Sacrament of Reconciliation

On the Wednesday evening in the last week of Term 1, children and their families from the St Joseph’s community came together in the Parish Centre to celebrate completing the preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It was a lovely evening as we shared cakes, children received their Rosary bracelets blessed by Father Paul and received their certificates. We then gathered in the church as a faith community where the children, their families and members of our St Joseph’s Parish were given the opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It was a very moving evening with children being given the opportunity to not only participate in the sacrament themselves but also witness their peers, families, teachers, St Joseph’s parishioners and Father Paul also receive the same opportunity.

Please continue to keep these children and their families in your daily prayers.

Congratulations to these children and their families on making this important step in their faith journey:

Season of Easter

This coming Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Easter and is also called Good Shepherd Sunday. In the Gospel (John 10:27-30) Jesus describes his care for his sheep. The metaphors of sheep and shepherd, although personally relevant to those Jesus spoke to, is typically not a part of our world experience today. This image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and his community of followers as his sheep has endured over the centuries as a central image in our faith tradition. The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd helps  us to understand our relationship with Jesus as a shepherd provides protection, security, and care for their sheep.

This Gospel speaks about the familiarity involved in recognising and knowing another's voice. When we recognise a family members' voice our relationship with that person also enables us to read the tone of their voice and know something about how they are feeling. Our relationship with Jesus is the same. We know Jesus'voice and are called to follow him. Jesus puts us directly into contact with God the Father. Knowing Jesus means knowing the Father.

As you read the Gospel of John (10:27-30) with your family ask each member to talk about some ways that Jesus brings them closer to God and closer to one another.

Student Prayer Focus

Our Student Prayer Focus this week centres on the Gospel of John for this coming Sunday. In classes students hear the scriptures and respond to the question:

What do I wonder about the Gospel this week?

In Year 5 and 6 the students responses to the Gospel were:

• I wonder who was speaking in the Gospel? by Abagail and Tashneet
• I wonder why the Gospel refers to sheep? By Lucy and Alarna
• I wonder if the son and the father means Jesus and God? By Ivan and Miller
• I wonder what they mean by saying “We are one?” by Drina and Bridget
• I wonder why they were keeping the sheep to themselves? By Leo and Ewan

As a part of our Student Prayer Focus this week you will see that a white leaf is being added to our trees in each class prayer space. The white leaf is to symbolise the season of Eastertide. On each leaf of a word or phrase is written which symbolise how each class member will work to glorify Christ with their life during the week.

How will you Glorify Christ with your life this week?

Sacramental Information

Sacrament of First Holy Communion

The  preparation for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion will commence on Saturday 18 May at 5.15pm for students Year 4 and older who have made their first Reconciliation. A note with further information will go home this week. Please enrol in this Sacrament by completing the online form at:

http://bit.ly/sacraments2019

Please contact Father Paul  if you have any questions about sacraments at:

paul_nulley@hotmail.com

Yours in Christ,

Melanie Stratford

Religious Education Coordinator

melanie.stratford@cg.catholic.edu.au