World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation 

The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is held each year on the 1st September.

This day marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, which is an annual event that encourages prayer and action for our common home which runs from 1st September through to 4th October.

This year, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation falls on a Wednesday (Week 8, Term Three). In 2021 the theme is A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos of God.

On this day each class will be participating in liturgy via zoom. As apart of this liturgy 1 student from each class will receive the St Francis of Assisi Award - For love of and appreciation for all of God’s creation. Based on the Criteria: 

Criteria

• Aligns their environmental beliefs with Gospel Values through their words and actions, at school and at home.
• Reflects St Francis' devotion to God through their love and appreciation for all of God's creation. This includes showing care / concern for those less fortunate, the poor or sick.
• Exhibits the naturalist intelligence. Students with naturalist intelligence are those who seem to be in love with the natural world. They like to spend time there, they thrive there, they are skilled and confident and comfortable there, and they learn best there — in short, they are nature smart.
• Demonstrates great interest in nature, the environment, conservation, stewardship, ecology, and/or sustainability and sustainable development.
• Exemplifies enthusiasm, energy, initiative, and commitment toward the natural environment, and serves as an inspiration to other students.
• Has perhaps put their interest into action through an ongoing campaign or one-time project (of age/grade-appropriate scale) that has raised environmental awareness or led to environmentally friendly discussion, reaction or change in the student's class, school or community. 
• Assists with the waste management within the classroom and the playground  by making sure the 4 coloured bin system runs smoothly.

Ripples: Spirituality for Parents 

Ripples is a PODCAST developed for staff and parents on-going spiritual formation. It seeks to offer a space where people can draw on the wisdom of a series of guest speakers and can experience some treasured stillness through meditation. Practices like these create a ripple effect. They have the potential to impact the way we respond to family, friends, colleagues, to creation and to God. Come and enjoy some Inspired Voices and Treasured Stillness. 

Ripples: https://ripples.dow.catholic.edu.au/

Spiritual Reflection

We become the inheritance of Mary’s Queenship, and the promise made to her through our existence.

Last Sunday we celebrated the Queenship of Our Lady when Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth. Mary has become known to us as our model of the Divine Feminine that works in and through us to bring goodness into this world. She is present at our beginning and our transitioning into eternal life.

Right now we see the world in trouble with conflicts and wars, famine and disasters, pandemics and climate change. Only last week the United Nations delivered the grim report that the current condition of our planet is a “code red for humanity”.

The dying of our planet is a reminder of the lack of focus on our actions and their consequences for our planet. Mary gently prompts us to bring beauty to our world and to help us to love, nurture and care for our planet. Should we not then look to Mary as the image of the spiritual beauty of what we and our planet should look like in the eyes of God? Mary reminds us to remain focused on the divine in all things including our planet.

If those in power throughout the world cannot resolve the world conflicts and injustices, nor protect our dying earth, then as people of hope, maybe it’s time to re-focus on our own actions and decisions that have led to human overconsumption and deprivation of our planet? We could turn to Mary as an example of our inherited goodness to lead us to act with integrity for the common good for all.

Responding to Jesus’ call to love all of creation and through our personal devotion to Mary, we can have complete trust that she hears our prayers and walks with us as we make the disciplined decisions necessary to heal and preserve our earthly home.

Reflection questions:

Where is Mary present in my life, in this time and place? 

Like Mary, where do I allow God to co-create with me, building relationships with others and caring for all creation?

 'Our very body is a Mary with a Jesus inside' – Rumi

A couple of notes from Father Ken 

Vinnies Winter Appeal (Donating online)  

 To The Vinnies Winter Appeal, please click on this link 

https://my.fundraise.vinniesnsw.org.au/fundraise-your-way/vinnies-winter-appeal-2021   

Have your say on Sacraments of Initiation

Bishop Mascord is developing a discussion paper that will lead to a Policy for Sacraments of Initiation for the Diocese of Wollongong. If you would like to take part in a survey you can access it via this  link: https://dow.sh/ParishSacramentsSurvey

Miss Emma Groves - Religious Education Coordinator