Education in Faith
Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2024
Here is a copy of the presentation made by our RE School Leaders at last Monday's Assembly.
Good morning teachers and students. This year the RE Leaders would like the whole school to get involved in supporting the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. This is often just shortened to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal.
This Christmas, more families are experiencing poverty and are on the brink of homelessness due to the relentless rising cost-of-living in Australia. The crisis has been an ongoing issue impacting Australians for over two years with no sign of reprieve. As the crisis deepens, so does the amount of people turning to Vinnies for support.
The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia has more than 60,000 members and volunteers, who work hard to assist people in need and combat social injustice across Australia. Internationally, the Society operates in 153 countries and has over 800,000 members.
There are two ways we will be supporting the work of Vinnies.
The first option is to bring in non perishable food items, especially those with a Christmas theme. This will help provide food for a family to celebrate Christmas with a meal together. These can be left in your classroom and we will collect them before the end of term
Finally, for the rest of the year the RE/Social Justice Team will be selling Zooper Dooper icy poles for 50c after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 - 3:30pm at the tuckshop window.
If anybody would like to donate a pack (or more) of Zooper Doopers please bring them to the office. Selling zooper doopers starts today (7/11).
A snapshot of RE Learning in 3/4 JW
In 3/4JW we have been learning about the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37).
In the parable, the children learnt about a Jewish traveler who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road. A Jewish priest and then a Levite come by, both avoiding the man. A Samaritan happens upon him, and though Samaritans and Jews were generally antagonistic toward each other, the Samaritan helped him.
The students reflected on all the different ways they are like the Good Samaritan and ow they show kindness towards others. Students learnt about the impact of their kindness and developed a definition as a class. 3/4 JW decided kindness meant:
Kindness is being friendly, generous and considerate without the expectation of anything in return.
Enjoy our reflections on the ways we show kindness like the Good Samaritan:
Sunday Gospel
The liturgy of the Catholic Church provides a framework for reflection which is used by Catholics throughout the world. Each week in the Newsletter, you will find the Sunday Gospel as well as some discussion questions to have with your child/ren.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
In his teaching Jesus said, ‘Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.’
He sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many of the rich put in a great deal. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then he called to his disciples and said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury; for they have all put in money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.’
Discussion Questions
1. How much did the wealthy give and how much did the widow give in the Gospel story today?
2. Why did Jesus say that the widow gave more?
3. Jesus asks us not to make a show of doing good for others. How can we do good things without making a fuss?
4. What things are more difficult to do for others.
5.How can we be like the widow who gave her last two coins?
Nick Byrne
RE Leader