Education in Faith

Sacramental Events and Dates

Dear Parents/Guardians/Caregivers,

Please take note of the important dates for our Sacramental celebrations that will take place throughout the school year. Sacraments play a significant role in the spiritual journey of our students and we need to ensure that you are well-informed and can actively participate in these meaningful events. 

Kindly mark the following dates in your calendar:

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Sacramental Program, celebrations or preparation process, please feel free to contact the School's Religious Education leader.

Thank you for your continued partnership in the spiritual formation of our students. We look forward to celebrating these sacred moments with you and your families as a parish community. 

May God's blessings be with you and your loved ones.

Sacrament Levy

There is a $25 Sacrament Levy to cover the cost of stoles.

• This levy needs to be paid in full to the school in an envelope clearly indicating your child’s name, Home Group and name of Sacrament being received.

God Bless  

Rozeta Ambrose

Religious Education Leader

rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Gospel Reflection

In this week’s gospel the passage begins the extended discourse on the ‘Bread of Life’ image that runs throughout the chapter. Last week’s reading finished with Jesus virtually fleeing the scene when the crowd wanted to make him king. In this week’s reading, the crowd has caught up with him again and appears to be looking for a repeat performance of the miraculous feeding. Jesus tells them of simply wanting more food and not being alert to the truth of the sign they had witnessed. The crowd asks what they must do to accomplish the works of God and Jesus answers fairly, Believe in me!

In response, the people demand a sign from Jesus: produce manna from heaven as Moses did during the Exodus. In fact, manna from heaven is one of the signs of the coming of the Messiah that is foretold by the prophets. So, in their own way, the people are asking Jesus to demonstrate to them that he is the Messiah. Jesus, explains that it was not Moses who produced the manna, but God. In Jesus, God has already produced the sign – the Bread sent down from heaven. It is up to the people – and us – to recognise God’s gift of life-sustaining nourishment that is Jesus.

In the Eucharist, we continue to celebrate Jesus as the Bread of Life – the sustaining gift of God that ‘gives life to the world’.

Scriptural context – Bread that endures

Jesus says, ‘Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life.’ The reference to food that cannot last relates to today’s first reading about manna. In the full account of Exodus 16 you will see that the manna that fell on the first five days had become rotten by the next day and could not be eaten. However, the manna that fell on the sixth day was ‘food that endures’ so that it could be eaten the next day – the Sabbath day, when the work of gathering the manna was not allowed.

Living the Gospel – The Body of Christ

Christ is present in the Eucharist in many forms: in the people gathered; in the celebrating priest; in the Word proclaimed; and in the consecrated bread and wine – the Body and Blood of Christ. In relation to receiving Christ through the reception of communion, St Augustine wrote, ‘Be what you see, and receive what you are.’ We not only receive the Body of Christ through Eucharist, we are called to be the Body of Christ because of what we have received; and we receive the Body of Christ because we are already part of the Body of Christ.

Historical Context – Bread

For thousands of years, bread has been a staple part of the human diet in many cultures. It is no accident that the image of Jesus as bread makes such a significant appearance in the gospel of John. For the Jews, like other Ancient Near Eastern cultures, bread was a vital mainstay of their diet. In the Bible, the word ‘bread’ often simply means all food – it was that important! For many, regular access to bread did equate to life. Bread also played a crucial role in religious practices, especially the Passover meal.

Discussion Starters

• Why do you think the crowd sought out Jesus after he miraculously fed 5,000 of them?
• In what ways does Jesus try to ‘redirect’ the people?
• Why would Jesus as the Bread of Life have been a powerful and significant image at the time?
• In what ways does the Eucharist provide us with nourishment or food for our lives?
• How are you / can you be ‘bread’ for others?
• When Jesus answers the crowd’s question of what they must do, why do they then ask for a sign?
• Why would the production of manna from heaven have been prophesied as a sign of the Messiah?
• What is your understanding of Jesus describing himself as the Bread of Life?
• How does this image assist your understanding of and engagement with Eucharist?

Rozeta Ambrose

Religious Education Leader

rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

GRADE 5/6 SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM – MINI VINNIES

COMMUNITY SPIRIT HOUSE POINTS

Which House is leading in the Community Spirit Award points? 

Student are able to earn points for their House by demonstrating community spirit which includes our PBL values. 

The points for each House:

Well done to Teresa who is still leading at the moment. Let’s see who will be leading next week. 

MINI VINNIES SOUP & CHAT NIGHT

On Tuesday August 20th Mini Vinnies are invited to attend the Vinnies Soup and Chat Evening. It will take place from 4.30pm – 7.30pm at SFS. 

We will be focussing on homelessness and running activities to raise awareness of this important issue that affects many people, both at a local and wider community level. The Vinnies Youth Engagement Team will be our guest speakers and SFS staff will be at school to supervise.

Mini Vinnies will also experience what a person who is homeless may eat for dinner, as we are organising soup and bread which is similar to what the Vinnies Soupvans serve within our community.

The evening will have a fund raising element where students will ask family and friends to sponsor them. We would greatly appreciate it, if every student who is attending could donate at least $10 to the fundraising effort. If the donations could please be handed to the office or to Giuliana by the Soup and Chat Evening which is on Tuesday August 20th. Students will then have input into which organisation we donate this money to assist with homelessness.

It’s fantastic to see most Mini Vinnies are attending the night as this will be our action for Term 3.

Thank you also to all the parents who have indicated they can assist on the night by serving, providing soup, bread and butter or disposable cups, spoons and serviettes. I will be in contact soon regarding the details.

SVDP SCHOOL CONFERENCE NETWORKING EVENT

Mini Vinnies have been invited to a School Conference Networking Event organised by the St Vincent de Paul Youth Engagement Team. We will join schools in our local area and students will have the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and celebrate their social justice efforts with other schools’ Mini Vinnies or College Conferences. 

Our school has been invited to bring 5-10 student representatives to meet with peers from sister schools and present on ONE Good Works project from this year. The event will include opportunities for students to collaborate in workshops organised by the St. Vincent de Paul Youth Engagement Team.

Preference will be given to Grade 6 students as this will be their last year as an SFS Mini Vinnie. Expectations of the day have been explained and Grade 6 students have nominated if they would like to be part of this event. We had more than 10 students express interest as a result students were asked to write a letter explaining why they would like to attend the event. Successful students will be notified and an Operoo notification will be posted for those students attending. Parents if you could please approve the Operoo if your child was successful.

Giuliana & SFS Mini Vinnies

gfaiola@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au