Religion and Parish News
PRAYER
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil.
Amen.
Year of Saint Joseph (8 Dec 2020 - 8 Dec 2021)
Late last year, on the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, Pope Francis proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2020 and extending to the same feast in 2021. This is significant to us as Saint Joseph is the Patron Saint of the Gunnedah Parish.
In a new Apostolic Letter released to mark this anniversary, entitled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.
Please visit this linkfor more information regarding the Year of Saint Joseph.
Opening School Mass
On Friday 12th February, St Xavier’s will be hosting the Opening School Mass in the St Xavier’s School Hall. Fr Abmar will lead us in this Mass; his first St Xavier’s Mass in his new role of St Joseph’s Parish Priest. Under current COVID-19 restrictions for Church-related events, only staff, students and the parents of 2021 student leaders are invited to attend this Mass. Health restrictions have also caused us to make the unfortunate decision to break from tradition and not share this celebration with St Mary’s College, as we have in recent years. We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.
Important Upcoming Liturgical Dates
On Tuesday Week 4, we recognise Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Tuesday). This day marks the end of Ordinary Time before the season of Lent begins the following day, Ash Wednesday. Students will be attending either an Ash Wednesday Mass (Primary students) or an Ash Wednesday Liturgy (Infants students).
Lent lasts 40 days and leads up to the Holy Triduum (the three days from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday). This liturgical season is symbolised by the colour purple and calls us to engage in fasting, almsgiving (donating to the poor) and prayer during this six-week period. At different points throughout this Lenten season, primary students who have made their Sacrament of Reconciliation will be attending Reconciliation with Fr Abmar in St Joseph’s Church.
Parish News
To read about what’s happening in our parish, please visit this link.