Term 2 no 87 newsletter april 2013

No 87 Term 2 2013

Spreading the Good News

TO REBUILD AND RENEW OUR COMMUNITY OF FAITH

Come Holy Spirit Fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

My Dear SRE Teachers and Assistants, I was very lucky to join with my sister for the Easter Celebrations at the Mt Druitt Parish church. What a celebration at Mass on Easter Sunday. Four different instruments plus Islander voices almost raised the roof of the church. A wonderful joyous occasion. The many children big and small shared in the liturgy and were blessed.

I came back for two days work at the Chancery Office. On Tuesday Bishop Michael said Mass in the Chapel and blessed the internal changes to the Office and the meeting room was a great venue for morning tea. On Wednesday the first CDF/Chancery staff meeting was held in the refurbished meeting room. Plenty of room for everyone.

How blessed we are to have celebrated the joyous feast of Easter with our Bishop and the Priests and this celebration continues for a few more weeks. The Easter Season.

“The vocation of the laity to catechesis springs from the Sacrament of Baptism. It is strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation.

Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation they participate in the priestly, prophetic and kingly dimensions of Christ.”

are needed to be aired. The various questions were handed out during Lent. If you would like a copy of any of them, there were six sheets, please let me know and I’ll forward them to you.

Always add a positive comment as well. Thank you to the many SRE people who responded to the questions I sent out on Father Greg’ behalf.

It’s also important to pray for the Assembly.

There are a number of prayer cards available: for openness of heart, patience in listening and grace-filled responses.

THE YEAR OF GRACE

(General Directory for Catechesis, St Paul’s Strathfield 1998)

The Church, Channel of Grace ‘The Church’ is Christians together, the community of the followers of Jesus. So James Joyce famously called it ‘Here comes everybody!’ Christians like us are limited, limited by our humanity, our faults, our weaknesses, and our sins. So much so that Vatican II teaches that the Church is always in THE DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY The Diocesan Assembly has begun in earnest with the regional meetings taking place. I was able to attend the Bathurst meeting. The first off the rank. It was wonderful to see so many people from the different parishes attending. I’m sure lots of discussion will continue until Pentecost where groups will be in Bathurst for that weekend. Remember now is the time to have your say about the many issues you may see that

need of reform, renewal, and interior conversion. (Decree on Ecumenism #6 & #7).

But that’s not the whole story. Through the grace (graciousness) of God, we have been made by Baptism members and cells of the body of Jesus Christ, extensions of himself in place and time. So much so that each baptised believer joined to him is actually ‘another Christ’. Each is called and sent by him, and each is empowered by his Spirit, to live and work for that better world that is ‘the

Kingdom of God’, a society of justice and love, peace and joy.

Jesus Christ, in fact, depends on us to be who and what we are. In words attributed to St Teresa of Avila: ‘Christ has no body now on earth but yours!’ We are his eyes, ears, heart, hands and feet to everyone else. So we keep learning from his teachings and example just how to embody him. So we also look to great fellow-disciples like St Mary of the Cross, to show us the way. In short, we are together a sign and instrument of Jesus Christ, God’s grace in person.

What a fantastic gift (grace) it is, then, to be a Christian, ‘a wounded healer’ (Henri Nouwen), and a missionary of God’s love!

Brian Gleeson CP (Taken from the eNewsletter, Reflections of Grace)

TERM TWO OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS

CHRIST OUR LIGHT AND LIFE Archdiocese of Sydney 2010

Jesus teaches us how much he loves us. The road to Emmaus. Celebrating the Eucharist in the Mass. Pentecost. The Church grows. The Holy Spirit in our lives. Using the Good News to spread Jesus message.

SUNDAY SCRIPTURES ALIVE CEO Christchurch NZ

We are continuing to celebrate the Easter Season and the Sunday readings are from John’s gospel chapters 13 & 14. For the Ascension we read Luke’s gospel Ch 24. Pentecost Jn 14. The Gospel readings continue from Luke’s gospel in Ordinary Time, Year C.

SAFE CHURCHES AWARENESS WORKSHOPS

An opportunity to attend a Safe Churches Training organised from the Baptist Church will be held at Parkes on Saturday 25th May 2013 at the Baptist Church, Cnr Church & Currajong Streets, Parkes. 9.30am – 3.30pm. This day will be presented by Judy Henderson. Registration ph: 02 9868 9221, css@baptistnsw.asn.au

CONNECT CEP Connect Works Cycle C1 2011

Remembering God is King. This term the lessons will reflect on the readings 1Kings 3,4,10,11.

The story of Solomon. The story goes onto the decline of the Kingdom, the prophets, the Exile – away from God’s land and God bringing his people home reminding them He is the source of all wisdom and knowledge.

CHURCH CALENDAR DATES

GODSPACE

Burst Christian Resources 2011

This segment looks at recognising the followers of Jesus, Peter in particular, the rock.

Recognising Peter’s trust in Jesus’ power. In Acts 4, 10, 12, we read about God’s bigger plan.

The lessons continue with Old Testament narratives – Abraham, Joshua, Gideon and Esther who lived by faith, showed strong leadership, showed weakness and were willing to serve. God gave Jesus who was the strongest of all. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

TERM DATES Term 2 Monday 29th April 2013 to th Friday 28 June 2013 Term 3 Monday 15th July 2013 to Friday 20th September 2013 Term 4 Tuesday 8th October 2013 to th Friday 20 December 2013

CATHOLIC RESOURCE CENTRE See attached sheet

MAY 3rd 12th 14th 19th 24th 26th 31st

Sts Philip & James, Apostles Ascension of the Lord St Matthias, Apostle Pentecost Sunday Our Lady Help of Christians Holy Trinity The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

JUNE 2nd 7th 8th 11th 12th 21st 22nd 24th 28th 29th

The Body & Blood of Christ Sacred Heart of Jesus Immaculate Heart of Mary St Barnabas, Apostle St Anthony of Padua St Aloysius Gonzaga St Thomas More The Birth of John the Baptist St Irenaeus Sts Peter & Paul, Apostles

JULY 3rd 6th 11th 15th 16th 22nd 23rd 25th 26th 29th 31st

St Thomas, Apostle St Maria Goretti St Benedict St Bonaventure Our Lady of Mount Carmel St Mary Magdalene St Bridget St James, Apostle Sts Joachim & Anne St Martha St Ignatius of Loyola

DIRECTORY Helen C Ryan P O Box 720 DUBBO NSW 2830 HOME: 02 6884 5848 MOBILE: 0407001196 Email: hcryan@nsw.chariot.net.au Mrs Vicki Mair 73 Freeman Circuit BATHURST NSW 2795 HOME: 02 6332 2835

CATHOLIC RESOURCE CENTRE

A multi-media lending library operated by the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Bathurst

PO BOX 725 BATHURST NSW 2795 GILMOUR STREET KELSO NSW 2795 Information, resources and services to support SRE are available from the Catholic Resource Centre.

Telephone: (02) 6338 3022 - If Centre is busy or unattended, please DO leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.

Fax: (02) 6338 3001 Email: recentre@bth.catholic.edu.au

School Holidays: Hours 15-26 April 2013 10am -12 noon & 1pm – 5pm Closed Tuesday, 16 April & ANZAC DAY Thursday 25 April Hours – Term 2 – 2013: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday : 9 am – noon & 1 pm – 5 pm Tuesday: 2pm – 5pm

- Outside these hours by appointment.

-Since there are odd, unscheduled times when the Centre may be closed during standard hours, it is strongly recommended that if you plan to visit the Centre, especially if coming from a distance, to telephone in advance to ensure staff availability.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT… MC 268.432 STA The Catechist's magic kit : 80 simple tricks for teaching Catholicism to kids [Book] / Angelo Stagnaro ; illustrated by Sean Pryor ; iconic images by Ade Bethune R06959 MC 268.6 EAS Crafting faith : 101 crafts to help kids grown in their faith [Book] / Laurine M. Easton

ON THE NET….

Sermons for Kids site Power Point presentations – Children’s sermons for kids – Object lessons - Wide range of powerpoint presentations by ‘Sermons for Kids’, Stacey Hagler & Amy Watson.

Including Easter, Doubting Thomas, Resurrection Events. http://www.sermons4kids.com/powerpoint_presentations.htm Topmarks The Easter Story From the passion and crucifixion of Jesus to Ascension. http://www.topmarks.co.uk/christianity/easter/easter.htm The Children’s Chapel Strange and Miraculous – The Story of Pentecost http://childrenschapel.org/biblestories/pentecost.html Cartoon Bible The Easter Story – Jesus is Alive (HD) – YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r5kAJvH8Ds&feature=related story starts about 1 minute into presentation.

Zondervan Publishers The Resurrection – Beginner’s Bible Deluxe Edition – YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq-NhRUIejo Resources for Catholic Educators Colouring in pages – Range from New Testament http://www.silk.net/RelEd/coloring_new_testament.htm