Religion and Parish News
St Joseph’s Parish Jubilee Celebration
2025 is a Jubilee Year, a special time in the Church for prayer and renewal, it happens every 25 years. Jubilees have a theme. This year’s theme is Pilgrims of Hope. The miniature model of our beautiful Cathedral, Saints Joseph’s and Mary’s Cathedral, has been on a pilgrimage around our Diocese. It is now in our Parish.
This Sunday (21st September) is a special Jubilee celebration in our Parish. It would be lovely to see St Xavier’s families at this special celebration.
First Reconciliation
Tuesday 23rd September, 6.00pm, St Joseph’s Church (Week 10)
Retreat Day: Tuesday 23rd September, St Xavier’s Primary School
Infant's Liturgy
Mercy Feast Day- Wednesday 24th of September
The first House of Mercy was opened in Bagott St, Dublin, on 24th September 1827. Catherine McAuley opened this house to offer a safe place for young women and their children to live. The 24th of September is a special day for St Xavier's as we remember and celebrate the Sisters of Mercy, who were the first teachers in our school.
Mercy Cross
Catherine McAuley designed the original Mercy Cross herself -a dark background with a white cross in the middle. The Mercy Cross that we see today still has a white cross in the middle of a dark coloured cross. Catherine chose the cross to be the symbol of the Sisters of Mercy because of her deep love for the crucified Jesus. You may have noticed that the Cross does not have the figure of Jesus on the Cross. This is because Catherine believed that each Sister of Mercy places herself on the Cross to be like Jesus.
Catherine’s Shawl
In 1852, Catherine was helping a poor woman who was very sick with cholera. The woman died, leaving a new born baby all alone. Catherine wrapped the baby in her black woollen shawl and took her home with her. Catherine soon found someone to take care of the baby. The black shawl is a symbol of giving protection and shelter to those in need.
Boots
The Sisters of Mercy were known as the ‘walking nuns’. They were the first nuns to leave their convent and go to help people in need in their homes, in hospital, and in prison. The boots are a symbol of the work Sisters of Mercy do in our communities.
Good Cup of Tea
Catherine McAuley believed that welcoming people who needed help and offering them something to eat or drink was a way to share God’s love. Just before Catherine died, she asked that her Sisters have a ‘good cup of tea’ together after she had died so they could comfort each other. The cup of tea is a symbol of the Mercy value of hospitality.
Mini Cathedral
Next week, students and staff are going to be pilgrims by visiting the mini cathedral. When we visit, we will learn about some very special parts of the Cathedral, such as the cathedra (which is the Bishop’s chair) and relics. These items are important parts of our faith and help us understand our Church's history.
During the Jubilee year, the Church celebrates and reflects on the faith of the saints. Relics are special items connected to saints or holy people. They can be parts of their bodies, like bones or hair, or things they used, like clothing or tools. Relics remind us of the lives of these saints and their strong faith in God. They are like treasures that help us remember the amazing things these holy people did. Along with the mini cathedral, there are also relics from the clothes and linens of young saints, St. Therese of the Lisieux, Blessed Carlo Acutis, Blessed Giorgio Frassati and also, St. Mary of the Cross Mackillop and St. Teresa of Calcutta. These help us remember their examples and inspire us to live our faith more fully. When we see these relics, we can think about how we can follow in the footsteps of the saints and be good examples of love and kindness in our own lives.
