Spiritual Connections

Each year, our diocese creates a theme, linked to scripture, that unites all schools. The theme for 2025 is ‘Pilgrims of Hope!’

As pilgrims, we are privileged to walk the same journey as Jesus did thousands of years ago. He brought hope and light to those who others ignored or brushed aside. Jesus took great risks to ground his pilgrimage in God’s love. This became his centre, his guide and his compass. This year, we are all called to journey towards the light that we experience in his presence and God’s promise of equity, justice and compassion.

For thousands of years, Aboriginal people have been pilgrims upon our land. With bare feet, they have carved tracks into the earth with intent, purpose and sustainable care. Their pilgrimage is rich in story, dreaming and justice for creation. We acknowledge them today.

Let us call to mind the need to honour our first pilgrims and the land they call home. Let us acknowledge the current need for reconciliation and a new dreaming for our future filled with the spirit of hope and promise. 

All of creation is on pilgrimage towards tomorrow. She forms an incredible community of creatures and elements that are sacred, dependent, vulnerable and magnificent.  Each element of creation that is on pilgrimage offers its own value to the greater whole. Every living aspect of creation offers a window into the divine presence of love we call God.

God of hope, fill us with your spirit of pilgrimage this year.

Many years ago, Jesus was a pilgrim too. In Galilee, the desert and Jerusalem he formed tracks in the earth with few possessions, a swag of followers and a dream to bring hope to the poorest of the poor, the lonely and the lost. 

The only guide for his pilgrimage was his love for God. He believed that hope could turn all things from darkness to light. His pilgrimage offers us hope for the journeys we are on today.

God of hope, fill us with your spirit of pilgrimage this year.

Today, we are inspired by all pilgrims who have gone before us. They are our models and our guide, the ones we look up to and learn from about how to build communities of inclusivity, hope and companionship.

In particular, Jesus invites us to become the most loving and generous pilgrims that we can be this year. As pilgrims, we can dream of a tomorrow that is teaming with Spirit filled moments and endless buckets of joy.

God of hope, fill us with your spirit of pilgrimage this year.

Sacramental Program – 2025.

At the beginning of last year, there was a change to the Sacramental Program. Instead of children receiving Reconciliation in Grade 3 and Confirmation/Eucharist in Grade 4, it was decided to incorporate all Sacraments into one year. This also aligned our program with the diocesan guidelines. 

The majority of children taking part were in Grade 3. Feedback from families and community members was this was a special occasion for the children in their faith journey, and it was even more special to receive the sacraments with their friends and classmates. It was also felt that there was a lot of information in the program for the children at this age to understand as a part of their formation.

This year there is going to be a hold on the Sacramental program – for this year only. The program will continue in 2026. This is to maintain the program to take place in one year (to align with diocesan guidelines) but to also allow for the children to be twelve months older to support their understanding and formation. Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist will all take place in one year. In the past, children received Confirmation and Eucharist in Grade 4 – this will be the same in 2026. 

Information regarding the Sacrament Program will be sent out later in the year for families wishing to enrol their child/ren in 2026. 

If you have any questions, please contact Tony at school.

School-Led Liturgies:

Once a term, as a school, we are rostered on to lead Sunday Parish Mass at 10:30am. There are many jobs to be covered during Mass, such as readings, or bringing up the gifts at offertory time. If families would like to help with these, could you please email me at school and I will arrange for this. Our involvement in weekend liturgies is a great way of connecting with our parish community.

Email: tmcdonald@shtatura.catholic.edu.au

Term 1 Events/Dates:

More information about specific events will be communicated closer to the dates.

Kind regards,

Tony McDonald.