RENews

Journeying with Jesus...  

The Resurrection: ‘Remember how he told you’

In the weeks after Jesus' resurrection, as Catholics, we are asked to reflect upon the messages conveyed during and after the three days of Holy Week. 

 After Good Friday, there is a pause and a stillness as the extent of the loss sinks in. T.S. Eliot speaking in his Four Quartets says: ‘Wait without hope, for hope would be hope for the wrong thing’. The not knowing what to hope for was very much the experience of the disciples on that morning. They had been so confident until the events of the previous week. There was no rushing towards Easter Sunday, but on that dawn, there was a reminder of a different reality for the disciples. They began to remember that this is what Jesus had told them. Good Friday will not be the end – Jesus is Risen.

Remembering his life, his words, and the experience of being in his presence enabled the women to cope with their fear and to bring the message of his Resurrection to the others.

When we stop and reflect on the Easter story, we find reminders that Easter surrounds us in every circumstance of life. Easter does not change our reality, but it is an invitation to awareness of another kind of reality and way of living. Every aspect of human living is a gift and also a responsibility, a promise, and an uncertainty.

• Life experiences can rock us back and forth between total trust and the deepest despair. We live between the threshold of faith and doubt, between joy and sadness. The invitation of Easter is to remember that Jesus is Risen in each of those experiences.
• In birth and in new life, Jesus is Risen. 
• When the night is dark, we know the dawn will bring the morning, Jesus is Risen. 
• In our world so full of suffering, the people of hope, who reach out and give time and energy to ease the pain they see, Jesus is Risen.
• In a time of grief when a wave of loss surrounds us and then there comes a moment of peace, Jesus is Risen.
• When there is forgiveness in the face of hurt and disappointment, Jesus is Risen.

During these uncertain times remember all that ‘He has told us’- our Risen Lord, and let it be the guide and light that brings us hope in our own life stories. 

RE Curriculum continues......

During our present circumstances, our teachers continue to be committed to providing a Religious Education curriculum for all our children at St Raphael's. It is a credit to all the staff, children, and families who under difficult times have continued to engage in the Catholic faith and its elements.

Over the past weeks, it has been a joy to witness all the learning that has taken place across the levels. Below are only a small sample of the wonderful learning that has been undertaken so far. COVID-19 isolation has not stopped the faith development of each child/person. I believe it has enriched our lives, given us hope, and has strengthened our belief in God's power of love for all.

Celebrating Students Learning

by Georgia M

Month of May

The extract is taken from © Copyright - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO THE FAITHFUL FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with particular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view.

For this reason, I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May. This can be done either as a group or individually; you can decide according to your own situations, making the most of both opportunities. The key to doing this is always keeping it simple, and to find good models of prayers to follow.

MAY is the month the church devotes to Our Lady- Mary.   Throughout the month we celebrate Mary  the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ as well as all Mothers around the world.  (In Australia Mother's day is always celebrated the second Sunday of the month)

Little is known of the personality or the specific details of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Her greatness comes not through her outstanding personal characteristics, but from her joyous and faith-filled response to the action of God in her life.

What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn it's faith in Christ. The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, believing that ‘with God nothing will be impossible’ and so giving her assent: ‘Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word’.

Mary came from the Galilean town of Nazareth, not from Jerusalem, the centre of religious and political power. Galilee was adjacent to the Gentile regions of the north, little respected by religious leaders. More so, Mary was an unmarried village girl and was chosen as mother of the longed Messiah. This would have seemed surprising to the people of Jesus’ time.

Mary is mainly mentioned in the bible through Luke’s Gospel- stories related to Jesus’ birth (the Infancy Narrative). She is mentioned briefly in Matthew’s Gospel, and we read about Mary’s actions in John’s Gospel at the Wedding at Cana. Other references to Mary are very brief throughout the New Testament. We read more about her as a woman, mother at the crucifixion and resurrection of her Son, Jesus Christ.  (Reference to To Know, Worship and Love, 2nd Edition- Year 4: Chapter 9, Mary Helps Us To Know And Follow Jesus.)

The Hail Mary is particularly prayed in honour of Mary. 

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

Hail Mary, full of grace.

The Lord is with you.

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.