From the APRIM - James Lloyd
The past few weeks have been busy for our Year 3 Reconciliation Candidates and Year 4 Confirmation and First Eucharist Candidates. Families, school and parish have been working together as we prepare these young people for the next step in their faith journey. I thank parents for their tremendous support in preparing children at home, and supporting the learning taking place in class. Next Thursday, we celebrate Confirmation and First Eucharist with our Year 4’s. Please continue to hold these children and their families in prayer in the coming days and weeks.
This weekend, the Catholic Church in Australia acknowledges Social Justice Sunday (30th August). This year, The Australian Catholic Bishops focus on mental health in Australia, particularly in light of the impact of COVID-19. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Social Justice Statement 2020-21: To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today, is available to read at the link below:
This coming Thursday, we are blessed to welcome Michael Mangan – a prominent Australian Catholic Composer. Michael will host 2 concerts for our children where he will perform and sing some favourite songs with them. Michael was originally due to visit us in the middle of the first wave of the pandemic, but due to border closures and restrictions on gatherings, was unable to come.
As a Catholic community, we place great importance on giving thanks to God for our many blessings. One way we do this at school is to offer a short prayer, often called ‘grace’, before meals. I encourage your family to join with us and offer a short prayer before meals. There are many such prayers to choose from, and often, we can make our own up. I have included one, below, which you may like to use at home.
Loving God, Thank you for the food we are about to eat. Thank you for the people who made it. We pray for all those who do not have enough to eat. Help us to care for all creation. Amen
I pray that your week is blessed.