Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On Tuesday 15 August, it was the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven, body and soul. Along with Christmas Day, it is a holy day of obligation in which all Catholic communities are called to come together to celebrate Mass. We acknowledge the important role Mary has and continues to play in our lives. Mary’s belief in God was expressed in her acceptance of God’s invitation to be the mother of Jesus. We pray that we may be faithful in our own ‘Yes’ to God.

World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and The Season of Creation
In 2015, Pope Francis established The Season of Creation which is an annual event that runs from 1 September to, 4 October.  It is an opportunity for us to pray, reflect and act to care for God’s creation. During this time Catholics unite with others in the global family to pray and protect every creature in God’s beautifully complex web of creation. The theme of this year’s Season of Creation celebration is “Let justice and peace flow”.
The Season of Creation begins with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on the 1 September, which we will highlight at school with an afternoon prayer on Monday 4 September.  You may like to use the following prayer at home during the Season of Creation.

Creator of All,

From your communion of love
life sprung forth like a mighty river and the whole cosmos came into being.

 On this Earth of overflowing love,
the Word was made flesh and went forth with the life-giving waters
proclaiming peace and justice for all creation.

You called human beings to till and keep your garden.
You placed us into right relationship with each creature,
but we failed to listen to the cries of the Earth and the cries of the most vulnerable.
We broke with the flowing communion of love and sinned against you
by not safeguarding the conditions for life.

We lament the loss of our fellow species and their habitats,
we grieve the loss of human cultures,
along with the lives and livelihoods that have been displaced or perished,
and we ache at the sight of an economy of death, war and violence
that we have inflicted on ourselves and on the Earth.

Open our ears to your creative, reconciling and sustaining Word
that calls to us through the book of Scripture and the book of creation.
Bless us once again with your life-giving waters
so that the Creator Spirit may let justice and peace flow in our hearts
and overflow into all creation.

Open our hearts to receive the living waters of God’s justice and peace,
and to share it with our suffering brothers and sisters,
all creatures around us, and all creation.
Bless us to walk together with all people of good will
so that the many streams of the living waters of God’s justice and peace
may become a mighty river all over the Earth.

In the name of the One who came
to proclaim good news to all creation, Jesus Christ.  Amen

On Thursday 31 August, we will be celebrating our fathers, grandfathers and father figures with an afternoon tea and liturgy in the hall.  Afternoon tea will begin at 1:30pm and our liturgy will commence at 2pm.  For catering purposes, please RSVP to info@sfawdow.catholic.edu.au by 30 August.

Ms Marita Maloney
Religious Education Coordinator