Catholic Identity

PRAYER 

Currently the church is celebrating the Season of Easter,  the most significant celebration in the Catholic calendar.  Easter represents for all Christians the promise of eternal life and is a fifty day celebration of hope and joy. During the Easter season, the first reading on Sundays is taken from the New Testament rather than the Old Testament. These readings focus on the Apostles’ testimony that Jesus was raised from the dead by God.

Next Sunday in the First Reading we hear of 3,000 people who were baptised after St Peter spoke about the importance of this Sacrament.  This message is reinforced in the Gospel where we are reminded that Jesus is like a good shepherd, who when he calls his sheep they follow him, because they know him and his voice.  In the Gospel we are reminded that Jesus is the gate through which we find eternal salvation.  At the moment of our death, in the midst of all the other sounds we will hear as we leave this world we will hear Christ's voice; soothing, reassuring and comforting. And at that moment we will do what we have tried to do all our lives and we will walk straight toward it.

Prayer to Follow Jesus the Good Shepherd

Gentle Jesus, 

Compassionate and caring Good Shepherd, 

Help me to follow You faithfully. 

Strengthen me daily with Your love, 

and guide me along life’s paths.

I ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOOD FRIDAY 

In the last week of Term One, on Wednesday 1st April our Year 6’s led us through a Live Stations of the Cross or as it is sometimes known, the Way of the Cross. The stations of the Cross represent 14 key moments in the trial, crucifixion, and burial of Jesus Christ. 

COMMUNITY MASS

Our next Community Mass will be held on May 23rd where we will join St Andrew’s Parish for their 6:00pm Saturday Evening Mass @ St Andrew’s Church Werribee.  At this Mass, our Year 4 students who will receive their First Holy Communion in June, will be presented to Parishioners.

Below is a list of the remaining Mass dates for the year, we look forward to seeing many of our families there:

Saturday 23rd May

Saturday 25th July

Saturday 22nd August

Saturday 24th October

Saturday 28th November

SACRAMENTAL DATES TERM 2 & 3

Below are our Sacramental Dates for the remainder of the year.  These dates are particularly important for Baptised Catholic students in Years 4 & 6:

Sacrament of Eucharist 

• Thursday May 28th Family Meeting @ St John’s School Hall 

• Thursday June 4th First Holy Communion 7:00pm @ St Andrew’s Church Werribee

Sacrament of Confirmation

• Tuesday July 21st Family Meeting 6:00pm @ St John’s School Hall 

• Saturday August 8th Sacrament of Confirmation @ MacKillop College Werribee

SACRAMENTAL JOURNALS

All baptised Catholic students in Year 3, 4 and 6 are celebrating a Sacrament this year.  Students in Year 4 will receive their First Holy Communion later in Term 2 and our Year 6 students will be Confirmed in Term 3.

An important aspect of preparing for any Sacrament is to attend Mass each weekend. Fr Albert is encouraging every child in the Parish of St Andrew’s who is preparing to celebrate a Sacrament this year, to attend Mass regularly, to receive God’s abundant graces.  

All students celebrating a Sacrament this year, have received their Sacramental Journal. These Journals are given to all children in the Parish who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, their First Holy Communion or to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year.  The Journal is an easy way for families to record the Masses they attend throughout the year.  Please remember to take a pen to Mass so the priest can sign your Journal for you at the end of Mass.

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