Faith News

Term Four

• Whole School Mass- The End of the 2024 School Year- Advent Week 1 Hope Thursday, December 5th. St Brendan’s Church at 11:30 am. Leaders: Foundation staff and students. All are welcome. 
• Year Six Graduation Mass- Wednesday, December 11th, St Brendan’s Church, Somerville at 5:00 pm. Leaders: All Year Six staff and students

Social Justice Action Team (SJAT) News

Another way that student voice is actively supported here at St Brendan's is through the work of the SJAT.

 Caritas Global Gifts Campaign

Throughout the remainder of Term Four, the SJAT will be collecting Staff Dress Code donations to support the work of Cairas through their Global Gifts campaign. Find out more about the Caritas Global Gifts campaign here

Mini Vinnies St Vincent De Paul Hamper Appeal

Once again for 2024, the SJAT are leading the call to help those in need this Christmas by supporting the work of St Vincent de Paul. All St Brendan’s families are asked to please donate grocery items as requested on the attached flyer by Wednesday, November 27th The Mini Vinnies representatives, Emi, Indiana, Ella, Abel, Mia and Fawn, will pack Christmas hampers for those in need at St Mary’s School on December 2nd, in collaboration with students from all three Western Port Parish Schools; St Mary’s, St Joseph’s and St Brendan’s. Thank you in advance for your support and generosity.

Catholic Care

For further information about the services offered by Catholic Care for those in need, please visit: https://www.ccam.org.au/

Catholic Baptism

Did the disruption of the ‘COVID-19 years’ disrupt your plans to seek Catholic Baptism for your child?

Now is a great time for families considering The Sacrament of Catholic Baptism for their child/ren, to contact the Western Port Parish Centre on (03) 5979 4374. Should you make Baptism arrangements with the Parish, please inform me so that this special milestone for your child can be acknowledged within the school community. Please also forward a copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate to the school so that this can be reflected in the school records.

Families who wish for their children to receive any sacrament or The Rite of Reception through the parish have been requested by Fr Shymon to make timely arrangements, as adequate preparation is required. This is especially important if families wish to pursue sacramental preparation programs in 2025. 

Western Port Parish News

Christian Initiation for Adults: RCIA

Have you ever considered becoming a Catholic or continuing the Catholic sacramental journey that you commenced as a child or younger adult? 

RCIA stands for the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”. Our RCIA team is ready to welcome any participants who would like to enquire about becoming a Catholic. The sessions for preparation will be on Thursday evenings from 7:00 pm until 8:30 pm in the Parish Centre. There is no obligation to commit to continuing if the decision is made to not proceed. Adults who wish to begin or continue their faith journey through the reception of the Catholic sacraments are invited to contact the Western Port Parish Centre on (03) 5979 4374.

Please follow this link to the Western Port Parish web page, and to find out more about parish happenings.

Access to Australian Catholics Online Magazine

Hard copies of the Australian Catholic Magazine will be distributed to all families whose eldest children are in Years 3-6 this year. Please look out for these throughout the year and have a read over a ‘cuppa’ to discover more about happenings in Catholic schools and parishes. 

ALL families have FREE access to the Australian Catholics online resource. To access this fabulous resource, please click here  and use the following login details to gain access:

Email: parents@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au 

Password: acparents

Yours in faith & harmony.

Emma Chapple

-Religious Education Leader

-Performing Arts Classroom Specialist Teacher echapple@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au 

RCIA IN OUR PARISH

(Message from the Westernport Parish Office)

RCIA stands for the “Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults”. Our RCIA team is ready to welcome any participants who would like to inquire about becoming a Catholic. The second session will be on Thursday 7th November at 7:00pm in the Parish Centre in Hastings, 71 Marine Parade. Please encourage any of your family or friends to consider the inquiry stage. There is no obligation to commit to continuing if the decision is made to not proceed. Please contact the Parish Office (5979 4374)with names and details.