Junior Faith Education

Junior School

As tradition has it, we commenced the school year with a Mass prepared by the teachers, setting a wonderful example of what was to follow with Year level Masses.

At this Mass we had the blessing and presentation of the Prefects’ and House Captains’ Badges. The Year level Masses are a central part of our Faith Development Program. Each class has several opportunities during the year to organize the Mass for the rest of the school community. This year Masses were well supported by parents and it has now become a tradition that the parents who attend Mass bring a plate and have morning tea in the Boardroom after Mass. It provides an opportunity for parents to get to know each other and more importantly, to build on our community spirit. In Term One we also had our Holy Week paraliturgies. Year 5 Blue did Palm Sunday, 4 Blue Holy Thursday, 6 Blue Good Friday and 7 Blue Easter Sunday. Needless to say teachers did a terrific job highlighting the significance of these events leading up to Easter.

Chaplain

This year we were very fortunate to have Fr Michael McMahon as our full-time Junior School Chaplain. Father Michael has a wonderful rapport with the students and staff and we are extremely grateful for the many wonderful liturgies we have shared this year. We thank him for all his input and hard work with the students and his ability to make everyone feel very special.

Confirmation

Once again we had an overwhelming response with parent involvement in the Confirmation Program. The home program was a great success and parents expressed how beneficial it was for the parents and boys involved. It also provided the parents with the opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level. The Confirmation Retreat was held at Camp Kelly and was a great opportunity for the students to reflect on the importance of the Sacrament and on all the preparation that had gone on beforehand. Special thanks to Father Michael McMahon who attended both Year 7 Retreats and for the very special Masses that we celebrate each year. We were also very fortunate to have Father Michael as our main celebrant at the Confirmation Mass.

Mr Tony Maxfield and Mr Gavin Bell did a superb job preparing the boys to receive the Sacrament and running the retreat at Camp Kelly. We are also grateful to the many parents who attended both retreats helping with the preparation of meals, attending some of the sessions and ferrying boys to and from the river for the team building activities, as well as those parents who did a fantastic job preparing the Chapel with banners, posters and beautiful flowers making it very special. It certainly set the ambience for a very meaningful celebration.

First Holy Communion

Our First Holy Communion took place on the 18th August 2006. Parent helpers did a wonderful job preparing the Chapel which helped to make our celebration extra special. The program involved six weeks of preparation and included a day retreat at the Schoenstatt Shrine in Armadale. The boys visited the Shrine and Sr Lissett reminded them how special they are in the eyes of God. The boys also made a First Holy Communion candle which was used at the Mass. Sr Lissett was very impressed with the knowledge displayed by the boys and their active participation in all activities. All boys were well prepared to receive the Sacrament and I am sure that they will remember their First Holy Communion Day for many years to come.

Mr Gordon Dean

Mothers’ Day

Our Mothers’ Day was extra special this year because a few mums shared the homily at Mass. Here are a few excerpts from their homilies. I consider myself to be a very lucky person because on Sunday, Mothers’ Day, I will be celebrating not only as the mother of three healthy wonderful children but as the daughter of my mother, my dearest best friend. I believe that the greatest gift God can give a woman is the gift of motherhood. It is a challenging but extremely rewarding role. I am sure boys, that nearly every day either you, or if you have a brother or sister, one of you throws out some form of challenge to your mum. It could be verbal or physical and deserves a growl, but no matter what you may have said or done when your mum tucks you into bed and kisses you goodnight the day’s challenges are left behind because a mother loves her children unconditionally. That means that we love you no matter what you may have said or done during the day. I consider myself to be very blessed and every single night when I get into my bed I close my eyes and thank God for the three wonderful gifts he has given me, my children, because I love being a mother – I love every single minute of every single day and could not think of a more rewarding role in life.

Mrs Stephanie Blakiston

What is Motherhood?

We have our children under our roofs for such a short time. There is only a small window when we have complete interaction with them. I find that it is important to continually reassess my relationship with my children. They grow up before our very eyes, and they constantly surprise me as they develop - develop opinions, likes, dislikes, talents and flaws. Finding a happy balance is not easy! Society and life are so fast and so busy. Providing the best for our children is not always easy; it’s a constant juggling act – juggling to determine exactly how many extra curricula activities is the right balance and how to spend individual time with all our children and still have time for our partners. As I have heard so often, “They don’t come with an instruction manual” and even if they had – dads wouldn’t read it.

Parenting and motherhood is all about priorities. “A hundred years from now it will not matter what our bank account was, the sort of house we lived in, or the kind of car we drove......... but the world may be different because we were important in the life of a child.”

To have a child is to know unconditional love.

We should enjoy them while we’ve got them.

Mrs Tracey Pope

Junior School