Catholic Identity

Welcome back!

We are excited to welcome all families back to St Mary’s for the beginning of Term 3.

As we settle into a new term of learning, growth and community, we invite you to join us in prayerful reflection. This week’s Family Gospel is from Luke 11:1–13, where Jesus teaches us the words of the Our Father. We encourage families to take a moment together to read this Gospel, pray the Our Father, and reflect on the power of asking, seeking and trusting in God’s love. 

Consider creating a small prayer space at home: 

a quiet corner with a candle, cross (that can be crafted together), a photo of your family — where your family can pause, pray and reconnect together. 

May this term be filled with peace,

hope and blessings for all in our St Mary’s community,

Veronica Del Castillo

Religious Education Leader

Family Gospel Reflection: 

(from Loyola Press)

Luke 11:1-13 

Jesus teaches the disciples about prayer.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Luke gives more attention to Jesus' teachings on prayer than any other Gospel writer. He also mentions Jesus at prayer more than the others. In today's reading, from the beginning of Chapter 11 of his Gospel, Luke presents the core of Jesus' teaching on prayer. 

The disciples notice Jesus praying “in a certain place.” They ask him to teach them to pray just as John the Baptist had taught his disciples. Jesus teaches them a simple version of the most famous Christian prayer, the Our Father, or the Lord's Prayer. 

Having taught his disciples a simple, daily prayer, Jesus goes on to reassure them that God answers prayers. This teaching concludes with the reminder that if we seek, we will get a response.

Family Connection

When someone in our family is going through a hard time, we can't just sit by and watch. We try to do everything we can to let him or her know that he or she is not alone. Sometimes we even try to find a special gift for him or her—something that will help that person to understand how important he or she is to us. Talk about times in your family when this has happened.

Like a good father, God saw that his children needed help. He decided to offer his beloved children a special gift to reveal his love. What did God give us? Not a thing, but a person—the Father's beloved Son, Jesus. Jesus, in turn, taught us to approach God as we would approach a loving father. He gave us the words of a prayer that we call the Our Father, or the Lord's Prayer.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. 

When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 

“Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 

He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,    

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.”

Read aloud Luke 11:1-13. 

Talk about how Jesus teaches us to be persistent in prayer. 

Think of times when family members were persistent about something until they were able to achieve a goal or receive what they sought. 

Talk about what it means to be persistent in prayer. 

Help your children understand that prayer is not like sitting on Santa Claus's lap, asking for what we want until we get it. Emphasize that prayer is a way of striving to recognize how God is reaching out to us in love and responding by presenting him with our needs.

Conclude this time together by joining hands and praying the Lord's Prayer.

Term 3 Eucharist

This term students in Year 4 will be receiving their Sacrament of Eucharist on Saturday the 6th of September at 2:30pm (TBC). 

As part of the RE Curriculum, students have been provided with a Eucharist workbook in preperation for the Sacrament. 

If there are any families from other year levels with a child who missed out their Eucharist last year and would like their child to join our Year 4s for the Sacrament,  please kindly contact me via email. 

IMPORTANT NOTE - BAPTISMAL CERTICATES: 

For your child to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist, your child must have been baptised in the Roman Catholic Church. Please kindly email me a copy of your child's Baptismal Certificate: vdelcastillo@smhampton.catholic.edu.au 

Sacramental Stoles: 

Please add a symbol of the Sacrament of Eucharist to the student’s Sacramental stole (which was received for the Sacrament of Reconciliation). Symbols of Eucharist include: bread and grapes, chalice and host. On the stole the students’ name will be placed on the side with the school logo (embroidered, ironed, glued or written) and a symbol of the sacrament on the other side. For more examples of Eucharist symbols please view the link below): https://www.nancyscreations.com.au/rapidcartpro/stoles_euch.php 

If there are any students requiring a new stole, please contact me via email: vdelcastillo@smhampton.catholic.edu.au 

In preparation for the Sacrament, students will take part in a Reflection Day — an opportunity to gather together in prayer, participate in meaningful activities. A Family Preparation Session will follow taking place in the church. This will be an opportunity to have an understanding of the Sacrament. We thank Fr. Martin in advance who will be leading our session. Dates for our Reflection Day and Family Preperation Session will be confirmed soon.