Faith Mission & Learning

From our Priest - Fr Kevin

In the Gospel for this Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary time Jesus declares that he has not come to bring peace on earth, but division. He has come to bring fire to the earth. Considering some of the other statements and actions of Jesus in the Gospels, this message almost seems contradictory but I believe that it is not because Jesus is challenging his listeners, challenging you and I to recognise what happens when we become his disciples, when we say yes to God in our lives.

We all understand that when we say yes to something, we are automatically saying no to other things. Those of us who have said yes to God, know what a difference that yes has made in our lives and presumably we know how fortunate we are because we look at the world from the perspective of faith. But that faith perspective means that we may not always share the same opinion about matters as does society, our work colleagues or even our families.

With topics such as Refugees, Marriage, outreach to the poor and disadvantaged, even prayer and the importance of attending mass and so many more, believers can find ourselves holding an unpopular perspective because we look at things through the prism of faith and not just formulating our ideas because they enjoy majority support.

In a healthy society, people can respectfully articulate different ideas and opinions so that proper debate can be undertaken to allow good decisions and policy directions to be determined. The danger is that powerful voices try and silence opinions different from what they have already decided is what is going to happen.

The danger is that there is almost a peer pressure to not have a different opinion, to not go against the flow. This may even be found within families, even though our families are where we are to be our most honest, because there is love, acceptance and tolerance.

Jesus warns us that a result of following him will be division and conflict, even within our families. Rather than watering down our opinions or not witnessing to our faith we are being invited to stand up for the truth, for what is right, so that we might be good disciples.

Fr. Kevin Redmond SM

From the Director of Faith, Mission & Learning

Father’s Day Breakfast & Mass - Thursday 1 September

The College will be hosting a Father's Day Breakfast and Mass on Thursday 1 September on the Senior Campus, 50 Breakfast Road Marayong. This College Breakfast and Mass is open to all fathers. carers, grandfathers and significant men in our lives.

Students will also attend with their father/carer/grandfather/uncle/significant person.

This invitation on behalf of our College Principal, Dr Stephen Kennaugh, is for all College families in Years 7 to 12. There is no charge for this event but pre-registration is required to assist with catering please on this Google Form. Registrations close on Tuesday, 30 August 2022.

Breakfast: 8am for 8:15am service (Senior Campus Hall)

Mass: 9am (St Andrew’s Parish Church)

Any enquiries to fclarke@para.catholic.edu.au 

Year 12 Retreat - 17-19 August

Please keep our Year 12 Students and their families in your prayers as they enter their final school retreat from Wednesday to Friday next week. All students will be at the one venue with their friends and teachers as they consider Jesus’ words from Matthew’s Gospel, “You are the Light of the World!”

World Youth Day Lisbon 2023 - Catholic Youth Parramatta Launch Event

Bishop Vincent, the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) and Catholic Youth Parramatta (CYP) invites students to the LIFTED Live WYD23 Launch on Thursday 18 August at St. John XXIII Catholic College, Stanhope Gardens. This event will gather teachers and Stage 5 students from our Diocese who may be interested in learning more about World Youth Day in Portugal, August 2023.

The WYD23 launch is a COVID-smart event which offers a combination of music, testimony, discussion and prayer led by highly-acclaimed Catholic singer, songwriter and priest Fr Rob Galea. Students will have the opportunity to meet other students from across our Diocese and experience a World Youth Day-style formation event.

Date: Thursday 18 August 2022

Venue: St John XXIII Catholic College, 160 Perfection Avenue, Stanhope Gardens

Time:

Session 1: 5:00-7:00 pm Formation session led by CEDP Mission Partners for students and

their teachers. Students who attend the 5pm student session will have a pizza

dinner and water provided.

Session 2: 7:00 - 9:30pm Diocesan LIFTED Live with Fr Rob Galea and WYD23 Launch.

Parents and other family members are welcome to join the students from 7pm.

Transport: by parents to and from the event

Dress: Students are invited to wear casual clothes.

If you have any questions regarding this event please contact fclarke@parra.catholic.edu.au

With Faith in Christ,

Frank Clarke
Director of Faith, Mission & Learning