucharist candidates
"May your First Communion celebrate your friendship with Jesus.
As you grow in this friendship may your words be gentle and your touch be kind.
May you hear whispers of Love in your heart each day.
May you have fun in discovering God hidden everywhere!
And, may you remember to thank God often for the gift of life."
Eucharist Reflection Day
On Monday 22nd July , the students in Year 3 and 4 attended a Eucharist Reflection Day at school organised by their teachers in preparation for receiving this sacrament for the first time. They completed a series of rotations which included the signs and symbols used in the Mass, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, making placemats and cards, making bread together and being involved in meditation.
With Mr. Whelan, Miss Lumsden, Lauren and Emma the students baked bread in the school kitchen making links between the Last Supper and sharing a meal. The Year 3 and 4 students studied Luke 9 where Jesus fed the 5000. The students explored how Jesus fed them with a miracle and how he feeds us with His Word, His love and that Jesus is the Bread of Life.
After lunch the students were involved in a meditation session experiencing God in a deeper more personal way.
Overall the Eucharist Reflection Day was enjoyed by all! I'd sincerely like to thank the Year 3 and 4 students for their participation and preparation.
Eucharist Information Evening
On the evening of Tuesday 23rd July our year 4 students who were receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time and their parents gathered at Sorrento RSL. The students and their parents discussed the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.
We GATHERED- students and parents came together
We LISTENED- we listened to stories from the Bible and washed each others hands, just like Jesus washed his disciples feet
We SHARED FOOD- we shared pizza together
We GO and TRY TO LIVE MORE LIKE JESUS- we discussed ways we could be more like Jesus.
First Holy Communion
On the weekend many of our Year 4 students celebrated their First Holy Communion. First Holy Communion is a time when our students are invited to share in the Eucharistic. This is the part of the mass where the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus. It was wonderful to see all the students dressed up with beaming smiles on their faces. We are grateful to our dedicated teachers and parents who have lovingly guided our students.
On Monday the 8th of August we celebrate the Feast of St Mary of The Cross Mackillop. This is the day she died in 1909 in Sydney at the age of 67. Mary’s influence on education and bringing God to the people, especially the poor, is one of the most remarkable stories in our Australian history. She remains our only Australian Saint. .
Today in our school community we teach children Gospel values of teamwork, respect, learning, and honesty as these will be the values that will hopefully guide them throughout their lives. If these values are embedded in the character of your child, they will act like the strong roots of a tree. It does not matter what winds or storms will come in their lives, these strong roots will keep them steady and in place. These roots will help them in their conviction of what it means to be a good person and their strength, courage and perseverance will be a light in our world. Characteristics which Mary Mackillop passed onto the Sisters of St Joseph who followed her, and to those around her. Today we pass them on to our children and within our community and, in turn, these will be passed onto future generations.
Jacqui Hayes