Education in Faith News 

Post for the End of Term and Sacred Heart Day Mass

As we finish up our term, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful Sacred Heart Day Mass we celebrated together. Having all the students sing at the Mass was a true joy to hear. Your voices lifted our spirits and filled our hearts with a sense of unity and devotion.

Thank you to all the students who participated and contributed to making this Mass a beautiful and memorable occasion. Your involvement and dedication are deeply appreciated. May the blessings of the Sacred Heart continue to guide and inspire us all as we move forward.

Wishing everyone a restful and enjoyable break. See you all next term!

 The Importance of Prayer in the Classroom

Dear Students and Parents,

As we reflect on our term and look forward to the next, I would like to take a moment to discuss the importance of prayer in our classroom.

Prayer holds a special place in our daily routine and serves several vital purposes:

Fostering a Sense of Gratitude and Reflection: Prayer provides us with the opportunity to express gratitude for our blessings and reflect on the day's lessons. It helps us appreciate the knowledge we gain and the experiences we share.

Building a Strong Community: When we pray together, we create a sense of unity and togetherness. It brings us closer as a class, fostering a supportive and compassionate environment.

Providing Calm and Focus: Starting and ending our day with prayer helps students transition calmly into and out of their learning activities. It sets a positive tone for the day and helps maintain focus and concentration.

Encouraging Moral and Ethical Development: Prayer encourages students to think about their actions and behavior, promoting values such as kindness, respect, and responsibility. It plays a crucial role in their moral and ethical growth.

Supporting Spiritual Growth: For many students, prayer is an essential part of their spiritual journey. It allows them to connect their faith with their daily life and school experiences.

Incorporating prayer into our daily routine is more than a tradition; it is a meaningful practice that enriches our learning environment. It helps students grow academically, socially, and spiritually.

Prayers At Home 

Sign of the Cross:   In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory be to the Father:    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;  as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Morning Prayer:   Father in heaven, you love me, you’re with me night and day.I want to love you always in all I do and say. I’ll try to please you, Father. bless me through the day. Amen.

Night Prayer:   God, our Father, I come to say thank you for your love today. Thank you for my family, and all the friends you give to me.  Guard me in the dark of night, and in the morning send your light. Amen.

Grace before Meals:  Bless us, 0 God, as we sit together. Bless the food we eat today. Bless the hands that made the food.

Grace after Meals:   Thank you, God, for the food we have eaten.  Thank you, God, for all our friends. Thank you, God, for everything.  Thank you, God. Amen.

Journey Prayer:  Arise with me in the morning, travel with me through each day. Welcome me on my arrival, God, be with me all the way.

Our Father:   Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary:   Hail Mary, full of grace,  the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Prayer to Jesus:   Christ be with me.  Christ be beside me.  Christ be before me.  Christ be behind me.  Christ at my right hand.  Christ at my left hand.  Christ be with me everywhere I go. Christ be my friend, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer to the Trinity:    Praise to the Father.  Praise to the Son.  Praise to the Spirirt.   The Three in One.

Prayers to Mary:   Mary, mother of Jesus, I want to love and love like you.  I want to love the Father, I want to love like Jesus.  Mother of Jesus, blessed are you.  Mother of Jesus, my mother too.  Help me to live like Jesus and help me to live like you.

Prayers to the Holy Spirit:   Holy Spirit, I want to do what is right.  Help me.  Holy Spirit, I want to live like Jesus guide me.  Holy Spirit, I want to pray like Jesus teach me. Amen.Spirit of God in the heavens.  Spirit of God in the seas.  Spirit of God in the mountain-tops.  Spirit of God in me.  Spirit of God in the sunlight.  Spirit of God in the air.  Spirit of God all around me.  Spirit of God everywhere.  Holy Spirit, Spirit of God help me. Amen.

Confiteor:  I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have fail to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God Amen..

Act of Sorrow:    O my God, l thank you for loving me. I am sorry for all my sins, for not loving others and not loving you. Help me to live like Jesus and not sin again. Amen.

Prayer for Forgiveness:   O my God, help me to remember the times when I didn’t  live: as Jesus asked me to. Help me to be sorry and to try again. Amen.

Prayer after Forgiveness:    O my God, thank you for forgiving me.  Help me to love others.  Help me to live as Jesus asked me to. Amen.

Prayer before Communion:    Lord Jesus, come to me,  Lord Jesus, give me your love.  Lord Jesus, come to me and give me yourself, Lord Jesus, friend of children, come to me.  Lord Jesus, you are my Lord and my God.  Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer after Communion :  Lord Jesus, I love and adore you.  You’re a special friend to me.  Welcome, Lord Jesus, o welcome.  Thank you for coming to me.   Thank you, Lord Jesus, o thank you for giving yourself to me.  Make me strong to show your love wherever I may be.  Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray.  Bless all of us children in your loving care and bring us to heaven to live with you there.  I’m ready now, Lord Jesus, To show how much I care. I’m ready now to give your love at home and everywhere. Amen.

Journeying Together 

Sacrament preparation for families booklet 

https://sacraments.melbournecatholic.org/ 

Journeying Together covers the sacraments most commonly celebrated with primary-school-aged children - Reconciliation (Penance), Eucharist, and Confirmation. This resource will complement your child’s sacrament preparation at their Catholic primary school or in a parish catechetical setting.

Each sacrament module includes four sessions. Each session includes an invitation to explore and integrate the family’s lived experience with concepts from Scripture, the Church and the sacraments, along with opportunities to pray together.

We hope that by opening this opportunity, many will encounter Jesus and engage with their faith in a fresh and meaningful way.

Listed below are dates for your 2024 diary as well as some interesting information on all things Religious Education at Sacred Heart. 

Remexio, Timor Leste - Parish Raffle

Our Social Justice group from the Sacred Heart Parish are running their annual raffle.  A raffle book has been assigned to every family and these have been sent home on Thursday 16th May.

"We support Education for the underprivileged in our Twin Parish Community of Remexio, Timor Leste.  Through our fundraising efforts we support 3 Volunteer Teachers 3 Year 11 students and 3 University students."

Great prizes!

First Prize: $800 Westfield Shopping Voucher

Second Prize: Night at the Langham - Sleeping Beauty Package

Third Prize: A dozen bottles of wine

Fourth Prize: A handmade patchwork quilt

Fifth Prize: A landscape painting

Sixth Prize: A tasty lunch surprise: "Crisp Creative Salads" in the CBD plus a woven tais

Tickets are $5:00 each or a Book of 5 for $20:00

Drawn Sunday morning after 9:00 am Mass the Feast of the Sacred Heart June 9th

We would appreciate the return of the sold books ASAP or by May 31st at the latest

Please support this worthy cause, and Good Luck!  If you are unable to support, please return the raffle tickets to the office.

Thank you Heather McGrath

Sacred Heart Social Justice Group.

Dara Blake 

Religious Education Leader