Catholic Identity
Mercy Prayer
We pray for the Sisters of Mercy, who established our school and for the priests who have served at St. Mary’s.
It is through their vision, determination and strong faith that we enjoy the benefits of a Catholic Education here in Mooroopna.
We are proud to be a Mercy School, where the values of love and justice are taught and lived every day.
Term 4 Week 11 Catholic Identity Newsletter 2022
CATHOLIC IDENTITY NEWS INCLUDED BELOW:
- New news: St. Vinnie’s Christmas Giving Tree.
- New news: Christmas - The Birth of Jesus.
- Repeated news: Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Council.
- IMPORTANT NEWS FOR SCHOOL CHOIR FOR MOOROOPNA CAROLS IN THE PARK.
- 2023 SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM DATES.
NEW NEWS.
St. Vinnie’s Giving Tree Appeal.
Each year, we support the St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal via the St. Mary’s Christmas Giving Tree. We usually make a huge appeal for new Christmas gifts, such as toys and books, to be donated to school and then we pass these onto St. Vinnie’s to be handed out to families in our local community.
This year, we recognise that things have been tough for many families in 2022.
If you are able, we would still like to support this appeal. Please send any new gifts, unwrapped, to school by the last day of school and we will deliver them to St. Vinnie’s. We appreciate your generosity.
NEW NEWS.
Christmas - the birth of Jesus.
Was Jesus really born on December 25th?
We celebrate Jesus' birth on this day, but no one really knows what day Jesus was born, or even exactly what year. In 336 A.D., the Western Church, based in Rome, chose December 25th to celebrate Christmas, meaning "Christ's Mass."
The Eastern Church chose January 6th to celebrate Jesus’ birth. The day was named “The Epiphany,” meaning "appearance." The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Epiphany as the arrival of the Wise Men visiting Jesus, Mary and Joseph, on this date.
Eventually, the time between December 25th and January 6th became known as “TheTwelve Days of Christmas.”
May your Christmas be spent creating wonderful memories with friends and family.
Merry Christmas!
Repeated NEWS.
Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Council.
A key recommendation in the 2020 “Go Forth” Review of the Diocese was that Bishop Shane Mackinlay establish a Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Council (DMPC) to support him to “operate in a strategic and collaborative way, drawing on the best possible advice of lay people and clergy for delivery of the Church’s mission.” (Go Forth Report).
When established, the Council will support synodal governance in the Diocese through a structure that builds co-responsibility and discernment in leadership and decision making. It will strengthen our capacity to operate in a strategic and collaborative way, by drawing on the best possible advice of lay people and clergy for pursuing the Church’s mission.
For more information about the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council, please click on the following LINK.
Repeated NEWS.
St. Mary’s School Choir
St. Mary’s School Choir will sing at the Mooroopna Carols in the Park celebrations to be held on Saturday, 10th December. We have 14 students who have stated they are able to participate at the moment.
Our choir will take to the stage at 6.40pm.
Students in the school choir need to meet Mrs. Hicks behind the stage area at 6.20pm.
Students are to wear their correct summer school uniform and some form of Christmas attire - eg. a Christmas hat, tinsel.
We will be singing:
- Mary, did you know? (Carrie Underwood version)
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town (the Bruce Springsteen version!)
Can all attendance/permission notes please be completed by this Friday.
Repeated NEWS.
Sacramental program for 2023.
Dates for the 2023 celebrations of the Sacraments of First Reconciliation (Term Two), First Eucharist (Term Three) and the Sacrament of Confirmation (Term Four) are to be confirmed in early 2023 but at this stage are:
Term One:
Week 2 | Tuesday, 7th Feb. | Parent Sacramental Information Night at 7pm for ALL sacramental parents - enrolment forms handed out and due back in Week 6. |
Week 9 | Sunday, 26th Mar. | Sacramental candidates invited to Sunday Mass - Fifth Sunday of Lent. |
Term Two:
Week 2 | Tuesday, 2nd May. | Parent Sacramental Information Night for Sacrament of Reconciliation parents. |
Week 6 | Tuesday, 30th May. | Sacrament of Reconciliation. |
Week 9 | Sunday, 18th June. | Sacramental candidates invited to Sunday Mass - 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time. |
Term Three:
Week 2 | Tuesday, 18th Jul. | Parent Sacramental Information Night for Sacrament of First Eucharist parents. |
Week 5 | Friday, 11th Aug. | Sacrament of Reconciliation for First Eucharist candidates. |
Week 6 | Friday, 18th Aug. | Sacramental Reflection Day for First Eucharist. |
Week 6 | Saturday, 19th Aug. | Sacrament of First Eucharist Mass. |
Week 7 | Sunday, 20th Aug. | Sacrament of First Eucharist Mass. |
Week 10 | Sunday, 10th Sep. | Sacramental candidates invited to Mass - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. |
Term Four:
Week 2 | Tuesday, 10th Oct. | Parent Sacramental Information Night - Sacrament of Confirmation parents. |
Week 6 | Friday, 10th Nov. | Sacrament of Reconciliation for Confirmation candidates. |
Week 7 | Friday, 17th Nov. | Sacramental Reflection Day - Confirmation. |
Week 7 | Saturday, 18th Nov. | Sacrament of Confirmation. |
Week 8 | Sunday, 19th Nov. | Sacrament of Confirmation. |
Sacramental enrolment forms will be available in Term One, 2023, and no enrolments will be accepted after the end of Term One, 2023, for any of the sacraments.
Have a relaxing holiday break and a very happy Christmas!!
Thanking you,
Michelle Hicks