Education in Faith
Sacramental News 2023
To assist us with the administration and preparation of the Sacraments for 2023 we ask you to please accept/decline on Operoo, to indicate the Sacrament your child will be celebrating in 2023.
Dates for Sacraments, Parent and Child Workshops will be published in our school app, calendar and newsletter closer to the date of the Sacrament.
Reconciliation Baptised Catholics in Year 3 or above.
Sacrament of First Eucharist Baptised Catholics in or above who have received their Reconciliation.
Sacrament of Confirmation Year 6 ONLY Catholics, who have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and First Eucharist.
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
The Son of Man came to seek and to find that which was lost.
For the past few weeks our readings have been taken from the gospel of Luke. We have been following the journey of Jesus towards Jerusalem. In the gospel, Jesus has drawn very near to Jerusalem – Jericho is just a short distance from Jerusalem – and Jesus is moving steadily closer to the Passion of his final days.
Zacchaeus is as keen as the rest of Jericho to see Jesus as he passes through the town. However, because he is so short, he cannot see past the crowd and because he is a despised tax collector, no one was going to make room for him to see. He goes to the extreme length of climbing a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Like other characters in the gospel, his determination to simply catch sight of Jesus is an indication of his readiness to accept the message of Jesus. Because of his evident willingness to welcome the message of Jesus into his life, Jesus prompts Zacchaeus to welcome Jesus into his home. The readiness of Jesus to enter into the house of someone regarded as a sinner causes great scandal among the onlookers. What’s more, Jesus is prepared to eat with this man as well – a sign of complete acceptance. The welcome of Zacchaeus meets the welcome of God.
Jesus declares that salvation has come to Zacchaeus’ house and that he is a son of Abraham – one of the faithful. His words are directed to the crowd, not Zacchaeus. They are so determined to draw lines between those who are acceptable and those who are not that they have failed to notice what Jesus has taught all along – that faith can flourish in all people and is not determined by their social status.
This gospel could have been written with children in mind. They know about climbing trees. They will enjoy the image of a short man climbing a tree to see Jesus. They probably also know about ‘outsiders‘ – regrettably, most classes have at least one child who doesn't quite ‘fit in’. The story of Zacchaeus is one children will be able to visualise without too much trouble and, best of all, it's a story with a happy ending!
The good news in this week's scriptures is that God not only loves us, but even seeks us out to offer his grace and friendship. Zacchaeus was a man shunned by all his neighbours, but Jesus spotted him in the tree, invited himself to Zacchaeus' house and brought to all there the experience of God's saving love.
Discussion Starters
- What was the name of the tax collector in the Gospel?
- What did he do when he could not see Jesus?
- Why do you think he wanted to see Jesus?
- What did Jesus do when he saw how much faith Zacchaeus had?
- Jesus welcomes all who show they believe in him. How can we show that we believe in Jesus this week?
St. Kevin’s Parish News
NEXT WEEKEND – FOR ALL OUR ALTAR SERVERS & YOUTH
A weekend retreat for our youth and Altar Servers to learn more and deepen their spirituality as young Australian Catholics. It will be a weekend filled with inspirational talks, activities, sacraments, prayer and most of all an intimate encounter with Our Lord and Our Lady, pillars of our Catholic faith. Bro. Gabriel and Bro. John will be conducting this retreat next weekend. Please make use of this opportunity to grow in faith. Thank you and God bless.
Please register via https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=972691
& Meals: Lunch, Snacks & Supper provided Activities: Talks, Group Discussions, Mass, Confession, Adoration, and much, much more…
God Bless
Rozeta Ambrose
rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
MINI VINNIES NEWS
Our points for the Community Spirit Shield will end this term and the House with the most points will be presented with the shield at our last assembly for the year.
Term 4 Week 4 Points:
1ST BOSCO 237
2ND TERESA 230
3RD PATRICK 174
4TH MACKILLOP 136
What an amazing effort Bosco!!!
TOTAL POINTS SO FAR THIS YEAR
1ST TERESA 3 826
2ND MACKILLOP 3 463
3RD PATRICK 3 279
4TH BOSCO 3 278
Teresa is still in the lead but not by much!!
Please have a look at our advertisement in the back of the newsletter for our Mini Vinnies Stall at our Art Show/Market next Thursday. We will be painting nails, colouring hair and putting on temporary tattoos. Please come and visit us and support us. All money raised will go towards our flood victims in Victoria.
Giuliana & Mini Vinnies