Religious Dimension

CONFIRMATION RETREAT DAY

Thanks for ths arework Bethany Astbury 5/6EP

Our Year 6 Confirmation Retreat day on Friday, 5 August, was a huge success with music, prayer and stories of faith as a major focus. Our students were given the opportunity to deepen their understanding of this third Sacrament of Initiation. We congratulate our students on their exemplary behaviour and strong participation along with students from St. James and the catechists from St. John's Parish.

Gen Bryant and her band were able to enliven the experience of the Retreat Day, with their meaningful music, that added another level of how we can walk in our faith. As mentioned in the words of St Augustine, “He who sings prays twice”.

All the members of the band shared their stories and testimonies as to why they were confirmed and how God and the Holy Spirit work in their lives every day. Some students were apprehensive with joining in to start with, but could not resist the power of the Holy Spirit working in them and embraced the opportunity to pray and sing and explore the activities more and more as the day went on. There were also times of silence for reflection and prayer, remembering that these quiet times are when we can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Our last part of the day, gave the students time to meet Bishop Tomlinson and they asked him many important questions about his faith journey which was both inspiring and interesting.

Thanks for all that you are doing to prepare our students for Confirmation as we work in partnership with our parish and teachers. We are looking forward to the celebration of Confirmation on 20 August at 3:15pm.

YEAR LEVEL ONE MASS - St John's and St. James

Luke 12:28-32

Thanks to our students who attended mass on Sunday, 7 August and especially to those in Year 1 who led us in the readings and prayers on the day. Father Dispin's Homily from Sunday's Gospel was a reminder about what treasures of faith we keep in our treasure box. When there are times that challenge us, we were reminded to draw on those treasured strategies to help us through. In our treasure box do we reach in to find possessions or do we store hope, courage, love and forgiveness to help us get through?

Have a lovely week everyone.

Melinda Buscema (Deputy and RE Leader)