Good News (REC)
Dear School Community,
Welcome to the 2022 school year!
I’m excited to be the Acting Religious Education Coordinator for Term 1 in a year where we celebrate 50 years of education at St Matthew’s.
This year, our scriptural theme is ‘Love one another, just as I have loved you.” John 13:34-35
We will develop our understanding and experience of Christian Meditation as a form of intentional contemplative prayer, which will enable us to lead the students in our ancient faith tradition of stillness, silence and simplicity.
This term, year levels will once again be able to attend Friday Mass with Father Simon. We will also prepare our Year 3 students for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
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Sacrament |
Event: Date and Time |
Location |
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Reconciliation |
Parent Information Evening Thursday 24 Feb: 6pm
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St Matthew’s Church |
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Commitment Masses: (You only need to attend one) Saturday 26 Feb: 6pm Sunday 27 Feb: 8.30am Saturday 5 March: 6pm Sunday 6 March: 8.30am |
St Matthew’s Church |
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Retreat: During school hours |
St Matthew’ Primary School |
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Sacrament of Reconciliation: Tuesday 29 March: 6.30pm Wednesday 30 March: 5.30pm |
St Matthew’s Church |
Maddie Greenwood will continue her role with us as Youth Minister and will work closely with our Year 6 students and classes preparing to receive their sacraments this year.
Family Connection
This week's Gospel offers a contrast to many of the messages we hear in our society today. If we were to accept uncritically the “get ahead” messages of our culture, we would think that happiness means having money, being successful, and having many possessions. In this way, we are not unlike the people who heard Jesus teach on the day that he taught the Beatitudes. They too associated happiness with possessions and success. The report of the Beatitudes in Luke's Gospel, however, takes things one step further. Not only will we not find happiness through the “get ahead” messages of the world, but relying upon these messages will cause us harm. The warnings spoken are particularly challenging because they suggest that our way of life must change if we are to gain the lasting happiness of eternal life.
Talk together as a family about what society tells us makes a person successful. Make a list of the traits that you associate with a successful person. Then read together today's Gospel, Luke 6:17, 20-26. Reflect on Jesus' description of blessedness in the Kingdom of God. Then consider the warnings. Why are these surprising and challenging? What, then, is the measure of success in the Kingdom of God? Together, write prayers of petition based on your discussion. Pray these prayers together, asking God to help your family seek the blessings of the Kingdom of God.
Daniel Hunt
Religious Education Coordinator (acting)