RE News with Laura Matchett
RE News with Laura Matchett
Gospel Reflection: Luke 13:22-30
‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’
This week’s Gospel reflection comes from Fr Donal Leary SJ:
“The narrow gate is an interesting image. Only the essentials would get in and out. In those times a camel with all its load wouldn’t fit. Jesus is reminding us of how little we really need. Being with him, we can live in some simplicity.
Baggage… that can burden us — go to an airport and if you have little you get through quick. The little ways we build ourselves up to be important! St Ignatius lists three things that block us from God and from living the really alive life – obsessions with wealthy, honour and pride. Wealth – would it be the burden of debts for money we really didn’t need? Wanting to have the best. Honour – demanding others look up to us. Always feeling we have to be first and best, even how we dress and look. Pride – that we are in charge of our lives. Then we have less room for God.
The narrow gate is the happy gate. One of our pictures of it is of someone dancing in the narrow gate in Jerusalem. We need little to be happy. We need the rest to be satisfied. We can even have too much religious baggage. Too many rituals and prayers and not enough love and compassion. We can stuff ourselves with rituals and rightness and forget compassion. But is it really narrow? The gospel and the first reading – when we live simply there is room for everyone. And the strangest of people will move in with us. It’s not really narrow – for all are to get through.
Jesus invites us to meet him at this narrow gate and be less cluttered. Then we walk with him, and will need no more.
Source: https://sacredheartmessenger.com/tag/luke-1322-30/
Confirmation 2022
Preparation for Confirmation is well underway with our candidates and their families completing two formation sessions. Please keep our candidates in your prayers.
The key dates for Confirmation this year are as follows:
21st August: Formation Session 3, St John Vianney’s School, 10am
28th August: Formation Session 2, St John Vianney’s School, 10am
31st August: Reflection Evening, St John Vianney’s Church, 6pm
6th September: Sacrament of Confirmation, St John Vianney’s Church,
A reminder that if you are unable to attend the Sunday formation sessions for any reason there will be a Tuesday night option at 5:30pm. The dates for these are 23rd, and 30th of August.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact our youth minister and Parish Sacramental Coordinator, Olivia Brown, via email. olivia.brown@cg.org.au
Clare Corson
As you may have seen on our school’s Facebook page, last week, our Year 5/6 students were captivated by a talk from Clare Corson, a former SJV student (Class of 2014). Clare has spent a number of years discerning her call to religious life and will be spending the next year living in the community of the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee. As part of their work in RE, Year 5/6 have been exploring the action of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Clare beautifully explained her calling from the Holy Spirit to live this life, and shared key moments of her faith journey that have led her to making this decision. She shared her understanding of God’s great love for her, and graciously answered thoughtful questions from our students. Please keep Clare in your prayers as she takes this momentous step in her faith journey.
Clare painted the picture which is just outside the entrance to our hall when she was a student here at SJV.
Parish Masses
Our students regularly attend Mass in the Parish once a fortnight on Wednesday morning at 9:30am. These Masses are open to all parishioners. The next Mass we will be attending is on Wednesday 21st September.