RENews

On behalf of all the staff at St Raphael's, we would like to thank our families and community members for all their support and trust throughout this year. 

As we reflect back on a  year like no other we pray to the Lord and ask Him to continue to protect and strengthen us each and every day.  We wish you all a very Holy Christmas and we look forward to being back together in 2021. 

Advent

Second Sunday Of Advent: 6th December 2020 

Mk 1:1-8

Make straight the paths of the Lord.

The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:

Look, I am going to send my messenger before you;

he will prepare your way.

A voice cries in the wilderness:

Prepare a way for the Lord,

make his paths straight,

and so it was that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. John wore a garment of camel-skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey. In the course of his preaching, he said, ‘Someone is following me, someone, who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’ 

Fr James Michael Baptist Ordination

Last weekend it was a pleasure and honor to attend Fr James' (Deacon James) Solemn's First Mass of Thanksgiving. We congratulate Fr James and wish him all the very best on his new appointment and parish of 'Bayside Catholic Mission'.

It has been such a privilege throughout the year to have had Fr James work closely with our Year 6 Confirmation Candidates and senior students. 

Confirmation & Graduation Ceremony

The Sacrament of Confirmation and the Year 6 Graduation will be held on Monday 14th December at 5 pm. 

The evening will begin with the Rite of Confirmation liturgy conducted by Fr Simon and Fr James Baptist. At the conclusion of the ceremony, we will have a short interval before proceeding with the Graduation ceremony. 

The location of these ceremonies will be held outside the church on the school grounds.

We ask our school community to pray for our children.

First Reconciliation & 

First Eucharist

Last Thursday afternoon the Year 4 Eucharist children received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It was a special moment for the children as they reconciled with God.

First Eucharist will be celebrated on Sunday 14th February 2021 at 10.30 am. We look forward to working with the children as they journey through this sacrament.