Religious Education News 

Dear St Mary’s community,

It has been wonderful to attend the Masses at St Mary’s Church and to bump into students and their families attending, not just for particular school Masses but also as a general part of the community on other Sundays also. Thank you to all the students and families for sharing the richness of faith in worship together.

We continue to pray for the 14 students receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2 weeks time. This week they will prepare by meeting with the Bishop on Tuesday and joining together in a Retreat Day on Thursday.

Please see below some news articles and prayers around the Feast of the Assumption of Mary - When Mary was assumed body and soul into Heaven.

Lourdes baths reopen as 30,000 expected for Assumption pilgrimage

The baths at the Marian shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France have fully reopened this week for the first time in four years for France’s national pilgrimage for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Source: CNA. Article Linked Here

The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

On August 15th of each year, the Catholic Church around the world celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The story of the Dormition and Assumption of Mary comes to us through apocryphal writings, which refer to this event as the "Dormition of the Blessed Virgin." This story narrates the last days of our Blessed Virgin Mary, stating that the apostles placed her body in a new tomb located in the Kidron Valley, and after three days, they found it empty. Article Linked Here

St. John Damascene—Sermon on the Assumption

“And just as the all-holy body of God’s Son, which was taken from her, rose from the dead on the third day, it followed that she should be snatched from the tomb, that the mother should be united to her Son; and as He had come down to her, so she should be raised up to Him.” Listen to the Podcast Audiobook here

Scott Hahn - On the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Theologian discusses the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the video below.

Scott Hahn on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Fourth Glorious Mystery - The Assumption

In the Rosary we pray meditating on the different times in Mary’s and Jesus’ lives. There is a whole decade of the rosary dedicated to the Assumption - to assist you with your prayers here is a video linked below with a provocation which may assist you in praying the Rosary.

The Fourth Glorious Mystery - The Assumption

IMPORTANT DATES

Thursday 15th August - Feast of the Assumption Whole School Mass 9.15am

Tuesday 20th August - Confirmation Bishop Visit.

Thursday 22nd August - Confirmation Retreat Day - Confirmation candidates 

Sunday 25th August - Confirmation Year 6 10.30am 

Friday 30th August - Father’s and Special Friends Day Mass 9.15am