Mission & Identity
- Praying for Peace
- Parish Monthly Youth Mass
- Year 13, 2019 Retreat - Advertisement
- Chatswood Parish Gingerbread House Event - Saturday 1 December
Fortnightly Tuesday Morning Mass
Praying for Peace
The focus of the past week, rightly so, has been on the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I on 11 November 1918. Far from glorifying war, the emphasis was on all those who have served and died defending peace and liberty, often very far from home.
Around the world people gathered to remember, pray and weep for all those lives that were lost, all the families that were torn apart and all the stories that were never written because of lives cut short. With the promise of the ‘war to end all wars’ sadly never coming to fruition, our attention turns to peace, and below is a very fitting prayer written by Pope Francis in 2014.
Pope Francis’ Prayer for Peace
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain.
Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarrelling into forgiveness.
Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother", and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!
Amen
Parish Monthly Youth Mass
In conjunction with Fr Jim McKeon, the senior students of St Pius X College and Mercy College are combining to stage a monthly “takeover” of the parish’s Sunday night Mass. All students and their families from both schools (and others) are invited to come and participate in as many of the ministries of the Mass as possible. This would include ministers of the Word, ministers of Communion, Altar servers and musicians. Students will also be invited to speak during the Mass about social justice projects, retreats and other events in the life of their colleges.
Mass starts at 5:30pm on Sunday 25th November at Our Lady of Dolours Church. There will also be a BBQ and games after Mass. All are welcome.
Year 13, 2019 Retreat - Advertisement
Chatswood Parish Gingerbread House Event
Please see the flyer below for details!
Fortnightly Tuesday Morning Mass
Please remember that all students and parents are invited to attend Mass in the College Chapel every second Tuesday at 8:00am. It is a wonderful way to start the day by sharing in the Eucharist with your sons and other members of the College. Students from Mercy College are regular participants and co-contributors to each Mass.
The next Mass will be on Tuesday 27 November.
Mr E Codsi - Acting Assistant Principal Mission & Identity