Dear St Columbkille's community,
This past week and a half I have been fortunate to attend, with other colleagues from the diocese and Father Patrick, the 2024 RE Congress in Anaheim, Los Angeles. It will be trip that will be forever remembered fondly in my heart for the learnings, experiences and friendships formed. The theme of the conference was "Be Loved." This is a great reminder of how God's love, nourishment and transformative power is experienced in our hearts, mainds and in our actions.
Pope Francis has said, "This is the heart of the Christain faith: God, who is love, has drawn near to you, to me, to everyone, in his Son Jesus, and wants to share in your life, your work, your dreams, and your thirst for happiness." I was blessed to take part in so many life filling experiences and for that I am truly grateful.
I am also thankful to the staff of St Columbkille's in continuing to help our students live out their faith these past 2 weeks, and in the near future, with a number of experiences they have organised and led. "It takes a village to raise a child" and our community is a testament to that. BE LOVED!
LENT / PROJECT COMPASSION
This Sunday is the Second Sunday of Lent. We continue on our Lenten journey and encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Your prayers are encouraged through our classroom Lenten Prayer boxes and any monetary donations to school money boxes are kindly appreciated. Below is a reflection and prayer from Caritas for the second Sunday of Lent.
FAMILY / PARISH MASS
The first of our family/parish masses will occur on Thursday 7th March at 6 pm. It will be a "Welcome Mass" for St Columbkille's with our school leaders, staff and students receiving a blessing from Father Patrick. Our school band will enliven our spirits by performing. We hope to see many families join us for this celebration.
Our first school and community weekend Mass, for those who can attend, will be held on Sunday 17th March @ 9.30am. Our Stage 3 students will help lead this Mass, and it is an extra special celebration being St Patrick's feast day.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER 2024
This year it will be held on Friday 1st March, 2024. For decades this global ecumenical prayer service has been an opportunity for local churches in each region to come together to pray, focusing on a particular place in the world and supporting a shared project. All parishioners are welcome at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church, Balgownie for a 10am Mass. This year's service was written by the Christian Women of Palestine.
DIOCESAN EDUCATION MASS
Each year staff from within the Diocese of Wollongong attend the annual education Mass. This year we will celebrate together on Tuesday 5th March at St John Vianney's Cathedral at Fairy Meadow. We look forward to this event and giving thanks for the new school year and all that it brings.
SACRAMENTS 2024
Dates for the sacraments of Confirmation (Year 6), First Holy Communion (Year 3) and First Reconciliation (Year 2) have been set. Further information will follow as we near these dates.
- Confirmation: Tuesday 2nd and Wednesday 3rd of July @ 7pm
- First Holy Communion: Sunday 8th, Sunday 15th and Sunday 22nd of September @ 9.30am
- First Reconciliation: Thursday 5th December @ 9.30am
WANTED: PROJECTOR OPERATORS FOR MASS
Are you available (student, parent or family) to go on a roster to operate the laptop at either the 6pm Mass on Saturday or 9.30am Mass on Sundays? If you could help out once a month or every six weeks, please contact Millie 0409 999 196. It would be wonderful for those students who have already received, or are receiving, the Sacraments to help lead this ministry.
Have a wonderful fortnight being loved,
Mrs Jo Herring - Religious Education Coordinator
