All Saints Day Prayer

Please help me follow their footsteps, and yours, Jesus Christ.

Please help me to conform myself to Your image, seeking

Your will in all things, as the Saints did.

Please help me to devote myself, and all that I do,

to Your glory, and to the service of my neighbours. Amen.

This week I visited each class to discuss All Saints Day. I presented the children with seven lolly jars. Each of these jars was inspired by a saint.

The children's curiosity peaked when they were able to guess how many lollies were in each jar.

Congratulations to the students who guessed correctly.

St Francis Xavier 49 Bananas – Abigail Holt 5/6G

St Patrick 76 Snakes – Alexander Succar 2G & Max Shi 4G

St James The Great 168 Sea creatures – Thomas Gregory 2W

St Therese Lisieux 149 Strawberry flowers – Zaylee On 1G & Lucas D’Agostino 4W

St Mary and St Martha 619 M&M’s – Thomas Russo 3W

St Nicholas 32 Candy canes – Daniel Fazio 4G, Victoria Coelho 5W, Arianna Tabbiche 2W & Adrian Mirabella 5/6G

St Lucy Eyeballs – Annika Buckland 4G, Luca Mohelika 4G, Jayden Hogan 2G, Sarah Nakhle 2G & Leo Saveski 3G

Following is what I shared with the students and the lollies that were associated with each saint.

St Francis Xavier - Banana boats

Representing the boat, he travelled to share his Christian missionary. St. Francis Xavier is considered the greatest missionary since the time of the Apostles and the zeal he displayed, the wonderful miracles he performed, and the great number of souls he brought to the light of true Faith entitled him to this distinction.

St Patrick - Snakes

A long time ago in Ireland, there was a man named St. Patrick. But before he became a saint, he was just a man named Patrick. To become a saint, he had to perform a miracle and his big miracle was chasing all the snakes out of Ireland.

St Lucy- Eyeballs

Saint Lucy would travel to the catacombs(underground rooms in Paris) to give supplies to the Christians hiding there. In order to leave her hands free to carry the supplies, it is believed she wore a wreath on her head with candles to light the way.

St Lucy, let your light shine.

St James the Great - Fish and Starfish

James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus. The Gospels state that James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him. James, along with his brothers John and Peter, formed an informal authority group among the Twelve Apostles.

He asked them to “follow me and I'll make you fishers of men.” In other words, you think what you're doing now is good, but you can be doing better is you follow Jesus.

St Therese of Lisieux - Flowers

God's little flower, because she did not see herself as elegant as a rose or a lily but rather as a small wildflower. She was also called "St. Therese Of The Child Jesus" because she had a big devotion to the child Jesus.

Martha and Mary - M&Ms

In Martha and Mary we have a model of the true love of God. Both sisters loved our Divine Lord, but they showed their love in different ways. As Martha hurries to ensure the preparations, Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to the wisdom of Christ.

St Nicholas - Candy Cane

The patron saint of children, GIFT-GIVING, Saint Nicholas was a kind man, known for his good deeds and selfless acts of charity. He helped families most in need and became the patron saint of children. Saint Nicholas may not have had a toy workshop run by elves or a reindeer with a particularly shiny nose, but he was just as beloved as Santa and just as generous too.

All Souls Day (Thursday 2nd November)

St Francis Xavier Playgroup

All families from the community are welcome to join our playgroup. Playgroup is open to children from 0-5 years old.

Term 4 Playgroup dates.

Wednesday 8th November

Wednesday 15th November

Wednesday 22nd November

Wednesday 29th November

Wednesday 6th December - Christmas party

Wednesday 13th December - Last one for 2023

For playgroup, we will meet in the hall at 9:10 am.

All parents need to sign in and out via the office.

Parents must stay in the hall for the duration of the Playgroup.

No parent is to be on their own outside of the hall.

Wellness Walk

All are welcome to join me for a wellness walk around the local area.

Together, let's slow down, start the day with movement and enjoy the surrounding beauty.

What a great way to start our Thursday; we will be walking, chatting and having a coffee. Let's meet on the church steps at 9:00 am. Weather permitting.

Term 4 Dates:

9th November

16th November

Janine Hannigan

Family Educator

Family and Faith

2024