Mission and Religious Education

MRE Newsletter Term 2 Week 2

Mission and Religious Education

Calling All Young Artists! "Mary: Our Mother" Diocesan Art Competition 

Our Diocese is thrilled to announce our 2026 Art Competition: "Mary: Our Mother." This is a unique opportunity for students from Kindergarten to Year 12 to express their faith and creativity.

Whether it is a painting of the Annunciation, a drawing of Our Lady of Guadalupe, or a modern digital portrait of Mary’s strength, we want to see your vision!

• The Reward: Winners will be announced during Catholic Schools Week (commencing 25th May), with prizes awarded for every Stage.
• A Lasting Legacy: Selected artworks will be chosen to feature in our official Diocesan Angelus resources, becoming a part of our community's daily prayer life.
• The Details: Entries must be no larger than A3. The competition opens Tuesday, 17th March and entries close Friday, 15th May.

Please contact Jacquelene Cronin at School for entry forms and full submission details. We can’t wait to see your masterpieces!

School Mass

Our next school Mass will be celebrated on Friday 8 May. Everyone is welcome.

The Ascension of the Lord

On Sunday 17 May we celebrate The Ascension of the Lord. On this day we remember Jesus’ return to heaven.

Laudato Si’ Week

Laudato Si’ Week is a celebration held annually from 17 to 24 May to mark the anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si’ on caring for the earth, our common home. This week unites Catholics to listen and respond together to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. 

Catholic Schools Week

Catholic Schools Week is being celebrated from Sunday 24 May - Saturday 30 May. During this week the Armidale Diocese celebrates all of the great things happening in Catholic schools across the Diocese. For Catholic schools in the Southern Deanery the Catholic Schools Week Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday 26 May at 11am in St Nicholas’ Catholic Church, Tamworth. Our School and Sport Captains will represent St Michael’s at this Mass. 

Sacraments of Reconciliation and Confirmation

A letter has been sent home today from Father Damien to all students eligible to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. The letter outlines details regarding the sacraments and invites parents and guardians to an enrolment session on Thursday 14 May at 2.30pm at St Michael’s school.

Confirmation

Students in Years 5 and 6 who have received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist are invited to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmation will be celebrated on Saturday 25 July at the 5pm Mass. 

Each child has a sponsor who will be with them when they are confirmed - the sponsor is a spiritual guide for your child. A sponsor must be at least 16 years of age and be a baptised and confirmed Catholic. A parent is unable to be a sponsor for their own child but other family members and friends are. You might like to ask one of your child’s godparents to be their sponsor. The sponsor walks up with your child and the sponsor stands behind your child as they are being confirmed placing their right hand on your child’s right shoulder. The sponsor doesn’t say anything and will pass the Confirmation Card with your child’s confirmation information on it, so their confirmation name can be read to the Bishop. We encourage families to start thinking about who will be their child’s sponsor, so that they can ‘save the date’. 

Reconciliation

Eligible students in Year 2 will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday 12 August at 12pm with Father Damien. 

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