Catholic Identity
PRAYER
Around the world St. Patrick’s Feast Day is celebrated on March 17th. It commemorates Saint Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century. Irish immigrants, like their patron St Patrick were fundamental in establishing the Catholic faith here in Australia. Our first priests left their homes in Ireland, sailing to Australia to set up catholic parishes, build churches and establish schools and hospitals. In the early years they did this under great difficulty and often faced persecution. The tireless and selfless work of our early catholics laid the foundations for the massive network of Catholic schools, hospitals, and churches we have throughout Australia today.
St. Patrick's Breastplate is a famous prayer of protection often used for children, focusing on surrounding them with Christ's presence. Key lines for kids include "Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me". It is a prayer meant to offer comfort, safety, and God's companionship. Below is a simple version of this prayer, parents might like to teach their child:
St. Patrick's Breastplate Prayer (short version):
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
YEAR ONES INVITED TO MARCH COMMUNITY MASS
We will be celebrating our next Community Mass on Saturday 28th March here in the School Hall. This Mass coincides with Palm Sunday. Families of our Year One students are invited to join us for the Mass. The students will be leading the congregation in singing a Palm Sunday Hymn they have been learning as part of their Palm Sunday Presentation, which they will be doing in the last week of the term.
Below is a list of this year’s dates, we look forward to seeing many of our families there.
Saturday 28th March
Saturday 23rd May
Saturday 25th July
Saturday 22nd August
Saturday 24th October
Saturday 28th November
HOLY WEEK PRESENTATIONS
Over three days students in Year 1, Year 4 and Year 6 will be presenting the main events of Holy Week. The details of each event are:
Palm Sunday
The Year 1s will be retelling the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, on Monday 30th March. Parents can attend a performance just after morning drop off at 9:15am. This will take place in the school Hall. The Year 1s are practising very hard for this production and are looking forward to seeing parents at these performances.
Holy Thursday
Our Year 4 students will be releasing their Last Supper Video on Tuesday 31st March. Families will be sent a link to this Video via their nFormaforparents App . This has been a great way for the students to begin their preparations to receive their First Holy Communion later in the year.
Good Friday
The Year 6s will lead our school community through a live reenactment of the passion and death of Jesus, on Wednesday 1st April. Students will be presenting the 14 Stations of the Cross and giving other students the opportunity to pray and reflect on the sacrifice made by Jesus for us all.
PROJECT COMPASSION
Thank you to everyone for your continued generosity supporting our Project Compassion Boxes. Across the six weeks of Lent each year, Project Compassion invites Australian schools and parishes to raise funds for Caritas, our Catholic Aid Agency. These much-needed funds help alleviate poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the world. Each class has their own Project Compassion Box, where students can put their donations. This is a terrific opportunity for children to use some of their pocket money to give to others in the world who are in need of some support.
SACRAMENTAL JOURNALS
All baptised Catholic students in Year 3, 4 and 6 will be preparing to celebrate a Sacrament this year. Our Year 3s will be going to Confession for the first time this Thursday 19th March to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Students in Year 4 will receive their First Holy Communion 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.
Recently all students who are preparing for a Sacrament 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.
SACRAMENTAL DATES 2026
Below are our Sacramental Dates for this year. These dates are particularly important for Baptised Catholic students in Years 3, 4 & 6. Families need to be aware the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated in March.
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