Catholic Identity
Reflection
Sunday, September 3, 2023. Twenty-second Sunday in ordinary time.
Last Sunday was Social Justice Sunday, this Sunday is the beginning of the Season of Creation. We have been asked as Catholics to renew our engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The Social Justice Statement, Listen, Learn, Love: A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, released by Australian Bishops, who have joined with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) calls on us to develop relationships of humility and love with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The statement tells us about the painful experiences of many First Nations people. It is very challenging reading in parts.
The challenge continues in this Sunday’s readings as we go on a desperate journey. The first, where Jeremiah finds it impossible to resist God’s power and at the same time is subject to rejection and humiliation. In the psalms we read of longing for God and the body desperate like ‘dry, weary land without water’. Then to writings of St Paul to the Romans, we are reminded to be thinking beings, considerate to all around us and the teachings of Christ, modelling our new mind and changing our behaviour. Finally in the Gospel, Jesus asks us not to let the way we think be an obstacle in God’s way.
As we enter the Seasons of Creation, September 1 to October 4, we are asked to let justice and peace flow. This requires us to model our new mind and change our behaviour. We are reminded to be thinking beings, considerate to all around us and not to let the way we think be an obstacle in God’s way.
Pope Francis notes in his encyclical, Laudato Si n13 – The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change.
By actively listening, learning and loving we model our new mind and work to change our behaviour. We are challenged now to be thinking beings, using the gifts our God gave us to create a better world for all. As we enter the Seasons of Creation may we remember to be thinking, caring, loving beings for the benefit of all and the whole of creation.
- Elizabeth Holligan, Religious Education Leader
General Notice
Staff Professional Learning – Catholic Identity Day
Friday, August 25, our teaching and learning support staff undertook a day of professional learning. The first two sessions were conducted by Australians Together, the final session for the day was on the place of music in the Catholic Liturgy and how music enhances faith development.
In the first session we undertook learning around First Nations people and our shared history and different worldviews, The Wound and ongoing impact of our history. How ‘The Wound’ affects both First Nations people and non-Indigenous people in Australia and developed an understanding of the concept of ‘The Wound’ and how we as individuals and educators can make a big difference.
The second focus session was on ‘making a difference with my response’. In this session we considered how ways of starting small can make a difference, and the power teachers have to instigate change. We considered five key ideas to embed First Nations perspectives into our teaching and looked at curriculum resources provided by Australians Together that can be integrated into our daily programs.
Our final session for the day focused on our Catholic Identity and faith development, the Mass and music in the Liturgy. Anthony Holligan gave a brief overview of the meaning of movements in the Mass, and the different sections of the Mass. This was followed by instruction and demonstration of the place of music in the Catholic Mass and liturgy by Elizabeth Holligan with the assistance of Stephanie Symes on keyboard. As a Catholic dialogue school, our staff and students come from many different faith and cultural backgrounds. It was a fantastic opportunity to bring to the community the uniqueness of the Catholic Mass and music as a vital part of faith development.
- Elizabeth Holligan, Religious Education Leader
Seasons of Creation
Friday, September 1, Bishop Shane is launching the Seasons of Creation at Whipstick Forest for the Sandhurst Diocese. Seasons of Creation begins with a World Day of Prayer for Creation, and concludes on October 4, Feast of St Francis of Assisi. We have been asked to action something every day as a challenge for the Seasons of Creation.
Information night Sacramental Program, St Mel’s Parish, 2023-2024
Steps in Faith Program
St Mel’s Parish Sacramental Program information night is on Thursday, September 14, at 7pm in St Mel’s Christ the King Church. Please enter through the side door off the Hamilton Street car park. Parents wishing for their child or children to journey through the program and receive the Sacraments of Initiation are encouraged to attend as expectations, dates and costs will be explained, any queries discussed, and enrolment packs distributed. This program is suitable for children in years 3 and above. For more information please contact the Parish Office on 5831 2194.