Free
Catholic Life
Publication of the Diocese of Sale
May 2012
ISSUE 161
Jubilee ball a grand success - Page 2
Pentecost Pastoral letter - Page 9
Celebrating a Year of Grace - Page 5
Welcoming Year of Grace By Colin Coomber
THE Year of Grace will be launched in all parishes around Australia on Pentecost weekend, May 26-27. The 9.30am Mass on May 27 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, to be celebrated by Bishop Christopher Prowse, will be the official launch in our diocese.
Year of Grace is the initiative of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference and is an invitation for all Australian Catholics to ‘start afresh from Christ.’ The year long reflection offers all of us a chance to connect with Christ in a deeper way through focusing on the grace of God in our lives. There will be opportunities
to be involved in reflection through prayer, liturgy and scripture. The Year of Grace is not a program or series of events but rather a call to prayer and listening to the Spirit. Keep your eye on the website www.yearofgrace.catholic.org. au for ideas, resources and inspiration.
Our own diocesan website www.sale.catholic.org.au will also be helpful. Particularly in this Year of Grace, in the words of St Paul, “May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, give you grace and peace” (Romans 1: 7) and may you truly feel the presence of God’s unconditional love.
St Michael’s students experience outdoor camp TRARALGON - St Michael’s grade 3 and 4 students recently travelled by bus to Coonawarra Farm Resort, Glenaladale, for an overnight camp. The resort is located on the road to Dargo. Outdoor activities at the resort included the giant swing, ball games, canoeing, initiatives and giant games, low and high ropes and the flying fox. Marcus from grade 4 said, “My favorite activity was the canoeing because we got to race and we came second.” Ruby from grade 3 said, “I enjoyed the high ropes because I got to balance on the ropes that were a long way from the ground.” This Grade 3/4 camp was only introduced last year. The venue is being alternated every second year so that students experience two different camps during their time in middle school. One of the main goals of this program is to help build relationships within the group and to consolidate team ideals and values early in the school year. The camping program also gives the children an opportunity to build independence outside of the family unit and to consolidate old friendships and build new ones with other children in the level. It also enables St Michael’s to offer a sequentially based camping experience from Grade 3-6, where duration of the camps increases over time. Coonawarra Farm Resort was definitely a very exciting, busy and action packed overnight camp. Students came away from the camp with lots of new skills, new experiences and stories to share. LEFT: Eliza tries her hand at canoeing in the lake at Coonawarra.
Your gift will go on giving
When you donate to the Bishop’s Family Foundation you can be assured that the money will be assisting families in need for many years to come. Donated funds are held in a trust account to go on earning interest year after year. It is the income from these investments which have led to more than $700,000 being given to organisations running programs to assist families.
Send tax deductible donations to Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 508, Sale, 3853 Phone 5144 6132 for more information