Mission and Religious Education

Mission and Religious Education

Celebrating the Sacraments

First Reconciliation

On Wednesday 3 July we celebrated the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in St Michael’s Parish.  Congratulations to Beau, Yolanda, Poppy and Oliver who received this sacrament for the first time. They read beautifully  and showed great reverence in the Church throughout the sacrament. Reconciliation was followed by afternoon tea. 

Thank you to everyone who helped prepare the children for the Sacrament of Reconciliation especially the children’s families and friends, Father Curran, Miss Rasche and Miss Martin.

Confirmation - Advanced Notice

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in Week 10 of Term 3 on Saturday 21 September at the 6.00pm Mass. For parents and carers of students in Years 5 and 6 who are eligible to receive this sacrament, you may like to start thinking about who your child’s/children’s sponsor to let them know the date of Confirmation. 

Each child has a sponsor who will be with them when they are confirmed - the sponsor is a spiritual guide for your child. A sponsor must be at least 16 years of age and be a baptised Catholic. 

A parent is unable to be a sponsor for their own child but other family members and friends are able to be sponsors. You might like to ask one of your child’s godparents to be their sponsor. 

The sponsor walks up with your child and the sponsor stands behind your child as they are being confirmed placing their right hand on your child’s right shoulder.

Year 3 and 4 Class Mass and the Feast of St Joachim and St Anne

At the 9.30am Mass on Friday 26 July, Year 3 and 4 will celebrate their Class Mass. This is also the Feast Day of St Joachim and St Anne, the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus. St Joachim and St Anne will be the focus for our Class Mass as we celebrate them and the important role of family in our lives. Everyone is welcome. 

Upcoming Dates

Thursday 8 August Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Thursday 15 August The Assumption - This is a Holy Day of Obligation

Saturday 24 August St Michael’s Parish Celebration of Father Curran’s “Golden Jubilee”

Thursday 29 August Father Curran’s “Golden Jubilee” Mass - St Michael’s School attending

Connecting With Our Parish

Weekend Mass Times

We encourage all of our families to celebrate Sunday Mass with our parish.

Manilla Parish Mass Times

1st & 5th Sunday of the month - Sunday 8.30am

2nd, 3rd & 4th Sunday of the month - Saturday 5.00pm

Attunga Mass Times

2nd, 4th & 5th Sunday of the month - Sunday 12 noon

Father Curran’s “Golden Jubilee”

This year Father Curran will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his priestly ordination. This is a very special occasion for Father Curran. St Michael’s Parish will celebrate Father Curran’s “Golden Jubilee” on Saturday 24 August, with Mass followed by lunch at the Manilla Services Club. Please refer to the invitation below for further details regarding the celebration and how to RSVP. If you are planning to attend Father’s “Golden Jubilee” Mass and your child is an altar server and would like to serve at this Mass, please phone the school on 67851757 to let me know. Thanks.

On Thursday 29 August, priests from around the Armidale Diocese will join with Father Curran to celebrate his priestly ordination with Mass at 11am. Staff and students from St Michael’s school will also be attending this Mass, with parishioners and visitors to our parish.

We congratulate Father Curran on this very momentous occasion and thank him for his 50 years of service and for the support and guidance he gives to all of us here at St Michael’s School. We are very blessed to have Father Curran as our Parish Priest.

Living Well, Learning Well - Pastoral Care and Wellbeing 

Legends of the Light Shine 

Our Legends of the Light Shine focus for the first 2 weeks of Term 2 is “Resilience”. This aligns with our RE Units that are focusing on the lives of Mary and the saints, who often modelled resilience as they continued to share the teachings of Jesus with others. Resilience is an important character attribute for us all to foster as we deal with life’s ups and downs. Being resilient helps us to cope with difficult times and situations and to bounce back from these.

“There’s always room for one more friend at St Michael’s.”

“Let Your Light Shine” support others to let their light shine and remember “We Shine Brighter Together”

Jacquelene Cronin

Assistant Principal - Mission