Education in Faith

Loving God, we give you thanks for the wonderful gift of the Sacrament of Confirmation.

We thank you for our Confirmation candidates, who have opened their hearts to receive the Holy Spirit. 

May the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, courage, knowledge, reverence, and wonder and awe in your presence guide them throughout their lives.

Bless their families, sponsors, teachers, priests, and parish community who have supported them on this important step in their faith journey. 

May this celebration inspire all of us to live as faithful disciples of Jesus, sharing your love, kindness, and hope with everyone we meet. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Thank You – Confirmation Faith Night

Thank you to all of our Confirmation candidates and their families who attended our Faith Night on Wednesday evening. We are especially grateful to Sarah Smith for facilitating such an engaging and meaningful session. Her thoughtful reflections and contemporary approach to the Sacrament of Confirmation provided families with valuable opportunities to pray, reflect, and share in conversation together as they continue preparing for this special milestone in their faith journey.                   

Fr Brendan Reed

We extend our sincere thanks to Fr Brendan Reed for spending time with our Year 6 Confirmation candidates during their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.Fr Brendan shared a thoughtful and engaging explanation of the sacrament, helping the students to deepen their understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the significance of Confirmation in their faith journey. By relating Scripture to everyday life, he encouraged the children to see how God's Word continues to guide and strengthen them as they grow in faith.

We are grateful for Fr Brendan's generosity, wisdom, and the meaningful way he inspired our students in preparation for this special sacrament. 

Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation

Our Year 6 students celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday 1st August at St Joseph's Church, Brunswick. It was a truly wonderful celebration, marking an important milestone in their faith journey as they were strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit and affirmed in their commitment to live as disciples of Christ.

We congratulate all of our Confirmation candidates and thank our families, sponsors, and parish community for their support and prayers. It was a joyful and memorable occasion, and we are proud of the reverence, confidence, and faith shown by our students throughout the celebration.

Choir

We extend our thanks to all of the children who sang so beautifully in the Emmaus parish choir for our Confirmation celebration. Your joyful voices helped create a prayerful and uplifting atmosphere, making the celebration even more special. We are so grateful for your time, commitment, and willingness to share your gifts with our school and parish community. 

What’s happening in Religious Education in 5/6

Throughout the term, our Year 5/6 students have been exploring a variety of Scripture passages, making meaningful connections between God’s Word and their own lives. The students focused on the story of Pentecost, reflecting on the coming of the Holy Spirit and the courage, wisdom and strength given to the disciples to continue the mission of Jesus.

As they unpacked the scripture, the students engaged in rich discussion and personal reflection using questions such as:

What does this text mean to me?

What questions or wonderings do you have about this passage?

What do you think this scripture is saying to us today?

What is God asking of us through this text?

These reflections encourage students to consider how the Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives today and how we are each called to be as disciples of Christ.  The students also deepened their understanding of the Sacrament of Confirmation by exploring the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. Through discussion, prayer and learning opportunities, they examined how these gifts strengthen us to make good choices throughout our lives. 

They reflected on practical ways that they can demonstrate the fruits of the Holy Spirit in their everyday interactions with family and friends.  To further prepare for the celebration of Confirmation, students unpacked the Rite of Confirmation, learning about the meaning and significance of the symbols, actions and prayers used throughout the liturgy.  Working as researchers, they investigated three key moments of the rite:

The laying on of Hands

The Anointing of Sacred Chrism

The Renewal of Baptisimal Promises

Throughout these learning opportunities, the students gained a deeper appreciation of the symbols and traditions of the Church and developed a greater understanding of how confirmation strengthened them to live out our faith with confidence, courage and love. 

Upcoming School Mass Times

Throughout the term, students will have regular opportunities to attend Mass as part of their faith journey and spiritual development. These celebrations provide meaningful moments for prayer, reflection, and connection with our school community. The following schedule outlines the allocated times for each class to participate in Mass and other prayer experiences.

We warmly invite parents and carers to join us whenever possible, as your presence helps to enrich these special occasions and strengthens the partnership between home, school, and parish.

God bless and have a great week. Annette Gasbarro, Religious Education Leader.