Celebrating our Faith - Donna McMillan
Back to School Blessing
Dear Heavenly Father,
For all the children and families returning to school,
send your Holy Spirit as their guide and protector.
Keep them free from danger and unnecessary harm.
Put each of us in the right place, at the right time, to receive your grace.
Let each of us grow strong. May the presence of your Spirit fill each of our hearts.
Help us to mature as parents and caregivers.
Bless every family, O Lord.
We entrust our children to you, dear God.
Since from the beginning, they are yours to keep.
In the name of the greatest Son of all, Jesus Christ,
Amen
The Gift Of Grandparents
Pope Francis has proclaimed the World Day for Grandparents and the Elders will be celebrated on the fourth Sunday in July each year – July 25 in 2021. Grandparents are the symbol of true love and care. We send all our love to all the beautiful grandparents in our community.
The Social Justice Art Exhibition
The Social Justice 2020-2021 Statement, To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today, provides the opportunity to better understand mental illness and how as social beings we need the bonds of family, friends and the broader community to celebrate the joys and hopes of life. We all want to share in the fullness of life and live life to the full. We are invited to attend the annual Social Justice Art Exhibition - now online https://www.mnnews.today/your-diocese/2021/54075-the-social-justice-art-exhibition/
St Joseph’s Social Justice Group
Vinnies Family Winter Sleepout
Last term our community were all so generous in your support of the St Vincent de Paul Society’s, ‘Winter Appeal’ with all of the food and blanket donations, take care of those families in need this winter. The continuing COVID situation along with soaring house prices, limited places to rent and cuts to JobSeeker, will put extreme financial pressure on families some of whom may find themselves homeless.
The theme of this year’s winter appeal is ‘Home Wanted’, with a focus on the homelessness, particularly on children. Facing homelessness is overwhelming. We can continue to show our support by our continued involvement in activities.
Vinnies Sleepouts give us a glimpse into the realities of homelessness by ‘sleeping rough’ for a night to raise awareness and funds for Vinnies homelessness services. This experience challenges your sense of home and offers unique insights into the complex issues faced by people experiencing homelessness.
As an act of solidarity with those people forced to sleep rough, we are inviting families to participate in the Family Winter Sleepout @Home on Friday 30th July.
On Monday, Mrs Helene O’Neill will visit and speak to our all students at our assembly about this great initiative and to raise awareness of the plight of many people in our own country. We encourage you to support this initiative as a way of further educating your children about life’s realities for the less-fortunate.
If you choose to participate, it would be great if you could send in a photo of your family sleeping out in your backyard to be included in the school Newsletter for publication in Week 4.
Please see the Parish Bulletin for more details and registration for Masses in our area - https://www.newcastlecatholic.org.au/weekly-bulletins/