Religious Education News

The ten days between May 9th and 10th are bracketed by two of the most important feasts in the Catholic calendar. May 9th marks the Feast of the Ascension, when we celebrate the Ascension (rising) of Jesus into heaven, following his death and resurrection at Easter. May 19th marks the Feast of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Disciples and the beginning of the Church. 

Both the Ascension and Pentecost mark occasions when the Disciples were told to go out and to do good in Jesus’ name. We are continually encouraged to do the same. Our Student Leaders and Lasallian Youth Leaders are examples of students who have accepted the challenge to go out and do good. 

This week at Mass, our new Year 10 Assistant Catechists were recognised and blessed by Fr Damien. This is the third year that the program has run, and a record number of students have volunteered to go into local Public Schools to assist the Catechists teaching Scripture classes. Each of the schools that we visit (Ben Venue, Martins Gully and Sandon) have welcomed our students into their classrooms and the response from the primary students has been fantastic!

In week 1 we celebrated our school ANZAC Liturgy. Students who are members of the Defence Force Cadets led this celebration, and the commemorative address was given by Warrant Officer Class Two Aaron Barnes of our local Army unit, 12/16 Hunter River Lancers.  Aaron spoke about his family history, with two great-grandfathers serving in WW1 (one on the German side!) and two grandfathers serving in WW2, as well as his own experiences as a soldier in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan. The service was beautifully supported by Miss Sampson’s music students, with Ian Berney playing the Last Post and Rouse on the trumpet, and the prayer focus featured a crucifix presented to the Ursuline Convent by Ellie McGlade, one of the nurses murdered at Bangka Island in 1942. 

I’d like to take this opportunity to mention our regular Wednesday morning Masses, commencing at 9:15am. All members of the school and broader parish community are more than welcome to attend these Masses, which are led by our students. A huge thank you to all the students who help out, either by reading, serving, playing instruments or singing, or simply being present and involved in the Mass!

Mr Andrew May

Religious Education Coordinator

Our Founders - St Angela Merici and St John Baptiste De La Salle

Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral Parish

Keeping in touch with what is happening in the Cathedral Parish is easy through their website and Facebook pages.

With such a difficult year and a half it has been harder for parishioner's to give to the parish through the plates, particularly when the church is closed as it is at present. The Parish account details are available on the Parish bulletin. 

Cathedral Parish Website

Information about our founders

La Salle Website

Ursuline Sisters Website