This year for our Christmas Appeal we are offering our support to the Christmas Card project run by Sister Myree Harris and the Gethsemane Community. 

Each child will receive the name of a person who has a mental illness or disability who live in boarding houses, group homes or aged care facilities and have limited  contact with family or friends. These cards are often the only personal mail these people receive all year. Our students will be making some lonely, isolated people very happy this Christmas. This year more than ever people need our support and Pope Francis has been repeatedly asking everyone  to move to the “peripheries” or margins—to the forgotten groups, the neediest, the most persecuted, the least powerful.

Can every student please bring in one Christmas card and envelope before FRIDAY DECEMBER 4.  

St Vincent de Paul Society has reached out to the St Michael’s school community to ask if we would be able to collect food items to add to their Christmas hampers this year. This year, due to Covid, the parish has only had about a third of its usual numbers attending Mass. Also, as a result of Ken taking some sick leave, Masses are no longer being televised. As a result, St Vincent de Paul may not get the usual response from parishioners in regard to the items required to create the Christmas hampers. Can everyone please bring in BEFORE FRIDAY DECEMBER 11. 

Ideas: 

• Christmas cake

• Christmas mince pies 

• Christmas pudding

• Bon bons

• Custard (long life)

• Ham (tinned)

• Tinned veggies

• Chips

• Biscuits - shortbread, scotch fingers, wafers, ginger biscuits

• Jelly

• Lollies

• Drinks - cans / bottles/ cordial / poppers / soft drink 

• Hot chocolate mix / cocoa mix

• Savoury Biscuits 

• Tea bags

• Coffee 

• Cake/muffin/pancake mix

• Spreads- nutella/ honey/ jam/ maple syrup/ vegemite

 Parent Spirituality 

I wanted to let you know that the next Episode for Ripples has just gone LIVE. 

This Ripples features Petrea King who runs the Quest for Life Foundation. In 1983 Petrea was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and wasn’t expected to survive. Meditation and integration of past traumatic experiences which included the suicide of her brother, became paramount in her recovery. Meditation has been a constant in Petrea’s life for over 50 years. 

In this Episode Petrea shares the story of the Quest for Life Foundation and the significance of creating spaces where people can hear the still small voice within and be truly heard. In Part 2 she shares some wisdom around accompanying others who are experiencing pain or trauma in their lives and this Episode will be released very soon!

 PODCAST LINKS:

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

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

 First Penance and First Communion

Dear Parents of those enrolled for First Penance and First Communion Firstly, thank you for enrolling your son/daughter in these Sacraments. With the Covid-19 restrictions, there have been delays and, of course, complications. In addition, on medical advice, Ken has to take a break for a number of weeks, having had the major operation earlier in the year. Consequently, so as to avoid any rush, it has been decided to postpone both Sacraments of First Penance and First Communion until 2021. Sorry about this, but I trust you will understand the circumstances. In the meantime, Andrew will be looking after things in the Parish. Office hours etc. will be as usual. Ken Cafe ofm

 Liturgy with Bishop Brian 

“Today we celebrate that life is an adventure, you’re not alone and God is with you always” 

On Tuesday November 17, Week 6 Year 6 came together to celebrate a special liturgy with a video featuring Bishop Brian Mascord. As the students primary school adventure is coming to a close and their high school adventure is just around the corner, Bishop Brian reminded the students that they are not alone and that along with their friends someone else – very special, is always with them - God. 

The Christmas Story Virtual Art Gallery will go live the week following the Launch and will be available on the Sydney Catholic Schools Website. 

Miss Emma Groves - Religious Education Co Ordinator