St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish Primary School Bowral eNewsletter

REC Message

I am very proud of our Year 6 students and their families who have taken up the challenge to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation . The workshops were held over 4 weeks with the support of Mrs Ryan and Mrs Moroney.

Thank you to the students and their parents who worked together to prepare for the sacrament.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is the second of the three sacraments of Christian initiation.

We pray for all our students who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation tomorrow:

Grant that they may grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ.
Fill them with the joy of your presence.
Increase in them the fruit of your Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of love, patience and gentleness, the spirit of wonder and true holiness.

Amen.

Confirmation completes Baptism, by which in the laying on of hands and the anointing with Chrism Oil, which first happened at Baptism, we are confirmed with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

We are reminded of our participation in the ministry and mission of Jesus, and strengthened to follow Jesus more closely.

The Laying On of Hands

The Bishop places his hands on the head of the candidates and prays for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

This ritualises the connection to Baptism and the strengthening of the Holy Spirit in our vocation to follow the way of Jesus.

Anointing with oil

The anointing of the candidate at Confirmation recognises that they are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

The Bishop anoints the candidate’s forehead with the Oil of Chrism, saying ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’.

The Sign of Peace

At the end of the rite, the Bishop puts his hand on the side of the candidate’s face and says ‘Peace be with you’ and the candidate replies with ‘And with your spirit’, symbolising the candidate’s place within the Church community.

Bishop Brian’s Parish Visitation

Bishop Brian is visiting our parish this weekend. You are warmly invited to attend Mass and meet the Bishop.

Saturday Vigil - 5:00pm

Sunday - 8:00am
Sunday - 9:30am
Sunday - 5:00pm

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Description automatically generated Our new Parish celebrates its first feast day Sunday
6 June.

Mass at 10.30 followed by lunch. Please register for lunch through the parish office.

Body and Blood of Christ

The feast of Corpus Christi focuses on the Eucharist as a symbol and sacrament of unity. While we celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday, at this fest we give special consideration to the Bread of Life nourishing our lives.

When we break bread and share the one cup we recall that sacred meal between Christ and his disciples just before sacrificing his life on a cross. Like those disciples, Christ’s death and resurrection has bonded us in a love relationship. For this reason, the Eucharist is never a private affair but always a call to unity. In receiving communion on this feast, be aware of Christ’s presence not only in the Eucharistic host, but in those receiving with you.

Vicki Johnson
Religious Education Coordinator