The Parish Sacramental Program 2022

Please note that the First Communion Programme that was rescheduled for October this year, will now take place in Term 1 2022.

Dear Parents and Carers

Thank you for your patience as we navigate through the current COVID restrictions.

It has become necessary to restructure the Lumen Christi Preparation Programme for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist.

Bishop Brian has announced that with the easing of restrictions, the Churches in the Wollongong Diocese will open for Mass at the end of October when it is hoped that the population will reach the 80% vaccination target. The four square metre distancing requirement will be in place and we will have a reduced capacity for numbers for Mass in our Churches.

At Lumen Christi Catholic Parishes we value the health and safety of our parishioners. We understand the apprehension many may feel during these uncertain times.

We greatly appreciate your patience, however, having considered all of the options available, it has been decided to ask you to enrol your child in the Sacramental Programme for 2022.

Please mark this date in your diary for the 2022 Sacramental Programme Parent Meeting and enrolment evening 29/30 June SJV 6:30 pm. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the commencement of this meeting.

Yours in Christ

Fr Bernard Gordon

MISSION MONTH

‘We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’ 

Catholic Mission is an Australian Catholic agency which outreaches to our neighbours in Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America as well as remote dioceses in Australia.

The needs of the people are identified by local Catholics, to give people the opportunity to a full and enriched life - physically and spiritually - regardless of race, stigma, religion or gender.

Our focus country is Thailand, where the  Church seeks to provide life-fulfilling opportunities for children in need.

You can find more information here: Our focus project  

“If the children have a chance to study or prepare well to go to school, it will be very good … for them. We try to support them, and not only for education. Mind and body have to go together for the children to develop. I believe that if we really and truly help them with love, they will grow nicely and will have a good future.”  – Sister Chalaad Sungkalurk R.G.S

FRIDAY FUNdraising - Friday 29 October 2021

This year, we will be holding a Friday Fun Day to raise money for Catholic Mission, to assist them in their work in Thailand. 

This will be a Mufti Day, for a $2 donation, where you can wear team socks or crazy socks. 

You will have the opportunity to order a Subway lunch, lollypop and ice block. 

All orders for the Subway lunch, lollypop and ice blocks, as well as the $2 mufti donation will be done via the QKR! app. A Compass notification will be sent to advise when this has been opened.

Let's make this a great community effort for a worthwhile cause.

"I am a mission on this earth: that is the reason why I am here in this world" Pope Francis 2019

OCTOBER, THE MONTH OF THE ROSARY

This month, as Catholics, we have a special prayer focus in the Rosary. The Rosary is a special communal mantra prayer that includes the prayers that we all know, the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. It is a  prayer that honours Mary, while focusing on the events in the life of Jesus Christ.  It is a powerful prayer, that, when shared, can transform a family’s spiritual life. 

• Are you able to find some time this month to sit with Mary and pray the Rosary?
• Has there been a time in your life when God has spoken to you through the Rosary?
• What did God say?How can I reach out to Mary during this month of the Holy Rosary?

RE SHOWCASE - Kindergarten

REFLECTIONS

Sunday 17 October Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

When we set out to follow Jesus, faithful to the promises that we made at baptism to renounce sin and live lives directed by the Spirit, we normally do so with generosity of heart. However, after we have borne the burdens of this decision and realise some of the implications of our commitment, we begin to wonder if it was worth it. We believe that God will generously bless us. Still, would it be so wrong to hope for a little more, especially if we have made significant sacrifices along the way? Of those to whom much has been given, much will be required in return. The closer we are to Jesus, the more we will be expected to mirror him. The great ones in the reign of God, the ones who exercise authority over others, must be the servants of the rest. Parents, teachers, civil authorities, managers of every kind, pastoral leaders must all be servants, as Jesus was a servant. We will also have to drink from his cup of suffering and be baptised into his death. As we draw close to the one who gave his life as an offering for sin, we will find that the same self-sacrifice is being asked of us. When we struggle with the misfortunes that we face because of our commitment to Jesus, we will have him as an inspiration and a model to follow. He can sympathise with our weaknesses, identify with our suffering. We can draw strength from his example and hope from his kindness. © Dianne Bergant CSA

Sunday 24 October Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Throughout this liturgical year we have examined several aspects of our faith. We have pondered the history of our salvation, the merciful compassion of God, God's willingness to lead us out of the bondage of our addictions. We have meditated often and long on the person of Jesus, on his life and death, on the meaning of his sacrifice, on his resurrection, on his influence in our lives today. We have considered our own ongoing transformation as disciples of Jesus, baptised into his death and resurrection, commissioned to bring the news of his love to all those with whom we come into contact. We have reflected on all of these wonderful deeds of God, and now we must ask the question: What difference has it made? Have we merely acquired some information about the biblical readings, about our religious ancestors, about the ministry of Jesus and the life of the early church? Or have our eyes really been opened; have we been enabled to leave behind whatever prevents us from living the Christian life fully, to abandon our exiles or the trappings of our former lives? Have we accepted more genuinely the Christian responsibilities that are ours as baptised followers of Christ, in our own personal lives, in our families, in our relationships with others, at the workplace? To what degree have we been transformed into Christ? How open have we become to the action of the Spirit in our lives? Have we been made a new creation? And do we recognise Christ in our midst? © Dianne Bergant CSA