Education in Faith
OHR Feast Day Mass - Friday 21st November
Each year, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year - this year, that Sunday is on the 23rd of November. This is also the feast day of Our Holy Redeemer Church and School. Therefore, we will be celebrating OHR's Feast Day with a whole school Mass. This will be at 9.00am on Friday 21 November in the Church. Everybody is most welcome to join us.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal
Again this year, our RE Student Leaders would like everybody in the OHR community to get involved in supporting the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. This is often just shortened to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal.
This Christmas, more families are experiencing poverty and are on the brink of homelessness due to the relentless rising cost-of-living in Australia. The crisis has been an ongoing issue impacting Australians for over two years with no sign of reprieve. As the crisis deepens, so does the amount of people turning to Vinnies for support.
The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia has more than 60,000 members and volunteers, who work hard to assist people in need and combat social injustice across Australia. Internationally, the Society operates in 153 countries and has over 800,000 members.
This video helps introduce the Vinnies Christmas Appeal and explains a little about how the organisation is providing a hand to vulnerable people in urgent need this Christmas.
There are three ways OHR will be supporting the work of Vinnies this year. The first option is to bring in non perishable food items, especially those with a Christmas theme. This will help provide food for a family to celebrate Christmas with a meal together. These can be left in classrooms and we will collect them before the end of term.
The second is to bring in a voucher for Coles or Woolworths. These can be used by a family who is finding it tough. They might use the voucher to purchase food or other vital household items. These can be left under the Christmas Tree in the office.
Finally, for the rest of the year the RE/Social Justice Team will be selling Zooper Dooper icy poles for 50c after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15 - 3:30pm at the tuckshop window.
If anybody would like to donate a pack (or more) of Zooper Doopers please bring them to the office. We can look after the freezing for you‼
We have already started selling zooper doopers - so please bring in your money if you want one. Also, don’t forget about donating a voucher or some non-perishable food items. Thank you.
Family Led Sunday Mass
During 2025, the Parish in conjunction with the Parish Primary Schools, has planned Family led weekend Masses. These Masses will be celebrated once a term and be followed by hospitality. They will be a great opportunity for children and their families to be involved in a Mass within the parish community.
Family Masses will provide an opportunity for families to come together and to support each other in faith. They can particularly be important for families who are presenting their children for Sacraments throughout the year. There may be opportunities to reconnect with our own faith as adults. There may be opportunities to engage with parish life and learn more about the faith, for those who are not so familiar with our local worshiping community. All families are welcome at these family Masses no matter what your religious background or affiliation.
Family Masses scheduled for later this year are:
Sunday, 16th November at 10.30am (OHR Church) - Note Change of Date/Time
Prep, Year 1 & Year 2 and new families for 2026 are particularly invited to this Mass.
Nick Byrne
RE Leader
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All these things you are staring at now – the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.’ And they put to him this question: ‘Master,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?’
‘Take care not to be deceived,’ he said, ‘because many will come using my name and saying, “I am he” and, “The time is near at hand.” Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not soon.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
‘But before all this happens, men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name – and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.’
Discussion Questions
1. The Gospel today speaks about bad things that happen but Jesus says that we are not to be afraid. What shouldn’t we be afraid of?
2. What did Jesus say he will give us so that we know what to say during difficult times?
Jesus says that we are safe because we belong to him and believe in him. Let us pray for wisdom when we find things hard to understand or when difficult things happen.