Sre term4 newsletter

No 85 Term 4 2012

Spreading the Good News

The Year of Grace You have been entrusted to look after something precious “May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” (1 Thessalonians 5:28)

My dear SRE Teachers and Assistants, “God’s grace is something precious in our lives.

There may be times when we find it difficult to respond to the grace God offers us. We may be called to do things that take us out of our ‘comfort zone’. How do we respond? Focus for a moment on some of these times. What are some of the challenges for us in responding to God? Spend a quiet time with the Lord for the grace to meet some of those challenges. (Taken from Diocese of Parramatta Resource Booklet for the Year of Grace)

Welcome to a new term, the last for 2012. The 3rd term has been a busy term. Vicki and I have taken the opportunity to visit you and your SRE classes in the Diocese and are greatly appreciative of your enthusiasm as you present the lessons. Please take the opportunity to attend the eConference, if it is in your area. A wonderful means of professional development. For those who have SRE lessons on that day come along when you can. For the rest you will be able to access the program after the day on www.grace.vividas.com

7th NATIONAL eCONFERENCE 10th October 2012 VATICAN 11 – An Event of Grace ‘Vatican 11: An Event of Grace,’ brings together two notable concepts in an e-Conference: Vatican 11 and the Year of Grace.

“Fifty years after Vatican 11, its call for spiritual

renewal and evangelisation, ecumenism and adaptation are still being assimilated.” (Publicity Brochure) VENUE: Catherine McAuley School, Hill St. ORANGE Carlton House, 212 Darling St. DUBBO TIME: 10.00am – 3.00pm Lunch provided.

REGISTRATION: k.burke@bth.catholic.edu.au

NCCD CONFERENCE This was held at Ormiston QLD off Morton Bay. A beautiful setting overlooking the ocean. On the left of our building is the Ormiston House, a private home and continuing up the hill is the Carmelite Convent, where we were able to attend daily Mass.

Koalas were in the trees, not that I saw them but some folk did see them in the early morning. Birds were very noisy. The weather was great. Please find a report on a separate sheet attached.

GODLY PLAY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT I have been notified from Dr Angelo Belmonte that the Godly Play scheduled for last term will now be held on the 16th October at St Philomena’s School Bathurst phone 6331 1198, 17th October at St Marys School Orange phone 6362 7926, and 18th October at St Pius X School Dubbo phone 6882 3808.

The day will comprise some theory, but will have a focus on practice and the process of developing the 3D (Puppets etc) and 2D figures. Mrs Sue Moffat and Ms Di Carolyn from the Catholic Education Office Sydney will facilitate the day.

Please ring schools to book in, to find out about

times and if you need to take anything with you.

Another great opportunity for professional development. And again if you have lessons on that day go along when you can but don’t forget to register with the Catholic schools as these days are for the Catholic school Teachers. Unfortunately this is not open to all SRE Teachers.

CATECHIST SUNDAY 2013 Catechist Sunday has been scheduled for our Diocese for 2013 on Sunday 10th February. This is the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The reason I’m alerting you to this date is for you to prepare during this coming term.

Save some books for display, manuals and students work books for the Parish community to have a look at the work we do with the students in the Public schools in the community.

Similar to all employees, SRE Teachers/Assistants must not, under any circumstances, engage in intimate and/or sexual relationships with a student or engage in any conduct of a sexual nature with a student. It is irrelevant whether the relationship is heterosexual or homosexual, consensual or nonconsensual or condoned by parents or caregivers.

The age of the students or SRE Teacher/Assistant involved is also irrelevant.

SAFE CHURCH AWARENESS WORKSHOPS At this time none have been advertised in our area.

DIOCESAN WEBSITE Check out the Diocesan updated website. For the CCD information go to Mission & Ministries then click on Catechists www.bathurst.catholic.org.au

TALK ABOUT TRAINING CODE OF CONDUCT Relationships continued

SRE Teachers/ Assistants must do everything within reason to ensure that alcohol, tobacco or prohibited substances are not consumed by students on the school’s premises or at school functions. SRE Teachers/Assistants must not give to students, nor are they to encourage or condone the use by students of, the abovementioned substances.

Consumption of alcohol by SRE Teachers/Assistants at school or while at school functions should be in accordance with school policy. SRE Teachers/Assistants must not enter school premises under the influence of alcohol or prohibited drugs. Administration of prescribed medications should be in accordance with school policy.

I have had a couple of queries and heard rumours about mandatory training for all SRE Teachers & Assistants by the beginning of 2013. A recent email even stated that the NSW Government was going to enforce this rule. The fact is that each Diocese requires all new volunteers to undergo Child Protection and Orientation training before they can take an SRE class on their own. Many other Churches (SRE Providers) are following this path and the State Inter-Church Commission, ICCOREIS, is exploring minimum training standards for Joint Denominational SRE. We need to be clear that at this time neither the NSW Government nor ICCOREIS has mandated training for any SRE Teacher/Assistant, existing or new. It is also worth noting that Catholic SRE Teachers (Catechists) have been offered the best of training for over 50 years.

(Taken from Children’s Ministries Newsletter, Diocese of Maitland/Newcastle)

TRAINING FOR 2013 I’ve received information about professional training in our area for 2013 from Sally Smith & Cheryl Clendinning who will run the modules 1 – 4 which are part of the Baptist NSW Classroom Accreditation Training. We will let you know times and venues.

BATHURST 31st January 2013 PARKES 4th February 2013 Modules 1 & 2 DUBBO 5th February 2013 Modules 3 & 4 Venue: Baptist Centre. Cobra St. The WICC SRE Committee has started to organise Training Days for 2013. We will finalise these days at our next meeting in October.

TERM FOUR OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS

our Saviour. He has won for us the life of grace.

During Advent, we remember the people of the Old Testament times who waited for the Saviour, Jesus Christ, Christmas.

CONNECT CEP Connect Program Youthworks Cycle B2 2011

The focus this term is from Romans 1 – 16 with Christmas reference to Matthew and Luke. Paul presents himself as the public announcer of the message, the Good News, given to all humankind. The response to the Gospel, obedience to the Gospel and the Spirit of the Gospel. Students look at their response to the Gospel. Christmas – God’s promise arrives.

GODSPACE Burst Christian Resources 2011

WALKING WITH JESUSPATHWAYS OF DISCIPLESHIP Diocese of Broken Bay, 2006

A time to revise or prepare for the Sacrament of Penance. Looking at the choices we make in our life. Reference to the Sacred Scriptures and their relationship to our daily life. Joyful preparation for Christmas as we journey through the Season of Advent.

To teach the story of God’s deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, revealing God’s saving character.

To explain that the story of the birth of Jesus, as recounted in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, is a fulfilment of God’s promise made to humanity many years ago.

CPE PROGRAM Access Ministries, VIC.

This term the students will appreciate how Jesus’ followers become a community that reflected Jesus’ teachings of love, forgiveness and care. They will explore the values held by the Christian community and how they may be applied in our lives today. Celebrating community events. Christmas CHRIST OUR LIGHT AND LIFE Archdiocese of Sydney, 2010

A time to revise or prepare for the Sacrament of Penance. Jesus gave the Church the power to forgive sins. Forgiveness brings peace. Jesus is

CENSUS FOR 2013 From this year I’ll be asking you for your class numbers for this year, 2012 because at the beginning of the year most of the classes are not operational until the third or fourth week of the

term. So I’ve included the census sheet for you to fill in and return to me for Diocesan Returns. We will do this during the 4th term each year.

27th December 28th December 30th December

St John, Apostle & Evangelist The Holy Innocents Holy Family

CATHOLIC RESOURCE CENTRE See attached sheet.

CHURCH CALANDER OCTOBER THE MONTH OF THE ROSARY 1st October St Teresa of the Child Jesus nd 2 October The Guardian Angels th 4 October St Francis of Assisi th 15 October St Theresa of Avila th 17 October St Ignatius of Antioch th 18 October St Luke, Evangelist nd 22 October Bl Pope John Paul 11 1st November 2nd November 3rd November 17th November 21st November 22nd November 30th November 2nd December 3rd December 6th December 8th December 9th December 12th December 13th December 14th December 16th December 23rd December 25th December 26th December

All Saints Day All Souls Day St Martin de Porres St Elizabeth of Hungary The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary St Cecillia St Andrew, Apostle 1st Sunday of Advent St Francis Xavier St Nicholas The Immaculate Conception of of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2nd Sunday of Advent Our Lady of Guadalupe St Lucy St John of the Cross 3rd Sunday of Advent 4th Sunday of Advent Christmas Day St Stephen

DIRECTORY Helen C Ryan P O Box 720 DUBBO NSW 2830 HOME: (02) 68845848 MOB: 0407001196 Email: hcryan@nsw.chariot.net.au Mrs Vicki Mair 73 Freeman Circuit BATHURST NSW 2795 HOME: (02) 6332 2835