Education in Faith
Day of Action
On Monday, we held Galilee's first Day of Action. Students from various year levels signed up to participate in taking action for a charity of their choice. This opportunity gave students an opportunity to take action for those in our community that need extra support. Social Justice is an important aspect of our Religious Education Program at Galilee and the Day of Action allowed students who were interested to take action for a more socially just world. Students worked throughout the term to prepare for the day. Students were given a stall to set up in the hall or on the playground at lunchtime. Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Burns were blown away by the preparation that each group had put into getting ready for such a big event. Each group displayed wonderful teamwork on the day from setting up all their items, selling their items and then cleaning up at the end of lunchtime. The passion that each group showed for raising awareness and money for their charity was inspiring. We would like to thank all the students who attended the stalls and bought something or made a donation to support the different charities, the families that assisted in cooking, making and buying different items that were for sale and the students who put lots of hard work into making sure that Monday's Day of Action was a success.
We raised over $1000 dollars on our Day of Action.
Here is a list of the amount of money we raised for different charities.
RSPCA - $22, Save the Children Australia - $89.25, Australian Red Cross - $63, Lost Dog's Home and Lort Smith Animal Hospital - $167.50, Cancer Council - $68, Royal Children's Hospital - $117.50, Royal Women's Hospital - $95, Melbourne Zoo - $69.50, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre - $198.50, Maddie Riewoldt's Vision - $191.00.
It was a fantastic effort by all groups involved.
There is a group of Year 4 boys who have decided to continue their fundraising efforts and have, with the permission of their parents, successfully applied for a permit to continue fundraising on the weekend. This is a commendable effort boys and we wish you all the best.
Confirmation Faith Night
Last Thursday we held a Confirmation Faith Night for families with students who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation later in the year. We had many of our Year 6 families attend along with a number of families from our Parish who do not attend Galilee. Families were given a 'taste' of what preparing for Confirmation will be like. Families participated in a range of activities where they were asked to discuss, share stories and make connections together about different aspects of the Sacrament of Confirmation. Thank you to the staff who organised and attended the night: Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Burns, Mr. Coaley, Mrs. Reilly and Mr. Millar. Thank you to all the families who attended the night. Please keep the Confirmation Candidates in your prayers as they embark on the final stage of initiation into the Church.
St. Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal
Galilee is assisting the St. Vincent’s de Paul’s Winter Appeal. You can help by donating any bedding, blankets, towels, etc. preferably new. The items will be redistributed to help the less fortunate within our community. We will be collecting donations until the end of Term Three. Why not get a head start on your spring cleaning and also help out those in need! All donations will be collected in a tub near the prayer table at the office.
Thank you in advance for all your support!
Developing Virtuous Children
An article from Catholic Education Today (CEM Publication, Term 3, 2017)
In Pope Francis’ recent apostolic exhortation, The Joy of Love, he wrote about the role that parents play in developing and nurturing faith and virtues in their children. The third virtue to consider here is that of justice.
Justice means giving to others – God and our neighbour – what is rightly theirs. For Christians, it flows from Christ’s summation of the two great commandments of love:
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind [and] you must love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22: 37)
With this in mind, justice is the virtue that underpins every relationship. It is the habit of always taking others into account, and considering the impact that actions have on them. It is love for others that must underpin every virtuous act. Put another way, every act, if it is to be virtuous, must have the best interests of others as its motivation. Tied in with this is the virtue of responsibility, which governs our duties to care for and dedicate ourselves to those we love, and to educate those in our care.
While self-centeredness is a tendency every person struggles with, children’s sense of fairness, while needing to be formed, is often one of the first virtues they can understand and begin to develop. You can encourage and foster this virtue early on by encouraging your children to feel empathy for those who suffer. Putting themselves in the other person’s shoes is a helpful way to approach nurturing their sense of justice. Ask them: ‘What would you hope someone would do for you in that situation?’
You can also show your children the joy that comes from serving and helping others. Together with your children, you might visit an elderly neighbour to check on their wellbeing, visit grandparents more often or get involved in voluntary work that clearly shows how to think of and care for others. At home, encourage children to pack up a game they’ve been playing so that it’s ready for the next person to use, help children to think of people in need during their evening or bedtime prayers, or when saying grace encourage each family member around the table to share what they’re grateful for.
Ultimately, justice – respect and responsibility – starts at home. The virtue of justice comes down to treating others well habitually. It is best learned in a family where love is the overriding motivation and joyful acts of service demonstrating care and concern for others become part of family life.
Pope Francis writes:
Education … involves forming persons who readily understand that their own lives, and the life of the community, are in their hands, and that freedom itself is a great gift.
Catholic Education Today (CEM Publication, Term 3, 2017)
Sacrament of Confirmation Dates and Times
Sacrament of Confirmation at St Joseph’s, Port Melbourne & Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Middle Park
- Saturday 14 October - Preparation Session in O’Connor/Pilkington Rooms at 4.45pm, followed by Mass at 6pm
- Saturday 21 October - Preparation Session in O’Connor/Pilkington Rooms at 4.45pm, followed by Mass at 6pm
- Saturday 28 October - Preparation Session in O’Connor/Pilkington Rooms at 4.45pm, followed by Mass at 6pm
- Wednesday 1 November - Candidates Reflection Day at MacKillop Heritage Centre, East Melbourne. More details about the Reflection Day will be made available at the Faith Night on 14 September 2017.
- Wednesday 8 November - Rehearsal & meeting with Bishop Elliott - O’Connor/Pilkington Rooms, Middle Park at 4.30pm
- Saturday 11 November - Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Middle Park at 6.00pm
The Confirmation enrolment form for the Sacrament of Conformation at St Joseph’s, Port Melbourne & Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Middle Park has been attached below.
Sacrament of Confirmation at Ss. Peter and Paul, South Melbourne
- Oct. 26 - Parent Information Night Ss. Peter & Paul's Hall at 7pm
- Nov. 1 - Candidates Reflection Day at MacKillop Heritage Centre, East Melbourne. More details about the Reflection Day will be made available at the Faith Night on 14 September 2017.
- Oct. 28 - Preparation Class Ss. Peter & Paul's Hall followed by Mass
- Nov. 11 Preparation Class Ss. Peter & Paul's Hall followed by Mass
- Nov. 18 Preparation Class Ss. Peter & Paul's Hall followed by Mass
- Nov. 25 Preparation Class Ss. Peter & Paul's Hall followed by Mass
- Dec. 3 Sacrament of Confirmation Ss. Peter and Paul's 10am
The Confirmation enrolment form for the Sacrament of Conformation at Ss. Peter and Paul has been attached below.