Social Justice Sunday

Social Justice Sunday is this coming Sunday 27th August. The Australian Bishops Social Justice Statement is launched on the last Sunday in August each year. The theme of this statement for 2023-24 is "Listen, Learn, Love: A new engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples."

This Social Justice Sunday we encourage you to reflect on the place of First Nations Peoples, new ways we can engage and walk together, and the importance of the upcoming referendum and the outcomes that will lead to better consultation, improved policies and services, and stronger communities.

The link to the Statement and other resources can be found at this website

Year 5 Mary MacKillop Excursion

Last Thursday 17 August our Year 5 students travelled to Mary MacKillop Place in Sydney. A range of experiences were had which allowed the students to reflect on the story of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods. Personal journeys of faith were also deepended as a result of these activities. Thank you to our Year 5 teachers for accompanying these children.

Queenship of Blessed Virgin Mary

This feast day, celebrated on August 22nd, acknowledges the queenship of Mary, our Blessed Mother. As the mother of Jesus Christ, the Lord of all creation, Mary shares in his royal heritage. She is the Queen Mother. The queenship of Mary foreshadows the glory in heaven which awaits all of us who recognize her son as ruler of the universe. As Pope Pius XII explains "Jesus is King throughout all eternity by nature and by right of conquest: through Him, with Him, and subordinate to Him, Mary is Queen by grace, by divine relationship, by right of conquest, and by singular choice [of the Father]. And her kingdom is as vast as that of her Son and God, since nothing is excluded from her dominion."

World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation / Season of Creation

In 2015 Pope Francis established 1st September as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, encouraging the Catholic community around the world to pray for our common home. The day is inspired by Pope Francis' landmark encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls on "every person living on this planet" to care for our shared Earth.

The Season of Creation begins on September 1st and the theme and invitation of this year’s season is "Let Justice and Peace Flow."  In his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 2023, Pope Francis reminds us that “We can and we must prevent the worst from happening. Truly, much can be done provided we come together like so many streams, brooks and rivulets, merging finally in a mighty river to irrigate the life of our marvellous planet and our human family for generations to come. So let us join hands and take bold steps to Let Justice and Peace Flow throughout our world”.

Today we give praise to God expressing our thanks for the marvellous works that have been entrusted to our care, and we ask for God’s help as we take action to protect our planet and all of its creatures.St Columbkille’s will acknowledge this day with a prayer celebration at morning assembly next Friday 1st September.

You may also like to use this "action placemat" to see how your family/yourself can be stewards of creation throughout the month of September.

Father's Day Celebrations

Next Friday 1st September our school will pay tribute to all our father figures (dads, grandads, pops, uncles, etc) with a lunch and liturgy celebration. RSVP’s need to be received by Monday 28th August at info.sccdow@catholic.edu.au. We look forward to celebrating this event with you.

Children's Liturgy

For each Sunday of September, 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th, our wonderful coordinators of Children's Liturgy will be running sessions during the Mass. Children use the Parish Centre to discuss and complete activities related to the readings of the day. At offertory time they return and take the gifts to Father Patrick and Father Anthony on behalf of the parish. The return of this wonderful inititative allows the children to talk openily about their feelings, thoughts and faith. All are most welcome.  

Joanne Herring - Religious Education Coordinator