Religion and Parish News

Prayer

Loving Father, 

We have come to the end of another school term, and we thank you for giving us the patience, motivation and guidance to get us through it. 

May the holiday period be for us a time of rest and recreation to help restore us and re-create us in your image and likeness, as we enjoy more of the love and presence of our families, on whom we ask your blessing.

Amen

First Eucharist

On Friday Week 9, 26 St Xavier’s Year 3 students attended the 2019 First Eucharist Retreat Day in preparation to make their First Eucharist the following Sunday. The formalities started at 10am with students participating in Reconciliation and a quick Mass practise at St Joseph’s Church, before heading back to school and continuing to work on their artworks that were used to decorate the Church for Sunday’s Mass. At 12:30, students concluded their Retreat Day with a BBQ lunch, which was cooked by the wonderfully generous Ange Morrison, Ange Berry and Dave Grosser. 

Reconciliation
Reconciliation

The following Sunday morning, the First Eucharist candidates started arriving at the Church early, ready to receive their shirt pins and take their seats in the front pews, ready to receive Communion for the first time. After a beautiful celebration of Mass, the candidates received their First Eucharist certificates and proceeded across to the Church Hall for the cake cutting and morning tea. The candidates should be very proud of themselves for their reverent attitude they demonstrated during Mass, and should now look forward to developing their faith in preparation for receiving their Sacrament of Confirmation in a few years time. 

Cutting the cake.
Presentation of certificates.
Cutting the cake.
Presentation of certificates.

Marriage and Family Week

Week 1, Term 3 is Marriage and Family Week. Religious Education lessons throughout Week 1 will focus on the sacredness of marriage and family. More information about what students learn will be shown in the next newsletter. 

St Joseph’s Parish Altar Servers

Over the holidays, the following children are rostered on for Altar Serving. Please make arrangements with another person if your child is unable to attend.

End of Week 10

Saturday 6 July - Katie Spinks, Sidney Dangerfield and Monique Dangerfield

Sunday 7 July - Kate Gander, Lachlan Gurney and Bianca Bayliss

Middle Weekend of Holidays

Saturday 13 July - Olivia Bennett, Toby Harris, Jedd Smallwood

Sunday 14 July - Ellyn, Toby and Cooper Blinman

Last Weekend of School Holidays

Saturday 20 July - Phoebe Paul, Harry Paul, Tom Sheedy, Zoe Head

Sunday 21 July - Vitorio Sardinha, Lucas Sardinha, Mitchell Herden

Important Sacrament Dates 2019

FIRST RECONCILIATION

Thursday 19 September 6.00 pm

If your child has missed the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in previous years for some reason, and you would like them to participate in this Sacramental Program next term, please contact Mal Frend before the end of Week 1, Term 3 at mfrend@arm.catholic.edu.au to discuss your options.

CONFIRMATION

Sunday 3 November 9.00 am