“Dear brothers and sisters, let us continue our celebration of Holy Mass: the Memorial that heals our memory. Let us never forget: the Mass is the Memorial that heals memory, the memory of the heart. The Mass is the treasure that should be foremost both in the Church and in our lives. And let us also rediscover Eucharistic adoration, which continues the work of the Mass within us. This will do us much good, for it heals us within. Especially now, when our need is so great.”

Pope Francis -  Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Solemnity of Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ 2020

This Week Let us include in our prayers…..

• Those who suffer from systemic racism in Australia, the Americas, Europe and all countries where people are judged on the colour of their skin. We continue to stand peacefully and in solidarity with those who have lost loved ones and pray for healing for those who continue to suffer as a result of prejudice and racism.
• Those who are suffering from COVID-19 in the second wave of the virus in Australia and world wide. We prayer that you find the patience and strength to preserve through these difficult times.
• For our school community, we all return to school refreshed after a well earned holiday ready to tackle the challenges of learning that lay ahead for us this term.

Sunday’s Gospel

You will find attached in this week’s newsletter a copy of a family prayer that families can use at home around each week's Gospel reading. It is a fantastic, family friendly resource for those wishing to engage in weekly scriptures. It was wonderful to be back at church this week and prayer amongst people. Church services have resumed and Father Dariuzs will be presiding over  mass on the 25th & 26th July.  This week’s gospel was about understanding the Kingdom of God from Matthew’s Gospel as the sower and the seeds.

‘A sower went out to sow’

“Today’s readings use the rich imagery of the spilling forth of life in nature to illustrate how we are predisposed to receive God’s Word, which will in turn spill out of us. If we look around us, it is not hard to see that the entirety of creation, including ourselves are ‘groaning with labour pains’ for the coming forth of God.

We are called to make ourselves soft, fertile soil, rather than hardened clay to receive the seed of God’s word.

In the Gospel Jesus explains why he speaks in parables. It is in parables, in stories that we able to see a deeper truth not through a literal reading but by calling on our imagination to read between the lines. Unless we want to be hardened clay or we need to open ourselves in creative participation with the Word and let it sink deeply into our being.”   Gospel Reflections

Sacramental Program

After discussions with Father Dariuzs, and in light of Bishop Folley’s pending retirement, it has been decided to postpone the sacramental program until 2021. We will be proceeding with the programs next year for those who wish to partake in the sacraments of the Eurarchrist, Reconciliation, and Confirmation. We apologise for the unforeseen delays due to COVID-19 and appreciate your patience and understanding with these changes.

Assembly

This term we will resume more school functions as the COVID-19 restrictions ease. We will begin by gathering the students for our first assembly this week. Due to the continued restrictions around adults on school grounds, we will invite the parents of students receiving awards to the assembly each week.

May St Joseph smile on you,

Meg Newell