Prayer & Acknowledgements

NEW - Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, 

Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts 

by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. 

May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. 

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos 

in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, 

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. 

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, 

a yearning for the treasures of heaven. 

May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. 

To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. 

Amen. 

Pope Francis.

 Jubilee Year:

“Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year; the name comes from the instrument used to mark its launch. In this case, the instrument in question is the yobel, the ram's horn, used to proclaim the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

Even though it wasn’t easy to organise, it was intended to be marked as a time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation, and involved the forgiveness of debts, the return of misappropriated land, and a fallow period for the fields.

We can find an early indication of it in the Bible: a Jubilee year was to be marked every 50 years. The frequency of Holy Years has changed over time: at first, they were celebrated every 100 years; later, in 1343 Pope Clement VI reduced the gap between Jubilees to every 50 years, and in 1470 Pope Paul II made it every 25 years.

Characteristics of the Jubilee Year:

Pilgrimage: The jubilee calls for us to set out on a journey and to cross boundaries. When we travel, we do not only change place physically, but we also change ourselves. Hence, it is important to prepare ourselves well, to plan the route, and learn about the destination. Pilgrimage is an experience of conversion, of transforming one's very being to conform it to the holiness of God.

Opening of Holy Door: The opening of the door in the Vatican by the Pope constitutes the official beginning of the Holy Year. From a symbolic viewpoint, the Holy Door takes on a special significance: it is the most powerful sign of the Jubilee, since the ultimate aim of the pilgrim is to pass through it.

Reconciliation: A Jubilee year is a sign of reconciliation because it establishes a “favourable time” for conversion. We are called to put God at the centre of our lives, growing toward Him and acknowledging His love.

Prayer: There are many reasons and ways to pray, but at the heart of prayer is always the desire to be open to God's presence and His offer of love.

NEW - Congratulations

Congratulations to the Worm family Meghan, Louis, Ebony, Isobelle, Hamish (5/6MC), Stephanie (3/4KD), Olivia (2MC), Daisy and Theodore on the safe arrival of their beautiful daughter and baby sister. 

Eleanor Marie Worm

NEW- Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrated their birthdays during weeks 1 and 2 of Term 1.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge and pay respect to the Yorta Yorta people as the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which we meet today. We commit to actively working alongside First Nations people for healing, reconciliation and justice.

The Catholic education faith community is inclusive and acknowledges that we are all made in the image and likeness of God and we are created in love. People of all faiths, genders, sexualities and cultures are therefore respected equally in the Sandhurst Catholic community.

We acknowledge the pain and suffering of all who have been hurt in body, mind and spirit by those who have betrayed the trust placed in them.

May we all stand tall, stand firm, grounded in truth, together as one.