Religious Dimension
Easter
During this season of Easter we remember that Jesus gave his life for us then rose from the dead, symbolising the renewal of faith and providing hope for eternal life. The secular (cultural) world tends to celebrate Easter during Lent up until Easter Sunday and then packs up all the bunnies the next day. However, we as Catholics know that the day after Easter is Easter Monday and only the second day in a 50 day liturgical season. The season of Easter extends all the way to Pentecost Sunday with particular readings, themes, symbols, white (or gold) colours and joyful prayers. The other seasons in the liturgical calendar include Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent and Easter.
God of Good Friday and God of Easter,
as again we sing that joyous and explosive greeting, ‘Christ is risen’,
may we take into our hearts the beautiful but harsh truth that our faith in you does not cut us off from the world but immerses us in it;
That you have called us to act in solidarity with the hopes and joys,
the anxieties and sorrows of men and women everywhere;
And that, like Jesus, you have sent us to bring good news to the poor, to heal the contrite of heart, to seek and save what is lost.
Good Friday God, give us your peace,
God of Easter, journey with us now.
For Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
First Eucharist
Congratulations Gabi on celebrating your First Eucharist Eucharist on Saturday evening. May you be nourished and inspired by the sacrament of Eucharist and always feel welcome in our parish community.
Enhancing Catholic Schools Identity Surveys
At St John's we promote ourselves as a progressive community, welcoming all faiths, cultures and diversity, to enrich and enhance our own faith.
Today, Catholic schools are challenged to:
- articulate their Catholic identity and vision
- express their distinctiveness as Catholic schools, in a society where the Christian faith is increasingly marginalised.
To assist schools in facing these present realities the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) have entered into a research partnership with the Catholic University in Leuven, Belgium (KULeuven) to profile and develop the Catholic identity of Catholic schools.
The Enhancing Catholic School Identity Project assists schools to understand better how their Catholic Identity is expressed in work and practice and support them in their future development. Students, staff and parents are asked to complete surveys to aid our planning. Letters regarding this will be sent home shortly. We would appreciate as many parents as possible completing the survey in order to provide an accurate picture of the Catholicity here at St John's and planning for our future.
Grandparent & Special Friend Day
We are looking forward to this coming Wednesday. If you would like to assist with serving our guests at morning tea between 10:30 - 11:00am, please let Jackie Harkin know on jackie@harkin.com.au
Important Dates to Remember:
April
28 Tuesday Grandparent & Special Friend Day 9:00am
May
2 Sunday Bartek's First Eucharist 11:15am
9 Sunday Maddison, Ellie, Joseph, Alana, Lachlan & Oliver's First Eucharist 11:15am
16 Sunday Lexie, Mason, Milla, Lucas & Chase's First Eucharist 9:45am
23 Sunday Jarrod, Monique, Zarah & Bethany's First Eucharist 11:15am
Monica O'Shannassy
moshannassy@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au