EDUCATION IN FAITH

‘BE THE KINDNESS YOU WANT TO RECEIVE’

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Sunday 18 February, 2019

Gospel of Luke 6: 17, 20 - 26

‘Happy are the poor. Woe to the rich!’

COMMISSIONING CEREMONY

Every year at our Staff Opening Mass, the staff take part in a Commissioning Ceremony led by Fr Terry. It is a tradition that at this time we receive our candle. We light the candle from each other and pass the light onto another and form a circle around the altar. This then becomes our Class Candle for the year. It is a very special time where we accept once more the mission entrusted to us and to accept it with all your hearts and renew our commitment to this ministry.

Ash Wednesday

On  Wednesday March 6, we will be celebrating Ash Wednesday Mass in the church as a whole school to mark the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time of spiritual renewal. During Lent we are also called to action. Fasting and prayer are ways in which we observe Lent. While traditionally we associate Lent with ‘giving up treats’ or as those of us who are older would remember ‘not eating meat on Fridays’ there are other things that we can do. A commitment to prayer, a commitment to helping others, a commitment to kindness or a commitment to supporting those in need without all the recognition, are just as important as the fasting or ‘giving up.’Everyone is welcome to join us at 9.10am parish Mass on March 6.

PREPS IN PYJAMAS 2019

Tuesday March 26 is booked for our delightful Prep Faith night (6:30pm start) where the Prep students arrive at school in their pyjamas. The evening consists of sharing  prayers, creating and making time and a discussion about prayer and our friendships. Fr Terry will be leading the parent faith component with the Prep parents. He is speaking about the importance of prayer and how we can reconnect with God. The children will create a piece of artwork in the classroom and another one with their parents that they can take home and keep.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

As Catholic Education Week approaches (10-16 March) it timely to remember why we celebrate Catholic schools. Catholic education in Victoria was established as a mission of service based on a vision of the dignity and wholeness of a person. We as Catholics, continue to maintain and build on this vision.

The theme for Catholic Education Week is ‘Growing Young In Christ’. Catholic schools are communities founded on and inspired by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the face of our merciful God. The Catholic Education Week theme, ‘Growing Young In Christ’, is an invitation to celebrate the love, compassion and forgiveness that are practised daily in Catholic school communities.

Special events will be celebrated to respond to the Pope’s invitation and to highlight aspects of Growing Young In Christ. On Friday, March 15, our School Captains, Social Justice Liturgy Team and SRC Leaders will attend the St Patrick’s Day Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral and join in the festivities of the afternoon at Treasury with 2000 other students. We look forward to celebrating St Patrick’s Day.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2019 ( Change)

As of 2020 the Sacrament of First Eucharist will be offered / celebrated by Year 4 students. This will mean this year in 2019, Year Three students will receive one Sacrament, First Reconciliation and then First Eucharist in 2020. There will be no First Eucharist in 2019. Sacrament of Confirmation for all Year Six students remains the same.

The parish team in its review of the Sacraments felt preparing and celebrating two Sacraments in Year Three is a very big commitment and expected to be better managed prepared over two years.

This year Reconciliation will take place on allocated Tuesday and Thursday evenings in May. Dates are May 21, 23, 28, 30 and  and June 4. More information will follow with our Faith Night held for all Year Three parents only on March 7 at 7.30pm.

The dates for the Sacrament of Confirmation will occur on August 22, 23 and 24. The planning and preparation for this celebration has already begun across the two schools and parish.

SACRAMENT of RECONCILIATION

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Year Three children who will be celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the month of May. Our first celebration of Reconciliation will take place on Tuesday May 21 at 6.30pm in the SFX Church. More information will be given at the Faith Night.

CLASS MASSES

ST VINCENT de PAUL FOOD APPEAL

Each year, as a school community, we support the efforts of our local chapter of St Vincent de Paul volunteers in their collection of food items to distribute to families in need in the Montmorency area.

We know that there are many calls on each of us to help these days but we believe in supporting such work in our own community and this long standing partnership means that the volunteers now depend on our ongoing commitment. In anticipation of a successful appeal, we thank you for your ongoing generosity.

We will established three collections in 2019 in Term One, Two and Four.

Our first Collection will be on Thursday March 14.

Collection is as follows:

Year Five and Year Six

Tinned Vegetables or Soup

Pasta Sauce

Toilet Rolls.

Year Three and Year Four

Tinned Fish

Cereal

Tinned Fruit

Prep

Tea

Coffee

Peanut Butter

Year One and Year Two

Milo

Jam

Vegemite

ST VINCENT DE PAUL AUSTRALIA DAY AWARD

Congratulations to St Vincent de Paul for receiving an Australia Day Award

On Australia Day 26th January 2019, SVDP Montmorency received an award “in recognition of their valued contribution to the community”. Whilst we were pleased to receive this award from the Federal Member for JagaJaga The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, we wish to share this award equally with the Parishioners of St Francis Xavier, the Holy Trinity, St Francis Xavier and CLC school communities, and the donors and shoppers at our Vinnies Shops. Congratulations to everyone and we look forward to your continuing support and generosity in the years to come, as without this support, the conference could not participate as effectively in supporting families in need in our local community.

IMPORTANT DATES

TERM ONE                                                                                                        

Wednesday 6 March - Ash Wednesday Whole School Mass 9.10am in the Church

Friday 15 March - St Patrick’s Day Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral Church. School Captains, Social Justice Team and SRC Leaders to attend.

Tuesday 26 March - Preps In Pyjamas Faith Night

In the School Hall at 6.30pm. All are welcome. Parents, you don’t have to dress in Pyjamas, only the children.

Tuesday and Thursday 21, 23, 28, 30 May and 4 June – Sacrament of Reconciliation for all Year Three Students. Parents and children to attend one of the above dates

Adriana Bownds

Religious Education Leader (REL)