Mission and Religious Education

St Michael’s Manilla Family Mass - Save the Date

On Sunday 29 November St Michael’s Parish is celebrating a Family Mass. We are inviting all of our wonderful families to join in this joyous celebration which will commence with Mass at 11am, followed by a sausage sizzle and lots of fun activities for the children. The Hope Kitchen Van will also be there for anyone who would like a hot drink.

We are looking for families who would like to participate in the Mass - reading, altar serving, taking up the offertory and lots more.

Don’t want to participate in a ministry - not a worry you are welcome to just come along.

Sunday 29 November is also the First Sunday of Advent and we will be lighting the first candle on the Advent wreath as we enter the liturgical season of Advent, the time where we prepare for Christmas.

The Angelus Prayer - Hail Mary, Full of Grace

This artwork titled “Hail Mary, Full of Grace”, was created by Sienna, Kindergarten, 2026. Sienna came second in the “Mary: Our Mother” Diocesan Art Competition, in the Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) Section and her artwork, along with the art work of other prize winners from across the diocese, is being used in The Angelus Resource Book, used in Armidale Diocesan Catholic Schools. Congratulations Sienna.

Catholic Mission - One in Christ United in Mission - 100 years of World Mission Sunday

During the month of October we focus on the work of Catholic Mission and supporting them through raising money to support their work to help the poor in our world. This year is a special year for Catholic Mission as it celebrates 100 years of World Mission Sunday. Information about our October fundraising for Catholic Mission will be sent home early next term.

This year’s focus is Malawi, a country in Africa. A few years ago, when I was travelling through Africa, I had the opportunity to visit a school in Malawi. The school had just been built and we had to walk on a track though very high foliage to reach it. Students had to walk considerable distances each day through the long foliage to go to school. Due to the lack of space, senior students would attend school for half of the day and junior students would attend for the other half. At the time they had one ball to play with and had just received a donation of books from someone in New Zealand, which then made up most of their learning material. The school was very grateful for any support they received as they strived to provide the best possible education for their children.

Real Talk

On Monday 26 October Real Talk will be working with St Michael’s Year 4 and Year 6 students. Real Talk is a company engaged by the Armidale Catholic Schools’ Office to provide information sessions for students in Year 4 and Year 6 relating to identity, eSafety, relationships and love. A note will go home early next term with further details.

Key Upcoming Dates

Friday 16 October: School Mass 9.30am. Everyone is welcome
Monday 26 October: Real Talk, Years 4 and 6
Sunday 1 November: All Saints Day
Monday 2 November: All Souls Day
Wednesday 11 November: Remembrance Day Liturgy
Friday 13 November: School Mass 9.30am, led by 5/6. Everyone is welcome
Sunday 22 November: Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Friday 27 November: School Mass 9.30am, led by Year 4. Everyone is welcome
Sunday 29 November: The First Sunday of Advent and Family Mass, 11am
Sunday 6 December: The Second Sunday of Advent
Tuesday 8 December: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Wednesday 9 December: Reconciliation 10-10.30am Ys 5-6, 10.30-11.10am Ys -4
Friday 11 December: End of Year School Mass, 9.30am. Everyone is welcome
Sunday 13 December: The Third Sunday of Advent
Tuesday 15 December: Year 6 Graduation Mass, 6pm followed by Dinner for Year 6 Graduates
Sunday 20 December: The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Thursday 24 December: Christmas Eve
Friday 25 December: Christmas Day

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 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

Celebrations

Birthdays and Awards