Education in Faith

Start of Term Whole School Mass

We will be celebrating Mass as a whole school to start Term 3 tomorrow (Friday 25th July) in the Church at 9.00am. Everybody is most welcome. 

Family Led Sunday Mass

During 2025, the Parish in conjunction with the Parish Primary Schools, has planned Family led weekend Masses. These Masses will be celebrated once a term and be followed by hospitality.  They will be a great opportunity for children and their families to be involved in a Mass within the parish community.

Family Masses will provide an opportunity for families to come together and to support each other in faith.  They can particularly be important for families who are presenting their children for Sacraments throughout the year.  There may be opportunities to reconnect with our own faith as adults.  There may be opportunities to engage with parish life and learn more about the faith, for those who are not so familiar with our local worshiping community.  All families are welcome at these family Masses no matter what your religious background or affiliation.

Family Masses scheduled for later this year are:       

Sunday, 17 August at 5.00 pm (OLGC Church)

Special invitation to Year 6 students and families (includes Confirmation Commitment)

Saturday, 15 November at 6.00pm (OHR Church)

Prep, Year 1 & Year 2 and new families for 2026 are particularly invited to this Mass

Nick Byrne

RE Leader

RE Learning in Prep/1 MH

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Our Gospel Value this term is Gratitude. In our class we are exploring what it means to be grateful.

We are learning that Jesus expressed thanks to God for many blessings, both big and small and he encouraged his followers to do the same.

We started our term with a beautiful gratitude prayer. You may wish to pray it together at home and share the things that you are grateful for as a family. 

"Heavenly Father, I come before you with a heart full of gratitude. Thank you for the gift of life and for each new day you grant me. I am thankful for your unwavering love, your abundant grace, and the strength you provide in my weakness. Thank you for my family, friends, and the countless blessings you have poured into my life. Help me to remember your faithfulness and to live a life that reflects my gratitude through acts of kindness and a positive attitude. In Jesus' name, Amen." 

We are learning to reflect of things that we are grateful for in nature. Please see the collection of our thoughful responses below. When we practice gratitude we are showing that we can walk in the way of Jesus.

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 Luke

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:

“Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread,

and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.”’

He also said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it to you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.

‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

Discussion Questions

1. When are the times that you need help?

2. What do you do?

3. What are the times when others have come to you for help?

4. What have you done?

5. God tells us to keep asking or ‘knocking on the door’ and he will help us. What can we ask God that will help us to do his will this week?