Education in Faith

Sacramental Events and Dates

Dear Parents/Guardians/Caregivers,

Please take note of the important dates for our Sacramental celebrations that will take place throughout the school year. Sacraments play a significant role in the spiritual journey of our students and we need to ensure that you are well-informed and can actively participate in these meaningful events. 

Kindly mark the following dates in your calendar:

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Sacramental Program, celebrations or preparation process, please feel free to contact the School's Religious Education leader.

Thank you for your continued partnership in the spiritual formation of our students. We look forward to celebrating these sacred moments with you and your families as a parish community. 

May God's blessings be with you and your loved ones.

Sacrament Levy

There is a $25 Sacrament Levy to cover the cost of stoles.

• This levy needs to be paid in full to the school in an envelope clearly indicating your child’s name, Home Group and name of Sacrament being received.

Exciting Update: Confirmation Candidates Meet with the Bishop

We are delighted to share with our faith filled community that on Thursday, August 29th, our Confirmation Candidates had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Bishop Anthony Ireland. This meeting was a significant milestone in their journey towards Confirmation.

The Bishop expressed his deep pleasure with our candidates, noting their thoughtful preparation and enthusiastic participation. He was truly impressed by their knowledge, dedication, and the genuine commitment they have shown throughout their preparation process. 

This meeting not only affirmed the candidates’ readiness for the sacrament but also provided them with a memorable and encouraging experience. The Bishop’s words of praise and encouragement were a testament to the hard work and faith demonstrated by our young people.

We are incredibly proud of our Confirmation candidates and grateful for the support of their families, catechists, and everyone involved in their preparation. As we approach the celebration of Confirmation, let us continue to support and uplift these young individuals in their faith journey.

We would like to thank Fr. Fabian for preparing our children in their next step of their commitment of being welcomed as young adults in the Catholic Church and sharing his valuable knowledge on the Sacrament of Confirmation.

We are pleased to inform you that the banners created by our Confirmation candidates and their families have been proudly displayed in the Church.  

These banners are a beautiful representation of each candidate's journey and commitment to their faith.  We encourage you to visit the church to see them and reflect on the significance of this important step in their spiritual lives.

God Bless,

Rozeta

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

This Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark presents a powerful lesson on the nature of true purity and what it means to follow God's commandments. The Pharisees and scribes confront Jesus, criticizing His disciples for not adhering to the ritualistic cleanliness laws. In their eyes, these traditions are essential to maintaining spiritual and communal purity.

Jesus responds by challenging their focus on external rituals over internal transformation. He quotes the prophet Isaiah, saying, “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” He emphasizes that what truly defiles a person is not what comes from outside, but what comes from within: “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.”

Jesus' words shift the emphasis from ritualistic observances to the condition of the heart. He is inviting us to look beyond mere external compliance to the deeper, more transformative call of authentic faith. It’s not enough to follow rules and traditions if our hearts are not aligned with God's love and justice. The true essence of purity is found in a heart that reflects God’s compassion, integrity, and love.

In our own lives, we are often tempted to focus on outward appearances and adherence to rules, sometimes neglecting the deeper aspects of our spiritual lives. This Gospel reminds us to examine our hearts and motives. Are our actions and outward expressions genuinely rooted in love and sincerity, or are they merely performative?

As we reflect on this message, let us strive to purify our hearts and align our actions with God's commands of love and mercy. May we seek a faith that transforms us from within, ensuring that our external expressions of devotion are a true reflection of our inner commitment to God.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, help us to purify our hearts and to live in a way that reflects Your love and truth. Guide us to move beyond mere outward appearances and to cultivate a genuine faith that transforms our lives. May our actions be a true reflection of our inner commitment to You. Amen.

Discussion Starters

• Why was eating with unclean hands such an issue for the Pharisees?
• What effect is achieved by Jesus answering the Pharisees with a quote from Isaiah?
• What point was Jesus making to the crowd about the source of cleanliness and uncleanliness?
• What does this passage say about personal responsibility?
• How is it possible to turn around or reduce the ‘things within’ that encourage wrong-doing?
• Do you think Jesus and his disciples deliberately provoked this confrontation?
• Is the problem of honouring God ‘only with lip-service’ still a problem in today’s Church?
• Does this teaching of Jesus challenge the notion that human beings are intrinsically good?
• Although ‘evil things come from within’ are there external things that ‘feed’ these vices?

God Bless  

Rozeta Ambrose

Religious Education Leader

rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

GRADE 5/6 SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM – MINI VINNIES

MINI VINNIES 2nd CHANCE APPEAL

Please look through your toys, books, clothes at home. Is there something you no longer need but is still in good condition that you would like to donate? Please bring them to school and place in your House basket in your Learning Space. Not only will your items have a second life, but they will also be helping those less fortunate. And you will get House points that go towards the Community Spirit Award. We will update points for the 2nd Chance Appeal next week.

SVDP SCHOOL CONFERENCE NETWORKING EVENT

On Friday, eleven Mini Vinnies Representatives accompanied me to the Vinnies School Conference Networking Event, hosted by Nazareth College. 

We joined schools in our local area and students had the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and celebrate their social justice efforts with other schools’ Mini Vinnies or College Conferences. 

The Mini Vinnies who attended: 

Deva, Joy, Paige, Thalia, Sadie, Liliana, Layla, Izaiah, Ashlee, Achol and Tilly decided they wanted to share our Christmas Appeal with the other students. 

They demonstrated great initiative assisting me to develop the power point presentation and their presentation skills on the day were amazing!! Well done to each and every one of them!!  So proud!! 

The event also included opportunities for students to collaborate in workshops organised by the St. Vincent de Paul Youth Engagement Team.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD POINTS

Points this week include points given to students by staff, donations to the 2nd Chance Appeal and points given to the Grade 6 students for volunteering to help the Juniors on Footy Fun Day.

The results so far are:

Well done Teresa but the other Houses are close! Remember we have all of this term and next so one of the other houses may take the lead. And don’t forget any donations to the 2nd Chance Appeal will also go towards House points.

Giuliana & SFS Mini Vinnies

gfaiola@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au