Religious Education Update 2
'Religious Education enables learners to encounter God in their lives and to articulate what this means, in an environment that welcomes multicultural and multi-faith world views.'
Family Week Newsletter
Faith in the Future
Faith in the Future
Next week we will be celebrating ‘Family week’. We are also going to be recognising the 200 year anniversary of Catholic Education in Australia. Family week recognises the significant contribution of families, and coincides with the Feast Day of Australia’s First Saint, Mary MacKillop, who was a passionate educator and advocate for children and families.
Planned family week activities:
- Whole school mural of St Mary MacKillop
- Contributing to a video sharing our stories or experience with Catholic education from both a teacher and a student perspective. ‘We must teach more by example than by word’ – St Mary MacKillop
- Family activity: Create a family shield using each section to describe elements that are important to your family. The template for your family shield has been sent home with the eldest child today. Please send your completed shield back to school to be displayed.
SACRAMENTS
Everyone occasionally does things they regret or perhaps know they shouldn’t have done, and that’s why the Sacrament of Reconciliation is so important. Commonly called Confession, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is all about healing. Remember, no matter what you have done, God loves you and is ready to forgive you. But first you need to speak to God about what happened, and Catholics do that through a ritual of confession, penance and absolution. Reconciliation is a sacrament of forgiveness and celebrates God’s love and mercy towards us.
The students in Years 3 & 4 are making their First Reconciliation this evening, Thursday 5th August, as a school our prayers are with them as they make this important step
The word 'communion' means to be united with; Catholics believe that in Holy Communion we are united in a special way with Jesus Christ.
At his last supper, Jesus said of the bread that he shared among his followers, "Take and eat, this is my body." When we receive Holy Communion, Catholics believe that in a mysterious way we are sharing in the body and blood of Christ.
Holy Communion and the whole celebration is also known as Eucharist, from a Greek word meaning thanksgiving. First Eucharist is a special occasion - a further step in becoming one with Christ and united with the People of God.
On Sunday 8th August the students in Year 4 will be receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist at our Parish Mass. The students in Year 5 will be receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist on Sunday 15th August. We ask you to join us in praying for all the Year 4 students who will be receiving the Eucharist for the first time. May they know Christ’s love and joy everyday of their lives and may the light of Christ always shine upon them and their families.
Alicia Baker
Leader of Religious Dimension of the School