Our Faith - Religion - Prayer
St Patrick's Church Walcha
For Baptism or Marriage enquiries phone Monsignor Ted Wilkes 67784070.
Monsignor Ted Wilkes would like to invite parishioners to Sunday Mass 10am.
Term 3 Mass Dates
*Friday 20th September: Mass and Blessed Exposition at 11.30am
Reflection
This Saturday, the Christian community comes together to celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This solemnity honours the Cross as the instrument of Christ's victory over sin and death. Celebrated annually on September 14th, this feast invites the faithful to reflect on the profound significance of the Cross in the life of Jesus and the history of Christianity.
The origins of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross date back to the early 4th century. According to tradition, the feast commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great, during her pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 326 AD. Saint Helena's discovery of the Cross, believed to be the one on which Jesus was crucified, was a pivotal moment in Christian history, leading to the construction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was dedicated on September 14th, 335 AD, and the Cross was venerated on this day, which later became the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The day also recalls the restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem in 629 AD by Emperor Heraclius after it was taken by the Persians.
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a powerful reminder of the centrality of the Cross in Christian faith. The Cross is not just a symbol of suffering and death but also a symbol of triumph, salvation, and the ultimate love of God for humanity. This feast day encourages Christians to reflect on the paradox of the Cross: an instrument of torture that became a symbol of eternal life and hope.
As we observe the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross this Saturday, it’s a time for personal reflection on the mystery of the Cross in our lives. It calls us to embrace our own crosses, big or small, with the same spirit of hope and trust in God's plan. The Cross, once a sign of despair, is now a beacon of hope that challenges us to look beyond our struggles and see the promise of resurrection and new life.
May this feast inspire us to carry our own crosses with grace and to always look to the Cross as the ultimate sign of God’s love and mercy.
Prayer
On this feast of the Holy Cross,
let us look at the cross in this space
and think for a moment
about how much Jesus loves us.
Lord, we see in this cross
a sign of your great love.
May the cross be our comfort in trouble,
our shelter in the face of danger,
our safeguard on life's journey.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Celebration of Mass and the Blessed Exposition, Friday 20th September at 11.30am
The entire student body and staff of St. Patrick's will gather to celebrate Mass and the Blessed Exposition on Friday, September 20th, immediately following the official opening and blessing of our new playground at 11:30 AM. We warmly invite everyone to partake in this celebration.
First Reconciliation
At the moment we have six students from St Patrick's who will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on Friday 1st November after Mass. The preparation program will commence on Monday afternoon.
Should you have any questions or inquiries regarding the Sacrament of First Reconciliation, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mr. Hyatt.
Sacrament Dates for 2024
2024 First Reconciliation: Date has been set for our Catholic students in Years 2 and 3 for Friday 1st November 2024.
Catherine McAuley
Catherine’s spirituality was centred on the mercy of God…prayer in action…action in prayer.