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Pope Francis’s intention prayer for June
Laudato Si’ Week
Last week we celebrated Laudato Si’ Week.
Laudato Si is a letter (known as an encyclical) written by Pope Francis that highlights our call to care for our common home. In this letter, Pope Francis invites every person living on this planet to consider how we are shaping the future of our planet. Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges. Laudato Si' Week is a time to reflect on what the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us and prepare for the future with hope. It is a chance to “educate more and more to listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.” Pope Frances, 2021.
The goals of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ encylclical are outlined below.
Staff participated in a special prayer reflection and students were encouraged to make a pledge to care for our common home, starting with small steps in caring for our schoolyard.
Holy Feast Days of the Catholic Church
Last Monday we celebrated the feast day of the Patron Saint of Australia – Mary, Help of Christians. Jesus’ mother, Mary Help of Christians was adopted as patron of the new Church of Australia in the early and mostly priest-less days, when the praying of the Rosary was the only thing that kept the Catholic faith alive. We continue this devotion to Mary, Help of Christians in the hope that she will grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens. We hope that under her protection Australia will be granted harmony, justice and peace.
This Sunday, the Catholic Church celebrates the central doctrine of Christian faith: the Most Holy Trinity. The Holy Trinity is a uniquely Christian expression of God.
The belief in the Trinity is the belief that there are three ‘persons’ in the one Godhead: God as Father and creator revealed in the Old Testament, God made human as Jesus the Son and together wiith the Holy Spirit, the Trinity is complete. Essentially, the Trinity is a mystery and the most central mystery of the Church. We remember the Trinity each time we make the sign of the Cross.
On Sunday 6th of June, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is commemorated in the Catholic Church. This feast day celebrates the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. In the time of Jesus, people believed that if you shared a meal with someone in their home, then you were also sharing something of their life. Even today, sharing a meal with another person is a sign of acceptance. When we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we recall the Last Supper and the words Jesus spoke to the disciples when he blessed the bread and wine and asked them to continue to share bread and wine in Memory of him. Jesus came to make the world a better place and to share his vision of the reign of God with us. In celebrating the Eucharist, we make Jesus present in our lives.
First Holy Communion
Ally Sweet will celebrate the Sacrament of First Holy Communion this coming Sunday May 30 at 9:00am in St. Mary’s Church. Lily Andrews and Ocea Vallelonga along with parish members, Jemilla Dowell, Adam Hunter, Indie Knowling and Chelsea Rosenzweig will celebrate this Sacrament the following Sunday 6th June. We congratulate these children on their sacramental journey and wish them many blessings. Please keep our sacramental children in your prayers. You are very welcome to join both the celebrations by attending Mass and supporting our students.
Father in Heaven,
We ask for your blessings on our students as they celebrate the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist for the fist time. May their hearts be opened to Jesus as their helper and guide. May they may come to know Jesus’ as a forever friend, always calling them to fullness of life in his loving service.
Amen
May the richest blessings of the Father who made us, the Son who redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit who renews us, be with you always,
Rosemary Perre
APRIM
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Staff, Students and Friends,
Did you know that … the First Catholic School in Australia was founded in October 1820? This year marks 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia.
Two hundred years ago, the first official Catholic school opened in Australia on October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest John Therry. The school, which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter Street, Parramatta, taught 31 students. Since then, Catholic education has grown and now educates around 770,000 students in more than 1,750 schools with nearly 100,000 staff.
This week across Australia, all Catholic Schools celebrated this incredible milestone! On Monday, May 24, a National Mass was celebrated on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians to commemorate this occasion. Schools in the Port Pirie Diocese had the opportunity to watch a live Mass streamed from St Francis Xavier Cathedral presided by Archbishop Patrick O'Regan.
The month of May marks many significant feasts for our Church. Last Sunday, we celebrated the Ascension of the Lord; this coming weekend, we acknowledge Pentecost and follow with the Holy Trinity. Many of our classes will explore these feasts and discuss why they are important occasions in our liturgical year.
RECONCILIATION WEEK
On Wednesday, we placed on our fence, facing Verran Terrace, our new Forgiveness - Reconciliation banner to commemorate National Sorry Day, and yesterday was the beginning of National Reconciliation Week. As a nation, there has been progress in the cause of Reconciliation, but there is so much still to do. As an inclusive community that has embraced our call to continue to work towards Reconciliation, Our Lady of the River School is proud of our small group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Our whole school diversity is a source of strength and a sign of hope for the future.
As a community that celebrates the diversity of our students as a source of our great strength, Reconciliation Week is a time to remember the rich heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and celebrate the contribution they have made to Australian society and culture. But, it is also a time to acknowledge the past and seek healing.
The word "reconciliation" means to make things right and to repair relationships. In effect, we use this word to indicate that we sit down together as equals. Our indigenous people have not always been treated as equals in Australian society. During Reconciliation Week, we remember the past, celebrate the present and dream our future together.
NATIONAL SORRY DAY, or the National Day of Healing, is an annual event held in Australia on May 26 since 1998. This day acknowledges the Indigenous children separated from their families, known as the "Stolen Generations".
NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK was initiated in 1996 to celebrate Indigenous history and culture in Australia and foster Reconciliation. It is between May 27 and June 3 of each year. May 27 is the anniversary of the 1967 referendum (on indigenous policies) in Australia. June 3 marks the High Court of Australia's anniversary on the Mabo v Queensland trial of 1992. Both dates are incredibly significant for the rights of the indigenous people in Australia.
Have a great weekend.
Ros Oates
Principal
Hi all,
It has been a busy couple of weeks in school sport!
Last Wednesday, we had 12 students travel to Waikerie to compete in the SAPSASA Riverland District Cross Country Carnival. Conditions were ideal for long distance running and our athletes performed to the best of their ability over the 3-kilometre track. Congratulations to Kuljeet Bhatti, Slater Marsden and Charlize Camilleri-Turner who made the Riverland District squad to compete at the Oakbank Race Course on Thursday, June 10th. We wish them the best of luck! I would also like to thank both Brad Krollig and Ebonie Cresp for all their help on the day.
In other news, the SAPSASA Riverland District Soccer Carnival will be held today at the Steve Poutakidis Playing Fields, Renmark. A total of 26 students will attend the event, a fantastic effort. Good luck to all of our competitors.
Kind regards,
Thomas Charlton
Year 7 Teacher/Sports Coordinator
National Simultaneous Reading - Give Me Space
Mel Steele
Leader of Learning
This week, the students are participating in a dance program delivered by the company' Footsteps'. Footsteps is run from Foundation to Year 7 and specialises in curriculum integrated dance programs that use dance as a vehicle to develop students' inter/intrapersonal skills and fitness levels. Every grade has had two dance classes this week, and from all accounts, the students have enjoyed their sessions. Our students love dancing - it seems natural to them, so we look forward to an opportunity later in the year to present some of their 'groovy moves' in our whole school production.
Topic | Term | Week |
School Attendance | Term 2 | Week 3 |
Walk Safely to School | Term 2 | Week 3 |
Canteen Price increase | Term 2 | Week 1 |
Transition Students | Term 2 | Week 1 |
Term 2 Events Calendar | Term 2 | Week 1 |
SAPSASA Timetable | Term 1 | Week 8 |
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