Education in Faith

Confirmation

Last weekend our Year 6 candidates continued with their preparation for Confirmation by attending one of the four Commitment Masses as part of our usual weekend Masses. At the Commitment Mass, students presented Fr Andrew with a pledge, outlining what they will be committing to by receiving their Confirmation. They will also read the pledge as a group after Communion.  

This weekend, they will again attend one of the four Masses to receive their Conformation Medal. The Medal will then be attached to their stole, which will be worn during Confirmation, which will take place next Thursday.

Please keep them in your prayers.

St. Justin’s Confirmation Commitment Pledge

Father Andrew: We have gathered today to support these candidates who are undertaking their preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. 

We now ask the candidates to make a commitment to the Church and the Gospel teachings.

Candidates:

Dear God, may your Spirit guide me to make good choices and understand what is asked of me. 

Father Andrew: God has called you to follow him. By your Baptism and through sharing in the Eucharist and Reconciliation, you have already celebrated your response to this call. Are you ready to commit to God’s call?

Candidates:

I am. May God strengthen me through the Gifts of the Spirit and the commitment I make with my sponsor and my family. 

Father Andrew: My brothers and sisters who are gathered here and those who present these candidates: Are you ready to help them to come to know and follow Christ?

Parishioners: 

We are. We will assist them in this preparation and encourage them to know and follow Christ. 

Father Andrew: (To the candidates)

Receive this blessing of the cross. By the sign of his love, Christ will be your strength. Learn to know and follow him.

(Now Father Andrew blesses all candidates and they make the sign of the cross)

Candidates:  (Make the sign of the cross:)

In the name of the Father and  of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Father Andrew: We pray for these candidates who have been signed with the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ. May they be faithful to the Gospel values. 

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

Confirmation Medal Mass Times:

Saturday 6th August - 6:00pm Sunday 7th August - 10:30am

Sunday 7th August - 8:30am Sunday 7th August - 5:00pm

Saint Mary of the Cross

Today is August 8th, the feast day of Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop.

Mary MacKillop is also known as Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. She is Australia’s only saint.

Let us pray ... 

Loving and gracious God, you loved and cared for your servant, Mary. Help us to follow her example and live with faith and hope. May we always be confident that we can always trust in you and be assured of your constant love and protection. 

We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name.

All: Amen.

We will now listen about the life of Saint Mary MacKillop

Reader: Hi, my name is Mary Mackillop and I was born in Melbourne on 15th January, 1842. I worked to support my poor family in a stationery business before becoming a school teacher, then a nun. I actually started an order of nuns called the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Reader: Mary MacKillop made a difference in the lives of Catholic Australians in the early days of our country’s history. In early Australian times, if you were poor and a Catholic there was little or no chance of an education and especially a Catholic Education like we have today. The poor stayed poor, neglected and uneducated. At this time, young Mary MacKillop dreamed of becoming a nun. She really wanted to help these poor children to get a good Christian education, so they could do something with their lives. She wanted them to know of God’s love for them.

Reader: Together with a young priest called Father Julian  Woods, I began to do something about my dream. I organised for the Sisters of St Joseph to go out to isolated bush places to educate the poor children, wherever they were. We went across Australia and New Zealand, not only for education but also to care for the sick, the homeless and orphans.

Reader: Mary faced many difficulties and hardships but through it all she had faith in God and worked to bring God’s word to the poor people. Wherever there were poor children or a need to be met, the Sisters were there for them. Mary believed wherever there was a need you did something about it.

Final Prayer: 

Loving God,

You gave us Mary MacKillop.

She spent her life loving you and bringing your love to the poor children in Australia.

Mary MacKillop still works on through her Sisters of St Joseph today.

We thank you, God, and pray that you will bless us so that we can follow her example.

We ask this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit... Amen.

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