Religious Education News
Mr Andrew May
One of the most important themes or ideas in the Gospels is the idea of Jesus sending his Disciples out to do work in his name. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus does this twice - the first time he sends out 72 Disciples to preach in his name, and the second time is immediately before he ascends into Heaven, giving his Disciples the ‘Great Commission’ to make Disciples of ‘all the nations’. An old hymn in the Catholic Church is ‘Go now you are sent forth’, and the last words of the Priest during Mass tell the congregation to go out to do God’s work.
The last week of Term Three marks an important time when our Year 12 students are sent forth out into the world. It is the end of their formal school education (although the HSC revision period and exams are still to come!) and the start of a new phase in their lives. For many students it is the end of thirteen year’s close contact with the Church through the Catholic Schools they have attended; for others it may only be the end of a few year’s engagement in Catholic education.
At this time we pray for our young people as they stand poised on the threshold of their new lives beyond school. We pray that they are guided through the words and actions of Jesus as well as the teachings of the Church and are able to hold close to these words, actions and teachings in all aspects of their lives. And finally, we pray that the words of the last verse of the Hymn ‘Go now you are sent forth’ come true for them.
Go now, you are sent forth
And Christ goes with you, too.
Today you help his kingdom come
In everything you do.
Why do we do the things we do?
Go! ‘Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,’ says the celebrant at the end of Mass. This concluding rite is best understood as a commissioning. Renewed in our relationship as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, we are sent forth to share Christ’s love with others. In fact, the word ‘Mass’ is derived from the Latin word missa which in turn is derived from ‘mittere’: to send. As you leave church today, think of how you can reach out to one specific person. Find a practical way of sharing with that person the strength you have drawn from this eucharistic celebration.
Mr Andrew May
Religious Education Coordinator
Our Founders - St Angela Merici and St John Baptiste De La Salle
Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral Parish
Keeping in touch with what is happening in the Cathedral Parish is easy through their website and Facebook pages.
With such a difficult year and a half it has been harder for parishioner's to give to the parish through the plates, particularly when the church is closed as it is at present. The Parish account details are available on the Parish bulletin.
Cathedral Parish Website
Information about our founders
La Salle Website
Ursuline Sisters Website
