Faith, Justice and Formation
No Friday Mass This Week
This is just a reminder that there is NO Friday morning Mass in the Chapel this week, due to the Father’s Day Masses in the Gym. Therefore, there is also no Reconciliation.
Next Friday, 11 September, will be led by Year 12 in their final official Friday Morning Mass. All are welcome to attend and show support for them, while wishing them well. It would be great to fill the Chapel!
The following week, 18 September will see Year 11 lead our Mass and the new Eucharistic Ministers take on their role. Then on the last day of term, 25 September, Year 6 will lead the congregation.
Social Justice Statement
Last Sunday was Social Justice Sunday which coincides with the release each year of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement. The 2026 statement is titled Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division.
The statement looks at the increase in antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, anti-migration and the like. It reminds Catholics to reflect Christ’s love in the face of polarisation, social tension and acts of hatred. We are called to welcome the stranger, to use online engagement positively and respectfully, to commit to reconciliation with First Nations Australians, to support those under economic pressure and to teach human dignity, love, justice and peace. Too often people confuse politics with justice. Doing what is right and just is not political; it is fulfilling God’s commands.
‘Hatred is an affront to God.’ (Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB). Therefore, we can live the Gospel in our times by remaining close to Christ through prayer, by practising a ‘culture of encounter’, by exercising restraint in what we say, and by undertaking concrete acts of compassion and justice. Matthew’s Gospel states that by doing this we become ‘salt and light’.
See full statement via this link: ACBC+Social+Justice+Statement+-+August+2026.pdf.
I commend it to you.
Book Drive
Alexander G from Year 9 is organising a Book Drive for The Children’s Bunker at Westmead Hospital.
If you can donate any good quality children’s books, please have your son drop them off into the box outside the Identity Office in the Hodda Building by Thursday 24 September.
Gillian Daley
Director of Identity