Mission and Religious Education

MRE Newsletter Term 1 Week 10

Mission and Religious Education

Holy Week and Easter Sunday - Sunday 29 March - Sunday 5 April

Holy Week commemorates and celebrates the last week of Jesus’ life on Earth. Holy Week commences on Palm Sunday when we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem when people waved palm branches and greeted him as a king. Lent finishes just before Mass on Holy Thursday and then we commence the Paschal Triduum. The Paschal Triduum is the three days commemorating Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection and commences with the Mass on Holy Thursday and concludes with the evening Prayer on Easter Sunday. On Holy Thursday we remember Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. At this supper Jesus washed his disciples feet as a sign that they and we, should love and serve one another. He instituted the blessed Eucharist which we remember and commemorate at every Mass when he blessed and broke the bread and shared it saying ‘Take and eat, this is my body’ and blessed and shared the cup of wine saying ‘Take and drink, this is my blood’. After Supper Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray where he was arrested. On Good Friday we remember that Jesus was arrested, sentenced to death, made to carry his cross, was crucified, died and his body was laid in a tomb. Holy Saturday is a time to keep watch and wait while Jesus lays in the tomb and concludes Holy Week. On Easter Sunday we commence the liturgical season of Easter and celebrate Jesus rising to new life and conquering death so that we too may rise to new life. Easter Eggs are given as a symbol of new life.

Holy Week and Easter Liturgy Thursday 2 April

Today we celebrated our Holy Week and Easter Liturgy in the Church. It was a beautiful and touching reflection. Congratulations to all of our wonderful students and staff for all of your hard work and preparation and your prayerful leading in each liturgy. At the end of the liturgy Father Damien congratulated everyone, gave everyone a special blessing and wished everyone a happy Easter. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for our liturgy and we wish everyone a happy Easter. 

Palm Sunday: Kindergarten and Year 1 led us in this happy celebration.

Holy Thursday: Year 2/3M  led us in the important celebration of Jesus’ last supper

Year 2/3C led us in reflecting upon Jesus’ agony in the garden.

Good Friday: Years 5 and 6 led us in this more sombre commemoration.

Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday: Year 4 led us in this joyful celebration.

Sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation

Early in Term 2 we will send home a letter from Father Damien to all students eligible to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and/or Confirmation this year. Confirmation will be celebrated on Saturday 25 July at the 5pm Mass and First Reconciliation will be celebrated on Wednesday 12 August at 12pm.

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. 

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

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

Jacquelene Cronin

Assistant Principal - Mission