Catholic Identity

Opening School Mass

What a wonderful celebration today to welcome in the school year.

Thank you to Father Jackson for leading the mass, to the many family members who attended and staff and students for making this celebration special.

Students participated well and were respectful throughout.  This year the theme for Catholic Education is 'Seek and pursue peace'.

This Sunday's Gospel -

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time A

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

You are the light of the world.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lampstand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

A beginning points for discussion of this week's Gospel with children:

• Who has ever tasted chocolate that doesn’t have sugar in it?

• What do you think it would taste like?

• Jesus tells us we are like flavour in food. What might that mean?

• Who has seen a bright light outside?

• How far away can it be seen?

• Jesus asks us to be a light for the whole world.  How big would that light have to be?

• Others can see our light when they see the good things we do.  What are some good things that we can do to make our light shine brightly?

Elise Nally, Catholic Identity Leader