Our Faith - Religion - Prayer 

St Patrick's Church Walcha 

For Baptism or Marriage enquiries by emailing Father Elino Comanda: walchaparish@armidale.catholic.org.au

Fr Elino would like to invite parishioners to Sunday Mass 10am.

Term 3 Mass Dates

Friday 18th Sept (tomorrow): K-2 Mass and Blessed Exposition at 12.00pm

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Earlier this week on September 14th, churches worldwide observed one of the most historically rich and spiritually significant occasions on the liturgical calendar: the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Also known as the Triumph of the Cross or Holy Cross Day, this feast commemorates the transformation of an ancient Roman instrument of execution into the ultimate symbol of redemption, hope, and eternal victory.

The roots of the celebration trace back to the fourth century when Saint Helena, mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, traveled to Jerusalem and uncovered the True Cross around the year 326 AD. Emperor Constantine subsequently commissioned the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the site of Christ’s crucifixion and burial. The church was dedicated on September 13, 335 AD, and on the following day, the True Cross was elevated—or exalted—before the faithful for public veneration. For nearly seventeen centuries, congregations have gathered on September 14 to honor this historic moment.

During Monday’s services, parishioners experienced rich traditions and distinctive liturgical symbols. Clergy wore red vestments to signify both the blood shed by Christ on Golgotha and the passionate witness of the early martyrs. A central highlight of the liturgy included the solemn elevation of the Holy Cross in the sanctuary, where believers are invited to step forward to bow, kiss, or offer prayers of thanksgiving.

Beyond its historical significance, the Feast of the Exaltation offers a deeply personal message for believers today. Spiritual leaders emphasize that honouring the cross is not a celebration of suffering itself, but an acknowledgment of the divine love that transforms life’s hardships into spiritual strength.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Cross, 

which shows us the depth of Your love and mercy. 

Help us to carry our own small crosses

 each day with faith, patience, and joy. 

May Your Cross always be a sign of hope in our school, 

in our homes, and in our hearts, 

reminding us to love and serve others 

as You have loved us.

We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, 

because by Your Holy Cross 

You have redeemed the world.

Amen.

Our Four Catholic Values and Principles Woven Together

Over the past month, our newsletter articles have highlighted each of the four Catholic Principles and Values set forth by Armidale Catholic Schools. While exploring them individually allows us to appreciate their distinct beauty, the true power of these values lies in how they seamlessly connect. They do not exist as isolated ideas on a wall or separate checklists for our daily routine; rather, they are deeply intertwined, serving as the foundational compass for everything we do.

At the heart of our school culture, faith acts as the bedrock from which every other principle naturally flows. It inspires our commitment to excellence, shapes how we care for one another, and calls us to act with integrity. Striving for academic and personal excellence is directly tied to recognising the innate dignity of every individual created in the image of God. We encourage our students to achieve their best not merely for individual recognition, but to honour their God-given gifts and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

This pursuit of excellence is inseparable from our commitment to inclusivity and compassionate service. Genuine community requires that every voice is valued and every person feels a true sense of belonging. Our commitment to compassion ensures that care is extended to all, fostering an environment where students learn empathy, respect differences, and support one another through life's triumphs and challenges.

Furthermore, living these values consistently demands integrity and responsibility—bridging what we profess to believe with how we act in the classroom, on the sporting field, and in our daily interactions.

When these four principles work together, they create a vibrant environment where academic growth, spiritual formation, and pastoral care naturally overlap. A lesson in the classroom becomes an opportunity to respect diverse perspectives, a sporting event becomes a lesson in fairness, and daily prayer grounds our learning with deeper purpose.

As we look ahead, we celebrate how these foundational pillars continue to guide our staff, students, and families, ensuring our school remains a place where young people are nurtured in faith, inspired to learn, and empowered to lead lives of purpose and grace.

K–2 Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, tomorrow, Friday 18th September

Tomorrow, Friday, September 18th, our K–2 students and staff will gather at 12:00pm to celebrate Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. We warmly invite our entire school community to join us for this special celebration.

Implementing the Angelus Prayer at St Patrick's

Bishop Murphy has recently instructed all schools within the diocese that he would like staff and students to pray the Angelus daily. This traditional Catholic prayer honours the Incarnation and invites us to pause for a moment of reflection during the day.

At St Patrick’s Primary, we are currently working on a structured timeframe to implement this practice meaningfully across the school. To begin, we are focusing on developing our staff members' understanding and appreciation of the prayer by using it to open all of our staff meetings this term.

Following this initial staff preparation, we look to introduce the Angelus to the wider school community. Our current plan is to begin practicing it as a whole school when we gather in the morning, with an expected rollout scheduled for mid-Term 4 or the beginning of next year.

Below is some information provided by Armidale Catholic Schools concerning the question: Do Catholics Worship Mary?

Catherine McAuley

Catherine’s spirituality was centred on the mercy of God…prayer in action…action in prayer.