St Brigid's Catholic Parish Primary School Gwynneville eNewsletter

From the Religious Education Coordinator's Desk

VINNIES VAN APPEAL

St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society.

The St Vincent de Paul Society's members and volunteers reach out to the most vulnerable in our community through their Conferences, Special Works and Vinnies shops. Members and volunteers assist people in need and do not discriminate against cultural, religious or political beliefs.

Each year St Vincent de Paul Homelessness Coordination Services and the Illawarra/Shoalhaven Vinnies Van, based at 12-16 Miller Street Coniston, provides over 240 hampers filled with pantry items, Christmas goodies, small toys and other items.

This year, our St Brigid's community will be supporting 2 hamper drives.

The first one, for the Vinnies Van, will take place next week. I have indicated in the table below the items that each grade will need to bring in, however, any donation will be appreciated.

The second fundraiser will take place in week 10 and this will be for our local conference of St Vincent de Paul. More information in the next Brigid Bulletin.

I understand that this is a big ask for this time of the year, but we are the fortunate ones!

All items MUST be at school by Friday 19 November 2021

Thank you, in advance, for your support and generosity.

GRADE	ITEM
Kindergarten	Puddings
Year 1	Canned fruit
Year 2	Christmas cake
Year 3	Christmas shortbread biscuits
Year 4	Men's toiletry items (e.g.deodorant, soap, shaving cream)
Year 5	Fruit mince pies
Year 6	Long life custard

REFLECTIONS

Sunday 14 November

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Although this is not the last Sunday of the liturgical year, the major theme found in the readings is the end of time. The events that will usher in and will take place during this time are described in apocalyptic terms. The struggles of life will culminate in a massive cosmic confrontation between the forces of good and those of evil. This last battle will be universal in scope, just like the first primordial conflict between chaos and God.

In some way, all of the readings state that good will finally prevail over evil. In the last days Michael, the angelic warrior of God, will rise up. In the epistle, Christ is pictured seated triumphantly at the right hand of God with his enemies under his foot, a sign of conquest. Finally, in the gospel, the Son of Man, the mysterious figure from apocalyptic literature, comes in the clouds with great power and glory. All of these images are apocalyptic; each of them is quite hopeful.

We read these stories at the close of the liturgical year, because we are coming to the conclusion of our yearly telling of the story of salvation. However, apocalyptic images are timely whenever we find ourselves in the throes of the battle with evil and it appears that we will succumb. These forms will remind us that good will be able to withstand evil. From this we will conclude that we need only trust in God.

Sunday 21 November

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Each one of the readings depicts the enthronement of Christ who is revealed as the messiah-king. Until his trial, Jesus himself refused to be identified as king. The royal messianic expectations that prevailed during his lifetime were predominantly political. If he assumed them, his followers might have instigated a rebellion against the Roman occupiers. When finally he did acknowledge his royal identity, he insisted that his rule was not like that of other kings.

Enthroned in heaven, Christ is revealed as the faithful witness to all that God has done and will continue to do. As first-born from the dead, his resurrection is the promise of our own resurrection. The dominion that he received from God is universal and exclusive and it will last forever. When he comes again on the last day, he will be revealed in all his glory.

Christ's kingdom is a kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice and love and peace. We need not stand at a distance from him, afraid to approach because of our human vulnerability. He is the one who loved us so much that he handed himself over to suffering and death so that we might live. He has already brought us to birth in this kingdom through Baptism and he has taught us how to live in it. Today we look to that time when his glory will be revealed, when we will all be gathered into the embrace of God, there to sing praise to that glory forever.