Last Saturday, 30 April 2022, James Arblaster was ordained by Bishop Brian Mascord at St Francis Xavier Cathedral as our new deacon.

Deacon James is a seminarian in the last phase of training for the priesthood. We are very fortunate that he will be ministering among us at Lumen Christi Parish during 2022. James will also be presiding at the Liturgy of the Word celebrations with the students of St Brigid's throughout the year. After being a deacon for a year, Bishop Brian will ordain him a priest.

Deacons can baptise, witness marriages, perform funeral and burial services outside of Mass, distribute Holy Communion and preach the homily. After being a deacon for a year, Bishop Brian will ordain Deacon James as a priest.

We congratulate Deacon James and wish him every blessing for the year ahead as he continues his formation towards priestly ordination. 

Dear Families and Friends of Lumen Christi Parish,

At the Angelus Address in St Peter’s Square in Rome, on 14 March 2021, Pope Francis announced that on “Friday, 19 March, Solemnity of Saint Joseph, the Amoris Laetitia Year of the Family will open”. Pope Francis explained that it would be “a special year to grow in family love.” He then called “for a renewed and creative pastoral drive to place the family at the centre of the attention of the Church and of society.” It was his prayer “that every family may feel in its own home the living presence of the Holy Family of Nazareth, that it may fill our small domestic communities with sincere and generous love, a source of joy even in trials and difficulties.” Every family needs to be aware of this living presence of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in their home as a way of remembering their vocation to live for God and for each other in mutual love and service.

In response to this invitation to reflect on the vocation and mission of Christian families, this Sunday (1 May 2022) we will be praying as a parish for all our families. To give a tangible expression to this prayer, an icon of the Holy Family will be placed before the sanctuary in St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Wollongong, and be blessed by Bishop Brian during the 10:30am Sunday Mass. One of our families will then light a candle before the icon to remind us that Christ, the Risen Lord, is the centre and support of the Christian home. This icon will be fixed to one of the walls of the Cathedral as a devotional focus to contemplate the virtues of family life and to find consolation in times of darkness and sorrow.

To foster our reflection on married and family life, Pope Francis has recommended a renewed study of his Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love). This Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, published in 2016, reflects on nine key ideas:

1. Family life in the light of God’s Word
2. The current experiences and challenges of families
3. Jesus’ teaching on marital love and marriage as a Sacrament
4. The growth of a married couple’s love through the various stages of life
5. The welcoming of new life into a marriage and care for children
6. Formation for couples before marriage and during their married life
7. Developing ways to better educate children
8. Pastoral mercy and discernment for people in morally difficult situations
9. The spirituality of marriage and family life as love, care, and consolation

As Lumen Christi parish we want to place our families at the centre of our attention. No matter where your family is situated or what struggles presently challenge you, you are loved by God. It may be the case that life in your family has been difficult and painful, or that there has been a breakdown in marital or family relationships. Whatever the circumstances, whoever is possibly at fault, God is with you, helping you to see the way forward according to the truth, mercy, and peace of Christ.

Last week I commenced a nine-week series of reflections on Amoris Laetitia.

The next meeting is on Wednesday 18 May 2022, 7pm at St Francis Xavier Cathedral in the Monsignor Rigney Meeting Room. To follow the talk, please purchase a copy of Amoris Laetitia from the parish office. Copies can also be purchased before the meeting starts. You are most welcome to attend.

Thank you to all our families for your beautiful witness of faith, prayer, and commitment. You remind us of an essential aspect of our Catholic religion, that God is Love and faithfully cares for us both in good times and when the storms of life are against us.

May God bless you and your children with hope and joy.

 Fr Bernard Gordon (26 April 2022)

GREAT RESULTS AT THE DA VINCI DECATHLON

Thank you to Mrs Mewitt for preparing and leading a strong academic team of sixteen Year 5 and 6 students to the 2022 Da Vinci Decathlon. More information about our success is featured in the News from the Middle Leaders Desk section of the newsletter.  

P&F FUNDRAISING 

A huge thank you to Ainsley E for coordinating the 2022 P&F chocolate drive. Not only did this event raise valuable funds, more importantly, the P&F were able to donate $818 to the St Vincent de Paul flood appeal to help those devastated by the NSW floods. Thank you one and all for you support. The next P&F fundraiser will be a winter pie drive in June. Stay tuned for further details. 

Thank you also to Lara P for purchasing and organising the Mother's day stall for the students. Thanks also to Rebecca A and Saira M for assisting the students with their purchases today.   

P&F SPECIAL FOOD DAY - PLACE YOUR ORDER ON QKR 

 

MINI_PIZZA_DAY.pdf

MINI_PIZZA_DAY _pdf 208.02 KB

  

  

COVID SMART PROCEDURES FOR COMING ONTO SITE

Despite many restrictions being lifted, the St Brigid’s staff have elected to continue to wear face masks to keep healthy and to achieve learning continuity for the students by avoiding sickness and absenteeism. Therefore, I ask that you show your support for the staff by adhering to the 4 COVID-smart procedures below when you come onto the school site as a volunteer or visitor. 

  

WEEKLY ASSEMBLIES IN THE SCHOOL HALL

WINTER UNIFORM