Religious Education News

Term 2 at O’Connor traditionally concludes with two events - the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal clothing drive, and Founder’s Day. This year, both events hold a special significance for our school community. Whilst one is joyous, the other is less so. 

Did you know that over 14% of our population live below the poverty line? That is, they are struggling to live on less than 50% of the median national income. And did you know that the 20 wealthiest Australians hold more wealth than the bottom three million households? This imbalance in wealth in our nation has become more pronounced over the last 20 or so years - there were eight billionaires in 2000, whilst today there are over 170 people who can claim that status. 

Sometimes it is hard to see what we can do to rectify this imbalance in wealth, but for many years now at O’Connor we have sought to help in a range of ways. One of these ways is through our support for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal and our clothing drive which accompanies it. This clothing drive has seen thousands of items of clothing donated to our local Vinnies branch for distribution to needy families, or sold to raise funds which can then go towards helping those in need in our community. This year we continued this great tradition, and a heartfelt thanks goes out to every family who supported it through their generous donations. 

Vinnies Winter Appeal Liturgy

The second, much more joyous event, is our annual Founder’s Day, held in celebration of the lives and achievements of our founder saints, Saints Angela Merici and Jean Baptiste de La Salle. Angela Merici established the Ursuline Sisters, and de La Salle founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools, otherwise known as the De La Salle Brothers. The Ursulines were the first order present in Armidale, establishing St Ursula’s school in 1882, whilst the DLS Brothers arrived over 20 years later, opening their school in February 1906, 120 years ago. Founder’s Day is our opportunity to remember those pioneering nuns and brothers who travelled from Europe to educate Aussie bush kids, giving them the same opportunities as their city counterparts. This year’s Founder’s Day had a distinctly different feel to previous years as we marked the opening and blessing of our school gym and the renovated Merici and Angela buildings by Bishop Murphy. 

As we near the midpoint of the year, let’s remember Jesus’ words to his disciples in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, when we are reminded that whatever we do towards the neediest in our world, we do also to God. By sharing a little of our wealth with the poor; by giving the lonely a little bit of our time, and by showing compassion to those who need it most, we are helping to make a difference to our world. 

I’d like to conclude with a prayer for the end of our school term, asking that we have a restful and peaceful holiday period. 

A PRAYER FOR THE END OF TERM 

Loving Father, as we come to the end of another term

we turn to you in confidence 

and place any difficult relationships 

into the healing hands of Jesus, your Son. 

Enable us to leave behind 

any pain of the past 

and any regrets or bitterness, 

entrusting the past to your mercy, 

the present to your love, 

and the future to your providence. 

Help us appreciate more 

the need to keep a good balance 

in our lives. 

May the holiday be for us 

a time of rest and recreation 

to help restore us 

and re-create us 

in your image and likeness, 

as we enjoy more of the love and presence 

of our families, 

on whom we ask your blessing. 

Amen. 

Author: Brother Nicholas Hutchinson - sourced by the RE domain Source: https://www.columba.vic.edu.au/news/June-30-2017-A-prayer-for-the-endof-term

Our Founders - St Angela Merici and St John Baptiste De La Salle

Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral Parish

Keeping in touch with what is happening in the Cathedral Parish is easy through their website and Facebook pages.

With such a difficult year and a half it has been harder for parishioner's to give to the parish through the plates, particularly when the church is closed as it is at present. The Parish account details are available on the Parish bulletin. 

Cathedral Parish Website

Information about our founders

La Salle Website

Ursuline Sisters Website

Mr Andrew May

Religious Education Coordinator