R.E News - AP Mission

Mr Damian Roff

Mary, The Month of May

Traditionally May has been a Month where the Catholic Church honour and remember Mary the mother of Jesus. In Australia, we honour all mothers with a special day in May because we understand the essential nature of the goodness that title brings. We often think of Mary as calm and at ease with all her tribulations but you can only imagine what life would have been like today for her let alone 2030 years ago. The New Testament does not fully portray Mary's life but it gives a real glimpse into her character. Some of the events that would have caused anxiety include;

Being visited by Gabriel and told she would conceive a son by the Holy Spirit to be called Jesus.
Having to travel to Jerusalem from Nazareth on a donkey whilst being heavily pregnant.
Not being able to find accommodation and giving birth in a stable
Fleeing to Egypt under the threat of her child's death.
Losing Jesus as a child and finding him in the temple.
Mary travelling with Jesus during his public ministry and all the craziness that went with that.
Watching her son persecuted and killed on the Cross.
Witnessing Jesus' resurrection and ascension.
Still working with the Apostles after all that.

Her character is marked by words such as loyal, brave, committed, humble, determined, trustworthy, strong, faithful, joyful, calm and more. It is little wonder she is regarded as a model for discipleship.

We honour Mary as the simple "Handmaid of the Lord" who we invite to pray with and for us to God our Father. We particularly honour Mary in May with the Rosary, a traditional pattern of prayer in the Catholic Church. Rosary beads are helpful with this but are also a beautiful symbol of our devotion to Mary.

Our Lady Help of Christians

This is one of the many titles bestowed upon Mary and it is this guise that we recognise her as one of the patron saints of Australia with St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Her Feast Day is of course in the month of May, May 24 to be precise.

Almighty God, deepen in our hearts our love of Mary Help of Christians. Through her prayers and under her protection, may the light of Christ shine over our land. May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace. Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens. Bless especially the men and women of the Australian Defence Force and their families. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.

Father Rob

Last week, Father Rob Galea 'the singing priest' appeared on ABC's Compass program. Some of our students at O'Connor have been lucky enough to have met Father Rob at events such as Australian Catholic Youth Festivals in Adelaide, Sydney and Perth.

Rob Galea is a priest whose conversion to Catholicism followed a tumultuous adolescence in Malta. Now an accomplished singer working from a parish in Bendigo he works to engage young people through song.

Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral

Keep up to date with online Mass times on the Cathedral's Facebook page.

The current bulletin can be found here: