Religion and Parish News

Prayer

A Creed for Our Children

We want our children to be strong – to do what they believe is right and to recover when they make mistakes.

We want our children to have empathy – to know what it is like to be lonely, scared and vulnerable; to seek help and to give help.

We want our children to love warmly – their families, their lives, other children, peoples of different cultures and abilities.  

We want our children to judge critically – to recognize the good and hopeful and to reach for a full life; to recognise untruth, cruelty, violence, disrespect and danger and to deal with them resourcefully.

We want our children to love God – to know the love of God through the adults surrounding them; to know God as a friend and faithful companion.

Amen

2021 Sacramental Dates:

First Eucharist - 8:30am, Sunday 6th June, 2021

Confirmation - 9:00am, Sunday 20th June, 2021

First Reconciliation - 6:00pm, Thursday 9th September, 2021

Prayers for Fr Abmar

We offer our prayers and support for Fr. Abmar following the death of his sister and brother-in-law, Gertrudes and Edward Yap, in the Philippines. Sadly, the couple died just 10 days apart after contracting COVID-19. Please hold Fr. Abmar, Gertrudes and Edward Yap, and their extended family in your prayers.

2021 First Eucharist

This term, Catholic students from Year 3 (and some others from older grades) will be making the Sacrament of First Eucharist. There are a number of very important dates below to record on your calendar. Please note that attendance at each of these dates is compulsory and you will need to contact Fr. Abmar (6742 0200) if you and/or your child cannot attend one of these dates. You will also need to ring the above number between the hours of 8:30am-12:30pm, Monday-Friday, to register your attendance at each Mass you wish to attend, as part of the current COVID-19 protocols. Registration for the Parent Information night will simply occur at the door that evening. 

• First Eucharist Parent Information evening: 
  • 6pm Thursday 29th April at St Joseph’s Church
• First Eucharist Enrolment Mass:
  • 6pm Saturday 1st May OR 8:30am Sunday 2nd May at St Joseph’s Church
• First Eucharist Retreat Day, including Reconciliation:
  • School Day - Friday 4th June. Reconciliation 10am at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Chapel, Gunnedah
• Sacrament of First Eucharist:
  • 8:30am Sunday 6th June at St Joseph’s Church

***Please note that COVID-19 restrictions can change at any time and may result in some alterations to how we organise these celebrations. We will keep you informed of any changes to any of these dates with as much notice as possible. Thank you for your understanding with this matter. 

2021 Sacrament of Confirmation

This term, Catholic students from Year 6 will be making the Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Michael Kennedy. There are a number of very important dates below to record on your calendar. Please note that attendance at each of these dates is compulsory and you will need to contact Fr. Abmar (6742 0200) if you and/or your child cannot attend one of these dates. You will also need to ring the above number between the hours of 8:30am-12:30pm, Monday-Friday, to register your attendance at each Mass you wish to attend, as part of the current COVID-19 protocols. Registration for the Parent Information night will simply occur at the door that evening. 

• Confirmation Parent Information evening: 
  • 6pm, Thursday 13th May at St Joseph’s Church
• Confirmation Enrolment Mass:
  • 6pm, Saturday 15th May OR 8:30am Sunday 16th May at St Joseph’s Church
• Reconciliation for Confirmation:
  • 5:30pm, Thursday 17th June at St Joseph’s Church
• Confirmation Retreat Day:
  • School Day - Friday 18th June. Bishop Michael Kennedy will be visiting the children in class throughout the day.
• Sacrament of Confirmation:
  • 9:00am Sunday 20th June at St Joseph’s Church

Caritas’ Project Compassion Mission Boxes

We’ve already had lots of Project Compassion Mission Boxes brought back into school, which is fantastic. If your family’s Mission Box is still at home, could you please send it to the office by the end of next week (Week 2) so donations can be counted and sent off to Caritas. Thanks in advance!

St Joseph’s Parish Altar Servers

Altar serving is now allowed to resume as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease. A list of Altar Servers will be formed shortly, once notes have been sent out to families of those children interested in this role. 

Parish News

Here’s a link to the latest Parish Bulletin for the 18th April.