Religious Education & Parish News
Next Friday, our whole school community will take part in a fundraiser for Caritas Australia, supporting their mission to bring clean, safe water to communities around the world.
Over the past few weeks, all classes have been learning about children who do not have reliable access to clean water. In many communities, children must walk long distances every day to collect water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. This daily burden often means they miss out on school, limiting their opportunities for learning and a brighter future.
💧 Why Water Matters — Key Facts from Caritas
- At least 1 in 3 schools worldwide lack access to clean water and basic sanitation, making learning unsafe and difficult for millions of children.
- 292 million people walk 30 minutes or more every day just to collect water for their families.
- In rural communities—such as those Caritas supports in Cambodia—water is considered a luxury, and many families rely on unsafe or distant water sources. Caritas programs currently support 51 villages across Cambodia to access clean water and sanitation.
- Globally, 884 million people have no access to safe water, and 1.4 million children die each year from diarrhoea caused by unclean water and poor sanitation.
These are the realities our students have been exploring—helping them understand why access to water is a basic human right, not a privilege.
🚶♂️🚶♀️ Our School Challenge
To stand in solidarity with children around the world, our students will aim to walk a combined 500 km as a whole-school community. This symbolic action helps students appreciate the daily journeys many children must make just to access water.
Every step our students take will help raise awareness and funds for Caritas programs that:
- build sustainable water systems
- improve sanitation
- support education
- empower communities to break the cycle of poverty
On Friday we encorage all students to wear their school uniform. We would also invite them to bring a gold coin to donate if able to. If you would prefer to donate online you can use the qr code above to aceess our St Thomas fundraising page.
On Wednesday, Mass was led by Year Two and attended by Year Three as their guests.
We celebrated a truly lovely Mass, with confident readers and many thoughtful responses to Father James’ reflections on Saint Patrick and Saint Joseph. The children contributed with such reverence and enthusiasm, helping to create a joyful and prayerful atmosphere for our whole school community.
As part of the celebration, children who have not yet made their First Eucharist were invited to come forward for a special blessing. They were intructed to cross their arms, just like Mrs Mac in the picture.
This moment was a beautiful expression of welcome and belonging, and it was wonderful to see so many step forward with openness and pride. Their participation highlighted the strong sense of connection and shared faith that continues to grow within our school.
Overall, it was a Mass filled with gratitude, participation, and a deep sense of community spirit.
St Thomas Parish Weekend Mass Schedule
Masses
† Saturday Vigil Mass: 6.00pm
† Sunday Masses: 9:00am, 10:45am & 5.00pm
For other Masses in the week and Reconciliation times...
If you have any wonderings about Religous Education at St Thomas you are always welcome to email or arrange a time to chat with me.
Sarah Chappell
Religous Education Leader
schappell@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au