Education in Faith 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed are thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  

Amen

What’s happening in Religious Education at St Fidelis

This term we began by learning about Mary and exploring the special significance of the Rosary in our Catholic faith. Over the weeks, the children have been deepening their understanding of Mary, our Mother, and reflecting on who Mary is and why she holds such an important place in our Church. Through scripture stories, prayer and discussion, students have discovered the many ways Mary showed faith, love, and trust in God. They have also learned how praying the Rosary helps us to remember key moments in the life of Jesus and Mary, and how we can turn to Mary as a guide  in our own lives.

This week  the students will begin exploring the Catholic perspective of the Creation Story from the book of Genesis 1.  They will be  reflecting on God as the creator of all life and the beauty of the world around us. They will consider what this story teaches us about our relationship with God, creation, and our responsibility to care for the Earth. Students will also compare the Genesis story with the Indigenous story of the creation of Bunjil the Eagle, gaining an appreciation for the deep spiritual Aboriginal connection that the indigenous people have with the land, animals, and environment. Through this comparison, students will develop a broader understanding of how different cultures express their beliefs about creation, respect for the natural world, and the importance of living in harmony with it.

What can parents do at home with their children to learn about Mary, our Mother?

Parents can support their children’s faith journey by learning about Mary together as a family. They might read Bible stories about Mary, such as the Annunciation or the Visitation, and talk about her trust in God and her love for Jesus. Families can pray the Hail Mary or a decade of the Rosary together, creating a small prayer space with an image or statue of Mary. Parents can also encourage their children to follow Mary’s example of kindness, humility, and saying “yes” to God in their daily lives.

Celebrating mass

Throughout the term, the children will have the opportunity to attend Mass as part of their faith learning and spiritual growth. These Mass celebrations take place each Tuesday at 9:15am in the church and provide a special time for prayer, reflection, and connection with our parish community. This Tuesday, the 21st of October, the Year 1/2 cohort will be attending Mass and participating in the celebration. We warmly invite all parents and carers to join us in this special occasion. 

Celebrating Soctober           

October is World Mission Month. It’s a special time when we celebrate the Church’s work around the world and learn about the missionaries who help children and communities in need. 

As a school community, we have organised Socktober to be celebrated on Tuesday, 28th October. On this special day, each child is invited to wear brightly coloured or fun socks to school and bring along a gold coin donation. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to show their support for others while enjoying a bit of fun and creativity. All money raised will go directly to the Catholic Missions, helping to support children and communities in need around the world. Together, we can make a difference through kindness and generosity.

God bless and have a great week.

Annette Gasbarro

Religious Education Leader.