Our Faith - Religious Education

St Patrick's Day

On Monday 17th March we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. St Patrick was a Bishop and missionary in Ireland and is the Patron Saint of Ireland. He followed his faith, trusted God and spread God’s message of love to all. He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. After years of living in poverty, travelling and enduring much suffering because of his faith, he died March 17, 461.

St. Joseph's Day

On Wednesday 19th March we celebrated St. Joseph's Day, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. Joseph was a compassionate, caring man. He protected and cared for Mary and Jesus. Joseph respected God. He followed God's commands, by loving and respecting Mary and helping Mary to raise Jesus. St. Joseph has two feast days: 19th March and 1st May. He is also known as St Joseph the Worker.

St Joseph,

You were a kind and loving guardian to Jesus,

a faithful protector and guide.

Watch over our school, our teachers, 

our families, and our friends.

Help us to work hard, be kind, and always 

do what is right.

Teach us to trust in God as you did,

and to care for others with a generous heart.

St Joseph, pray for us!

Amen.

Harmony Day

Friday 21st March is Harmony Day, a special occasion dedicated to promoting inclusivity, respect, and a sense of belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic backgrounds. Observed on March 21st, Harmony Day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, reinforcing the message that "Everyone Belongs."

Australia is home to people from diverse cultures, and Harmony Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of different communities to our society. The day serves as a reminder of the importance of acceptance, understanding, and unity.

The official colour of Harmony Day is orange, symbolising meaningful conversations, mutual respect, and the encouragement of social connections. 

We encourage all students to reflect on the values of respect and inclusion, celebrating the unique backgrounds and traditions that make our school community so special. Let’s take this opportunity to embrace diversity and show kindness to one another—not just on Harmony Day, but every day.

Project Compassion - Unite Against Poverty

On Ash Wednesday we sent home your Project Compassion Box. This box is for your 'Giving' during Lent. It will support Caritas Australia in relief programs with marginalised communities around the world.

During the Lenten season, we are encouraged to express our compassion through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, supporting those in need through Project Compassion. Let's helping to make a difference for future generations!

Irene's story, Democratic Republic of Congo (Project Compassion)

During this period of Lent, let us reflect upon the ways in which we can guarantee our efforts are directed towards benefiting the well-being of all future generations across the globe.

Together, we can make a difference now, and For All Future Generations.

We continue our annual Lenten Project Compassion journey by learning about Irene who lives in the Democratic Republic Of Congo.

In the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where hardship often overshadows hope, the story of Irene shines brightly. A 25-year-old single mother, Irene's life has been marked by adversity, from the loss of her father in conflict to the challenges of raising two children in extreme poverty. However, through the support of Caritas Australia's Project Compassion, Irene has transformed her circumstances, becoming a symbol of resilience and empowerment.   

Irene's journey is a testament to the power of opportunity. Faced with limited education and job prospects, she found herself trapped in a cycle of poverty. But Project Compassion, through its partnership with Caritas Kongolo, offered her a lifeline. By participating in the Youth Capacity Strengthening Program, Irene gained invaluable skills that would change her life.   

The program provided Irene with training in sewing, equipping her with the means to generate income. She also received agricultural training, enabling her to grow food and provide for her family's basic needs. The provision of sewing machines and materials was instrumental in allowing her to put her new skills into practice.   

The impact of this support has been profound. Irene is now able to support her children's education, offering them a brighter future. Beyond her own success, she has also become a mentor, sharing her skills with other young women in her community. This ripple effect of empowerment demonstrates the true value of Project Compassion's work.   

Watch her story and see how her life has changed, thanks to people like you.

Lenten Prayer 

Project Compassion Lenten Prayer 

God of our journey

we are all pilgrims of hope

brought together by your love

and your wish that we may all be one.

We pray that in this Year of Jubilee

when we are called to greater justice

and care for our common home

that we may Unite Against Poverty.

May we work in unity for the freedom of the oppressed

and the renewal of creation.

May our compassionate minds and generous hearts

help bring about a world where all can live in peace.

May our Lenten pilgrimage of fasting, almsgiving and prayer

bring us closer to your loving heart.

We ask this in the name of Jesus.

We Pray for Pope Francis

Loving and Merciful God,

We come before You in prayer, lifting up Your servant, Pope Francis, in his time of need. You are the Source of all healing, and we ask You to surround him with Your loving presence, granting him strength and recovery. May Your divine grace rest upon him, restoring his health and filling him with renewed vigor to continue leading Your Church with compassion and wisdom.

“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord.”(Jeremiah 30:17)

We place Pope Francis into Your hands, trusting in Your eternal care. May he be comforted by the love of the Church and the prayers of all the faithful. We ask, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that his recovery be swift, and his spirit be strengthened in Your peace. May Your will be done in his life, O Lord, and may Your healing power be with him always.

We offer this prayer in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Term 1 Class Mass Dates /Cathedral

Confirmation Dates for 2025

For Catholic Students in Year 6 Parent Enrolment Evening

Confirmation Enrolment Evening Wednesday 19th March  at 6pm, Cathedral

Lesson 1     Sunday - 30th March 9am Cathedral

Lesson 2     Sunday  - 6th April  9am Cathedral

(School Holidays)

Lesson 3     Sunday -  4th May  9am Cathedral

Lesson 4     Sunday - 11th May  9am Cathedral

Lesson 5    Sunday - 18th May  9am Cathedral

Lesson 6   Sunday - 25th May  9am Cathedral

Lesson 7    Practice  -Sunday 1 June  9am Cathedral

Pentecost Sunday  - 10am Mass 8 June

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Greetings of peace from the parish.

The Sacramental Programme for the Sacrament of Confirmation is now being prepared. If your child/children are around 12 years old and/or older or in Year6 at school, this is the right time to have the grace of Baptism confirmed and be Sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit, in order to live actively as a disciple of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church.

The Programme for the Sacramental Preparation. Please note the dates for

Confirmation.

Enrolment: Wednesday 19 March at 6:00 pm in the Cathedral.

Parents gather for information on the Confirmation programme, and to enrol their child/children as candidate/s. It is a requirement for you to provide us acopy of the Candidate’s Baptismal Certificate. If your child is a student at St Mary’s Parish School or was baptised in the Catholic Parish of Armidale, the baptism record is accessible to the parish and you do not need to provide a copy. However, if your child is at a school other than St Mary’s and was not baptised in the Catholic Parish of Armidale, you are required to submit a copy with your child’s enrolment. Enrolment is not effective until the Baptism Certificate has been lodged. The cost of materials is $10 (Certificate, medal, work booklet etc) can be paid during enrolment or at the Parish Office.

The programme is centred around a 45-minute lesson at 9:00 am on Sunday. Every candidate is expected to attend the 8:00 am or 10:00 am Mass either before or following the lesson in the Cathedral. The essence of the programme is to spend formation time in the Cathedral, attend Sunday Mass and be part of the Community of Believers, to meet with Catholics who love and practice their faith.

The lesson dates are Sundays 30 March, 6th April, 4, 11, 18 & 25th May and the final lesson, including a rehearsal, will be 1 June. It is expected that candidates will attend Sunday Mass with their families during the programme.

Sponsors

The Church requires Sponsors of Candidates for Confirmation to be over 16years of age, to be fully initiated into the Church (baptism, confirmation, holy communion) who pray and practise their faith (a parent cannot be a sponsor of their child). Sponsors should be chosen carefully. It is presumed that Candidates have been baptised, made their First Holy Communion, and have been to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be received by the candidates on Pentecost Sunday, 8 June at the 10am Mass. This is a wonderful time in the life of your child whom you brought to the Church for Baptism. We are looking forward to a meaningful and prayerful programme for the candidates and for you as parents/guardians as well.  May God bless all our endeavours.

Yours in Christ, through Mary, our Blessed Mother,

Fr Damien Locke

Parish Administrator

Year of Jubilee

2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church.

A Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25 years. It is a particular year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on spiritual life.

The theme is Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew our hope and discover a vision that can "restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone". We are also invited to rediscover a spirituality of God's creation in which we understand ourselves as "pilgrims on the earth" rather than masters of the world.

You will see this logo often this year...

The logo symbolises unity and fraternity among all of humanity, with four stylised figures from different corners of the earth embracing each other. The leading figure holds a cross, representing faith and hope. The rough waves beneath the figures symbolise life's challenges, emphasising the need for hope in difficult times. The elongated lower part of the cross forms an anchor, a well-known symbol of hope. This image depicts the pilgrimage as a communal journey towards the cross, which reaches out dynamically to offer presence and hope. 

Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope   (Youtube)

The Jubilee Prayer

To pray and download the Prayer for the 2025 Jubilee, click here. Copies of the Jubilee Prayer are available in Braille. Please contact the Office of Deaf and Disabilities Ministry for a copy: specialneedsministry@adw.org or 301-853-4560.

The Jubilee Logo

To learn about the meaning of the logo for the 2025 Jubilee, click here.

Official Hymn for Jubilee

Click here to listen to the hymn.

CATHEDRAL PARISH OF SAINT MARY & JOSEPH ARMIDALE 

Administrator Father Damien Locke

Assistant Priest Father Anthony Koppman

armidaleparish@armidale.catholic.org.au

phone 67722218 

Mass Times

Saturday Vigil Mass 6 pm

Sunday 8 am, 10 am & 5:30 pm 

Diocesan Prayer Card