A Message from Bishop Brian

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Pope Francis has proclaimed that 2025 is a Holy Year
of Jubilee, a special year of grace and conversion,
involving prayer, pilgrimage and sacramental
repentance, ordinarily held every 25 years. The goal
of a Jubilee year is to inspire and encourage holiness
of life among the faithful and therefore to strengthen
the Church’s witness to God’s loving mercy in and for
the world. The spiritual theme for the 2025 Holy Year of Jubilee
is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.

The Jubilee year commenced with the opening of the
Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica on 24 December.
As was the case in Dioceses around the world, I
opened the Holy Year in the Diocese of Wollongong
on Sunday 29 December 2024 at the celebration of
Mass at St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Wollongong.

In choosing the motto ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ for the
Jubilee, Pope Francis noted that ‘We must fan the
flame of hope that has been given to us and help
everyone to gain new strength and certainty by
looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting
heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee
can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope
and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that
we so greatly desire’.

Lent

We held our first Caritas fundraiser for Lent last Friday. The students wore mufti and we raised $400.75! Thank you for your generosity. Our next fundraiser will be a Crazy Hair Day on Thursday 10th April. We are encouraging the students to take up the challenge of almsgiving this Lent by doing some extra jobs at home to earn a gold coin to donate.

Holy Week Liturgy

You are invited to join us to celebrate our Holy Week Liturgy on Friday 11th April at 9:30am.

First Reconciliation

We have students busily preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please keep them in your prayers.

Confirmation

Students in Year 6 who have made their First Communion are invited to make their Confirmation this year. The ceremony will be held on Saturday 24th May at 11am. Father Sean will invite these families to enrol. Keep your eye on the Parish Bulletin.

Renee McFayden

Religious Education Co-ordinator