Mission and Religious Education

Mission and Religious Education

Catholic Schools Week

This week we have been celebrating Catholic Schools Week. On Tuesday 26 May staff and students celebrated a Catholic Schools’ Week Liturgy in St Michael’s Church. It was a joyous celebration led by staff and students across all classes to coincide with the Southern Deanery’s Catholic Schools' Week Mass celebrated at St Nicholas’ Church Tamworth. 

Representing St Michael’s School at the Southern Deanery Mass were Mrs Underwood (Principal) Miller and Alice (School Captains), Georgia (Sport Captain), Sienna (Art Competition Prize Winner) and myself, Miss Cronin (Assistant Principal: Mission). It was was very special to join with staff and students from the other Catholic Schools across the Southern Deanery, St Joseph's Catholic School Barraba, St Joseph's Primary School Quirindi, St Joseph's Primary School West Tamworth, St Xavier’s Gunnedah,  St Edward's Primary School Tamworth, St Nicholas Primary School Tamworth, and McCarthy Catholic College Tamworth to celebrate Catholic Schools' Week Mass. Bishop Murphy was the key celebrant and priests from across the Southern Deanery concelebrated Mass including Father Curran. It was lovely to catch up with Father Curran who was very excited to see our familiar faces.

Congratulations to Miller, Alice, Georgia and Sienna for being wonderful representatives of our school and thank you to their families who ensured they were in full school uniform. School Captains Miller and Alice read the Prayers of the Faithful and represented our school beautifully, reading fluently with confidence and clarity of voice. 

Congratulations to Sienna who came second in the “Mary: Our Mother” Diocesan Art Competition in the Early Stage 1 (KIndergarten) section. Sienna received a certificate and a $30 Gift Voucher from Dymock’s for second place. This was an amazing achievement especially given that there were nearly 900 entries submitted from students in Catholic Schools across the Diocese. A big thank you to all of our creative students who entered the competition. All entries were of a very high standard and it must have been very difficult for Bishop Murphy to choose the winners. We will look to display all entries from St Michael’s students when they are returned to school.  

Laudato Si’ Week

Week 5 was Laudato Si’ Week, marking the anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si’ on caring for the earth, our common home. During the week we reflected on responding to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor. We focused on how we care for people and how we care for our Earth. We are learning more and more about how to recycle correctly and new recycling bins were placed in each classroom. We planted lots of veggies and look forward to learning more and introducing more initiatives throughout the year.

School Mass

Our next school Mass will be celebrated on Friday 5 June at 9.30am. Everyone is welcome.

Year 6 RE Test

Each year the Year 6 students in Catholic Schools across the Diocese of Armidale sit the Year 6 RE Test. The test is used as a diagnostic tool to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement in the RE Curriculum here at St Michael’s school. The Year 6 students will sit a practice test in the next 2 weeks, in preparation for the actual test in mid Term 3.

Upcoming Feast Days and Celebrations

Sunday 24 May: was Pentecost Sunday. We celebrated the Holy Spirit coming to Jesus’ disciples to give them the knowledge, strength and other gifts they needed to continue to share the Good News with others. Pentecost is often referred to as the birthday of the Church.

Monday 25 May: we celebrated the Feast of Mary Help of Christians one of the two Patron Saints of Australia.

Sunday 31 May: We celebrate the Most Holy Trinity celebrating the three persons of God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Sunday 7 June: We celebrate Corpus Christi which honours the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Friday 12 June: We celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus, remembering that Jesus’ heart burns with love for all of us.

Saturday 13 June: We celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary, remembering the love she has for Jesus and for each one of us.

Confirmation

Students in Years 5 and 6 who have received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist are invited to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation will be celebrated on Saturday 25 July at the 5pm Mass. 

Each child has a sponsor who will be with them when they are confirmed - the sponsor is a spiritual guide for your child. A sponsor must be at least 16 years of age and be a baptised and confirmed Catholic. A parent is unable to be a sponsor for their own child but other family members and friends are. You might like to ask one of your child’s godparents to be their sponsor. The sponsor walks up with your child and the sponsor stands behind your child as they are being confirmed placing their right hand on your child’s right shoulder. The sponsor doesn’t say anything and will pass the Confirmation Card with your child’s confirmation information on it, so their confirmation name can be read to the Bishop. We encourage families to start thinking about who will be their child’s sponsor, so that they can ‘save the date’. 

Reconciliation

Eligible students in Year 2 will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday 12 August at 12pm with Father Damien. 

Connecting With Our Parish

Parish Priest: Reverend Father Damien Locke, Parish Priest

Phone: 02 6785 1094 

Email: manillaparish@armidale.catholic.org.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMichaelsParishManilla

Weekend Mass Times

We encourage all of our families to celebrate Sunday Mass with our parish.

Manilla Parish Mass Times 

1st Sunday of the month - Sunday 8.30am followed by morning tea

2nd, 3rd & 4th Sunday of the month - Saturday 5.00pm (5.30pm DST)

Attunga Mass Times 

2nd, 4th & 5th Sunday of the month - Sunday 12 noon

Manilla Parish Confession/Reconciliation/Penance Times 

30 minutes prior to weekend Masses or by appointment at any time with Fr Damien. 

If You Would Like To Be Involved In The Life Of The Parish

We encourage all of our families to be involved in the life of the Parish. There are many ways to be involved including:

• Altar Serving for those who have made their first Holy Communion
• Reading at Mass
• Taking up the Offertory Procession
• Visitations
• Odd Jobs

If you would like to be more involved in the life of our parish please contact Father Damien (02) 67851094 for further details.

Living Well, Learning Well 

Living Well Learning Well is a student support framework for Catholic Schools in the Armidale Diocese. The framework is based on a universal and unconditional positive regard for children and young people and supports faith, learning, wellbeing and positive behaviour domains.

St Michael’s School Rules For Living

St Michael’s School Rules For Living encompass those in the Living Well Learning Well Framework.

Parents As Partners

Armidale Catholic Schools work with Realtalk to offer families free premium access to resources to help navigate difficult areas children face, particularly in the digital world, from a catholic perspective in an increasingly complex world. SIGN UP FOR FREE ACCESS HERE

"Let Your Light Shine” support others to let their light shine and remember “We Shine Brighter Together”

Jacquelene Cronin

Assistant Principal - Mission