Education in Faith
First Eucharist
Last Saturday (21/6), the following students received the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time at the 6pm OHR Mass.
Emme A, Emily B, Charlie C, Aston C, Dan C, Leo F, Tully F, Joe G, Jasmine H, Patrick J, Harrison K, Dilan R, Hailey W
We congratulate and offer our prayers to these students. May they continue to grow in faith, love and the presence of Christ in their lives.
This weekend, the following students will be receiving the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time.
Luke H, Finley R, Mia H, Keilah B, Alexander E
Please keep these students in your prayers. May this special day be filled with joy, grace and a deep love for Jesus as they welcome Him into their hearts.
End of Term Whole School Mass
We will be celebrating Mass as a whole school to mark the end of Term 2 on the last day of term (Friday 4th July) in the Church at 9.00am. Everybody is most welcome.
Family Led Sunday Mass
During 2025, the Parish in conjunction with the Parish Primary Schools, has planned Family led weekend Masses. These Masses will be celebrated once a term and be followed by hospitality. They will be a great opportunity for children and their families to be involved in a Mass within the parish community.
Family Masses will provide an opportunity for families to come together and to support each other in faith. They can particularly be important for families who are presenting their children for Sacraments throughout the year. There may be opportunities to reconnect with our own faith as adults. There may be opportunities to engage with parish life and learn more about the faith, for those who are not so familiar with our local worshiping community. All families are welcome at these family Masses no matter what your religious background or affiliation.
Family Masses scheduled for later this year are:
Sunday, 17 August at 5.00 pm (OLGC Church)
Special invitation to Year 6 students and families (includes Confirmation Commitment)
Saturday, 15 November at 6.00pm (OHR Church)
Prep, Year 1 & Year 2 and new families for 2026 are particularly invited to this Mass
Nick Byrne
RE Leader
RE Learning in 2TH
Holy Doors are special doors found in major basilicas, most famously in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. They are opened only during Jubilee Years—usually once every 25 years or on special occasions—symbolising a path to forgiveness, grace, and a renewed relationship with God. Pilgrims travel from around the world to walk through these doors, as a sign of spiritual renewal and commitment to living a more faithful and loving life. Passing through a Holy Door is meant to be more than a physical act; it represents an inner journey of the heart—a desire to leave behind sin and move forward with hope, mercy, and love.
Inspired by this rich tradition, 2TH have created their own Holy Doors (at the Undercroft Doors) centered around the theme of generosity. The children learned that generosity isn’t just about giving gifts—it’s about sharing time, kindness, and love with others. Through stories and reflections, the students explored how small, generous actions can open the doors of the heart and bring joy to others.
Each panel on our Holy Doors models an example of generosity suggested by the students and then interpreted through their artwork. An example of how even the youngest among us can be powerful instruments of love and giving.
As you look at the display, we invite you to reflect on your own generous acts. May these doors remind us all that, just like the pilgrims who pass through the Holy Doors in Rome, we too are invited to take steps toward becoming more compassionate and generous each day.
Sunday Gospel
The liturgy of the Catholic Church provides a framework for reflection which is used by Catholics throughout the world. Each week in the Newsletter, you will find the Sunday Gospel as well as some discussion questions to have with your child/ren.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said, ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said, ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’
Discussion Questions
1. In today’s Gospel what question did Jesus ask his disciples?
2. Who was the apostle who replied that Jesus was the Son of the living God?
3. What does ‘Peter’ mean?
4. Why would Jesus call him a ‘rock’?
5. Peter and Paul passed on their faith to the early Christian communities, even though they had some difficult experiences. Who are the people who pass the faith on to others today?
We pray that we may have strong faith like Peter and Paul and be God’s messengers of hope in the world.