Faith News

Faith News

Important Dates

• Tuesday, February 21st- Shrove Tuesday will be celebrated in classrooms.
• Wednesday, February 22nd- Whole School Ash Wednesday Liturgy at St Brendan’s Church, to be led by the Year Three and Four students and teachers at 2:00 pm in the church. This will be a non-eucharistic liturgy. However, Fr Shymon will be celebrating with us and ashes will be distributed during the liturgy. All are welcome. 
• Saturday, February 25th- First Reconciliation Commitment Mass at St Brendan’s Church at 6pm.
• Thursday, March 16th- First Reconciliation workshop and sacramental liturgy for Year Three students during the school day.
• Friday, March 17th- Catholic Education Week Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral for selected Year Five and Six students. 
• Thursday, March 30th- Approaching Holy Week Mass to be led by the Year Five and Six students and teachers at 11:30 am in the church. All are welcome. 

Thank You 

Thank you to the Year Five and Six staff and students for beautifully preparing and leading the whole school Beginning of Year and Staff Commissioning Mass last Thursday, February 16th. It was so lovely to see so many family members also in attendance to share in celebrating the year ahead and support the staff as they commit to working in Catholic education with our students this year. 

First Reconciliation

The Sacrament of First Reconciliation will take place on Thursday, March 16th at 11:30 am at St Brendan’s Church. Thank you to the families who responded to the recent Operoo notification regarding student enrollments for this sacrament by the due date last week. First Reconciliation preparation will take place in the classroom program for students at St Brendan’s. 

Although First Reconciliation, a sacrament of healing, is essential for examining one’s conscience, it is, in comparison to First Eucharist and Confirmation, a more reverent and reflective occasion. First Reconciliation has therefore been celebrated in recent years during the school day at St Brendan’s, by only Fr Shymon, a visiting priest, the students receiving that sacrament and their classroom teachers supporting them during an otherwise usual school day. Students will attend a special workshop morning on March 16th, prior to receiving the sacrament that day, ensuring they are prepared and confident in approaching the sacrament. If you wish for your child in Year Three or older to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation and their name doesn't appear in the list below, please contact me as soon as possible. Please also keep the following students in your prayers as they prepare to receive the healing Sacrament of First Reconciliation:

Presentation and Commitment Mass

for Students Preparing to Receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in 2023.

Fr Shymon has extended a warm welcome to the students and families of students preparing to receive the sacrament of First Reconciliation. All families are always welcome at parish Masses. However, it is hoped that as the students prepare for their sacraments, their families will support them in their faith journey by taking them to Mass more regularly. At these Masses, students will be invited to participate in the Mass through prayer, and invited to ask others in the parish to pray for them as they are presented to the parish community and their commitment is recognised. Please see important dates for details.

Social Justice Action Team- SJAT 2023

Due to an overwhelming number of suitable candidates, it has been decided that there will be 10 SJAT leaders at St Brendan’s this year. I am really looking forward to working with these students towards making a positive difference in our world and supporting those in need. The SJAT were presented with their badges at assembly on Monday, February 20. Congratulations to the following students:

Lent

Shrove Tuesday, February 21st this year, marks the last day before Lent begins. Lent is the season of fasting, praying and almsgiving in the liturgical year. On Shrove Tuesday, Christians have traditionally feasted on this day in order to use up their rich and indulgent foods before abstaining from eating such foods for 40 days. Yes! For those doing the maths, there are 46 days in Lent, but we do not count Sundays because Sundays are recognised as days of joy and celebration in our Christian faith. 

For those seeking some reflection through music to engage with their lenten journey, please check out the piece Build My Life performed by Pat Barrett and Chris Tomlin. What will you be ‘giving up’ during Lent? Or better still, what will you be giving to others in need?

Caritas Project Compassion

Caritas Australia is a Catholic aid organisation, working to engage communities to advocate and act for equality and justice for all. The Caritas Project Compassion Campaign aligns perfectly with our teaching of the Catholic Social Teaching Principles and is supported by Catholic schools and churches nationally and internationally. Teachers will be using the Caritas appeal and its vast range of associated teaching and learning resources to promote the appeal and engage our students in the act of almsgiving during Lent. Almsgiving is a practice observed in the Catholic faith which involves giving to others, especially those in need. Please follow this link to donate and for more information about the 2021 Caritas Project Compassion Lenten Appeal.

World Youth Day

For more than 30 years, World Youth Day has been an opportunity for the young people of the world to go on pilgrimage. World Youth Day will take place in Lisbon, Portugal in 2023 and is open to participants between the ages of 16 and 35. More information can be found here.

Catholic Care

Many families continue to face challenges throughout these changeable and worrying times. Should families or individuals require support beyond that which can be offered within our St Brendan’s community, Catholic Care may be able to assist with financial and social services. For further information about the services offered by Catholic Care, please visit: https://www.ccam.org.au/

Catholic Baptism

For families with children who have not received the Sacrament of Catholic Baptism and are considering this sacrament for their child/ren, please contact the Western Port Parish Centre on (03) 5979 4374. Should you make Baptism arrangements with the Parish, please inform me so that this special milestone for your child can be acknowledged within the school community. Please also forward a copy of your child’s Baptism Certificate to the school so that this can be reflected in the school records.

Christian Initiation for Adults: RCIA

Have you ever considered becoming a Catholic or continuing the Catholic sacramental journey which you commenced as a child or younger adult? 

Adults who wish to begin or continue their faith journey through the reception of the Catholic sacraments are also invited to contact the Western Port Parish Centre on (03) 5979 4374.

Western Port Parish News

Please follow this link to the Western Port Parish web page, and to find out more about parish happenings.

Access to Australian Catholics Online Magazine

Families, please remember that you have FREE access to the Australian Catholics online resource. To access this fabulous resource, please click here  and use the following login details to gain access:

Email: parents@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au 

Password: parents1

Enjoy these exciting first weeks of the new school year.

Yours in faith & harmony.

Emma Chapple

-Religious Education Leader

-Performing Arts Classroom Specialist Teacher

echapple@sbsomerville.catholic.edu.au