Religious Education News

Lent is the season for getting back to basics. It is the time for having a clean-out, getting rid of attitudes and patterns of behaviour that prevent us from being as free as God made us to be. We can all be hoarders of one kind or another. We can store up angers and resentments and fears that we no longer need. It is time to give them away. 

In today’s Gospel, we learn that the Spirit led Jesus to a lonely place. Up to this point in Luke’s Gospel, we have seen Jesus as a member of his family and community. We have met Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna and John the Baptist. Now Jesus must stand on his own and decide what really matters in life. Is he going to rely on material things? Is he going to want power at any price? Is he going to put himself rather than God at the heart of his decision making? These are the temptations of the devil. 

The O’Connor Faith and Service Captains, Angus Srivener and Lara Windred, launched Project Compassion at our whole school assembly last week. The eldest child in each family was provided with a Project Compassion box. As part of our fasting, people traditionally gave up something such as chocolate for the 40 days of lent and would donate the money usually spent on this. Angus encouraged everyone to keep this in their homes as a reminder of our call to almsgiving during the lenten season, and to give what they could to those in need. 

St Paul reminds us that we ‘all belong to the same Lord, who is rich enough, however many ask for his help, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ The Lord calls on us as well! The Lord asks us to remove some of our own clutter and do what we can to embrace the whole human family. Our deepest longing is for God to be the center of our lives and nothing else.

Shrove Tuesday 

The Vinnies group provided Pancakes to the OCC community on Tuesday 1st March 2022 to raise money for caritas. 

Ash Wednesday Mass

On Wednesday our community began its Lenten Journey.  Lent is a time of preparation for the gift of new life that we receive at Easter. During this time, we are called to reflect upon our need for God and to address those things in our lives that distract us from the wholeness that only God can bring. 

The lyrics from our opening hymn on Wednesday’s mass:

“When everybody's looking for another fight

When trouble's on the rise, no end in sight

Oh, Saviour, won't You come and make the wrong things right

Let me be the place You start

Give me a clean heart”

In his homily, Fr Kinglsly encouraged the community to prepare for Easter by practicing abstinence and moderation, to be charitable and most importantly  prayer to help become humble, grateful and more holy. 

Year 8 Mass

On Wednesday 23rd February 8.3 and their teacher Mr Trinh prepared the Year 8 Mass. Fr Deliep celebrated mass for the first time with the OCC community in the De La Salle Chapel, and delivered a message of hope for our Year 8 students. He referred to education as grapes; when young and green can taste sour or bitter, but as they ripen and mature the fruit is music sweeter. He encouraged all students to challenge themselves to be their best selves, engage in their learning and start thinking about the legacy they would like to leave behind. 

Thank you to the readers and Mr Trinh for helping prepare a wonderful Mass. 

Musicians are invited to join with the BEATitudes to provide the music. Rehearsal 4:45pm before mass. Everyone is welcome!

Altar Servers

Year 7 Altar servers were introduced to De La Salle Chapel this week. Year 10 students Josephine Ryan and Bernard May ran the first training session with our new servers. They will be added to our Mass roster to serve for Year masses throughout the year. 

A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Michael Kennedy

Our Founders - St Angela Merici and St John Baptiste De La Salle

Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral Parish

Keeping in touch with what is happening in the Cathedral Parish is easy through their website and Facebook pages.

With such a difficult year and a half it has been harder for parishioner's to give to the parish through the plates, particularly when the church is closed as it is at present. The Parish account details are available on the Parish bulletin. 

Cathedral Parish Website

Information about our founders

La Salle Website

Ursuline Sisters Website