Dear parents

The term is moving along very quickly, which means Reconciliation is right around the corner. I have sent communications out via PAM, and the Parish has attempted to make contact with as many people as possible. If you haven’t fulfilled the enrolment process with Tara, I encourage you to reach out to her immediately at the St Michaels Parish Support Centre on 9707 1355.

Reconciliation

Reconciliation will be celebrated at the shared chapel between St Catherine’s Primary School and St Francis Xavier on Tuesday 3 September. Students are to wear their full winter school uniform. 4S3 and 4S4 are asked to bring their sports uniform to change into. The Specialist timetabled will be altered to accommodate the day, and Year 4s will have their Specialists lessons in the afternoon. 

As we are celebrating all groups on the one day, we will be splitting them in half.

• Students in 4S3 and 4S4 will be celebrating their sacrament from 9:30am until 10:30am. Students who are in Year 5 will also celebrate at this time.
• Students in 4S5 and 4S6 will be celebrating their sacrament from 11:30am until 12:30pm.

Students who are not receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation will be present while their peers participate. Parents and family in any level are warmly invited to attend. There will be a sign-in sheet outside the entrance, similar to year level masses. The ceremony will not be a traditional mass, but it will include some aspects. Regardless of your faith or participation in masses, you’re welcome to attend.

Student-Free Day - Religious Education

We appreciate your support during the recent student-free day on Monday. We understand that organising supervision for children on such days can be challenging, and we do not take these days lightly in terms of planning and preparation.

I had the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Alice Youlden, our Catholic Identity and Religious Education Officer at DOSCEL, to develop a day of professional development for our staff. We began by examining the To Live in Christ Jesus Curriculum, specifically focusing on the Christian Life and Catholic Social Teaching strand that teachers are emphasising this term. We also previewed elements of the new curriculum that will be introduced soon.

Teachers then engaged in drama-based activities that can be used in the classroom, allowing students to express their understanding through voice, body, and creativity. The teachers performed exceptionally well. I am eager to see the insights from the day translated into the classroom, enhancing the learning experience for our students. We extend our gratitude to Alice for spending the day with us, and thank you for your understanding.

Sunday Scripture Spotlight

I recently had the privilege of attending professional development with Dom Ryan, the Senior Manager of Catholic Identity and Religious Education at DOSCEL. He recommended that we share the Sunday scripture and commentary with you in our newsletters to spread the good news.

This Sunday’s scripture is from John 6:60-69. Below is the translation from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition, as found on Bible Gateway.

The Words of Eternal Life

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Dr Mary Coloe PBVM provides the following commentary on LiturgyHelp.

Today concludes John chapter 6 where Jesus feeds the crowd as ancient Israel was fed with manna, and then explains the deeper meaning of this miracle in the long, ‘Bread of Life’ discourse. The Gospel last week finished with Jesus' words on the Eucharist where he spoke about eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of Man. To those outside the experience of Eucharist this sounds like cannibalism and many of the crowd reject him, even some of his disciples. ‘Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?”’ The Gospel puts this question firstly to the Johannine community; will you follow Jesus or remain a follower of Moses and your Jewish traditions? This is the time in the early Church where believers were faced with this clear decision – Moses or Jesus, with no room for sitting on the fence. Make a choice.

Aware of the disciples’ difficulties, Jesus suggests that they may be looking for further support for his claim to be the definitive revelation of God. Jesus’ unanswered question, ‘What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending where he was before’ (v. 62), is high rhetoric. Understood is the conclusion: ‘would that satisfy your doubts?’ The question presupposes all that has been said so far about the Son of Man, but especially Jesus’ words in 3:13: ‘No one has ascended into heaven but one has descended from heaven, the Son of Man.’

Thanking you,

Rian Prestwich

Deputy Principal: School Operations and Religious Education Coordinator