Education in Faith
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:
Saturday, 15 November at 6.00pm (OHR Church)
Prep, Year 1 & Year 2 and new families for 2026 are particularly invited to this Mass
Parent and Child Confirmation Workshop & Confirmation Commitment Mass
Last Sunday, our Confirmation Candidates and their parent/s gathered at 3.30pm for a Confirmation Workshop prior to the 5.00pm Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Deepdene. The purpose of this was to provide a context for parents and children to discuss their perspective and understanding of Confirmation through reflection and explore the action of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Following this, the parents had an opportunity to formally present their child/ren at the Commitment Mass that evening. This presentation indicated that they believed their child is ready for the third stage of initiation into the Church. On this occasion, candidates themselves also committed to the preparation for Confirmation.
Nick Byrne
RE Leader
RE Learning in 5/6KM
Our YR 5/6s are preparing for Confirmation, or supporting their peers, by learning more about this Sacrament.
There are seven Sacraments.
Sacraments of Initiation
Baptism
Eucharist
Confirmation
Sacraments of Healing
Reconciliation
Anointing of the Sick
Sacraments of Commitment
Marriage
Holy Orders
Symbols of Confirmation
Name: Children choose the name of a saint recognised by the Catholic Church and has a feast day. The candidate may choose to reaffirm their Baptismal name or choose a new name. Our students have been looking at the qualities of their chosen saint.
Promises: For children, making and keeping promises usually means making a short commitment.
Hands: The purpose of the laying of hands is because touch is a vital human action. We think of stories of Jesus when he used his hands to heal, forgive, send forth etc.
Oil: Oil is used to soothe, heal, strengthen and preserve.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit grants us many characteristics that we call Gifts.
These are:
Wisdom: We have the ability to make good decisions.
Fortitude: We have the strength to do the right thing even in difficult situations. We have faith in Jesus and know He will help us through difficult times.
Understanding: We can understand Jesus’ messages and His teachings. We know what they mean for us in our daily lives.
Knowledge: We have knowledge of the world around us. We are aware of other people and their feelings.
Counsel: We can make tough choices and we try to do what is right.
Piety: We treat other people as we would like to be treated ourselves. We treat the world around us with care and consideration.
Fear of the Lord We remember the power and beauty of God. We see this beauty in the world around us and we must respect and care for it. We should not be afraid of God but deeply respect and honour Him.
We are looking forward to celebrating The Sacrament of Confirmation at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Wednesday 8th October at 7.00pm.
Sunday Gospel
The liturgy of the Catholic Church provides a framework for reflection which is used by Catholics throughout the world. Each week in the Newsletter, you will find the Sunday Gospel as well as some discussion questions to have with your child/ren.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’
Discussion Questions
1. Who are some important people?
2. Why are they important?
3. When do you like to feel important?
. Jesus says that being first is not important. Why shouldn’t we always try to be first?
5. How can we show we care for others instead of wanting to be first?.