Education in Faith
First Eucharist
Last Weekend, the following students received the Sacrament of Eucharist at a weekend parish Mass for the first time.
Keilah B, Alexander E, Mia H, Luke H, Finlay R
We congratulate and offer our prayers to these students. May they continue to grow in faith, love and the presence of Christ in their lives.
All Year 4 students gathered together today (3/7) in the Hall for a celebratory lunch. Thank you to those parents and the Year 4 teaching staff who helped organise this lunch.
End of Term Whole School Mass
We will be celebrating Mass as a whole school to mark the end of Term 2 on the last day of term (Friday 4th July) in the Church at 9.00am. Everybody is most welcome.
Family Led Sunday Mass
During 2025, the Parish in conjunction with the Parish Primary Schools, has planned Family led weekend Masses. These Masses will be celebrated once a term and be followed by hospitality. They will be a great opportunity for children and their families to be involved in a Mass within the parish community.
Family Masses will provide an opportunity for families to come together and to support each other in faith. They can particularly be important for families who are presenting their children for Sacraments throughout the year. There may be opportunities to reconnect with our own faith as adults. There may be opportunities to engage with parish life and learn more about the faith, for those who are not so familiar with our local worshiping community. All families are welcome at these family Masses no matter what your religious background or affiliation.
Family Masses scheduled for later this year are:
Sunday, 17 August at 5.00 pm (OLGC Church)
Special invitation to Year 6 students and families (includes Confirmation Commitment)
Saturday, 15 November at 6.00pm (OHR Church)
Prep, Year 1 & Year 2 and new families for 2026 are particularly invited to this Mass
Nick Byrne
RE Leader
RE Learning in 1/2GK
Sacred Places
In 1/2 GK, we have been exploring about sacred journeys which are special trips that people take to holy places to grow closer to God. These journeys are called pilgrimages, and they are important because they help people pray, reflect, and strengthen their faith.
We've been discovering famous Catholic shrines around the world, such as Lourdes in France, Fátima in Portugal, and St Peters Basilica in Vatican City. At these places, people go on pilgrimages to ask for healing, give thanks, or pray for peace. For example, in Lourdes, many people believe in the healing power of the water from the spring where the Virgin Mary appeared to a young girl named Bernadette. Through these stories, we've learned that pilgrimages are not just about traveling to a place, they're about opening our hearts to God. Even though we might not be able to visit these faraway places, we can still go on our own spiritual journeys by praying, visiting our local church, or reflecting on our faith. These sacred journeys remind us that God is always with us, guiding and supporting us on our path.
1/2GK Mural of a Sacred Journey
The Holy Door
The Holy Door is made up of beautifully decorated panels, each featuring an artwork inspired by stories from the Bible. These images are not just decoration, they tell powerful messages of faith, hope, and love.
Inspired by this, the students in 1/2 GK selected a scripture story that was meaningful to them. They then used pencils and markers to create their own embossed foil artworks, showing great creativity and thoughtfulness. This hands-on activity helped deepen their understanding of the stories in the Bible, how they connect to our faith today, and the many creative and meaningful ways faith can be shared and celebrated.
Sunday Gospel
The liturgy of the Catholic Church provides a framework for reflection which is used by Catholics throughout the world. Each week in the Newsletter, you will find the Sunday Gospel as well as some discussion questions to have with your child/ren.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, “We wipe off the very dust of your town that clings to our feet, and leave it with you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is very near.” I tell you, that on that day it will not go as hard with Sodom as with that town.’
The seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said, ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.’
Discussion Questions
1. Who has been sent on an errand?
2. What did you have to do?
3. In today’s gospel Jesus sent his followers out with his message of good news. What was the good news that they brought to the people they met?
4. We are also followers of Jesus who are sent out with the good news. How can we be Jesus’ messengers this week?