Faith and Mission

This week, we have actively acknowledged National Reconciliation Week (NRW) throughout the College. NRW is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Bishop Charles Gauci, the Chair of the Bishops Commission for Relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, emphasised earlier in the week that while the journey to reconciliation is challenging, the Catholic Church remains hopeful and committed to healing.

Bishop Gauci reminded us that 'reconciliation is an ongoing journey' and highlighted the need to address the injustices, discrimination, and dispossession experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Reflecting on the path forward, he stressed the importance of healing and progress, urging us to ensure that the common good is shared by all, especially our First Nations peoples. 'As we journey together, we must continue to heal from the past while also looking toward the future,' he said.

Furthermore, Bishop Gauci underscored the need to narrow gaps in life expectancy, housing, employment, and mental health. 'We need to prayerfully reflect, be guided by the Holy Spirit, listen to each other with respect, and walk together to find the best way forward,' he advised. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council echoed this sentiment, calling for unity and collective action. 'Now more than ever, we need to place our trust and hopes in the Holy Spirit and come together as a nation, undivided,' the Council stated. 'We are one people under God, each with our own gifts and strengths, and now is the time we, as a Church, show leadership through unity and purpose.'

At John XXlll College, let us remember that reconciliation is not just a one-week event but an ongoing commitment to understanding, respect, and partnership. Together, guided by our faith, we can make a difference and move towards a more inclusive and harmonious future.

Janeen Murphy

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission

Community Mass

Thank you to Year 8 students who prepared and participated in our Eucharist this morning, where we celebrated the Solemnity of this weekend – Corpus Christi.

Presider, Fr Mark Chia CSsR, has very kindly shared with us his homily. See below.

Next week, Community Mass will be prepared by students in Year 12, and all families are warmly invited to attend this Eucharist. Those able to stay are welcome to gather for coffee afterwards in the Circle of Friends Café.

Community Mass Details

Fridays in Term time
8:00am start – 8:30am finish
College Chapel

Congratulations

Congratulations to the Year 6 students who were recently confirmed in various parishes.

James Andruszkiw
Flynn Biggs-O'Sullivan
Sally Cairns
Charlotte Counsel
Hugo D’Orsogna
Holly Harrison
Aidan Humphries
Juliet Kong
Mia Kwei
Nic Lamattina
Harry Mann
Elle McGuren

Parents are reminded that copies of sacrament certificates should be sent to the College.

Sacrament program information from some of our local parishes, including City Beach, Claremont, Cottesloe, Doubleview, North Beach and Subiaco, appears on the College website in the Parish Sacrament Programs section.

Further information:

Your parish priest or Sacrament Coordinator
The Archdiocesan website;
Email Mary-Anne Lumley mary-anne.lumley@johnxxiii.edu.au 08 9383 0513.

Who Likes a Hug? A homily for Corpus Christi

Who likes a hug? Or more accurately who doesn't like a hug? Most of us like hugs, some even love hugs. There is a recent radio advertisement featuring a conversation between a mother and her daughter with the mother asking her daughter how many hugs a day are enough. 1 hug or 2 hugs or 3 hugs.

“No”, replied the daughter, “I want a hug every 30 seconds”.

“Then we will be hugging all day”, said the mother.

“Exactly”, replied the daughter.

Hugs are something that kids look forward to from their parents or other adults and even each other. It’s a very real and tangible way for kids to feel and know that they are loved and cherished by others.

There is something in a hug. The closer we are to someone, the longer the hug. I get the biggest hugs from my mum when I go home for the holidays.

And so, it is difficult for us when the person that we have loved and hugged has passed on and gone to God. We physically cannot hug them anymore. Some of us hold on to something else. For myself, I have my grandfather’s handkerchiefs. So whenever I blow my nose I sort of remember my grandfather hugging me.

Over the last few weeks, we have journeyed with the early disciples of Jesus through his passion, death, resurrection and ascension.

Jesus knew that it would be very difficult for the early disciples to let him go and for him return to God the father.

So he gave them the gift of himself to remember him by. But more than remember him, it is to make him present in their midst again. This is very similar to how the Jewish people remember the Passover: the event where God freed them from the Egyptians and led them to the promised land. The story is remembered and told not in the past tense but in the present tense, as though it is happening right now: that God is saving God’s people and bringing them out of slavery to freedom now. To make that story of the Passover present and alive today.

And Jesus gave this wonderful gift of making his story alive and present to the disciples through ordinary bread and wine that becomes his own Body and Blood at the last supper and which is now done at every single Mass. That not only is Jesus' story and mission made present at the Mass but Jesus himself becomes present. It is Jesus' and God's very special way to tell us, I am right here with you. It is God giving us a hug telling us how much God loved, loves and will continue to love us. Always.

So each Mass is God giving us a Hug. Come, I love you, you are special. Now share how loved and special you are to one another and the world.