SACRAMENT OF FIRST EUCHARIST 2024 

Reconciliation and First Holy Communion

As Catholics, we know that the Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith: it is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Pope Francis has called it the “Sacrament of Love..From this Sacrament of love, in fact, flows every authentic journey of faith, of communion, and of witness.”  Jesus comes to us in a unique way in the Eucharist.  When He comes, we receive Him into our body and our soul.  This is very beautiful, personal and intimate. 

As of next week, all students in Year 3 (and other students enrolled in the Reconciliation and First Holy Communion program) will begin a school program in preparation for these Sacraments in August.  As a faith community, we ask that you keep in our prayers the students, who will be preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion over the coming weeks.

Key Dates

There are a number of key events occurring next week that require parent involvement. Please ensure that you have key dates in your calendars and advise the school if you are unable to attend.

A parent information evening will take place this Tuesday 25 June from 6:30pm in the St Brigid's school hall. The Mass of Commitment will be celebrated at St Brigid’s Catholic Church on Saturday 29 June at 5:30pm. All students who have registered for the Reconciliation and First Holy Communion program must attend this Mass.

CLASS MASS TIMETABLE FOR TERM 2

Each term, our students are provided with the opportunity to attend Mass with our St Brigid's parishioners. Mass is a central aspect of our students’ faith formation and greatest act of worship and sacred celebration of community.

Parents, carers, grandparents and relatives are invited to attend Mass, and are especially encouraged to come along when their child(ren) are involved. A cuppa and biscuit is served after each Mass and is fabulous opportunity to meet other parents and members of our parish community. You are also welcome to go to the classroom for a 10-15 minute learning walk. Please see the schedule for Term 2:

THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

“God is Love” (1 John 4:8)

Throughout the month of June, the Catholic Church invites us all to reflect on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and what it means to live our lives in such a way that we reveal the loving heart of a merciful Saviour to the whole world.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us that in His sacred humanity, we find the pattern for our own lives. In His incarnation, that means His saving life and death and resurrection, we receive the pattern and the means to become more and more like Him.

On Friday 7 June 2024, students took part in devotion for the Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus during assembly and also shared in opportunities to learn about how the heart, as a symbol of human love, is honoured through the devotion of the Sacred Heart of  Our Lord, through which was manifested God’s love for everyone.

NAIDOC WEEK

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

The National NAIDOC Committee selected this theme to celebrate not only the survival but also the relentless spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The theme also celebrates the enduring strength of First Nations culture and offers teachers a chance to explore various topics, perspectives and experiences with students.

This year, we were fortunate to secure a cultural immersion for our students to experience. Adam Towney and his team immersed the students in culture through boomerang craft, Aboriginal dancing and jewellery making. Overall a wonderful experience for all. 

And so we pray…

Holy Father, God of Love, You are the creator of this land and of all good things. We acknowledge the pain and shame of our history and the suffering of our peoples – especially the grief of those who were taken as children from their homes and families, taken from all they knew and loved. We ask your forgiveness.

We thank you for the survival of Indigenous cultures.Our hope is in you because you gave your son Jesus to reconcile the world to you. We pray for your strength and grace to forgive, accept and love one another as you love, forgive and accept us.

Give us the courage to acknowledge the realities of our history so that we may build a better future for our nation. Teach us to respect all cultures. Teach us to care for our land and waters. Help us to share justly the resources of this land. Help us to bring about spiritual and social change to improve the quality of life for all groups in our communities, especially the disadvantaged.

Help young people to find true dignity and self-esteem in the ways of your Spirit. May your power and love be the foundations on which we build our families, our communities and our nation. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.