RE News

Gospel Reflection: Luke 5:1-11

“Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.”

This week’s Gospel recounts the story of Jesus asking Simon Peter to cast his nets back into the water after a long night’s fishing with no success. We can imagine that Simon Peter was probably exhausted, exasperated, and as an experienced fisherman, utterly disbelieving that recasting the nets would reap any kind of reward. In that moment, it would have been the last thing he would have wanted to do. Yet despite his doubts, his tiredness, he does as Jesus asks and the nets come back up full to the point of almost sinking the boat. After this encounter with Jesus, so overcome with wonder, Simon Peter and his companions decide to leave everything and follow Jesus. 

This passage invites us to reflect on how God calls ordinary people everyday to discipleship and mission. Simon Peter and his companions were ordinary people, imperfect and flawed, yet Jesus tells them to not be afraid and to follow Him. We see Simon Peter’s initial reluctance and resistance to Jesus because what He was asking him to do seemed illogical and impractical. We then see Simon Peter throw himself at Jesus’ knees and declare himself to be unworthy. Jesus tells him to not be afraid and to follow him anyway. We too may be imperfect and flawed, God knows this. Yet like Simon Peter, He calls us to follow Him. Although most of us are not called to ‘leave everything’ we can still respond to God’s call to live out our mission of discipleship in our ordinary, everyday lives.

Sacraments 2022

Our Lady of Annunciation Parish will be piloting a new program for Sacramental preparation from this year. The program is one that has been successfully used in other Australian Archdioceses for many years and involves the candidates and their parents/carers participating in their preparation and formation for their upcoming sacraments directly through the Parish.

Each Sacrament will have its own dedicated information night to explain the program to parents and carers. The dates for each Sacrament’s information night as well as a candidate’s eligibility to receive each Sacrament are listed below:

Reconciliation 2022

Registration for Reconciliation for 2022 is now open. Parents and carers wishing to register their child for Reconciliation will need to do so through the Parish’s QKR account. More information can be found on the Parish’s website: https:/stjjvwestoncreek.blogspot.com/p/first-reconciliation-and-holy-communion.html  

If you have any questions, please contact me: laura.matchett@cg.catholic.edu.au or contact the Parish office by phone: 6288 1979 or email: westoncreek@cg.org.au 

Youth Minister

We warmly welcome our school’s new Youth Minister, Olivia Brown. She has written a small piece below to introduce herself to our community. Olivia has worked in a range of communities so comes to us with a variety of experience and knowledge in youth ministry. Our staff and students are excited to work with Olivia this year.

Hi, My name is Olivia and I will be the new youth minister this year at St John Vianney's Primary School and the Parish. I have been involved in youth ministry for around 6 years now and have recently relocated to Canberra. I am looking forward to working within the school and parish with RE classes, the sacramental program, the youth ministry program, youth groups and anything else that comes up. 

If you see me around please say Hi. 

God Bless

Olivia.