Our Faith - Religious Education

⛪Term 2 Dates ⛪

Mary Help Of Christians 24th May

Happy Feast Day, St Mary’s! How lucky we are to celebrate our Feast Day during Catholic Schools Week. From our whole-school Mass to discos and special activities, it has been a joyful time in our school to come together in faith, friendship, and celebration. As we honour Mary Help of Christians, we are reminded of her love, guidance, and care for us all. Thank you to everyone who helped make the celebrations so special and memorable for our students and staff.

Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians the patroness of Australia. This special feast day holds deep significance for our Catholic community, as we honour Mary, the mother of Jesus, under the title of Help of Christians—a title that has comforted and inspired generations of the faithful.

Our Lady Help of Christians has been a guiding presence in the history of the Church in Australia, especially during times when early Catholics had little access to priests or the sacraments. Mary was a source of hope, strength, and protection for those who kept the faith alive.

We encourage families to take a moment together to pray or reflect on Mary’s loving presence in their lives. May we all continue to grow in faith and trust, just as Mary did.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us.

O Mary, Help of Christians, 

we turn to you with trust and love.

 Look with favor upon us, 

your children,

 and intercede for us in our needs. 

Grant us strength in our difficulties, 

hope in our sorrows, 

and guide us always on the path to your Son,

 Jesus Christ. 

Amen.

Bishop Visit

Last week, we had the honour of welcoming Bishop Murphy to our school. He took the time to visit each class and speak with the students, who asked him some great questions. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn more about faith and the role of the Bishop in our Catholic community. We thank Bishop Murphy for his visit and for sharing his time and wisdom with us.

Catholic Schools Week 

As Catholic Schools Week comes to a close, we reflect with gratitude on the many moments of faith, learning, community, and celebration shared throughout the week.

Our students enthusiastically participated in a range of activities that highlighted the spirit and values of Catholic education. From classroom Whole School Deanery Mass to school dicso, the week provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all that makes our school special.

We sincerely thank our staff, families, parish community, and students for their support and involvement in our school. Your commitment and partnership strengthens our school community and create a nurturing environment where every child can grow and flourish.

Catholic Schools Week reminds us of the importance of faith, compassion, and learning together, and we are grateful to celebrate these values each day in our school.

Press Play to see what some of our students had to say about St Mary's!

Catholic Principals and Values

Our Catholic values are part of everyday life. The core Catholic principles and values that underpin our educational approach are: Primacy of God, Sanctity of Life, Fidelity in Relationships,and Common Good.

Confirmation 2026 - Pentecost Sunday  - 24th May - 11am Mass🔥

On Pentecost Sunday, 24 May, at the 11am Mass, our students celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation. It was a very special occasion for the students, their families, and our parish community as they were confirmed in faith and received the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We congratulate all of our Confirmation candidates and keep them in our prayers as they continue their faith journey.

What is the Angelus Prayer?

The Angelus is a traditional Catholic prayer that remembers the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her she would become the mother of Jesus. The prayer reflects on Mary’s “yes” to God and reminds us of God becoming human in Jesus Christ. 

We are beginning our journey to implement the Angelus Prayer across our school community. This term, staff are becoming familiar with resources and ways to share the prayer and its meaning with students.

Next term, students will be introduced to the Angelus and learn about its importance within our Catholic tradition. By Term 4, we hope to have the whole school confidently praying the Angelus together as part of our shared faith life.

A Parish in Communion

Jesus prayed that His followers “may all be one” (John 17:21), calling us to live as a community united in faith, prayer, and mission. In the spirit of a Synodal Church, every parishioner is invited to share their gifts and contribute to the life of the Parish.

Parishioners are warmly invited to attend the Synodal Gathering on 20 June. The day will include prayer, an address from the Bishop, listening and discussion sessions on the themes of Mission and Communion, as well as morning tea and lunch.

The gathering begins at 11:00am and concludes with prayer and a summary session. Expressions of interest can be made through the Parish Office, by phone, email, or in person, by 7 June for catering purposes.

CATHEDRAL PARISH OF SAINT MARY & JOSEPH ARMIDALE 

Administrator Father Paul Chandler

armidaleparish@armidale.catholic.org.au

phone 67722218 

Mass Times

Saturday Vigil Mass 6 pm

Sunday 8 am, 10 am, 11am (Solemn Mass) & 5:30 pm 

Diocesan Prayer Card