KCC Publication

Prayer for Trinity

Lord Jesus, in service You washed the feet of Your disciples,

offering us a model of humility, love, and respect. Open our

hearts to Your presence in those we assist. That we may offer

them the same spirit of dedicated service, compassion and

love You showed. May we, through our actions of service

and generosity, lighten their burdens by providing for their

immediate necessities and offering them hope, peace and

Justice.

Amen.

 

Trinity Prayer

We bind unto ourselves today

The strong name of the Trinity

By invocation of the same,

The Three in One, and One in Three.

Of whom all nature has creation;

Eternal Father, Spirit, Word.

Praise to the Lord of our salvation;

Salvation is of Christ the Lord.  Amen.

This term we have a focus to support the work of St Vincent De Paul and their winter appeal. As mentioned in the last newsletter the theme for 2023 winter appeal is “elderly women and homelessness.” We have a mufti day on Friday the 16th to raise items for Micah House. Students are asked to bring a toiletry item rather than the usual gold coin. Items such as deodorant, toothpaste, soap or toothbrushes would be appreciated. These will be collected up by members of the SRC and gifted to Micah House. There will also be a sleep out fundraiser early in Term Three organised by the SRC to support the work of Vinnies. Further details about this will come later this term.

 

We have Community Days coming up this term for Years 9 - 11. These days are part of the school's Catholic Character and Community Events. Year 11’s have their day on Tuesday the 27th of June and will be facilitated by Chris Doyle. The Year 10’s day is on Tuesday 20th of June and will be facilitated by Tomorrow Man and Tomorrow Woman. Year 9’s day will be Monday 19th of June and facilitated by Enlighten Education. It is important that where possible students participate in these days and are able to experience the wider curriculum on offer here at school. Topics covered on these days are important in assisting students to be able to live lives that are full and meaningful. Some of the messages imparted on these days cannot be accessed in the classroom setting due to curriculum demands and timing. So participation in these days helps to develop well rounded and holistic graduates who are able to find meaning and purpose in life beyond school.

 

Recently we have had the feast of the Blessed Trinity and also Corpus Christi, both significant feasts in the life of The Church. Both of these feasts speak of core aspects of the Catholic faith. The Trinity of course being a central part of our faith that God is three persons of the same nature. Each time we make the Sign of the Cross, which is a prayer in itself reminds us of our belief in the Trinity. Pope Francis recently commented about the Trinity in his Angelus address “God, in whom each Person lives for the other, not for himself, provokes us to live with others and for others.” This is the challenge of Trinity Sunday which also links very nicely with the Vinnies appeal and the example of saints such as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta who saw in the poor and suffering the face of Christ. Corpus Christi as a feast day developed to remind people of our faith in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Both of these feasts are reminders to us of core beliefs that we hold as Catholics and also a call to remember that we are a community of believers called together in communion with others and all of creation.

We have recently had House liturgies for National Sorry Day. Thanks to the members of the SRC who led these liturgies and did a fantastic job. It is always great when our students are involved and leading our various school activities and events. National Sorry Day is a chance for everyone to stop and consider some of the wrongs of the past and what we can do to build for a better future. 

 

In this Newsletter we also have a message from Bishop Mark Edwards OMI around the Voice to Parliament which is below. I would encourage you all to consider the words of Bishop Mark when deciding on how you will vote on this referendum.

ABORIGINAL VOICE TO PARLIAMENT

The process of preparing for the referendum on the First Nations voice to parliament later this year is underway, with the text of the proposed change to the constitution submitted to parliament after being considered by a parliamentary committee. The final wording will not be decided by parliament until June 22 after which we will have the opportunity to examine the precise wording. Then there will be several months for consideration and debate. I understand that the referendum will most likely be put in early- or mid-October.

 

At the recent gathering of all the currently active Catholic bishops in Australia, the assembled bishops considered the referendum and some principles and steps that we would like to propose for the journey forward. I offer these for your consideration.

  1. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have lived in this land for many thousands of years. Their custodianship, however, is not recognised in the Australian Constitution. This is an omission which needs to be rectified. A constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament is proposed as a way to achieve this. The bishops acknowledge that a Voice is not the only possible way of recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in our Constitution, but it is the way requested by those who gathered at the historic meeting at Uluru.
     
  2. This is being offered to us as having the possibility of being a significant step towards a more just and equitable Australia and as being a mechanism to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. If it achieves this, it will be an important moment in the history of the nation, and it will be a step towards a deep and just reconciliation.
     
  3. The bishops encourage all Australians to educate themselves as much as possible concerning the proposal to establish the Voice.
     
  4. The bishops urge all Australians to engage in the debate productively, respecting each other and accepting that people may, in good faith, have differing concerns and perspectives. We are an open democracy, and this is a moment to use our democratic institutions to produce a high-quality debate shaped by a genuine concern to do justice and bring healing to First Nations Peoples.
     
  5. The bishops ask those drafting the changes to the Constitution to work together in a spirit of cooperation so that the proposal presented to the Australian people will appeal to a wide range of the population.
     
  6. To guide all Australians at this important time, the bishops encourage everyone to read and discuss the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which the bishops endorsed in 2021 and the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia endorsed in 2022.
     
  7. The bishops recommend that Catholic parishes, schools and agencies arrange opportunities for people to come together to read and discuss the Uluru Statement which can be accessed HERE.

 

The annual Catholic social justice statement, which will be released in August this year, will be on this topic as an offering from us to the people of Australia as they prepare for this referendum.

 

I reiterate the appeal of all the bishops that debate and discussion be respectful and presume the good faith of people who have differing concerns and perspectives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most Rev Mark Edwards OMI

Bishop of Wagga Wagga

 

 

 

 

 

Kieran Udy | Director of Faith and Mission