Education in Faith

Sacramental Dates for 2025

Parents please check the following dates

• Grade 2 will receive First Reconciliation in Term 4 on Thursday, 20th November 2025.
• Grade 6 will receive Confirmation – Term 3 on Saturday, 6th September 2025.

Reconciliation: baptised Catholics in Year 2.

Eucharist: baptised Catholics in Year 3 or who have celebrated their Reconciliation.

Confirmation: Year 6 Catholics who have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and Eucharist.

Dear Parents,

As this is a Jubilee Year, our Confirmation will be held at the Cathedral, making the celebration even more special. To help cover the additional costs, we kindly ask for a $10 levy per student.

Please send the payment to the school office by ASAP in an envelope with your child’s name and Home group.

Thank you for your support and cooperation.

If you have any further questions regarding your child receiving these Sacraments, please feel free to contact me at the school.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Gospel Reflection for the reading taken from Luke 12:13-21

The Folly of Riches and the True Treasure

This Sunday's Gospel presents us with a powerful parable from Jesus, commonly known as the Parable of the Rich Fool. It begins with someone in the crowd asking Jesus to arbitrate a family inheritance dispute. Jesus, however, refuses to get entangled in such matters, instead seizing the opportunity to warn against covetousness: "Beware of all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions."

He then tells the story of a rich man whose land produced an abundant harvest. Instead of sharing his surplus or considering the needs of others, his sole focus is on how to store his immense wealth. He decides to tear down his existing barns and build larger ones, proclaiming to himself, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; rest, eat, drink, be merry." But in the midst of his self-congratulation, God intervenes with a stark reality check: "You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" Jesus concludes with the sobering truth: "Thus will it be for everyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God."

This parable isn't a condemnation of wealth itself, but rather a sharp critique of the attitude towards wealth. The rich man's folly lies in his self-centeredness, his short-sightedness, and his ultimate misplaced trust. He believes his security and happiness come from his material possessions, failing to recognise the fragility of life and the fleeting nature of earthly treasures. He plans for many years, but has no plan for eternity. He accumulates for himself, but shows no concern for his neighbour or for God.

The true "riches," as Jesus implies, are those that endure, those that have eternal value. These are the spiritual treasures: faith, love, compassion, generosity, justice, and a relationship with God. When we cling to earthly possessions and allow them to define our identity and security, we risk losing sight of what truly matters. We become fools in the eyes of God, for we are not "rich in what matters to God."

This Gospel calls us to examine our own hearts and priorities. Where do we place our trust? What are we striving to accumulate? Are we living with an eternal perspective, or are we caught in the illusion of earthly security? The warning is clear: life is precious and unpredictable. Let us not be so consumed by the pursuit of material gain that we neglect the true treasures that last beyond this life.

Discussion Starters:

• The Nature of Greed: Jesus warns, "Beware of all greed." What does greed look like in our daily lives, beyond just the accumulation of vast wealth? How can it manifest in subtle ways?
• The Rich Fool's Mistake: The rich man's big plan was to "rest, eat, drink, be merry." What was fundamentally wrong with this plan from a spiritual perspective? How did his focus on self-gratification blind him?
• "Whose Will They Be?": The question God poses to the rich man, "whose will they be?", is a powerful reminder of our mortality. How does contemplating our own mortality influence our perspective on possessions and priorities?
• True Riches: Jesus says, "Thus will it be for everyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God." What do you understand by being "rich in what matters to God"? Can you think of examples of such "riches"?
• Our Own "Barns": The rich man built bigger barns. What are the "barns" we might be trying to fill in our own lives (not necessarily physical barns)? What are we accumulating, and why?
• Trust and Security: Where do you primarily place your trust and seek your security in life – in material possessions, financial stability, relationships, or in God? How does this Gospel challenge your understanding of security?
• Living with an Eternal Perspective: How can we actively cultivate an "eternal perspective" in a world that often emphasises immediate gratification and material success? What practical steps can we take?
• The Role of Generosity: While not explicitly mentioned in this parable, what is the implied role of generosity and sharing in contrast to the rich man's actions? How does generosity reflect being "rich in what matters to God"?

God Bless,

Rozeta Ambrose

Religious Education Leader

rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

GRADE 5/6 SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM – MINI VINNIES

COMMUNITY SPIRIT HOUSE POINTS

The total House points at the end of Term 2 for each House, which includes points for the Winter Appeal donations:

 Bosco is still in the lead!! Well done Bosco!! Will they still be winning next week?? 

MINI VINNIES SOUP & CHAT NIGHT

Yes, the Mini Vinnies Soup and Chat Night is on again next term on Tuesday August 26th. The permission note has now been placed on Operoo. I ask parents to please respond, listing any dietary requirements your child may have. 

There is also a fundraising aspect to this evening. Sponsorship forms have been sent home with Mini Vinnies and is also available as an attachment on Operoo. I am asking Mini Vinnies to ask family and friends for donations. On the Soup and Chat Evening, Mini Vinnies will decide what organisation the money raised is donated to, in order to assist those that maybe experiencing homelessness at the moment. Last year it was donated to Ozanam House, the previous year to the Vinnies Soup vans. 

I have also sent out an Operoo notification asking for parent assistance to provide various donations for the evening: soup, cups, spoons, bread rolls, margarine, fruit and also to help serve on the night. I will contact parents who have offered to assist or donate items the week before to confirm your assistance. A big thank you to parents who are able to help as we wouldn’t be able to run this night without your assistance.

A big thank you also to the staff who have already volunteered to stay behind and assist on the evening.

This evening will also be an action for the Mini Vinnies Action team as they will assist in planning and running the evening.

Giuliana

Mini Vinnies Facilitator

gfaiola@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au