This week, our Year 4 Sacrament Program Candidates receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist. Over the past months, these children have prepared at home and at school and are now ready to receive Jesus in a special way. We continue to hold these children and their families in our prayers as they continue their faith journey. Confirmation and First Eucharist Masses will be on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at Saint Pius X Church, Dernancourt.

A Prayer for our Confirmation Candidates

Lord, You send out Your Spirit to touch the hearts of all people, so that they may believe in You and in Jesus whom You sent.

Look kindly on all candidates for Confirmation as they listen to Your voice. Open their hearts to Your Spirit and bring to fulfilment the good work that You have begun in them.

As we prepare these children for Confirmation, make each of us an instrument of Your love. Teach us to appreciate what is holy in others, and to be patient with what we do not understand.

Deepen our faith in the Gospel and help us to pass it on by our example. We pray that You will continue to guide us and sustain us.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

On Monday, representatives from Catholic Schools throughout South Australia gathered at Saint Francis Xavier’s Cathedral for a Mass to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. A few weeks ago, your child would have brought home a prayer card, commemorating this significant achievement. I encourage you to pray this prayer with your family in the coming days.

Monday was also a significant day in the life of the Church in Australia. We celebrated the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians – the patroness of Australia.

Very soon, we will be inviting families to contribute to the Annual Vinnies Winter Appeal. More information will be sent home in due course. The work that our local Vinnies conference does in reaching out the most vulnerable in our community is truly inspirational. Please stay tuned!

Blessings for the week ahead.