Religious Education Dates for 2024

RE DATES:

Eucharist

Wednesday 23rd October - Eucharist Reflection Day
Thursday 24th October - Reconciliation at 11:40am and practise
Saturday 26th October - Sacrament of First Eucharist mass at 6pm
Sunday 27th October - Sacrament of First Eucharist mass at 9:30am

Whole School Mass/Events

Friday 25th October - St Francis Blessing of the animals service from 9am to 9:15am
Monday 11th November - Remembrance Day service at 10:55am
Thursday 12th December - Year 6 Graduation at 6pm
Friday 13th December - End of School Mass at 9am

Children’s Liturgy

The reintroduction of Children's Liturgy at St Mark's Church is up and running and looking for more volunteers!

The Children's Liturgy provides a great opportunity for primary aged children to engage with the gospel in a way that is accessible and meaningful to them. It runs every Sunday at the St Mark's 9:30am mass during school terms. At the start of mass the Children’s Liturgy adult leaders take the primary school age children into the hall for a small lesson and activity about the gospel of the day. Parents are welcome to join the session if they would like. If any parents are interested in volunteering to help with the Sunday sessions, please email Andrew Davies - andrew@smdingley.catholic.edu.au

Gospel Reflection by Dianne Bergant CSA

When we set out to follow Jesus, faithful to the promises that we made at baptism to renounce sin and live lives directed by the Spirit, we normally do so with generosity of heart. However, after we have borne the burdens of this decision and realise some of the implications of our commitment, we begin to wonder if it was worth it. We believe that God will generously bless us. Still, would it be so wrong to hope for a little more, especially if we have made significant sacrifices along the way?

Of those to whom much has been given, much will be required in return. The closer we are to Jesus, the more we will be expected to mirror him. The great ones in the reign of God, the ones who exercise authority over others, must be the servants of the rest. Parents, teachers, civil authorities, managers of every kind, pastoral leaders must all be servants, as Jesus was a servant. We will also have to drink from his cup of suffering and be baptised into his death. As we draw close to the one who gave his life as an offering for sin, we will find that the same self-sacrifice is being asked of us. When we struggle with the misfortunes that we face because of our commitment to Jesus, we will have him as an inspiration and a model to follow. He can sympathise with our weaknesses, identify with our suffering. We can draw strength from his example and hope from his kindness.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

THE RELIGIOUS SHOP HAS BEEN RESTOCKED WITH MANY NEW LINES, THERE'S A LOVELY ARRAY OF RELIGIOUS GIFTS & CARDS FOR ALL OCCASIONS.AS FROM THIS WEEK END THERE WILL BE A TABLE INTHE CHURCH FOYER OF GIFTS FOR THAT SPECIAL PERSON."YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO COME & BROUSE. "

Sacrament of Eucharist

On Saturday 26th October and Sunday 27th October 37 St Mark’s school children will be making their First Communion. Please keep these children in your prayers and thoughts

Quade, Charlotte, Max, Shenan, Marcus, Nina, Jemma, Henry, Mason, Levi, Josie, Jaden, Keegan, Lucas, Jordan, Ayden, Brayden, Ethan, Jonathan, Bosco, Summer, Ethan, Hieu Trung, Christian, Milena,Gabriella, Leon, Conrad,Giselle,Savannah, Jayden, Morgan, Zayden, Ayla, Natalia, Gabriel Blessing of the Animals On On Friday 25th October, Br Louis from the parish will be coming to the school and blessing all the pets in our school community. If you have a pet please bring it along. The service will be occurring at 9am in the undercover area. The service should go for 5-10 minutes. All pets are to go home after the service. We look forward to seeing your pets next Friday. World Mission Day Here in Australia, October marks World Mission Month, a celebration of the global work of the Church and the dedication of missionaries, both religious and lay, as they reach out and support children and communities in need around the world. On World Mission Sunday, which falls on 20 October 2024, parish and school communities around the world will gather to pray for and raise funds to support the work of thousands of crucial church-run programs. On Friday, 25 October, is Children’s Mission Day, which our school will be celebrating by allowing the children to wear casual clothes on the day and bring a gold coin that will be donated to Catholic Mission Australia. It is important to remember that this day is about raising money for less fortunate people around the world and that wearing casual clothes to school is a real privilege and something special, therefore we ask each child who chooses to wear casual clothes to bring a gold coin donation. The canteen will be closed on this day as a way of recognising all the people in the world that go hungry everyday. You will be able to order lunches through the canteen online. We encourage students to donate the money they may have spent at the canteen to Catholic Mission Australia. If families can talk to their children about the importance of this day then it will go a long way into empowering them into taking ownership of their fundraising efforts but also foster a sense of community and shared purpose.

School Advisory Council

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL: