Faith News

Important Dates- 

Term Two

• St Brendan’s Feast Day, Whole School Prayer Service THIS Friday, May 16th, 10:00 am- St Brendan’s Church, Somerville Leaders: Year Five and Six staff and students. All are welcome.

   

• Parish Commitment Mass 1 for students who enrol to receive the Sacrament of  First Eucharist Saturday, May 24th, 6:00 pm at St Brendan’s Church, Somerville *Parents, carers, and students enrolled to receive The Sacrament of First Eucharist (Communion) are expected to attend. 

   

• National Reconciliation Week: Sorry Day Whole School Prayer Service. Thursday, May 29th,  2:30 pm- St Brendan's Church, Somerville. Leaders: Year One & Two Staff & Students. All are welcome. 

   

• Parish Commitment Mass 2 for students who enrol to receive the Sacrament of  First Eucharist Saturday, May 31st, 6:00 pm at St Brendan’s Church, Somerville *Parents, carers, and students enrolled to receive The Sacrament of First Eucharist (Communion) are expected to attend.

   

• St Brendan’s School 30th Anniversary Whole School Mass Thursday, June 5th, 2:00 pm- St Brendan’s Church, Somerville Leaders: Staff Leadership Team All are welcome.

   

• Confirmation Preparation Workshop Evening Wednesday, June 11th, 5:30-6:30 pm, St Brendan’s Church, Somerville.

  *Students who enrol to receive The Sacrament of Confirmation and their parents or carers are expected to attend. 

  **Confirmation enrolment information will be sent to families in the coming weeks.

   

• First Eucharist Sacramental Mass  (Year Four Children and older students who enrol) Saturday, June 21st, St Brendan’s Church at 6:00 pm. 

   

• Parish Commitment Mass 1 for students who enrol to receive the Sacrament of  Confirmation Saturday, June 28th, 6:00 pm at St Brendan’s Church, Somerville

  *Parents, carers, and students who enrol to receive The Sacrament of Confirmation are expected to attend. Enrolment details to be communicated in Term Two

Term Three

• Confirmation Sacramental Mass (Year Six Children who enrol) Enrolment details to be communicated in Term Two Saturday, August 9th, St Brendan’s Church at 6:00 pm.

Habemus Papam- We have a Pope!

The conclave to elect a new pontiff began on May 7th. The College of 133 Cardinals has now elected Pope Leo XIV (14th), United States-born Robert Prevost, through the conclave, a deeply ritualistic liturgical process in the Sistine Chapel, Rome. 

We pray that our new leader of The Universal Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, will be blessed with the wisdom and compassion needed to guide the Catholic Church. May he serve with dedication, joy, deep compassion, and profound faith, hope, and charity, so that the light of the Risen Christ will shine upon the faithful. Amen.

 Image Source: Loyola Press

Rest in Peace, Pope Francis

Pope Francis will be deeply missed as a wonderful, contemporary leader of the faith who led by example through his humble and gracious acts of kindness and compassion. 

May he rest eternally in God’s care.

First Eucharist News

Thank you to the parents,  carers and staff who attended the First Eucharistic Preparation Workshop Evening last Wednesday, April 30th, at St Brendan’s Church, and to the families who have finalised their child’s enrolment for First Eucharist. Enrolments (for students in Year Four and older children by request). Enrolments have now closed. 

A beautiful white dress is available if there are any families of children preparing to receive the First Eucharist who require something for their child to wear. Please contact Louise or Wendy in the school office for further information. Thank you to the Brown family for their kindness in making this dress available.  

Please contact me directly via email if you wish to enrol your child to receive First Eucharist, if their name does not appear on the list below via echapple@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au. Please pray for these children as they prepare to receive the sacrament of First Eucharist (Communion) on Saturday, June 21st at 6 pm at St Brendan’s Church:

Thank you 

Thank you to the parents and visitors who joined us, and the Foundation staff and students who led the Whole School Mass for Mothers and Special Women last Thursday.. It was beautiful to see the Foundation students so excited to lead their very first Mass at St Brendan’s and share their gorgeous artwork featuring their mums and special women. 

Thank you also to the Year One and Two staff and students who led the Whole School Easter and ANZAC Day Prayer Service on Thursday, April 24th. You did a wonderful job of leading this special celebration too.

Student Leadership News- Social Justice Action Team

Student leadership is another way that student voice is expressed here at St Brendan’s. The SJAT members, Hudson, Zoe, Mia, Alyssa, Molly & Charles, are looking forward to hosting their first meeting for the year with our Western Parish Schools friends from St Joseph's and St Mary’s on Thursday, May 22nd. Read more about their progress in the next newsletter.

The SJAT wish to announce that the total of funds raised as a whole school for the Caritas Project Compassion Lenten Appeal was $268.70, with 5/6W leading the classroom totals with their donation of $62.30, and the staff leading overall with their donation of $76.75. Well done to Ms Waldock and her students, and thank you to all students, staff and families for their generosity in supporting the Caritas Project Compassion Lenten Appeal for 2025. 

Congratulations 

to Gabriella and Georgia Quiroz on receiving the Sacrament of Catholic Baptism at the Immaculate Conception Church, Hastings, over the weekend. May God bless you, guide you and keep you safe throughout your faith journey. 

Access to the Australian Catholics Online Magazine 

Hard copies of the Australian Catholic Magazine will be distributed throughout the year to all families whose eldest children are in Years 3-6 this year. ALL families have FREE access to the Australian Catholics online resource here, and by using the following login details to gain access:

Email: parents@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au             Password: acparents

Western Port Parish News

Christian Initiation for Adults: RCIA

RCIA stands for the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”. Our RCIA team is ready to welcome any participants who would like to enquire about becoming a Catholic. Adults who wish to begin or continue their faith journey through the reception of the Catholic sacraments are invited to contact the Western Port Parish Centre on (03) 5979 4374. 

Yours in faith & harmony.

Emma Chapple

-Religious Education Leader

-Performing Arts Classroom Specialist Teacher

-Director: Disney’s ‘Frozen Jr.’ 

echapple@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au