Religious Life of St Monica's 

Welcome to Term 2. With Easter falling during the middle of our school holidays this year it might feel like we have moved on from celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. As a school community, we journeyed through Holy Week in the last week of Term 1, finishing with the Crucifixion. We started Term 2 by completing our Holy Week journey with the Resurrection of Jesus. Alleluia! Alleluia! He is Risen! Alleluia! Did you know that Easter is a season that continues for 50 days? The season of Easter continues until Pentecost Sunday, seven full weeks after Easter Sunday! 

Holy Week this year will be forever linked to the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis’ passing has been felt deeply worldwide, and his impact is immeasurable. For myself personally, Pope Francis was the living, breathing witness of God’s love and Jesus’ saving grace. Mercy and the dignity of all were at the core of Pope Francis’ mission and ministry, and these were reflected in both what he said and did. Pope Francis’ vision for the Catholic Church was that it should not be a museum showcasing the good people have done, but a hospital where all can come to be saved. 

Pope Francis regularly asked us to pray for him. I cannot imagine anyone being able to fill Pope Francis’ shoes, but as the preparations for the upcoming conclave on 7 May are underway, I ask you to join us in praying for Pope Francis and for the Holy Spirit to guide our leaders in electing a Pope who will lead our Catholic Church with compassion and mercy. 

This term, our focus is on Opening our Hearts to the Holy Spirit to live out our Footstep of Resilience to flourish in our relationships with ourselves, others, God, and our surroundings. Tomorrow, 5 Purple will lead us for our Whole School Prayer on Opening our Hearts to the Holy Spirit to use the Footstep of Resilience to focus on ourselves. You are warmly invited to join our community in St Monica’s Church at 9.10am. 

Sacraments at St Monica’s are parish based, family centered, and school supported. Tonight we begin the formation for First Eucharist for many of our students in Year 4 and older at St Michael’s Church in Kaleen at 6.00pm. While the Sacramental program is run by the parish our school staff are here to support the children and their families on their faith journey. I ask you to keep these children and their families in your prayers as they prepare to receive Jesus’ body for the first time in the Eucharist.  

Opening Our Hearts to the Holy Spirit

 

 

Term 2 Liturgical Life of St Monica’s Primary School
	Whole School Prayer	Grade Masses
Week 1	Whole School Prayer Focus: Come Holy Spirit Resilience Self Friday 9.10am Led by: 5P
Week 2		Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: 2W and 5M
Week 3		Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: 2M and 5W
Week 4	Whole School Prayer Focus: Come Holy Spirit Resilience Others Friday 9.10am Led by: 4W	Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: 1M and 5B
Week 5	Whole School Prayer Focus: Come Holy Spirit Resilience God Friday 9.10am Led by: 5M	Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: 1W and 5P
Week 6		Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: KW and 6W
Week 7	Whole School Prayer Focus: Come Holy Spirit Resilience Surroundings Friday 9.10am Led by: 6W	Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: KM and 6M
Week 8	Whole School Prayer Focus: Come Holy Spirit Friday 9.10am Led by:  3B	Buddy Mass Wednesday 9.30am: Year 4, and Year 3
Week 9		Our Lady of Perpetual Help Feast Day TBC
Week 10