Religion and Parish News

Prayer:

Pentecost Novena Prayer (Daily Prayer for the 9 days between the Ascension and Pentecost Sunday)

O Lord Jesus Christ who, before ascending into heaven, promised to send the Holy Spirit to finish your work in the souls of your apostles and disciples, be pleased to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that he may perfect in my soul the work of your grace and love. 

Grant me the spirit of wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal;

the spirit of understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of your divine truth;

the spirit of counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven;

the spirit of fortitude that I may bear my cross with you and that I may overcome all obstacles that oppose my salvation;

the spirit of knowledge that I may know God and know myself in him;

the spirit of piety that I may find the service of God sweet and pleasurable;

the spirit of fear of the Lord that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to offend him.  Animate me in all things with your spirit. 

Amen.

2023 St Joseph’s Parish Sacramental Dates:

Confirmation - 9am, Sunday 4th June, 2023 at St Joseph’s Church

Rite 2 Reconciliation - Tuesday 30th May, 5:30pm, at St Joseph’s Church (Week 6, Term 2)

Retreat Day - Friday, 2nd June, St Xavier’s Primary School (Week 6, Term 2)

First Eucharist - 8:30am, Sunday 20th August, 2023 at St Joseph’s Church

Parent Night - Thursday 20th July, 6pm, at St Joseph’s Church (Week 1, Term 3)

Rite of Enrolment - Saturday 22nd July (6pm) OR Sunday 23rd July (8:30am), at St Joseph’s Church

Rite 2 Reconciliation - Friday 18th August, 11.45am at St Joseph’s Church, Gunnedah (Week 5, Term 3)

Retreat Day - Friday 18th August, St Xavier’s Primary School

First Reconciliation - 6pm, Tuesday 19th September, 2023 at St Joseph’s Church

Parent Night - Thursday 24th August, 6pm, at St Joseph’s Church (Week 6, Term 3)

Rite of Enrolment - Saturday 26th August (6pm) OR Sunday 27th August (8:30pm), at St Joseph’s Church

Retreat Day - Tuesday 19th September, St Xavier’s Primary School (Week 10, Term 3)

2023 Sacrament of Confirmation:

If any families of Confirmation candidates are available to help with cooking the Retreat Day BBQ on Friday 2nd June (approximately 11:30am-1:00pm), please register your availability by emailing mfrend@arm.catholic.edu.au or calling the St Xavier’s Office on (02) 6742 1136. We are also looking for volunteers for readers during the Liturgy of the Word at Confirmation Mass. If you would like to be a reader at this Mass, please register your interest by emailing mfrend@arm.catholic.edu.au.

Please keep the 2023 Confirmation candidates in your prayers as they prepare to make their last Catholic Sacrament as primary school students.

Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians

On the 24th of May each year, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians. Mary, under the title ‘Help of Christians’, was declared patroness of Australia in 1844 - the first country to do so! Of course, now Australia has two Patron Saints, with St Mary of the Cross MacKillop being declared Australia’s second patron saint in 2013.

Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians Prayer:

Mary, Help of Christians, watch over us with love. Intercede for us with your Son, to bless Australia, so that we can be people of peace – people who love and respect each other, and people who love and respect our land, Australia.

We make this prayer through Jesus, your Son.

Amen.

2023 Catholic Schools Week

This week, the Catholic Diocese of Armidale is celebrating Catholic Schools Week. As part of this celebration, St Xavier’s (and other schools across our diocese) were invited to a Catholic Schools Week Mass in Armidale. Unfortunately, due to sick staff, we were unable to send our School Captains and Prefects to the Mass which was held at the Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral, Armidale.

Parish News

Altar Server Roster for April:

Saturday 27th May (6pm): Rupert Frend

Sunday 28th May (8:30am): Abbey & Bianca Bayliss

To read about what’s happening in our parish, please visit this link to read the Parish Bulletin for the week starting Sunday 21st May.