Religious Education

Masses Term 2

We warmly invite our parents and friends to the following Masses for Term 2. 

Friday 24th May -9:15am - Whole School Mass for Mary Help of Christians 

Sunday 26th May - 10am - Confirmation & Family Mass

Wednesday 29th May- Catholic Schools Week Mass 

Wednesday 26th June- 12:30pm - Parish Mass (Years 3-6) 

Sunday 30th June- 10am - Family Mass 

Confirmation

Confirmation Retreat 

Yesterday students from St Mary's and other local Schools attended the retreat day. It was a lovely day where students celebrated Mass, listened to the Bishop, found out more information about their Saints, participated in a reflection task and listened to Parishioners share their faith journey. 

Confirmation Rehearsal

This Thursday all Confirmation students will need to attend a rehearsal at the Cathedral at 3:30-4:30. It is highly encouraged for students to attend with their Sponsors so that both are familiar with the formalities of the celebration on Sunday. If Sponsors cannot attend students will be expected to inform them about the proceedings. 

Confirmation this SUNDAY 

Our special Confirmation Mass will take place this Sunday at 10am. Candidates are encouraged to arrive at 9:45 and take their seats in preparation for Mass. There will be a morning tea after Mass outside the Cathedral and we ask our families to please bring something to share. We welcome our school community to attend this special occasion and to please keep the following students in your prayers...

Catholic Schools Week Mass

Next Wednesday students in Years 5 and 6 will attend the Catholic Schools Week Mass with students from across the northern part of our diocese. We thank Lee Herden and Jac Cronin for their organisation towards this Mass. We look forward to celebrating the special gift of Catholic Education with all those who can attend. 

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the Kelso family (Imogen in 1F) on the birth of their baby boy, Oliver, last week. We would like to extend a big welcome to Oliver from the St Mary's Community.

The Principle of Fidelity and Relationships

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

“Christ entered this world to give witness to the truth, to rescue and not sit in judgement, to serve and not to be served.”

Sacredness of Self

“Chastity is expressed notably in friendship with one’s neighbour. Whether it develops between persons of the same or opposite sex, friendship represents a great good for all.” Through an understanding of chastity the Catholic Church provides a means by which true friendships can be cultivated. A deep understanding of the Church’s teaching regarding chastity and its impact on the full development of the human person provides a means by which proper sexual relationships can be formed that are respectful of the dignity of each person, the family and society.

Sacredness of Marriage

The family is experiencing a profound cultural crisis with the value of marriage under threat of becoming a “form of mere emotional satisfaction that can be constructed in any way or modified at will.” 13The Catholic tradition teaches that marriage is not a private institution but that it is the foundation of the family where children learn the values and virtues that will assist them to be fully able to participate in society.  

Sacredness of the Family

The Catholic tradition proclaims that the human person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society – in economics and politics, in law and policy – directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. For the proper formation of a just society each person must have a personal faithful relationship with Christ. This relationship will help form the foundation of all other human relationships particularly the relationships within the family.

The family is the original cell of social life that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. In particular the Catholic ideal of faithfulness in relationships must be preserved and actively promoted. Catholics believe all human persons have a right and a duty to participate in society, working together for the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.