RENews

The Gospel Value of TRUST

This term our overarching gospel value is TRUST.  The book of Isaiah speaks of not fearing or being dismayed but rather trusting in God.

The Power of Parables

Across all levels, students are engaging in Scripture through dialogue and critical thinking. 

A  particular focus of this term with many year levels is to identify with and understand "Parables" taken from the Gospel. Each parable has a message and its meaning unpacked and related to the modern world. Below is a way teachers use contemporary and historical images to aid in interpreting religious historical events and make sense of it in our world today. This "Faith-life" formation process is how we bring the word of Jesus alive and present.

Recontextualisation tries to re-interpret the Catholic faith in a contemporary cultural context. It involves finding ways to reimagine a symbolic understanding of the wisdom of the Catholic tradition and reimagine it in a way that invites dialogue with a broader community; students, teachers, and parents.​ Recontextualisation is purposefully looking for a renewed Catholic identity that is meaningful within the current pluralistic culture. It tries to understand the Catholic faith re-interpreted in a contemporary cultural context to ensure that the faith remains recognisable, credible and meaningful for people of today.

The above three images are examples of the way we interpret faith-life understandings and explore them in a contemporary way that is real and relevant in our world today.

There are many commonly known Parables found in the Gospel. (Listed below are many of the more commonly used/know stories)

• The Sower: Matthew 13:1-9.
• The Weeds: Matthew 13:24-30.
• The Mustard Seed: Matthew 13:31-32.
• The Pearl: Matthew 13:45-46.
• The Faithful Servant: Matthew 24:45-51.
• The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32
• The Rich Fool: Luke 12:16-21.
• The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.[j] “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 By chance, a priest was going down that road; when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii,[k] gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Take some time and perhaps read a parable or two as a family and identify the meaning and message of the story. Encourage the children to share their understanding with you through dialogue- family discussions.

The Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop - 8 August

Born in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy in Melbourne in1842,  St Mary MacKillop is Australia's first saint.

The co-founder of the Josephites, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, she was a tireless advocate of education and schools. At just 24 she established a school for children of the poor and underprivileged in Penola, SA, and under her guidance, her Order went on to found schools not only across SA but also in Victoria, NSW and eventually New Zealand.

She was Canonised by Pope Benedict XVI on 17 October 2010. To be canonised, the Vatican must investigate and confirm two miracles.

The first miracle, confirmed by the Church for Beatification, occurred in the 1960s when a woman with leukaemia was given only a few months to live. However when she asked the Sisters of St Joseph to pray to Mary MacKillop on her behalf and was given a relic to wear, against all odds recovered from what had been diagnosed as an aggressive and fatal condition.

The Vatican officially approved the second miracle in late 2009 concerned a Hunter Valley woman with inoperable lung cancer and secondaries to the liver. St Mary of the Cross (Mary Mackillop) feast day is celebrated each year on the 8th of August. 

This year the Foundation students have prepared a Mass service in her honour and we welcome parents and parish members to join us. It will be held on Tuesday 8th August at 12.15 pm in the Church.

St Mary MacKillop Books found in our Library

Feast of the Assumption

Save the date: Whole School Mass- Monday 15th August at 12:15pm

Sacramental Program- Penance/Reconciliation & First Eucharist 

Important Dates to Remember: (Students receiving their Sacraments in Year 4)

Initiation & Commitment Mass -Saturday 6th August at 6 pm or Sunday 7th August at 10.30 am

Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) Celebration- Thursday 1st September at 10 am (during school time)

Sacrament of First Eucharist Celebration- Saturday 8th October at 3 pm