Religious Education News 

Dear St Mary’s community,

Year 3 families are preparing to receive the Sacraments of the Catholic Church and had a moving Family Faith Night during the week last week. Thank you especially to Fr Jerome, Ms McGuinness, Mrs Ferrari and Mr Speranza for leading this night. We pray for our year 3 students and their families as they prepare for this important Sacrament. 

To help the teachers, who are preparing the students for the Sacraments, Father Jerome also came into the school to offer a Professional Development session on the Theological Understanding of Reconciliation. Staff engaged in asking Father questions and thinking about the meaning of conscience, contrition and attrition and how these are taught not just to students receiving the Sacraments but also across the school as part of the School-Wide Behaviour Support Plan. Thank you, Father Jerome, for this engaging presentation.

Students in Year 6 are preparing for the liturgies for the end of the year, preparing to pass on their lanterns to those in Year 6 for 2025, including a very reverent Mass for Graduation and a celebration song. Meanwhile Year 5 are preparing the script for the Christmas Carols at the end of the year - to share the story of the First Christmas and the importance of loving everybody at Christmas Time. 

The Choir students are preparing for the blessing of the Garden in our school, they are working on some songs to sing and to celebrate growth. We know that part of our role is to accept God’s creation graciously and to use His creation for our inspiration as stewards of creation.

If you’re sensing a bit of a theme here, you’re not wrong, our school is in a state of preparation. Preparation for the end of the year, preparation for the festivities involved with the end of Term and preparation for new years and new beginnings. 

As we approach the end of October and begin November we begin to prepare for the Church’s preparation season and new year - Advent. Preparation in November looks very different to the preparation in the season of Advent, we prepare by reflecting on the past and in particular those who have lived and died before us. We begin November celebrating the Feast of All Saints, those who have died and are established in Heaven, who can offer intercessory prayers for us to the Father. On the second day we begin a time of mourning and deeply reflective prayer, praying for those who have died and who need our prayers of intercession to reach Heaven. Just before Advent at the end of November we celebrate the Glory of Heaven itself - The Feast of Christ the King of the Universe. We learn this month especially what we are preparing for during Advent - eternal glory, life in Heaven, to be with our Saviour and King, Jesus and how this was all made possible through His coming to earth as the small child we focus on at Christmas. During November students will have the opportunity to pray special intentions for loved ones they miss. Let’s prepare the best way we can - to pray prayers of intercession for one another.

First Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held on Wednesday 30th October at 6pm in St Mary’s Church. Enrolments for the Sacraments in year 3 are now closed but if your child missed out or if your child is not baptised but is interested in receiving the Sacraments of the Catholic Church please contact the Parish Office StKildaEast@cam.org.au as the Parish are currently enrolling children for Sacramental preparation for 2025. 

St Mary’s Liturgy Team As the Liturgy Team continues to develop we continue to invite those year 4 students who have made their First Eucharist to participate in the Liturgy Team. The liturgy team contributes to serving at the Mass as candle-bearers, cross-bearers, bell-ringers as well as helping to prepare for liturgies by lighting candles, offertory processions or leading prayers. 

There are many ways to participate in the Mass at St Mary’s School, not exclusive to Catholics! If your child is not Catholic but would like to participate in assisting for Masses/Liturgies they can volunteer to read at Mass, hand out Mass Prayer Cards, and/or help lead the singing in Choir.

IMPORTANT DATES IN TERM 4

30 October 2024 6pm - Reconciliation Sacrament Year 3

1 November 2024 9.15am - All Saints Day Whole School Mass

9 December 2024 9.15am - Votive Mass of Immaculate Conception (Our School’s feast day) Whole School Mass

10 December 2024 - Christmas Carols Event Whole School

12 December 2024 5pm - Graduation Mass Year 6

17 December 2024 9.15am - End of Year Whole School Mass