Religious Education News

Every year the Church observes World Mission Month. The theme for this year’s Mission Month is Go and invite everyone to the banquet. This quote is taken from Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 22 and is part of a parable that Jesus taught his followers, the Parable of the Wedding Banquet. In this story, a King invites his friends and neighbours to his wedding, but they refuse to come. He then sends his servants out into the streets to invite everyone they see to the wedding banquet. During the feast the King sees that there is one person not wearing wedding finery, so he has him thrown out of the feast.

In the parable the wedding feast represents God’s Kingdom. The friends and neighbours are those who are exposed to God’s message, whilst those who are sent out to bring in guests are Jesus’ disciples. The moral of the parable is that God calls out to all of us, but few people actually take the opportunity to listen to God’s word. 

This term our school community is supporting the work of Catholic Mission through a range of house-based fundraising activities. The money raised will go to support the work of Catholic Mission in Mongolia, funding homeless shelters, soup kitchens and employment programs designed to lift Mongolians out of poverty. I’d encourage all members of the school community to support these activities - if every student was to be involved in only two of the activities, then we’d raise in excess of $2000. When we support charities, we are like those guests who were called and did come to the wedding, listening to God’s word.

Last week we celebrated our Commissioning Mass, presenting our incoming School Captains and Lasallian Youth Leaders with their badges of office. The chapel was packed with members of the school community including parents and friends of our new Captains, with parents being asked to present the badges. Thank you to Fr Damien for the Mass and the guidance he provided to our new school leaders as well as the presence of the parents, witnessing this important stage in the life of their children.

Next week our Assistant Catechist program will come to an end for the year. Since Term 2, Year 10 students have volunteered to go into local state schools to help the Catechists present scripture lessons to primary school students. Like our Lasallian Youth Leader program, the Assistant Catechist program helps provide leadership opportunities to students. Whilst not all Assistant Catechists go on to become LYLs or school captains, the service that they have provided and the leadership experiences they have gained are invaluable. 

Moving forward, towards the end of the year we will once again support the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. This charity event has run for many years at O’Connor and is another strong indication of how our school community is made up of people who are not only invited, but do come to the banquet. More information about the appeal will be released over the coming weeks.

Why do we do what we do? 

Why do Catholics hold Our Lady in such high esteem? 

Every community has its heroes and heroines; people whose lives embody an ideal and inspire us to greater heights. The Church, too, looks up to men and women who are outstanding witnesses to the gospel. Of all the saints, prophets and holy people who have gone before us in faith, Catholics honor the Jewish woman Mary in a special way because of her unique role in the story of salvation. As the mother of Jesus, she was the first to bear the Gospel to the world. Mary’s life is the most perfect example we have of a life lived under the grace of the Holy Spirit. Her feminine presence opens us to essential dimensions of the Gospel and draws us closer to the heart of Christ.

Mr Andrew May

Religious Education Coordinator

Our Founders - St Angela Merici and St John Baptiste De La Salle

Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral Parish

Keeping in touch with what is happening in the Cathedral Parish is easy through their website and Facebook pages.

With such a difficult year and a half it has been harder for parishioner's to give to the parish through the plates, particularly when the church is closed as it is at present. The Parish account details are available on the Parish bulletin. 

Cathedral Parish Website

Information about our founders

La Salle Website

Ursuline Sisters Website