Religious Education News:

The only future worth building includes everyone: Pope Francis

Formation:

John 15: 9-17

All who live in love, live in God, and God in them.

A beginning point for discussion of this week's Gospel with children:

Who are the people you love?

How do you show you love them?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to love each other as he loves us.

How can we love others like Jesus loves us?

We can love others by putting other people’s needs before our own.

In what ways can we put others’ needs before our own needs?

We pray that we will show love for each other as Jesus loves us.

Catholic Culture

A pagan Roman officer was so evidently graced by the Holy Spirit that St Peter realised that the followers of Jesus Christ need not be constrained within the confines of Judaism. This incident, together with St Paul’s mission, has helped Christianity spread to every tribe and nation on the face of the earth.

‘Catholic’ simply means ‘world wide’, and the Church’s universal mission is to preach the truth of Christ’s victory over death and the true meaning of love: ‘No greater love can a man have than to lay down his life for his friend.’

In our experience, this is best exemplified in the desire of a mother or father to substitute themselves for a dying infant or child. Our Lord practised what he preached with incredible intensity. He substituted himself for the whole of humanity dying because of a broken relationship with its Creator. He did so on behalf of us whom he calls friends, those with whom he wishes to share his victory over death.

This is the message entrusted to the members of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church to be spread to the people of every tribe and nation.

We could take a moment to pray that we better express our undying gratitude for our status as friends of the Risen Lord, and better do our part as missionary disciples spreading the news of his great love embracing the whole of humanity.  (REFLECTION by Fr Michael Tate)

Holy Eucharist

Throughout the Gospels, it seems that many significant events and important teachings are set within the context of a meal and so it is appropriate that our own most significant encounter with Jesus takes place in a meal setting as well — in the Eucharist. A look at the role that meals played in Jesus' life helps us recognize the significance of the Eucharistic meal for us today.

Reflecting on these stories in the Gospels helps us name some key themes that are to be present in our celebration of Eucharist: the invitation to share in the life of Jesus through the Eucharist is open to us. The invitation requires a response from us—not simply showing up but living lives that place our relationship with Jesus at the centre. Through the Eucharistic meal, we are united in Jesus' death and Resurrection and sent to proclaim the reality of God's love for all people in word and action.

I wish to thank all First Eucharist candidates and their parents for their commitment to this very important Sacrament and hope to see an many of them at the workshop session tonight. I ask that you keep our Grade 4 students in your prayers  as it is such a significant event in their faith journey, symbolically receiving Jesus’ body for the first time.

Class Masses

 This Friday Year 3/4D will be celebrating their Class Mass at 9am in the Church with the theme “Love one another” followed by 3/4R on the 11th  of May with their theme as “Your Hearts will be full of Joy” with a special focus on The role of Mothers in our lives. You are all warmly invited to attend these special liturgical celebrations in the faith life of our school community.

Mini Vinnies

There will not be any Mini Vinnie meeting in light of senior school sport until further notice.

Have a peaceful week.

Dawn Heldt

Religious Education Leader.