Easter Message from the Archbishop of Perth
Category: Religious Education
Sacramental Dates for 2017
Please note that there may be changes.
St Emilie’s Parish 2017 Sacramental Program Enrolments
I am pleased to inform parents who have children making either 1st Reconciliation, 1st Holy Communion or Confirmation in 2017 that Enrolment Forms are available in the church foyer for parents to enrol their children in the Parish Sacramental Program.
For your information dates and times of Commitment Masses are also on the Board. Please note there is no need to sign-up for a Commitment Mass, please come along to the mass you would usually attend or to the mass that best suits your family.
Forms can be collected after Mass, or during opening times of the Church as follows:
- Wednesday to Friday 5.30 pm – until after 6pm for Evening Mass.
- Wednesday mornings for 8.45 till after the 9am Mass
- Tuesday afternoon from 3.00pm till after the 6pm evening Mass.
- Weekend masses Sat. 6.30pm, Sun. 7.15am, 9am and 5pm. The church is open at least 1 hour prior to all weekend masses.
For enquiries phone 0404 325 900, or email lharkins@iinet.net.au.
Lyn Harkins, Co-ordinator St Emilie’s Parish Sacramental Program
First Week of Advent – HOPE
During one daily Mass Pope Francis reflected on the virtue of hope, stressing that it is a gift which does not disappoint, and warning of the false attitudes that can appear to be the virtue.
He told those present of common attitudes which often get mistaken as the virtue, “Hope is not optimism; it is not that ability to look at things with good cheer and move on. No, that is optimism, that is not hope.”
“Nor is hope a positive attitude in front of things. Those shiny, positive people,” he noted, stating that although this attitude is good, “it is not hope.”
“It is not easy to understand what hope is,” he reflected, emphasising that out of the virtues of faith, hope and love, hope is often said to be the most humble because it “hides itself in life.”
“One can see faith, one can feel it, one knows what it is. You do charity, one knows what it is. But what is hope? What is this attitude of hope?”
“To get a bit close to it,” the Pope said, “we can say firstly that hope is a risk, it is a risky virtue…”
He then stressed that because Jesus renews all things, hope is a constant miracle, “.. the miracle of what He’s doing in the Church; the miracle of making everything new: of what He does in my life, in your life, in our life.”
“He builds and He rebuilds. And that is precisely the reason of our hope.”
The Pope then asked, “Are we anchored on the shore of the ocean so far or are we anchored in an artificial lagoon that we have made ourselves, with our rules, our behaviour, our schedules… ?”
“Are we anchored there? Everything comfortable, everything secure? That is not hope. Ask yourself, where is my heart anchored?”
“Christ is the one who renews every wonderful thing of Creation,”
“He’s the reason for our hope. And this hope does not delude because He is faithful. This is the virtue of hope.”
Pope Francis concluded his homily by turning to Mary, recalling her attitude after the death of her son until his resurrection three days later, saying that “Hope is what Mary, Mother of God, sheltered in her heart during the darkest time of her life: from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning.”
“That is hope: she had it. And that hope has renewed everything. May God grant us that grace… so we too can be people of hope”
taken from CNA – Pope Francis: anchor your heart in hope, not false securityhttp://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-anchor-your-heart-in-hope-not-false-security/
2016 Sacramental Commitment Masses this weekend
Families are reminded that if they did not attend a Sacramental Commitment Mass in March, there are 2 Sacramental Commitment Masses this weekend, Saturday at 6.30pm and Sunday at 9am.
Ash Wednesday Mass – Wednesday 10th February 9am
You are warmly invited to the Parish/School ASH WEDNESDAY MASS this coming Wednesday the 10th February at 9am.
ASH WEDNESDAY marks the beginning of Lent! If you click on these images they will become bigger to read!
How are we going to make Lent real in our families this year?
Letters for Parents with details of Confirmation Dates & Processes
Letters for Parents with details of Communion Dates & Processes
St Emilie’s Parish 2016 Sacramental Program Enrolments
St Emilie’s Parish 2015 Sacramental Program Enrolments
I am pleased to inform parents who have children making either 1st Reconciliation, 1st Holy Communion or Confirmation in 2016 that Enrolment Forms are available in the church foyer for parents to enrol their children in the Parish Sacramental Program.
For your information dates and times of Commitment Masses are also on the Board. Please note there is no need to sign-up for a Commitment Mass, please come along to the mass you would usually attend or to the mass that best suits your family.
Forms can be collected after Mass, or during opening times of the Church as follows:
- Wednesday to Friday 5.30 pm – until after 6pm for Evening Mass.
- Wednesday mornings for 8.45 till after the 9am Mass
- Tuesday afternoon from 3.00pm till after the 6pm evening Mass.
- Weekend masses Sat. 6.30pm, Sun. 7.15am, 9am and 5pm. The church is open at least 1 hour prior to all weekend masses. For your information dates and times of Commitment Masses are also on the Board.
For enquiries phone 0404 325 900, or email lharkins@iinet.net.au.
Lyn Harkins, Co-ordinator St Emilie’s Parish Sacramental Program
Advent – He is coming!!
We call the four weeks before Christmas the season of Advent, a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus. The following activities are provided so that you and your family can live Advent and Christmas to the fullest.
Advent wreath: The Advent wreath, which has German origins, is probably the most recognized Advent custom. It is a wreath made of evergreens that are bound to a circle of wire. The wreath holds four equally spaced candles, the three purple candles are lit on the first (Hope), second (Love) and fourth Sundays and the pink candle for the joyful third Sunday in Advent.
The empt
y manger: Each child may have their own individual manger, or there may be one manger for the whole family. The idea is that when acts of service, sacrifice, or kindness are done in honour of Baby Jesus as a birthday present, the child receives a piece of straw to put into the manger. Then, on Christmas morning, Baby Jesus is placed in the manger. Encourage your children to make Jesus ‘bed’ as comfortable as possible through their good deeds.
The Jesse Tree: The Jesse tree tells about Jesus’ ancestry through symbols and relates Scripture to history, progressing from creation to the birth of Christ. The tree can be made on a poster board with the symbols glued on, or on an actual tree.
St. Nicholas Day: The feast of St. Nicholas is on Dec. 6th. It is a highlight of the Advent season. Each child puts out a shoe the night before St. Nicholas Day in the hope that the kind bishop with his staff and bag of gifts will pay a visit. The current Santa Claus is modelled after St. Nicholas, but commercialism has tarnished the true story. Many families give gifts on both Dec. 6 and Christmas. Read about St. Nicholas in your favourite saints book.
The Christ candle: Any large white candle can be used for the Christ candle. The idea is to decorate it with symbols for Christ. Use old Christmas cards, sequins, holly, etc. The candle can be lit on Christmas Eve to show that the Light of the World has arrived. Then continue to light the Christ candle throughout the year at Sunday dinner to remind your family of our waiting for Christ, as well as celebrating His birth and Resurrection.
The Mary candle: Some families have the custom of decorating the Christ candle with a blue veil on December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. On this great feast, others place a candle with a blue ribbon before a statue or picture of the Our Lady, whose yes to God enabled Jesus’ birth. The candle is lit during meal times to serve as a special reminder of Mary’ eager expectation of the Light of the World. It can also serve as a reminder to each family member to keep their own light of grace burning as a preparation for Jesus’ coming.
The Nativity scene: This is the event in which the entire family shares setting up the Christmas manger. Mary and Joseph should be far off traveling and their approach to Bethlehem can be adjusted daily. Older children can make life-size Nativity models, carve them, cut them out from cardboard, or set up pre-made figurines. The creative ideas are without limit. Make sure to place the Nativity scene where many can admire the children’s efforts.
Blessing of the tree: More and more frequently families are blessing their Christmas trees. There are many different stories that attempt to explain why we use a tree at Christmas. The fir tree is the wood of peace, the sign of an endless life with its evergreen branches. It points to heaven.
