Religious Education

    National Reconciliation Week 2025

National Reconciliation Week is held every year from 27 May to 3 June. These two dates are significant for the reconciliation journey in Australia. 

On 27 May 1967, a referendum was passed allowing the Australian Government to make new laws addressing many of the inequalities faced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

On 3 June 1992 the High Court of Australia ruled in favour of Eddie Mabo and other First Nations people being granted Native Title, giving back rights to certain land because of their traditional laws and custom. 

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to come together and celebrate the unique diversity and history of our great land. 

The students have been learning about National Reconciliation Week and its 2025 theme Bridging Now to Next.

The focus song chosen this year is the classic 1982 song 

 Solid Rock written by Shane Howard and performed by the band Goanna. 

Please find some time to read through the National Reconciliation Week website to learn more about the history and future direction of the reconciliation journey. 

https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/ 

This link is from the latest edition of Melbourne Catholic, a social media outlet for the Melbourne Archdiocese. 

It tells the story of Maureen Moore, an Aboriginal elder and Stolen Generation survivor. 

https://melbournecatholic.org/news/looking-back-with-love-an-unassuming-aborignal-elders-quiet-faith.  

You might like to pray this prayer, individually or as a family, during National Reconciliation Week. 

Prayer for National Reconciliation Week 2025 

Dear God, thank you for creating us all with different cultures and stories. 

We are like a rainbow, with many colors shining together as one. 

Help us to listen to the stories of others, especially our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander friends, and learn from their wisdom. 

Help us to be kind, respectful, and understanding of each other, just like you want us to be. 

Let us bridge the gap between now and the next generation, working together to make our country a better place for everyone. 

In the name of Jesus, 

Amen.

The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven

This Sunday, 1st June, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. 

This feast recalls Jesus returning to God the Father in Heaven.

Traditionally, this feast was celebrated on a Thursday, as it marked the 40th day after Easter.

It was the final day Jesus was physically seen by his disciples. 

On this day, Jesus visited the disciples. They shared bread and Jesus instructed them to wait in Jerusalem, once he had left them, until the Holy Spirit came down to them. Jesus gave his disciples a blessing and he suddenly left them. They were unsure but believed Jesus would come to them again as the Holy Spirit.

The following Sunday the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Catholic Church. 

The late Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions

Pope Francis published his prayer intentions for each month at the beginning of the year. 

To honour the memory of Pope Francis, we will continue to publish his monthly prayer intentions until Pope Leo releases his monthly prayer intentions.  

Please try to find some quiet time in your busy day to pray the late Pope Francis' Prayer Intention for the month of June. Thank you. 

That the world might grow in compassion

Let us pray that each one of us might find consolation 

in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, 

learn to have compassion on the world.

Amen