Religious Education and Parish
What's happening in Religious Education and our Parish life
St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Primary School
Congratulations to our 2027 FIRE Carriers!
A big congratulations to Beatriz C, Gillian G, Sy N, Henil S, Anaya P, Mehreen S, Mehreen M, Sabarpreet S, Mishti B and Mia G on their successful applications to become 2027 FIRE Carriers!
Our 2026 FIRE Carrier leaders proudly commissioned the new 2027 members, officially welcoming them into this important role. They now take on the responsibility of leading the FIRE Carrier Program and inspiring others to become involved.
FIRE Carriers are students and staff who are passionate about learning and sharing First Nations cultures and histories. They help promote reconciliation, respect, fairness and inclusion within our school and wider community.
We are very proud of our new FIRE Carriers and look forward to seeing them continue this important work in 2027!
A Beautiful Celebration of Faith and Leadership
Another beautiful Mass this week, thoughtfully led by our Year 5 students and so reverently attended by our Year 6 students.
It is always a joy to gather with our senior students at Mass and witness the dignity, reverence and respect they bring to the liturgy. Father James unpacked the Gospel so beautifully, helping the children connect its message to their own lives. As he posed questions and invited them to reflect, there was a lovely, thoughtful quietness in the church. You could almost see the thinking happening!
Our Year 5 students have been exploring Catholic Social Teaching in their Religious Education lessons, particularly the call to put faith into action. Their learning challenges them to consider: What can we do with what we know about the way Jesus lived? How can we use our voices to stand alongside those who are marginalised, advocate for others and uphold the dignity of every person? It was wonderful to see these ideas echoed so meaningfully in our celebration.
We also celebrated the feast of St Charles Borromeo, a remarkable figure in the history of the Church. Recently, Peta and I had the opportunity to learn more about him during a professional learning day, where we explored significant periods of change and renewal in the Church.
St Charles a Roman, became Archbishop of Milan during the 16th century, at a time when Church leadership was often associated with power, privilege and distance from ordinary people. Rather than remaining removed from the communities he served, he chose to move and live among his people, visit parishes, support the education of children and clergy, and work towards a Church that was more connected to the lives and needs of its people. His leadership reminds us that faith is not simply something we speak about, but something we live through service, humility and action.
A special thank you to our Year 5 teachers for their thoughtful preparation, our Year 6 students for their beautiful leadership, and all the staff who supported the celebration. We also thank Father James and our parish community for continuing to welcome us so warmly. Usually, our children have the opportunity to rehearse in the church on Monday afternoons, practising with microphones, becoming familiar with the space and learning the reverent movements of the liturgy. This week, we squeezed in a rehearsal just before Mass, helping everyone feel confident and ready to lead a church filled with students, families and parishioners. They did a magnificent job!
There was something particularly moving about watching these confident young leaders. Many began their school journey as little Foundation students during the uncertainty and disruption of COVID. To see them now, standing before a large congregation, speaking with confidence and leading with such dignity, was a real heartwarming moment.
What a privilege it is to watch our children grow, not only in knowledge and confidence, but also in faith, compassion and their understanding of how they can make a difference in the world.
| Date | Community Leading | Community Invited |
|---|---|---|
| 11th November | No Mass Today | Remembrance Day Ceremony |
| 18th November | Jericho Yr 4 | Ephesus Yr 3 |
| 25th November | Galilee Foundation | Bethany Yr 5 |
| 2nd December | Foundation to Year 5 | Foundation to Year 4 |
St Thomas Parish Weekend Mass Schedule
Masses
† Saturday Vigil Mass: 6.00pm
† Sunday Masses: 9:00am, 10:45am & 5.00pm
For other Masses in the week and Reconciliation times...
If you have any wonderings about Religous Education at St Thomas you are always welcome to email or arrange a time to chat with me.
Sarah Chappell
Acting Deputy Principal
Religous Education Leader
schappell@cranbourneeast.catholic.edu.au