Religious Education

Welcome to 2024

Welcome back to what promises to be another faith-filled year at St. Finbar's. As you may be aware, our Parish is joining forces with St. Joan of Arc & St. James, with Father Ian overseeing the three parishes moving forward. We would like to confirm with our school community that it will be business as usual, and our faith events will continue similarly to previous years.

We are currently working on finalising dates for Sacraments and Masses. These will be communicated soon. There has been a delay in this as we await Father Ian to have his schedule across the three parishes locked in.

Today (Thursday), Father Ian & Father Clem led the school in the Start of Year Mass. It was a wonderful Mass full of energy and prayerfulness.

Altar Servers

We are hoping to train some students at St Finbar's in altar serving. This will assist Father Ian and Father Clem during Masses. The students, once trained, will assist at school Masses, though may also have an opportunity to assist on weekend masses and at Sacraments.

An altar server attends to supporting tasks at the altar such as fetching and carrying, ringing the altar bell, helping bring up the gifts, and bringing up the liturgical books, among other things.

If your child is interested, please contact me on sanderson@sfbrightoneast.catholic.edu.au

The training will be done during school time and will be supervised by school leadership.

Gospel Reflection - Sunday 4th February

Gospel Reading

Mark 1:29-39

Jesus cures Simon’s mother-in-law and many others as well.

Family Connection

We know from last week’s Gospel that Jesus gathered and prayed with the community in the synagogue. Today we learn that Jesus also took the time to pray alone. Following the example of Jesus, we also pray together with our community, and we take the time to pray alone. Our children observe our prayer with others. We might want to take the opportunity to talk with them about our private prayer, however, so that through our example, they may learn to make private prayer an important part of their daily lives.

Gather as a family and talk about the ways in which your family prays together (at Mass, grace before meals, bedtime prayers). Invite each member of the family to talk about his or her private prayer: When do you pray? Where do you pray? How do you pray? What do you pray for?

Jesus modeled for us a life of prayer. Read together today’s Gospel, Mark 1:29-39. Talk about this Gospel with your family. Ask questions such as the following: What do you think Jesus was praying about in today’s Gospel? What guidance have you received from God in prayer? Conclude by asking God to bless our times of prayer so that we can know and follow God’s ways. 

Pray together the Lord’s Prayer.

Steele Anderson

Deputy Principal / RE Leader