Family & Faith News
SPaR
Our next SPaR (Stop, Pray, Reflect) will be Friday 2nd December 2022 at 9am – the theme is ‘Attitude of Gratitude’. Please join us if you have 20 minutes to spare.
Plan ahead and be sure to schedule the remainder of Term 4 SPaR dates in your diary.
SPaR – Term 4 2022
Date | Theme |
| Friday 2nd December, 2022 | Attitude of Gratitude |
| Friday 9th December, 2022 | Go, Light the World |
…Pray about everything.
Tell God what you need and Thank Him for all he has done.
If you do this, the peace of God which surpasses all understanding,
Will guard your hearts and your minds….
Phil 4:6-7
Act1v8 - Friday 25th November, 2022
A wonderful opportunity to participate in a combined Parish event on this Friday 25th November, 2022. Hope to see you there.
Novels for the Homeless
We are looking for used books that are no longer needed to provide the homeless with reading material. Should you have any novels (crime and violent free) that you no longer need, please drop them off to the Parish Centre so that we can transfer them to Sr Fidelis at the Rocks, who is co-ordinating the program.
Advent 2022
This Sunday marks the beginning of Advent and also the beginning of our new liturgical year, Year A. The Season of Advent affords us the opportunity to prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Lord at Christmas. It is a time of waiting with anticipation and great joy. During Advent we are encouraged to discover our own path of conversion perhaps meditating on the Word of God or reflecting on how we can respond in our own lives to what Jesus asks of us.
As we celebrate this Season, your child will next week receive an Advent Calendar, that tells the story of Jesus birth and provides suggestions/ daily reflections for each day during Advent, to help us prepare for Christmas. They will also receive next week, a sacramental craft to bring home. I encourage you to complete this with them and display it in your homes as a reminder of what Advent and Christmas are truly about.
Advent a time of hope, peace, love and joy
Term 4 Family Mass - Sunday 27th November, 2022
Look forward to all families joining us for our last Family Mass for 2022 on this Sunday 27th November, 2022. This happens to be the first Sunday of Advent and will also be the last opportunity for our Year 6 students to attend their last Family Mass at St Margaret Mary’s. Thank you to families who have volunteered readers for the mass. If your child has not bought home their reading, please let me know via email. Look forward to celebrating the First Sunday of Advent with you on Sunday.
Redefining Normal - Thursday 1st December, 2022
The Justice and Peace Office (JPO), of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, formally invites you to Redefining Normal: Mental Health, Alcohol, and Other Drugs Workshop on the 1st of December, 2022 from 8:30am to 1:00pm at Sydney Catholic School Campus, 38 Renwick St, Leichhardt.
This event embraces a cross-cultural, inter-generational, and interfaith approach, focusing on providing practical support and assistance to individuals coming from adverse backgrounds. The workshop will invite individuals living with these challenges - as well as their families, carers, faith, and community leaders - to share their lived experiences in the hopes of breaking the destructive social stigma. There will also be practical workshop sessions available - led by key community stakeholders - that will speak to specific struggles within the space.
Redefining Normal is all about positive support for all ages, beliefs, and cultures via a “no blaming and shaming, or stigmatising” conversational approach. This is a free event and the registration link is below:
St Mary’s Cathedral Tour - Thursday 1st December, 2022
A joint Family Educator initiative between St Margaret Mary’s and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is planned for Thursday 1st December, 2022 to visit St Mary’s Cathedral. Details below. If you would like to join, please email me at lucille.gravina@syd.catholic.edu.au. This is a wonderful opportunity to gather as a combined Parish just before Christmas. Fingers crossed the Cathedral’s Nativity will also be ready and on display by the 1st.
St Margaret Mary’s Playgroup
The St Margaret Mary’s Playgroup will run every Wednesday morning from 9am – 10:30am during school term. If you have children starting at St Margaret Mary’s in 2023 or beyond, please join us.
Monday Pilates with Nicolette
Nicolette has been teaching Pilates at St Margaret Mary’s for 6 years. Pilates classes are held weekly.
Day: every Monday
Time : 9am - 10am
Location: St Margaret Mary’s Parish Centre
Cost: $20
For more information contact Nicolette on 0411 553 429 or nmoutopoulos@gmail.com
Friday Yoga with Trish at Centennial Park
Trish started off practicing pilates on and off for more than 10 years and in 2015 she found yoga. By the end of 2016 she became a certified yoga instructor. Trish noticed that there was an element of “je ne sais quoi” after practicing for several months that had to be experienced and felt, rather than explained. Trish really believes that elements of yoga practiced on the mat can also be used off the mat in our daily lives, and this is what she would like to share with everyone. So do come along and dedicate one hour to yourself. Deepening your awareness and appreciation of your body by connecting your mind to your breath and body.
When: Fridays after school drop-off
Time: 9:45am to 10:45am
Where: Centennial Park, The Labyrinth
Cost: $18/person
What to bring: An open mind, a Mat,
Optional: block(s), a strap
Contact: Trish
Mob: 0478 651 800
Email: pkbernardo@gmail.com
Enjoy a restful Term 3 break with your families and look forward to seeing you in Term 4.
Go gently, every blessing,
Ms. Lucille Gravina
Family Educator