Religion
Holy Week & Easter Liturgies
Thank you to our wonderful students and teachers for preparing and presenting our Holy
Week and Easter Liturgies. These certainly reinforced the importance and significance of Easter in our Catholic faith.
ANZAC Day 25th April
Anzac Day is the solemn day of remembrance of those Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who have fought and died for their country, and is marked annually on the anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign of the First World War. We continue to pray for peace in our world.
ANZAC Day Prayer
God of love and liberty,
we thank you for the peace and security we enjoy.
It was won for us through the courage and devotion
of those who gave their lives in time of war.
We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain,
but that their spirit may live on in us
and in generations to come.
We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus
and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Feast of St Mark- 26th April
On the 26th April each year our church in Australia celebrates the Feast of St Mark, who is our school patron. St Mark was an evangelist and his Gospel is the shortest and the oldest of the Gospels. Over the years artists have given a symbol to each of the evangelists.
Mark’s symbol is a winged lion because his Gospel begins with the story of John the Baptist who, like a roaring lion, called people to repent.
St Mark was a member of the first Christian community. Mark had
firsthand experience of the early Church and was a travelling companion
and assistant of Paul and Barnabas on the first missionary journey.
St. Mark’s Catholic Parish Primary School Prayer
St. Mark’s is our school,
it is here we all belong,
to a loving, caring, community,
it is here that we learn to grow in love,
and to care for each other constantly.
St. Mark followed Peter,
he learned how to listen,
to the stories Peter told about Jesus,
so with Mark by our side,
so too we will listen,
and his Gospel will be our guide.
St. Mark, Pray for us
| ‘What do you have that you did not receive from God?’ |
4th Sunday of Easter (Sunday 26th April- Good Shepherd Sunday)
This Sunday we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Easter, which is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. The readings invite us to reflect on the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who cares for his flock. This image reminds us that Jesus is intimately involved in our lives, and that he knows us and loves us individually. It also reminds us that we are called to follow him, and to trust in his guidance and protection.
Gospel Reading: Jn 10:1-10
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jesus said: ‘I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers.’
Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them.
So Jesus spoke to them again:
So Jesus spoke to them again:
‘I tell you most solemnly,
I am the gate of the sheepfold.
All others who have come
are thieves and brigands;
but the sheep took no notice of them.
I am the gate.
Anyone who enters through me will be safe:
he will go freely in and out
and be sure of finding pasture.
The thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come
so that they may have life
and have it to the full.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Good Shepherd Prayer
Jesus,
You saved us through your death on the cross.
Continue to guide and protect us as we serve others
by caring for and supporting them,
like you did as our Good Shepherd.
Amen
Sacramental Program- Term 2 First Eucharist
Please keep the First Eucharist children in your prayers as they begin preparations for the celebration of First Eucharist, which will be celebrated on Sunday 21st June at the 10.00am Parish Mass. Further details will be sent home over the coming weeks.
Saints Club News
Fundraising for Project Compassion
Thanks to the children and staff for supporting our fundraising activities to raise money for this year’s Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion Appeal. We are pleased to announce that we raised a total of $503.10 by selling Zooper Doopers, having a Crazy Hair
Day and Guess the Easter Eggs Competitions. This was a great
opportunity to live out our Mercy Values and make a difference to those less fortunate than ourselves!
Congratulations to Vinnie & Elissa for winning the Guess the Easter Egg Competitions!
Mercy Values of Service and Compassion
In the final week of last term the children worked in collaboration to organise Easter Gift Bags for the needy who attend the Hope Café, which was a great opportunity to enact our Mercy Values of Service and Compassion. The senior
students delivered the gifts to the volunteer workers, who were so
grateful for all our school community does to support those in need.
Term 2 Focus:
It has been great to have a large number of students who have signed up for our Saints Club this year. Due to this pleasing response, the students will be working together in two separate groups during this term.
Prep to Year 2- Coordinating ideas for this year’s Family Week Activities
Years 3- Years 6 - Outreach to Fawkner Kindergarten: Thursdays 1.40- 2.20pm
The students will be engaged in activities with the children at Fawkner Kindergarten from next week. We look forward to continuing to build positive partnerships with the kindergarten children and staff by putting
into action our Mercy Values of Service and Hospitality.
Dot Mash - RE Leader
Tues-Thurs