Book Week 2020

The theme for Book Week 2020 is ‘Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’. This year St Michael's will be celebrating Book Week on Friday 23rd October. To celebrate this wonderful occasion we are inviting all students from Kinder to Year 6 to come dressed as their favourite book character or around the theme of 'Curious Creatures, Wild Minds’ (STRICTLY no props - e.g.: sword, wand etc due to covid). There will be no parade or visitors on site this year as we still have our covid restrictions in place. 

In the coming weeks students will be reading shortlisted picture books during their library time and doing an activity that Mrs Medina has organised. On our Book Week celebration Day (Friday, Term 4, Week 2) teachers are organising an activity based on their allocated book. There will also be a raffle ticket lucky door prize for every class! The winners will receive a book! 

 Grandparents Day

We usually celebrate Grandparents Day in conjunction with book week - having open classrooms and a lovely liturgy. This is such a beautiful time for both our grandparents and students but unfortunately at this time, health restrictions prevent us from doing so. This year we will be doing something a little bit different to thank and celebrate our wonderful grandparents. 

Parent Spirituality 

Ripples! 

Episode 14: The Story Behind RUOK Day with Josie Larkin (Josie is the daughter of Gavin Larkin, the founder of RUOK Day. She is 19 years of age and is an extraordinary young woman with a very important message.)

PODCAST LINKS:

LINK TO PODBEAN: https://ripples.dow.catholic.edu.au

APPLE PODCAST LINK: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ripples/id1511337808 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/CathEd.DoW/videos/649600145674930/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/CEV65G0g0M-/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/CathEd_DoW/status/1298500935610556417

Messages from Father Ken 

Books and Books are Needed by Vinnies

Vinnies has a huge demand for books in this present pandemic environment.  If you have any good reading books, please drop them into the Vinnies bin in the church grounds, or drop them in to the sacristy or Parish Office.  Thanks for your generosity.

Baptisms at Thirroul

If you want your child baptised in our Parish, please contact the Parish Office so that a suitable time can be organised for the celebration – currently baptisms will not be held during the weekend Masses.

Samaritan’s Purse:  Operation Christmas Child  

Operation Christmas Child hand delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to children in many countries who have nothing.  Thailand, New Guinea and Cambodia are among those countries.  Thirroul Catholic Women’s League combines with Austinmer Uniting Church Fellowship to fill shoeboxes.   Please, if you can, lend your support to this outreach:  gifts and donations to enable boxes to be filled for boys and girls aged 2yrs to 14yrs. 

Items required are … face washers;  soap [not liquid];  hair clips;  toothbrushes;  skipping ropes;  coloured pencils;  lead pencils;  biro pens;  pencil sharpeners;  erasers;  chalk [ask an oldie to tell you what that is!]  NB all items must be new.

On each weekend until 4 October there will be a tub for the items in the sacristy for your donations – or drop your gifts into the Parish Office.  Thank you for your generosity.

St Francis of Assisi:  Feast Day, Sunday, 4 October

Saint Francis of Assisi abandoned a life of luxury for a life devoted to following the Gospel, after reportedly hearing the voice of God, who commanded him to rebuild the church of San Damiano and live in poverty.  Born in Italy about 1181, Saint Francis was renowned for drinking and partying in his youth.  After fighting in a battle between the towns of Assisi and Perugia, Francis was captured and imprisoned for ransom.  He spent nearly a year in prison — awaiting his father’s payment.  Francis preached and taught a new kind of emotional and personal Christian religion that everyday people could understand.  He even went so far as to preach to animals, which garnered criticism from some and earned him the nickname “God’s fool.”  During his life he also developed a deep love of nature and animals and is known as the patron saint of the environment and animals.  His life and words have had a lasting resonance with millions of followers across the globe.

Blessing of Animals:  Monday, 5 October, 9:30am++

The annual Blessing of Animals will be held on the long weekend in October, from 9:30am onwards to 11:00am on Monday, 5 October.  All animals are welcome.  This year, because of social distancing regulations, all animals must keep two paws apart.  You may bring your pets anytime between 9:30am and 11:00am so as to maintain social distancing [especially between the lions and sheep].

On 4 October, people all over the world will be celebrating the feast day of the Patron Saint of Animals, Saint Francis of Assisi.  It is customary that in remembrance of St Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures, animals are led to churches for a special ceremony called the “Blessing of the Animals.”  Every year, millions of animals are blessed by priests/friars in a ceremony that touches the hearts of most of those in attendance.

 Miss Emma Groves - Religious Education Co ordinator