R.E News - Assistant Principal / Mission

Congratulations Father Damien

Despite, level 4 COVID restrictions, Damien Locke, class of 1994, at O'Connor, received the sacraments of Holy Orders and was ordained a priest in the Catholic Church. The ordination was not open to the public due to the restrictions but was be able to be viewed online. Interestingly Bishop Kennedy who presided over the sacrament was celebrating the anniversary of his own ordination. 

In COVID free times in 2018, when ordaining 16 priests, Pope Francis reflected upon the importance and demands of a priestly vocation.

He urged them 

“not get tired of being merciful. Think of your sins, your miseries that Jesus forgives. Be merciful.” It is “through your ministry the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful is made perfect,” he noted, “because it is joined to the sacrifice of Christ, which for your hands, in the name of the whole Church, is offered bloodlessly on the altar in the celebration of the Holy Mysteries.” He pointed out to the 16 men that in their priestly ministries they will be participants “in the mission of Christ, the only Master,” and advised them to read and meditate tirelessly on the Word of God “to teach what you have learned in faith, to live what you have taught.” He continued ; “[May] your teaching, joy and support to the faithful of Christ be the fragrance of your life,” he continued, “that with word and example you can build the House of God which is the Church.” and “Always have before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to seek and save what was lost,”

We pray for Father Damien, Bishop Kennedy and for all priests in their lives that they are faithful servants in the mission of God.

Gracious and loving God, we thank your for the gift of our priests. Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments. Help our priests to be strong in their vocation. Set their souls on fire with love for your people. Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom. Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel. Allow them to experience joy in their ministry. Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.

Amen.

The Assumption of Mary

With all the excitement of the ordination, the anniversary of Bishop's Kennedy's priestly vows and the impossible nature of physically attending mass last Sunday, some may have overlooked this important feast in the church's calendar. The Feast of the Assumption is, along with all Sundays, considered a holy day of obligation. When not in lock down and when the feast falls on a school day, a Mass is usually celebrated in the Chapel. The staff writers for the Catholic Weekly in 2011 gave an outline and an historical perspective of this feast.

Monday, 15 August the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”. Although defined as an article of faith by Pope Pius XII just over half a century ago, the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven has been accepted from back to the earliest of Christian times. The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Assumption and the Resurrection. Where Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, Mary’s body was taken up to heaven by the power of her Son. For this reason we use different words to describe each event. One is the Ascension of Christ and the other, the Assumption of Mary. The Assumption of Mary Feast Day dates back to earliest Christian times. The first believed to have asked what had happened to Mary’s body was St Epiphanius, a 4th Century bishop who devoted himself to the study of Mary’s death and believed Our Lady did not die but instead was recalled to heaven. The feast was introduced to Rome in the 8th Century by Pope Sergius and from there it spread rapidly throughout western Europe, with Pope Hadrian later giving the Feast Day its official name as the Assumption of Mary towards the end of the Century.

The Assumption should resonate more than ever in these troubled times with the faithful. Mary is seen as the perfect model of discipleship, a discipleship that we should all aspire to and a discipleship that is rewarded with not only bringing light to the world now but eternal life. This gives hope for our own union with God, not only in relationship now but moreover after we die and our own resurrection. Mary's assumption celebrates the love God had for her and indeed the love he has for all his children. As mentioned, these are difficult times and the Assumption is a reminder that God never abandons those that love Him.

Hail, Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Damian Roff

Vinnies Virtual Sleepout

Due to COVID the Armidale Vinnies Community Sleepout is now virtual (couch, car or backyard) so anyone else can join us on Friday 27th August. You can register or donate through our our parish site if you like.

https://my.fundraise.vinniesnsw.org.au/vinnies-community-sleepout-armidale-2021/st-mary-st-josephs-cathedral-parish

Here a promotional video made locally with some of our O'Connor families. 

LASALLIAN VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS 2022 OPEN  

Lasallian Mission Services are excited to announce that applications for the Lasallian Volunteer Program 2022 are now open. This unique long term Volunteering program is a one of a kind opportunity for personal growth for dedicated Young Lasallians wishing to share their time and talents. The LMS team have been calling RECs to book in an appropriate time at school to do in-person promotion.

Our Founders - St Angela Merici and St John Baptiste De La Salle

Year of St Joseph

Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral Parish

Keeping in touch with what is happening in the Cathedral Parish is easy through their website and Facebook pages.

With such a difficult year and a half it has been harder for parishioner's to give to the parish through the plates, particularly when the church is closed as it is at present. The Parish account details are available on the Parish bulletin. 

Cathedral Parish Website

Information about our founders

La Salle Website

Ursuline Sisters Website