Catholic Identity

Dear Families,

Let us Pray….               

Loving God, help us to teach our children that 

Your love for us is total and unconditional. 

Help us to encourage our children to grow in love and 

to learn how to say sorry, 

knowing that you always forgive. 

Give us the courage to pray with our children and 

to share our faith with them as we journey together. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

Amen

TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Year C Sunday 11 September

"There will be great rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner."               

Preparing to hear God's word

Can you think of something you have done in the past, that you needed to be forgiven for?

How did it feel to be forgiven? 

The Gospel Story

This wonderful story is about God’s great love for us.  ​No matter how many mistakes we make, God is always ready to forgive and welcome us back.

The Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke                              15:11-32

There will be great rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner.

Jesus told the people this story:

"Once a man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, 'Give me my share of the property.'

So the father divided his property between his two sons.

Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living.  He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through that whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat. He went to work for a man in that country, and the man sent him out to take care of his pigs. He would have been glad to eat what the pigs were eating, but no one gave him a thing. Finally, he came to his senses and said, 'My father's workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death! I will leave and go to my father and say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son. Treat me like one of your workers.’ The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him. The son said, 'Father, I have sinned against God in heaven and against you. I am no longer good enough to be called your son.'

But his father said to the servants, 'Hurry and bring the best clothes and put them on him. Give him a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. Get the best calf and prepare it, so we can eat and celebrate. This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.' And they began to celebrate.

The older son had been out in the field. But when he came near the house, he heard the music and dancing.

So he called one of the servants over and asked, 'What's going on here?' The servant answered, 'Your brother has come home safe and sound, and your father ordered us to kill the best calf.' The older brother got so mad that he would not even go into the house. His father came out and begged him to go in. But he said to his father, For years I have worked for you like a slave and have always obeyed you. But you have never even given me a little goat, so that I could give dinner for my friends. This other son of yours wasted your money on bad women. And now that he has come home, you ordered the best calf to be killed for a feast.'

His father replied, 'My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found.'” 

​​​​​       The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflecting on the Gospel - discussion

Talk about some of the wonderful and extravagant ways that your parents and grandparents show their love for you.

How might you show your love for your parents and family members today?

DATES FOR TERM  3

Sacramental Program 2022

RECONCILIATION CANDIDATES & FAMILIES 

STEPS IN FAITH - RECONCILIATION

Our children and their families come to the end of the Reconciliation journey this week.                                     

In the third week of the program they looked at the importance of ‘forgiveness’. in The session explored their awareness of God who loves them unconditionally; developed their understandings of when we choose to sin we hurt ourselves and others and that giving and receiving forgiveness helps us to come to a change or our heart and to grow as loving people; and finally to develop a greater understanding of Jesus’ love and forgiveness through stories in scripture. 

In the fourth week children worked through the lesson on ‘celebrating’.  Children developed their awareness of the Rite of Reconciliation - the second rite - and deepened their awareness of the need to celebrate God’s reconciling love.

Children returned their completed ‘Steps in Faith’ booklets to Father John last Sunday at Mass. 

Today, Wednesday at 6.30pm the children and their families will celebrate the second rite of Reconciliation with Father John and Father Veejay. 

We wish our children all the best!

Please keep our Candidates in your prayers:   

SPECIAL EVENT

THANKSGIVING MASS for our Sacramental children and their families

September 11th - Children’s Mass - 10.30am

The School and Parish extend an invitation to all school families and parishioners to this Mass where we will give thanks for our Sacramental children, their families and God’s endless love for us. 

After Mass we will continue our thanksgiving and celebration with a ‘cuppa’ and morning tea in the Parish hall.

(Please bring a plate to share)

ALL ARE WELCOME, PLEASE COME AND CELEBRATE!

We were blessed again to welcome Mietta into our Parish Community.  Mietta was baptised by Fr. John at the 10.30am Mass.

CONGRATULATIONS MIETTA!

Prayer for this week

Keep warm and stay well!

GOD BLESS.

Debbie Turvey

RE Leader