Mission and Religious Education

Beginning of Year Mass

Last Friday 13 February we celebrated our Beginning of the School Year Mass at 9.30am in St Michael’s Church. St Michael’s students set up a special prayer focus symbolic of our school life at St Michael’s.

The Bible – The Bible reminds us of how to act in all of life’s situations by following God’s word and examples.

A Candle - A candle reminds us of our school motto “Let Your Light Shine”, which encourages us to be an example to others, a light shining in the darkness, a guide along life’s path.

Our School Flag – Our school flag reminds us that we are called together as one family under the banner of St Michael’s.

Our School Houses of Penola & MacKillop – Our School Houses of Penola & MacKillop remind us that we have fun together and work together in teams to support one another.

School books – Our school books remind us that we will learn many new and interesting things that allow us passage through understanding to the fullness of life.

Music & Sports equipment – Our Music and Sports equipment remind us to enjoy all aspects of school and to live life to the fullest.

Our School Captains Alice and Miller and our Sports Captains Georgia and Jet were inducted and presented with their badges.

Thank you Father Damien for a lovely Mass.

Lent

Lent is the Church season when we prepare to celebrate Easter. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (giving to the poor). The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and finishes on Holy Thursday at sundown. Busted Halo has a clip Lent in 3 Minutes that is helpful in understanding Lent.

On Ash Wednesday 18 March, we celebrated Mass with the parish. At this Mass all in attendance were invited to be signed with a cross of ashes on their foreheads. We are reminded on this first day of Lent that Jesus loves us and throughout Lent we try to grow closer in our relationship with God.

During the Mass the C2S Committee and Environmental Legends were commissioned and received a special blessing from Father Damien.

Our C2S Committee is a team of volunteer students in Years 2-6 who work with Assistant Principals Cathy Shepherd and myself for ecological justice in our world. The Committee meets at the start of lunch each Monday and gives an authentic student voice to addressing social and ecological issues in our school and world. The C2S Committee leads charitable works and ecological initiatives at St Michael’s encompassing the work of St Vincent de Paul / Mini Vinnies, Caritas Australia / Project Compassion, Catholic Mission / Socktober, Catholic Earthcare / Laudato Si’, Bear Cottage and other charitable works.

Our Environmental Legends are a team of volunteer students who work to lead environmental and sustainability initiatives within our school. Our work in this area is in response to Pope Francis’ call to action in Laudato Si’ to Care for the Earth Our Common Home and to hear and respond to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor.

On Ash Wednesday, the eldest child in each family took home a Project Compassion Box. Project Compassion is the main fundraising event for Caritas Australia during the Season of Lent and calls us all to unite against poverty. Each year families are invited to contribute to Project Compassion at home either through the Project Compassion Boxes or directly online. Project Compassion Boxes can be returned to school at the end of term or taken to the Church at the end of Lent. All money raised goes directly to Caritas Australia to help the poor in Australia and overseas.

At school all students will learn about the work of Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion as we stand in solidarity with many others to unite against poverty this Lent.

Confirmation

This year eligible students in Years 5 and 6 will be confirmed by Bishop Peter Murphy. Please note the change of date due to a clash with the Manilla Show. Bishop Murphy will speak to the children being confirmed on Friday 24 July and the Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Saturday 25 July. Parents and carers may like to contact their child’s sponsor now to ‘save the date’.

School Mass - Friday 27 February

Next Friday 27 February is our fortnightly Mass at 9.30am. Everyone welcome.

Clean Up St Michael’s Day - Friday 27 February

Next Friday 27 February is Clean Up St Michael’s Day. This day is held each year on the Friday before Clean Up Australia Day. Families are welcome to send in a pair of gardening gloves that day if you would like your child to wear gloves.

Australian Catholics

The Autumn Edition of Australian Catholics is going home today for each family. This edition is focused on the Mass and has lots of interesting information.

Connecting With Our Parish

Parish Priest: Reverend Father Damien Locke, Parish Priest

Phone: 02 6785 1094

Email: manillaparish@armidale.catholic.org.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMichaelsParishManilla

Weekend Mass Times

We encourage all of our families to celebrate Sunday Mass with our parish.

Manilla Parish Mass Times

1st Sunday of the month - Sunday 8.30am followed by morning tea

2nd, 3rd & 4th Sunday of the month - Saturday 5.00pm (5.30pm DST)

Attunga Mass Times

2nd, 4th & 5th Sunday of the month - Sunday 12 noon

Manilla Parish Confession/Reconciliation/Penance Times

30 minutes prior to weekend Masses or by appointment at any time with Fr Damien.

Lenten Reflection Group 2026

The Lenten Reflection Group will be held each Wednesday afternoon from 18 February-25 March from 4-5pm in St Michael’s Primary School. All are most welcome to attend.

Working Bee

St Michael’s Parish Organisation will have a working bee in/around the church at 8.30am on Saturday 21 March.

Stations of The Cross During Lent

Stations of the Cross will be prayed in the church on 27 Feb: 10.30am; 6 Mar: 10am; 13 Mar: 9.30am and 27 Mar: 10.30am

HOPE (HEART OF PEACE)

HOPe is the Diocese of Armidale’s charitable outreach arm offering free, healthy meals and fellowship to anyone in need — no questions asked. Fr Damien would like HOPe to be involved in the Parish and so we are looking for volunteers who would be interested in being involved in ministries such as cooking meals, manning the HOPe truck, educating people about budgeting and cost effective meal planning etc. If you would like to be involved, please place your name on the sheet at the back of the church.

Pope Leo XIV’s Prayer Intention for February

For children with incurable diseases, asking for necessary care, support, and for them and their families to never lose hope.

If You Would Like To Be Involved In The Life Of The Parish

We encourage all of our families to be involved in the life of the Parish. There are many ways to be involved including:

Altar Serving for those who have made their first Holy Communion
Reading at Mass
Taking up the Offertory Procession
Visitations
Odd Jobs

If you would like to be more involved in the life of our parish please contact Father Damien (02) 67851094 for further details.

Living Well, Learning Well

Living Well Learning Well is a student support framework for Catholic Schools in the Armidale Diocese. The framework is based on a universal and unconditional positive regard for children and young people and supports faith, learning, wellbeing and positive behaviour domains.

St Michael’s School Rules For Living

St Michael’s School Rules For Living encompass those in the Living Well Learning Well Framework.

Parents As Partners

Armidale Catholic Schools work with Realtalk to offer families free premium access to resources to help navigate difficult areas children face, particularly in the digital world, from a catholic perspective in an increasingly complex world. SIGN UP FOR FREE ACCESS HERE

Key Upcoming Dates

Friday 27 February: Mass 9.30am

“Let Your Light Shine” support others to let their light shine and remember “We Shine Brighter Together”

Jacquelene Cronin

Assistant Principal - Mission

The Resilience Project