Religious Education & Parish News
We celebrate Social Justice Sunday on 30 August. This year, the Australian Bishops’ Social Justice Statement is titled: To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the mental health of many members of our parishes, schools and communities. Understanding mental health will help us to be aware of those who need our support. The Bishops invite us all to reject stigmatisation, to work for the transformation of social determinants of mental ill-health, and to call for policies and service provision that meets the needs of the poorest and most marginalised members of our community. Please see the click on the link to this statement.
Reconciliation
This week all students who will be receiving the Sacrament of Penance on Tuesday 22 September at St Francis of Assisi Church received their notes. The note outlines the important information about the teaching of the program as well as changes to the number who can attend on the night due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The students preparing for Reconciliation will be given a workbook, and the class teachers will explain the activities in each lesson. The students will then need to work through the lesson with their parents and complete the activities. Parents you are asked to spend some time each week with your child as this would have been the normal procedure during the Parent/Child Parish program. The students will need to bring their book back to school every Friday so that the class teachers can discuss the work with the students.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, each child will only be allowed two other people to accompany them on the night. St Francis of Assisi Church is limited to only 100 people. The church requests that those attending on the night are registered before the date. In the note, there is a form requesting names of those attending. Please fill in the form and return it to your child’s teacher.
A copy of your child’s baptismal certificate must also be sent to school in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name and the word Reconciliation along with the $10 cost for the booklet. Unfortunately, your child will be unable to make the sacrament unless the certificate is sighted.
Parish Sacraments
At this stage, please see the new dates for the 2020 Sacraments. Please be advised that these dates will also be dependent on COVID-19 restrictions and may be cancelled at any time.
The new dates for the sacraments are as follows:
| Sacrament | Date | Time | Church |
| Reconciliation | Tuesday 22 September | 7 pm | Warrawong |
| Confirmation | Wednesday 4 November | 7 pm | Warrawong |
| First Communion | Saturday 28 November | 10 am | Warrawong |
Feast Days
During the term, we will be celebrating some important feast days.
| 8 September | The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| 4 October | St Francis of Assisi |
Mrs Madaschi
Religious Education Coordinator