First Holy Communion Program

Please keep in your prayers the children and families in our school and parish who, in preparation for celebrating their First Holy Communion, have just completed their first week of workshops.

The children received their stoles last weekend at their commitment Mass and chose a prayer sponsor from the parish community. 

Significant Feast Days - All Saints Day and All Souls Day

On Friday, the 1st of November, the Catholic Church throughout the world will recognise the Feast of All Saints.  All Saints Day is a holy day that honours all martyrs and saints, known and unknown.  Saints are people who dedicated their lives to God and served others unselfishly.  Through our Baptism, we are all called to be saints.  All Saints Day is a day to reflect on the qualities of the saints and the model of Christian living they provide for us as we strive to be the saints of the future.  The whole school will be joining the parish community for the 9am Mass next Friday.  As part of our observance of All Saints Day, all are invited to come to school dressed as a saint!

On Saturday, the 2nd of November, our Church will celebrate All Souls Day.  All Souls Day is a holy day of prayer dedicated to all who have died.  On All Souls Day and throughout the month of November, we remember with thanksgiving and prayer, those who have died.  If you would like to observe All Souls Day as a family, Mass is being celebrated at St Francis of Assisi, Warrawong at 8am on Saturday morning. 

Both All Saints Day and All Souls Day are important feast days for Catholics, and many other Christians, because they remind us that we are always connected, even to those who are deceased. As you remember your loved ones in prayer this November, you may like to say the following prayer from our Tradition:

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

Farewell, Owen!
Owen Geddes has spent the last two years working in our parishes as a part of his training to become an Army Chaplain and in readiness to be ordained as a Deacon for the Army Ordinariate.  As he will soon be returning to his army posting, we would like to thank him for the work he has done in our parishes and wish him all the best for his future ministry endeavours.  This weekend, after the 4 pm Mass at St Mary’s, Berkeley, parishioners from St Mary’s will be gathering at Berkeley Sports and Social Club for their usual ‘last Saturday of the month’ social, and all are welcome to join them.  The dining room opens at the club at 5:30 pm.  This will be an opportunity to thank Owen and wish him well as he returns to his army duties.

Annual Children’s Masses - Weekend of 2nd & 3rd November
Children and their parents are warmly invited to join parishioners for Mass on Saturday 2 November at 4:00 pm at St Mary’s, Berkeley or Sunday 3 November at 10:30 am at St Francis of Assisi, Warrawong.  Morning tea will follow.

Ms Marita Maloney
Religion Coordinator