OUR FAITH
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, your servant St Joseph was a man of great faith. He listened to you in prayer and to angels whom you sent in dreams. He is symbol for courage in following God’s will. May we look to him in times of trouble or doubt.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
We pray ...
We pray for ...... our school community as we continue to pray, give and reflect on our words and actions through the season of Lent, for those undergoing surgery and specialised treatments, for those experiencing loss and devastation as a result of flooding and for peace in war torn countries.
LITURGY NEWS
Next Wednesday 23rd March some of our Year 5 students will have the opportunity to attend Reconciliation in the Auditorium. Kindergarten will also received a visit from either Fr Paul or Fr Chris.
2022 FAMILY MASSES
Our next Family Mass is on Sunday 3rd April at 9:30am (Year 1 and Year 5). We would love to see you all there to celebrate mass with some morning tea afterwards.
Celebrating Mass each Sunday is an essential part of our faith and enables us to form a community based on faith, hope and love, where the love of God and love of neighbour is fostered. Making this a regular part of family routine each week is one way families can nurture a strong and enduring faith that we may be able to turn to throughout difficult times.
FEAST DAYS
17th March – Feast of St Patrick
St Patrick (385-461) is venerated as the apostle of Ireland. Born in Great Britain, sold as a slave in Ireland, he later escaped and became a priest, only to return to Ireland bearing the light of the Gospel. He is known for using a green shamrock to teach the people that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
19th March – Feast of St Joseph
St Joseph was born of the royal family of David, but he lived in obscurity as a carpenter when God chose him to be foster father and guardian of Jesus and spouse of the Virgin Mary. Scripture says Joseph was a just man. He was innocent, pure, gentle and loved silence. He was a quiet, hardworking carpenter who kept God’s commandments.
GREEN DAY
Our annual ‘Green Day’ will be held on Friday 18th March. This will be a day where children wear ‘green mufti clothes’ and bring along a gold coin donation which will be put towards our fundraising efforts for CARITAS Australia. Parents and friends are welcome to attend.
DATES FOR 2022 SACRAMENTS
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (Year 3 students)
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation and program will begin early in Term 2 for our students and parents in Year 3. This will include a Parent Information and Enrolment Session at St Nicholas Church on Wednesday 30th March at 5.30pm or a repeat session on Saturday 2nd April at 2pm. At least one parent is required to attend one of these sessions. Notes have been sent home via Compass. Please make contact with Mrs Dunst if you did not receive a notification.
For new students who are baptised Catholic, are in Years 3 -6 and are beginning at St Nicholas School in 2022, if there is a Sacrament that they have missed receiving please contact Mrs Dunst as soon as possible (rdunst@arm.catholic.edu.au).
SCHOOL AGED BAPTISM
This year the School Age Baptisms (children from Kindergarten: 5yrs old – Year 6: 11yrs old) will be held on Saturday 26th March at 10.00am at St Nicholas Church. There is a baptism preparation session which parents (without exception) will need to attend on Thursday 24th March at 5pm. Please make contact with St Nicholas Presbytery to express your interest in having your child/ren baptised. (Presbytery phone number 67662228).
MENS GATHERING
All men of our school community, regardless of religious denomination are invited to attend the ARMIDALE DIOCESAN MENS' GATHERING (ADMG) to be held at McCarthy Catholic College, Tamworth, on Saturday morning, 19th March, starting over breakfast at 7.30am and finishing at lunchtime.
The principal speaker, Tim Davis, is a father of primary school children and pre-schoolers.
There will be an open forum with plenty of time for you to raise things that are important to you – perhaps mental health issues in children and families – perhaps how hard it is to be a man of faith today – perhaps helping children and teenagers navigate the online world in a safe way.
Saturday morning can be a busy time for kids and families with sporting commitments etc. If you need to leave early that is OK.
It can be hard being a father today. Those who have heard Tim or who have attended similar gatherings throughout Australia endorse the experience.
Yourself, your family and our school community may benefit from your attendance.