Prayer to Saint Mary MacKillop

St Joseph’s School
                                            50 Kelvin Street
                                            Timaru

11 August 2011
                            TERM 3, 2011
                 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWSLETTER

      Prayer to Saint Mary MacKillop

Saint Mary MacKillop who walked in our land Aotearoa.
Remember us to God.

Saint Mary MacKillop who faced problems with courage.
Help us to do the same.

Saint Mary MacKillop we celebrate and give thanks for your
life and your sainthood
We rejoice with you on this your first feast day.

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We extend a warm welcome to families new to our school/parish community.

CLASS PROGRAMMES
Room          Strand                                    Title               Liturgical
                                                                               Year
                               Sacrament               Holiness
   1
                               Church                Belonging
                               Sacrament             Welcome
   2                                          Gathering, Celebrating,
                               Church         Living God’s Presence
                               Sacrament           Forgiveness

                                                                               The Assumption of Mary
          Imaginative Prayer

   3
           Prayer Module –

                               Church         Called to be Like Jesus
                               God                 God is Love
   4
                               Church            Called to Service
                               Sacrament              Healing
   5
                               Church         The Church Celebrates
                               Sacrament      Confirmed in the Spirit
   6
                               Church      The Church is a Pilgrim People
                               Sacrament         Called for Others
   7
                               Church          The Teaching Church
                               Sacrament           Commitment
   8
                               Church            The Living Church

       CLASS MASSES WITH THE PARISH AT ST THOMAS’ CHURCH
                       Thursdays - Term 3
        Week                 Date               Room
          2                11 August              6
          3                18 August              5
          4                25 August              2
          5              1 September              7
          6              8 September              3
          7              15 September              -
          8              22 September             1
          9              29 September             4
          10               6 October              8

Classes will not attend Mass as indicated on the above roster if a Requiem Mass is
scheduled for that day or if there is no priest available.

As part of the Special Character Strategic Goal the following will be actioned –
   • Father Chris will focus on an aspect of the Eucharist after Class Masses to help
       deepen students’ understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist.
   • Following Class Masses, students will have/provide morning tea with/for
       parishioners.

Our sincere thanks to the parents, other relations and members of the parish who
provide transport for our students after class masses.

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                                HAPPENINGS
                         Young Vinnies Group Activities
Monday
8 August          Feast of St Mary of the Cross
Monday
15 August         Feast of The Assumption
Friday
26 August         Middle Syndicate Paraliturgy
11 – 17
September         Social Justice Week
Sunday
18 September      Parish/School Mass
Friday
30 September      Mufti Day – Proceeds to MissioNZ

                  Special Character Internal Review

                  Hospitality Focus

Young Vinnies Group Activities
The Young Vinnies Group are to continue their visits to Elloughton Gardens and
The Croft rest homes. Mrs Liz Fuller (Young Vinnies Co-ordinator) facilitates
these visits and co-ordinates this group’s meetings and activities.

The Feast of St Mary of the Cross
Mary MacKillop (15 January 1842 – 8 August 1909) was an Australian nun who,
together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of
the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout
Australia, and some in New Zealand, with an emphasis on education for the
poor.
Mary MacKillop was canonised on 17 October 2010 during a public ceremony in
St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
Monday 8 August is the feast day of Mary MacKillop who is known as St Mary of
the Cross.

The Feast of the Assumption
The Feast of the Assumption is on Monday 15 August. As Father Chris is away
the students of Rooms 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 will NOT attend the 9:00 am Mass at St
Thomas’ Church as is customary. To mark this special day we will gather in the
school hall at 1:30 pm for a prayer service.
Please join us to mark this special feast day.

Middle Syndicate Paraliturgy
On Friday 26 August in the school hall at 2:45 pm the students of the Middle
Syndicate will present a Paraliturgy about St Mary of the Cross. You are
welcome to join us for this time of prayer and reflection about Australasia’s first
saint.

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CARITAS Social Justice Week
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops set the second week of September
(11 – 17 September for 2011) as an opportunity for reflection on
Catholic social teaching on current issues of social justice.

In 2011 the theme “On a level playing field – Striving for the common
good” has been chosen. It is intended to challenge us to take another
look at how fair and just we are as a society. Classes will be focusing
on this theme in a variety of ways guided by resources prepared by
CARITAS. This material is a starting point for deeper thinking about
fair play and the importance of teamwork. It explores the wider effects
of fair and unfair conduct, makes links to the Gospel values of
compassion and empathy and promotes the importance of striving for
the common good in order to achieve a more equal society.

Parish/School Mass
The Parish/School Mass for this term in on Sunday 18 September at 10:30 am at
St Thomas’ Church. Our Special Character focus for 2011 is Hospitality. This
will be the theme for this mass and in keeping with this our school community will
provide morning tea following Mass. Students are expected to attend this Mass
in school uniform and sit with their class group. Please join us for this Eucharistic
celebration.

Mufti Day
Friday 30 September is the Mufti Day for this
term. Students pay a gold coin for the privilege of
wearing mufti clothes to school. The money
raised this mufti day will be donated to MissioNZ to support Holy Childhood
(Children Helping Children). It is important for our students to be aware of their
gift of faith and how with that there is a responsibility to care for others, across
international boundaries, who need our support.

Special Character Internal Review
The review dimension for 2011 is Pastoral Care. An information sheet on this
dimension is attached to this newsletter. Two aspects of Pastoral Care have
been identified as the foci for this review; behaviour management and cultural
awareness. During this term students, parents and staff will be asked to assist
with the internal review by providing feedback/evidence around statement related
to Pastoral Care. We appreciate your participation and value your input to the
review process.

Special Character Focus
The Special Character Focus for 2011 is Hospitality. Hospitality is an integral
feature of the Charism of Mercy and an important aspect of community. To offer
hospitality is to invite someone to be a companion on our journey, to walk
alongside us, to share and be part of our lives on several levels. Jesus’ life and
teachings provide many examples of hospitality. Eucharist, the sacred meal
gifted to us by Jesus is a prime example of hospitality; we gather; welcome, pray,
prepare, partake, give thanks and depart, nourished and richer for the
experience, so we can love and serve others. Please support us in promoting
Hospitality through discussion with your child/children and by your example.

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Please find attached for your information and reflection -

   •   a Litany to celebrate Mary’s Assumption

   •   Pastoral Care

   •   Sacrament and Church strand level overviews

   •   Hospitality Poster

May the Holy Spirit enfold you.
May the Holy Spirit empower you.
May the Holy Spirit strengthen you.
May the Holy Spirit walk with you always.

God Bless

Trish McCambridge
Director of Religious Studies
PARISH CONTACTS
Parish Office:           12 Mountainview Road, Timaru
Parish Phone:            686 2010     (all general enquiries)
Presbytery Address:      22 Mountainview Road, Timaru
Presbytery Phone:        686 2013     (emergency after hours number)

Parish email:               timarunorthparish@xtra.co.nz

A Litany to Celebrate
     Mary’s Assumption
Mary, daughter of Anne and Joachim – guide our sons and daughters
Mary, betrothed to Joseph – help us to value the faithful men in our lives
Mary, cousin of Elizabeth – help us to seek wise counsel
Mary, handmaiden of God – help us to be willing to trust God’s plan for us
Mary, chosen by God from all women – help us to respond willingly to God
Mary, mother of Jesus – help is to value the privilege of motherhood
Mary, who raised the Messiah – help us to appreciate the gift of salvation
Mary, housekeeper for the Holy Family – help us to work well together at home
Mary, concerned friend – help us to support our friends in times of need
Mary, wedding guest – show us how to rejoice with and support our friends
Mary, first disciple – teach us how to follow Jesus
Mary, watchful companion – make us sensitive to what is happening around us
Mary, silent witness of Jesus’ last days – soothe us in times of anxiety
Mary, wondering about your Son – strengthen us in times of uncertainty
Mary, broken hearted mother on Calvary – comfort us in times of grief and loss
Mary, steadfast at the foot of the Cross – sustain us in times of waiting
Mary, beloved and protected by John – surround us with loving friends
Mary, present at Pentecost – open our hearts to the presence of the Spirit
Mary, assumed body and soul into heaven – we rejoice that God has raised you
Mary, present with God on high – bring us home after death to be with you
Mary, full of grace, glorious woman – pray for us to God.
           AMEN                      AMEN                        AMEN

Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care policies and practices are shaped by Catholic
understandings about –

      •   The   Theological Virtues – Faith, Hope and Love
      •   The   Fruits of the Holy Spirit
      •   The   Beatitudes
      •   The   Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy

FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE
By faith, we are able to respond with gratitude to God’s loving
presence in our lives, to trust in God’s will, and to follow the
direction God gives us. Hope assures that, by relying on God’s
grace we will see our way through life’s challenges – it is a source
for strength and action in demanding times. Love enables us to fix
our hearts and minds on God, who is above all other things, and to
serve our neighbour, who is made in God’s image and likeness.

THE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
 . . . the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no
law against such things. (Galatians 5:22-23)

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM
OF HEAVEN
Matthew 5:3
Jesus challenges us to move beyond self-centredness and be open
to God’s will. Those who are prepared to discard layers of ego and
be alert to God’s presence will discover the peace of God’s reign
in their hearts.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, FOR THEY WILL BE
COMFORTED
Matthew 5:4
Jesus invites us to stand ‘with’ (con or com in Latin means ‘with’)
the brokenness and pain of people. Compassion (Latin: ‘weep
with’) is a movement of solidarity to be with those who are fragile,
vulnerable or marginalised.

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY WILL INHERIT THE EARTH
Matthew 5:5
Meek people are not doormats but are gentle in respecting the
dignity and personal space of others. Jesus invites us to relate to
others and the earth without manipulation or oppressive use of
power.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR
RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY WILL BE FILLED
Matthew 5:6
Jesus invites us to be passionate about the promotion of justice,
not just thinking that the concept of justice is a good idea. Justice
people are action workers.

BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL FOR THEY WILL RECEIVE MERCY
Matthew 5:7
Hesed or loving mercy is one of the refrains of the Hebrew
scriptures. The story of God’s people is woven with God’s
outpouring of acts of loving mercy. Jesus explains that the value
of mercy is not a manifestation of weakness but a commitment to
unselfish love.

BLESSED ARE THE PURE OF HEART, FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD
Matthew 5:8
‘Seeing’ is a recurrent theme in all great religions. To ‘see’ in a
religious sense is much more than visual sighting but moving
beyond addictions and those ‘riches’ that block us from
encountering God. This Beatitude is an echo of the first of the Ten
commandments which is a rejection of idols: You shall have no
other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). In this Beatitude Jesus
invites us to discern what is truly authentic in God’s sight and put
God first in all things.

THE WORKS OF MERCY
See the Judgement of the Nations (Matthew 25:31-46)
  • Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked,
      shelter the homeless, visit the imprisoned, visit the sick,
      bury the dead (corporal works)
  • Counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish
      sinners, bear patiently the troublesome, comfort the
      afflicted, forgive offences, pray for the living and the dead
      (spiritual works)

    To what extend do Catholic values (such as those
enshrined in the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, the Beatitudes
  and the Works of Mercy) clarify, deepen, support, or
challenge our school’s implementation of its curriculum,
              especially our pastoral care?