Faith News

Term Four

• Year Six Graduation Mass- Wednesday, December 11th, St Brendan’s Church, Somerville at 5:00 pm. Leaders: All Year Six staff and students

Thank You

 Thank you to the Foundation staff and students for so beautifully leading our Whole School The End Year- Advent & Nativity Mass last Thursday, December 5th. The children were absolutely beautiful as they proclaimed the Word, enacted the Gospel and led us in song throughout the Mass. Thank you to all of the parents, carers and special visitors who celebrated Mass with us, especially Fr Shymon who led us in worship.   Thank you also to the choir for leading the hymns at our End-of-year Mass so confidently too.  BIG thanks to Tracey Clarke, St Brendan’s parishioner and former staff member for her work as sacristan throughout the year. We so appreciate Tracey for all that she does to nurture the connection between the school and the parish. 

Social Justice Action Team (SJAT) News

Another way that student voice is actively supported here at St Brendan's is through the work of the SJAT.

 Caritas Global Gifts Campaign

Throughout Term Four, the SJAT collected the Staff Dress Code donations to support the work of Caritas through their Global Gifts campaign. In total, the St Brendan’s staff have contributed $76.55 this term.  I thank them all for modelling almsgiving through their generosity and making a difference to those in need this Advent. Please keep an eye out on Audiri for some Advent reflections produced by Caritas which I will share with you as the school year draws to a close. This is such a busy time of the year for families, but if you can, please take the time to read these reflections which are a gentle reminder of ‘The reason for the season’ and that amidst our busy-ness, there are many people in great need in our global communities. Find out more about the Caritas Global Gifts campaign here.

Mini Vinnies St Vincent De Paul Hamper Appeal

Once again for 2024, the SJAT led the call to help those in need this Christmas by supporting the work of St Vincent de Paul. St Brendan’s families were asked to donate grocery items. Thank you to our families for their generous response to this appeal. The SJAT & Mini Vinnies representatives, Emi, Indiana, Ella, Abel, Mia and Fawn, packed the Christmas hampers at St Mary’s School on December 2nd, in collaboration with students from all three Western Port Parish Schools; St Mary’s, St Joseph’s and St Brendan’s. In total, around 84 hampers were packed which will be given to those in need in our local Western Port community. Great work, everyone! We sincerely thank the staff and students of St Joseph’s and St Mary’s for their partnership and hospitality towards the SJAT and I this year, and I look forward to working with some of them, along with some new members again in 2025. 

Catholic Care

For further information about the services offered by Catholic Care for those in need, please visit: https://www.ccam.org.au/

Catholic Baptism

Did the disruption of the ‘COVID-19 years’ disrupt your plans to seek Catholic Baptism for your child?

Now is a great time for families considering The Sacrament of Catholic Baptism for their child/ren, to contact the Western Port Parish Centre on (03) 5979 4374. Should you make Baptism arrangements with the Parish, please inform me so that this special milestone for your child can be acknowledged within the school community. Please also forward a copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate to the school so that this can be reflected in the school records.

Families who wish for their children to receive any sacrament or The Rite of Reception through the parish have been requested by Fr Shymon to make timely arrangements, as adequate preparation is required. 

This is especially important if families wish to pursue sacramental preparation programs in 2025. 

Western Port Parish News

Christian Initiation for Adults: RCIA

Have you ever considered becoming a Catholic or continuing the Catholic sacramental journey that you commenced as a child or younger adult? 

RCIA stands for the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”. Our RCIA team is ready to welcome any participants who would like to enquire about becoming a Catholic. The sessions for preparation will be on Thursday evenings from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm in the Parish Centre. There is no obligation to commit to continuing if the decision is made to not proceed. Adults who wish to begin or continue their faith journey through the reception of the Catholic sacraments are invited to contact the Western Port Parish Centre on (03) 5979 4374.

Please follow this link to the Western Port Parish web page, and to find out more about parish happenings.

Access to Australian Catholics Online Magazine

Hard copies of the Australian Catholic Magazine will be distributed to all families whose eldest children are in Years 3-6 this year. Please look out for these throughout the year and have a read over a ‘cuppa’ to discover more about happenings in Catholic schools and parishes. 

ALL families have FREE access to the Australian Catholics online resource. To access this fabulous resource, please click here  and use the following login details to gain access:

Email: parents@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au 

Password: acparents

Yours in faith & harmony.

Emma Chapple

-Religious Education Leader

-Performing Arts Classroom Specialist Teacher echapple@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au