Faith and Mission

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because 

he has anointed me 

to bring good news to the poor.  Luke 4:18

Every Christmas we collect goods and presents for the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project run by the Brigidines in Albert Park. They assist asylum seekers in need, in detention and the many supported houses they provide. They do an incredible job for the marginalised who have been in great need over this COVID period. All goods will be part of our  Christmas Liturgy offering and we are so grateful for anything that your families can offer. Please see the list attached for their needs and thank you for your generosity.

Last week we had a short staff liturgy for All Souls Day which was over the long weekend of the Melbourne Cup. Because of this we gathered on Wednesday at lunch in Brigid's Well. Over the years we have lost several staff members, Maree Stevens, Lorraine Wood, Karen Buchan, Trish Daniels, Kath Lawson and Joanne Pietsch. We honoured their contribution to Killester and the tremendously  positive influence they had on staff and students. We also prayed for all staff and students who have experienced loss. In the picture below you can also see the rose bush that we plant each year in our commemoration garden at the front of the school.

November is also known in the Catholic Church as the month of remembrance and the end of ordinary time in the church calendar. This leads into the period of Advent and waiting for the birth of Jesus. I invite you as a family to pray together to honour the loved ones you may have lost amongst family and friends. Perhaps light a candle and say the prayer below. All you need to do is say the name(s) of those you wish to pray for.

A Prayer for a Loved One

I take my loved one by the hand and

 lead_________to you, 

God of love.

Here is________. 

Accept my love and thanksgiving as I entrust 

_______ into your loving care.

I want_______ to be free at home with you.

I ask that you save a place for me there beside_______ and that you be my loving presence in all the lonely moments that await me.

I ask that you fill me with motivation 

and energy in the days ahead 

when I feel like giving up.

 Remind me often of my true homeland

 when I am caught up in sorrow on my journey.

 Help me to find joy in the people, events

 and the beauty of nature which surrounds  me.

Thank you for the gift of________

in my life

I want to believe that we will celebrate the 

treasure of our love again, when we are

 both in your presence forever.

May this truth sustain me in the days to come.

Comfort me for I sometimes only feel

 hollowness and emptiness.

God of the sorrowing, be with me.

Amen.

For all those remembering loved ones you have lost, we hold you in our prayers and live in hope for the Kingdom of God.

With the end of the year fast approaching we will also be raising goods for the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project. This COVID year they are desperately in need of donations and we will make a list of requirements available soon. Thank you again, in anticipation of your generosity.

Peter O’Neill

AP Faith and Mission