Religious Education
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION YEAR 6's
Just a reminder that this Saturday will be the Year 6's Confirmation. The children are asked to gather in the hall by 5:30pm to pick up their stole and the teachers will take a group photo to be shared with the families. The children will then be taken over to the church around 5:50pm.
The mass begins at 6:00pm and the sponsors are asked to be in the front seats beforehand, awaiting the candidates arrival. The Confirmation cards will be on the seats and there will be somebody to help direct them to where they are seated.
As the Year 6 children and their sponsors are seated at the front of the church (reserve signs on end of seats), the remainder of the congregation are asked to sit in the second half of the church.
A reminder that no photos or videos are permitted during the ceremony, however, photos are allowed after the mass, usually with the Bishop if he is available. Thank you.
Looking forward to a wonderful Sacrament being celebrated with the parish families of St Mary's.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION YEAR 4's
In preparation of the Year 4's First Communion which is quickly approaching on June 15, we are asking for Parents and Children to attend an information evening facilitated by Beth Walshe, RE Advisor from MACS (Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools) on Tuesday 21st May at 7:00pm in the hall.
Beth will lead everyone present into a better understanding of the Sacrament and its importance to being Catholic. There will be opportunities for interaction between parent/s and child and sharing within the group.
This evening will help support the children's preparation and learning at school, for the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
More information will be given about the actual 1st Communion day itself regarding families attending, etc.
Looking forward to seeing you on the 21st May.
Family Week
Family Week 2024
WHAT IS FAMILY WEEK?
CatholicCare Victoria's Family Week is a yearly event that takes place in May, coinciding
with the United Nation’s International Day of Families. The goal is to celebrate the vital
role that families play in impacting the health and wellbeing of individuals, and therefore in
building thriving communities. It is an opportunity to celebrate the people close to us, from our immediate family to our closest friends and loved ones, through to our colleagues, teachers, neighbours and the community; everyone who helps shape our goals and values, and offers us the security and love that we need to thrive.
ACTIVITIES FOR HOME
FAMILY CONNECTIONS AND CONVERSATIONS
Pick a family activity to try during Family Week. Talk to the adults at home to see how you can make this a family tradition to connect with each other and spend quality time.
Suggested activities:
• Have an all-of-family cooking night
• Have a family movie marathon
• Have a family games night
• Catch up with extended family and friends
• Have a special family breakfast before work and/or school
• Let the children make dinner for the adults – and choose the entertainment!
• Take some family photos or create a family album or book
• Organize a family bushwalk or walkathon
• Or come up with your own idea and share them in class
Interview or have a conversation with a parent, uncle, aunty, or grandparent to learn about their childhood. Ask them to share stories about what their life was like when they were young.
Here are some example questions:
• What did they do as a family when they were younger?
• How did they spend their free time?
• What were their hobbies?
• What were their friends or family like?
• What were some of the challenges they faced and how
did they overcome them or cope with them?
• Who showed them compassion in their challenging times?
What did they do? How did it help them?
• What lessons have they learnt from those experiences?
Prayer for Families
Lord, we are the gathering of your local Church, made up of individual households, families and neighbourhoods in all their wonderful shapes, sizes and arrangements. Through these domestic communities we are invited in a particular way into a common life in you – into places where grace is made visible and tangible; and where we each can find love, belonging, healing, and purpose. We hold our families close in prayer this week, and humbly ask for your wisdom and guidance through the Holy Spirit that they may flourish, even in the midst of challenge and adversity. We acknowledge that we are not always perfect, grant us the strength to seek forgiveness and to forgive; to resolve conflicts with respect; and to build homes and communities of compassion and peace in your name. We thank you for the abundant graces of our families, and for the wonder and blessing of the life you have given us.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, graciously hear our prayer.
Peter A Comensoli
Archbishop of Melbourne
For more information please contact Catholic Care
instagram.com/catholiccarevic
Donate
Visit our website:
www.catholiccarevic.org.au/donate
St Vincent de Paul
Message of Hope
To celebrate St Vincent de Paul Society’s 170th birthday, students were asked to write a ‘message of hope’ and think about the impact they would like to have on their community and on the world. Our Year 3 students worked on this project and produced some beautiful responses.
The Road to Emmaus
This week students have been focusing on the story ‘The Road to Emmaus’ in RE lessons. Students learnt about how Jesus appeared to his disciples many times in the forty days after his death.
The story of The Road to Emmaus
After Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene, he appeared to two disciples who were walking to Emmaus.
The disciples were sad and confused. They thought Jesus had had left them. They felt so disappointed. The disciples didn't understand God's plan. It was as if the whole world had crumbled down around them.
When Jesus first met up with the disciples, they didn't know who he was. They began to talk to him. The disciples told Jesus what had happened.
Jesus spoke to the two disciples.
And Jesus explained to them what was said about himself in all the Scriptures, beginning with the books of Moses and the writings of all the prophets.
- Luke 24:27
The Disciples Recognise Jesus
The two disciples were beginning to feel a lot happier. When they arrived in Emmaus, they asked Jesus to stay with them. Jesus agreed, and he sat down to eat with them.
He sat down to eat with them, took the bread, and said the blessing; then he broke the bread and gave it to them.
- Luke 24:30
That moment their eyes were opened. The two disciples realised it was Jesus!
They got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven disciples gathered together with the others and saying, 'The Lord is risen indeed! He has appeared to Simon!'
- Luke 24:33-34