Faith News

Faith News-

Important Dates

St Brendan’s Feast Day

• Bushwahzee Incursion- Monday, May 16.

Confirmation- Year Six Students

• Year Six Confirmation Retreat Day 
• Evening workshop for Confirmation Candidates and their parents. 
• Presentation Mass for all Confirmation Candidates- Saturday, July 16 at 6pm- St Brendan's Church, Somerville.
• Saturday, July 23 at 3pm- St Brendan’s Church, Somerville. 

*Further information regarding the above listed events will be shared with families in Term Two.

The Sacrament of First Eucharist  for Year Four and Year Five Students

Congratulations to the following students who received the Sacrament of First Eucharist on Saturday, March 26th and Saturday, April 2 at St Brendan’s Church.

The classroom preparation program and Masses for the Sacrament of First Eucharist have now concluded for this year. Special thanks to all of the families and to the Year Three, Four and Five teachers for their support of the First Communicants at this special time in their Catholic faith journey. God bless you all!

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S-JAT- Social Justice Action Team

Thank you to the students who applied to become members of the Social Justice Action Team, otherwise to be known as the S-JAT. I was VERY impressed with the applications completed by the students and I am very much looking forward to working with the following students in this very exciting and rewarding leadership role throughout 2022:

Paula A

Mason S

Molly T

Addison L

Amelia J

This team will meet weekly to engage in activities and conversations to raise awareness about and funds for improving social justice outcomes for communities and groups in need.

Jesus Enters Jerusalem- by students in Foundation, Year One and Year Two.

Holy Week

This Sunday, April 10 is Palm Sunday, which also marks the beginning of Holy Week. Christians all over the world stop to reflect on the days of Holy week in the lead up to Chirst’s resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

On Palm Sunday- Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, greeted by an adoring crowd who laid palm leaves before him.

On Holy Thursday- Jesus and his twelve disciples celebrated Jewish Passover, a feast known as The Last Supper in the Christian faith tradition. Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested in The Garden of Gethsemane on Holy Thursday

Good Friday- Jesus was trialled, punished and crucified

Of all of the Holy Week events, Good Friday is by far the most difficult to explain to young children and is often portrayed in art forms in graphic detail. 

Here are a few ‘Top Tips’ for unpacking Good Friday with children

• Use words like pain and  loneliness to discuss what Jesus may have been feeling on Good Friday.
• Keep it simple and focus only on details of the story which can be understood by children without causing them distress.
• Children can, over many years, come to know more details of the Good Friday narrative as they become more emotionally equipped to do so.
• Focus on the events of Good Friday as being necessary for leading us  to great joy on Easter Sunday. Jesus, the risen Lord, lives in us, always!

Caritas 

Caritas Australia is a Catholic aid organisation, working to engage all Australians, especially the Catholic community, to advocate and act for equality and justice for all. The Caritas Project Compassion campaign aligns perfectly with our teaching of the Catholic Social Teaching Principles and is supported by Catholic schools and churches nationally and internationally. Please follow this link for more information about the 2022 Caritas Project Compassion Lenten Appeal here.

This week through Project Compassion we learn about Shaniella who is attending a vocational school in the Solomon Islands supported by Caritas Australia Solomon Islands (CASI).

Not long after Shaniella started, the school was hit by a landslide, flooding, and a cyclone, all in quick succession. 

With your kind support, CASI helped install water tanks, restoring clean water access to nearby schools, health centres and the wider community. Training was held in agricultural skills to help boost the school community’s food security, as well as in environmental risk management and emergency responses.

Now, Shaniella can complete her skills training, with enough water and food to eat, and improved sanitation. She is improving her ability to earn an income, learning skills which will expand her job opportunities. Students are also better prepared to respond when disaster strikes. 

Watch a short film about Shaniella’s story here. 

Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

Photo: Neil Nuia/Caritas Australia

Catholic Care

Many families continue to face challenges throughout these times. Should families or individuals require support beyond that which can be offered within our St Brendan’s community, Catholic Care may be able to assist with financial and social services. For further information about the services offered by Catholic Care, please visit: https://www.ccam.org.au/

Catholic Baptism

For families with children who have not received the Sacrament of Catholic Baptism and are considering this sacrament for their child/ren, please contact the Western Port Parish Centre on (03) 5979 4374 or Marie Strong on 0423 249 601. Should you make Baptism arrangements with the Parish, please inform me so that this special milestone for your child can be acknowledged within the school community. Please also forward a copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate to the school so that this can be reflected in the school records.

Christian Initiation for Adults: RCIA

Adults who wish to begin their faith journey through the reception of the Catholic sacraments, are also invited to contact the Western Port Parish Centre on (03) 5979 4374.

Western Port Parish News

Please follow this link to the Western Port Parish web page and to find out more about parish happenings, including Holy Week Masses and events.

Access to Australian Catholics 

Families, please remember that you have FREE access to the Australian Catholics online resource. To access this fabulous resource, please click here  and use the following login details to gain access:

Email: parents@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au 

Password: parents1

Wishing all of our beautiful St Brendan’s families a safe, happy and holy Easter. 

Yours in faith & harmony.

Emma Chapple

-Religious Education Leader

-Performing Arts Classroom Specialist Teacher

echapple@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au