Religious Education News

The 21st of September each year is celebrated in the Church as the Feast of St Matthew. Matthew was a Jewish tax collector, working for the Roman occupiers of Judea. As such, he was viewed as a traitor by his fellow Jews and treated with contempt. 

The tax collectors often used brutal and unfair methods to extract taxes from the villages and towns they were responsible for. In many ways they were the ancient equivalent of standover men working for organised crime. Their methods were harsh and unfair, much like the Roman occupation authorities, and they were generally despised by society, even the Romans they worked for.

The story of Jesus’ interaction with Matthew is short, but says a great deal about Jesus and his mission. He is passing through a town and sees Matthew sitting at his desk near the gates to the town. Jesus tells Matthew to follow him, which he does. They then share a meal with other tax collectors and ‘sinners’, as well as Jesus’ disciples. This raises the concerns of the ‘good’ people of the town, who criticise Jesus for eating with these social outcasts. Jesus’ response is short but to the point. “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

This message is one that the Church has, sometimes to a lesser and sometimes to a greater extent, taught. The founding saints of the Ursuline and De La Salle orders, Angela Merici and John Baptiste De la Salle, actively went out of their way to help the poor and the sick. De la Salle was criticised for teaching the poor to read and write, whilst Angela Merici was regarded with suspicion because she taught street children and the daughters of prostitutes. 

This term, the O’Connor community has continued to uphold this teaching, raising over $1600 for the Vinnies Winter Appeal as well as donating hundreds of dollars worth of clothing to our local Vinnies shop. In our Year 10 Religious Education classes students have learned about Catholic Social Teachings, such as the Principle of the Dignity of the Human Being, whilst Year 7 students have explored what it means to be a good steward of God’s Creation. 

Our Year 12 Students are now in the last leg of the marathon that is the HSC, and will be sharing a final Mass together prior to commencing their study period and then the HSC exams. The theme of the Mass is one that resonates with the Gospel story of Matthew, with the students being challenged to go out to help those that need help, even if it isn’t always the popular thing to do. 

I wish all members of the O’Connor family a safe and happy break, and that when we return in two week’s time, we are all refreshed and recharged, ready for the final term of what has been a very busy year!

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