Religious Education

And just like that, the school year is over!! What a wonderful year we have had, full of HOPE:- new learnings, new experiences, new friendships  and now the time has come to say farewell to 2025. With every ending comes a new beginning so may we take all our learnings  with us as we embark upon a new Year 2026. 

Congratulations to our wonderful Yr 6 students who have completed an amazing 7 years of primary schooling and may God bless them as they embark on new phase of their life-long journey.  We wish them much luck and every success for their future.

I'd like to take this opportunity, on behalf of our whole school community, to express my sincere gratitude to Father Andrew who is leaving our Parish, after devoting 15 years of his ministry to us, and taking up the position of Parish Priest at Kensingston and Ascot Vale. 

His dedication, spiritual leadership, engaging homilies and kind and approachable manner will be sorely missed. 

Sadly, Father Huy is also leaving us to continue his ministry at Springvale and Dingley. We sincerely thank him for his service to our school. We will miss his gentle and caring ways, always engaging with a warm smile and a positive demeanour. 

We wish them both every success and happiness in their new Parishes.

Our new Parish Priest will be announced in the very near future. I pray that the Holy Spirit guides the process to appoint a suitable candidate to lead our wonderful school and parish.

This weekend, at the midpoint of Advent, we celebrate Gaudete Sunday. The principal theme of the day is joy. We are joyful in the knowledge that Jesus is coming and in bringing that joy to others by keeping a generous spirit and heart!  As we focus on Joy, not a shallow happiness, but a deep, steady confidence that God is at work even when we cannot see the full picture. In this week's Gospel, John’s story encourages us to seek this kind of joy,  trusting that God’s promises are unfolding, that light is growing, and that Christ continues to bring new life into our world.

This is the season of a million preparations. We spend time and money getting ourselves and our homes ready to celebrate Christmas. However, this weekend’s readings ask us to consider more seriously the part of Advent that prepares our hearts and lives for Jesus’ coming. We need to ask ourselves what do we need to do to get ready for Jesus? 

This Advent, we are called to practical service for the world. The Pope suggests that we should each consider: ‘what can I do concretely during these days as we draw near to Christmas? How can I do my part?’

We might therefore turn our efforts to doing something, however small, to serve our Lord. With actions suited to our own time and place and situation, our faith should take on some ‘concrete commitment’, and in doing so bring a little bit more justice and joy into the world.

How are you going to serve God and others this Advent?

A huge THANK YOU also, for all your generous donations for the St Vinnie's Hamper Donations. Many needy families will be so grateful for your generous spirit.