Education in Faith News

St Vincent de Paul's Christmas Appeal

It’s that time of year when St. Vincent de Paul requires assistance from our school community of students, parents, and staff for their Christmas Appeal to support local needs within our community.

This year so far, our parish conference of St Vincent De Paul have made 357 visits to homes in Heidelberg, Heidelberg West and Heidelberg Heights giving food vouchers, St Vincent De Paul Shop vouchers and furniture such as beds, mattresses, tables and chairs and lounge suites. They get some of the funds from the revenue of St Vincent De Paul Shops but also rely on your generosity to help the conference with their work.

In giving to this annual appeal, we are supporting one of the seven Catholic Justice Teachings Options for the Poor and Vulnerable.  It is also part of our active waiting during the Advent season.

For this year's Christmas Appeal, St. John's Faith and Social Justice Student Action Team has suggested themed hampers for each class, where each child will donate an item to contribute to their class hamper. The hampers will then be donated to the St. Vincent's Heidelberg Conference, which will distribute the items across the Heidelberg area. A hamper will be set aside for each grade to collect items in their classroom.

The themes and some suggestions are as follows:- 

Preps - Beach theme - sunscreen, hats, sand toys, towels, snorkels etc

Year 1 - Soft toy theme - small plush toys & collectables.

Year 2 - Arts theme - crayons, textas, sketch and colouring books, paints etc.

Year 3 - Gardening theme - seeds, tools, gloves, pots, gnomes etc.

Year 4 - Puzzle theme - jigsaws, crosswords, sudokus, lego, manipulatives etc.

Year 5 - Pamper theme - bubble bath, scented candles, hand creams, towels etc.

Year 6 - Sports theme - all types of balls, frisbees, bats & racquets etc.

Donations can be given until Tuesday 10 December.

Advent 

Last Sunday marked the first Sunday of Advent and as a school community we gathered at an assembly to share in a student-led Advent liturgy and lit the first candle of Hope. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and one candle is lit each Sunday. Three of the candles are purple because the colour violet is a liturgical colour that signifies a time of prayer, penance, and sacrifice. During each Sunday of the Advent season, we focus on one of the four virtues Jesus brings us: Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.

Next Sunday we light the second candle of Love on our Advent wreath where we continue to watch and wait. 

During this waiting time we bring the experiences of the year past. This circle of green reminds us of the love of God: endless, but ever new. Take a moment to allow whatever is in your heart to rise, and offer your thoughts to the loving care of the Lord in this second week of Advent. 

Our thoughts may turn to the year that has passed: 

For what am I thankful?  

What could I have done better? 

How have I journeyed with God and Jesus throughout the past year? 

Final Whole School Mass for 2024

As previously advertised, our final mass of the year will take place Thursday 12 December at 12:30pm. The mass will focus around honouring our patron saint St John, Apostle & Evangelist whose feast day is on December 27 and to also give thanks for the blessings of this year. 

At the conclusion of mass, we will come together for a whole school picnic down on the bottom playground. All families are welcome to join us both at mass and the school picnic.

Prayer for the end of the school year

At the end of this school year we give thanks to God:

For all the teaching and learning that has taken place in our school, both in and out of the classroom,

For the talents and gifts that have been shared and the challenges that have been faced;

For the burdens that have been lifted and the hurts that have been healed; for the respect and care that has been given. 

We give thanks for the friendships that have just begun and for those that have grown. 

For the faith that has been lived in our daily struggles, for the hope that has lifted our hearts on the dark days and for the love that has kept us going. 

We give thanks for the community that we are. Bless our families as we take our holidays, may our time together leave us with memories to cherish. 

Pour out your love on us that we may return renewed and refreshed to continue our journey together.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.  

Amen        

Upcoming Dates

Thursday 12 December 12:30pm  Whole School - End of Year & Feast Day Mass     

Monday 16 December 6:30pm   Year Six Graduation - Mass followed by Supper

Sacrament  Dates for 2025

Eucharist -  

Presentation Masses -15 /16 March, held during parish masses

Eucharist Sacrament - Saturday 17 May 1pm & 3pm, St John's Church

Confirmation -  

Presentation Masses - 3 /4 May, held during parish masses

Confirmation Sacrament - Friday 13 June 6pm, St Patrick's Cathedral

Reconciliation - 

Thursday 11 September 7pm  TBC