Education in Faith
Sacramental News 2023
To assist us with the administration and preparation of the Sacraments for 2023 we ask
you to please accept/decline on Operoo, to indicate the Sacrament your child will be celebrating in 2023.
Dates for Sacraments, Parent and Child Workshops will be published in our school app, calendar and newsletter closer to the date of the Sacrament.
Reconciliation Baptised Catholics in Year 3 or above.
Sacrament of First Eucharist Baptised Catholics in or above who have received their Reconciliation.
Sacrament of Confirmation Year 6 ONLY Catholics, who have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and First Eucharist.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
This week’s gospel passage appears to be twofold. Firstly, the inscription above the crucified Christ reads, ‘This is the King of the Jews’, one of the scriptural references to Christ’s kingship – although that reference is more complicated than it first appears. Secondly, the feast of Christ the King marks the end of the liturgical year and the end of the year.
Given that the second half of the gospel is a physical and psychological journey towards Jerusalem and the death that awaits Jesus there, it is fitting that the final reading for the liturgical year is the crucifixion.
When the feast of Christ the King was first conceived by Pope Pius XI in 1925, its intention was to emphasise the majesty and power of Jesus Christ, King and ruler of the world. However, our understanding of ‘king’ as it can be applied to Jesus has changed significantly in the intervening years. Despite earthly notions of kingship and the role of the Messiah, Jesus completely rejected such expectations and assumed the role of servant to the poor and outcast. As we have seen throughout this year, through the gospel of Luke explains in great detail the emphasis and priority that Jesus gave to the lowly and marginalised.
The theme that flows through the gospel is again captured in the account of the crucifixion. At this most critical point, it is a criminal, crucified alongside Jesus, who responds in faith to Jesus and asks to join Jesus when he enters into his kingdom. Jesus does not tell him that sometime in the future he will be rewarded for his faith.
No, it is today that the criminal will join Jesus in paradise. The criminal has a much better idea of the nature of the sort of king that Jesus really is than is revealed by the sign that Pilate has had nailed to the cross.
It is an expression of the welcome and inclusion that Jesus has extended to the outsider and undervalued throughout his ministry. It is a clear indication that the Kingdom of God that Jesus has worked to bring about is a kingdom of inclusion and welcome.
In response to the criminal’s faith, Jesus assures him, ‘today you will be with me in paradise’. There is a certainty and immediacy about the response.
Though the world we live in has always been scarred by death, injustice and sorrow, Christ our King loved it, redeemed it and restored it to hope. As followers of Jesus we pledge to spread his kingdom of life and goodness by always trying to love God and others as he did.
The Gospel talks about the differences between Jesus' kingdom and the kingdoms of our world. We saw that Jesus loved our world so much he died to save it, and now depends on us to make it more and more like the kingdom he wants us to have – a kingdom of peace, mercy, love and care for all people, especially the poor and the powerless. Jesus showed his love for us by suffering, dying and rising again so that we too may enter the kingdom of God.
This weekend is a cause for celebration! Christ is our king. Kings throughout history have sometimes been cruel, arrogant, greedy and even outright wicked. Others have been wise and compassionate leaders who protected and cared for their people. No prizes for guessing which type of King Christ is – and yet he is so much more as well. So let's celebrate!
Discussion Starters
Can you name any kings or queens you have heard about or seen on TV?
What do you know about kings?
What do they do?
Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King.
What sort of king is Jesus?
What is the kingdom of God like?
Let us pray that we can be part of God’s kingdom on earth.
What can I do to help spread the kingdom of God?
Do you think Jesus made a big deal about being a ‘king’ when he was hanging out with the Apostles? How do you think he treated them?
If Jesus came today instead of two thousand years ago, do you think modern people would see him as a king? Why or why not?
Do you see Jesus as a king? If not, why not? If so, a king of what? or a king of whom?
Many of us wonder what INRI stands for: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. Jesus wasn’t in the habit of calling himself King of the Jews.
How do you think he got that title? Who would have most likely seen him as a real king and leader? Why? Who might have used that title only in a mocking way? Why?
God Bless
Rozeta Ambrose
rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
MINI VINNIES NEWS
Our points for the Community Spirit Shield will end this term and the House with the most points will be presented with the shield at our last assembly for the year.
TERM 4 WEEK 6 POINTS
1ST TERESA 172
2ND PATRICK 147
3RD MACKILLOP 136
4TH BOSCO 128
What an amazing effort TERESA!!!
TOTAL POINTS SO FAR THIS YEAR
1ST TERESA 4 080
2ND MACKILLOP 3 754
3RD PATRICK 3 503
4TH BOSCO 3 501
Teresa is still in the lead but not by much!!
Just a reminder that IN Week 9 we will begin our Christmas Appeal. Students will be asked to bring in hamper items and will be able to buy a present for a child who may otherwise not receive a Christmas present this year.
All items collected will go to our St Vincent de Paul Conference based at St Kevin’s and they will hand them out to those in our community who are less fortunate and may not otherwise be able to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Students will also be given points for their houses for the items they bring in for demonstrating community spirit.
Giuliana & Mini Vinnies