This past Sunday the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of the Ascension. The Ascension marks the significant event in the Church year where, after rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples and others a number of times, Jesus ascends and returns to His father in heaven. As Jesus leaves, he reassures his Disciples that he will send down God’s promise, the Holy Spirit and by the Holy Spirit they will each be clothed with power bestowed to them by God.

The Ascension of Jesus is an important time for Christians to reflect on times when they have known and experienced the power of God moving through their life. It is equally important to consider how they welcome and respond to this power.

This coming Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost. It is the birthday of Christianity and the Catholic Church. It is also our local Parish’s Feast Day. On Pentecost Catholics celebrate the Holy Spirit coming to the Disciples to strengthen the gifts they received at their Baptism so that they were ready to go out into the world to share the Word of God, especially the love, teachings, healings and miracles of Jesus. Catholics everywhere acknowledge, appreciate and celebrate Jesus sending the Holy Spirit in His absence to love, guide, protect and advocate for people of God everywhere.

Our school is part of a vibrant, gifted, compassionate, and joyful multicultural school and parish community. To mark this important feast day everyone is most welcome to come and celebrate together all the wonderful things that makes our Parish so unique and fabulous! In celebration, everyone is encouraged to dress in their traditional dress. On the Saturday evening there will be a wine and cheese event. On the Sunday morning there will be a variety of delicious international foods on offer, as well as a good old fashioned sausage sizzle. There will also be activities and games to mark the occasion.

Parish Pentecost Event 1

When: Saturday 7 June after 5pm Mass
What: Wine and cheese (please bring donations)

Parish Event 2:

When: Sunday 8 June after 9:30am Mass
What: Parish BBQ and Multicultural Celebration

Looking forward to seeing all those who can attend at Mass and the Pentecost festivities that follow.

Let us pray together:

Lord, Open our hearts to Your presence and fill our school community with Your Spirit. Let Your peace settle in our souls, guiding our thoughts and actions. May every song, prayer, and word spoken honour You, drawing us closer to You and to one another. As we step forward, help us share Jesus’ love and light, just as the disciples did, so that His grace may shine through us.

Amen.

To coincide, our Annual St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal, Winter Woolies Day and GS Mini Vinnies Sleep Out is only a few weeks away! All money raised and donations go to St Vincent de Paul including those in our local community in need. Inspired by the challenge from the Late Pope Francis, we can each be beacons of hope for others by doing our part to help people break free from the cycle of poverty and homelessness by contributing the 2025 Vinnies Winter Appeal.

Leading the way in being a beacon of hope this year, we have our very own Principal, Trazel Scott, participating in the Vinnies CEO Sleep Out, where she and a host of other likewise generous, kind and brave people will sleep it rough outside in the Canberra Winter to raise money and awareness for this worthy and invaluable cause.

Winter Woolies Clothing Drive

• Friday 20^th June OR before

All children are asked to please BRING IN A WINTER WOOLIES CLOTHING DONATION item before or by Friday 20^th June.

Winter Woolies Dress Up and Gold Coin Donation Day

• WHEN: Friday 20^th June
• WHAT TO WEAR: Students come dressed in your Winter Woolies to promote awareness of, and compassion to, those doing it tough in our community.
• Dress for the weather and wear sensible shoes such as sneakers.
• WHAT TO DO: If you haven’t already, bring in your clothing donation for St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol.
• WHY: To answer the call to make our world a better place through prayer and action, particularly through supporting the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal to help people break free from the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

Mini Vinnies Sleep Out Students 4-6

• WHEN: Friday evening 20^th June – Saturday morning 21^st June

Students in Years 4, 5 & 6 have the opportunity to participate in a Sleep-Out in the school hall to raise awareness and money for St Vincent De Paul, with a focus on homelessness. This year the Mini Vinnies Sleepout will be held from Friday 20^th June to Saturday 21^st June (Week 8).

All students who sign up to participate in the Sleep Out are encouraged to find sponsors for the event to raise money for the St Vincent de Paul Appeal for Homelessness.

 WHAT TO DO: Help the students participating in the sleep out by donating and sending in any medium or large cardboard boxes you are willing to give away please.

WHEN: Before 20^th June

WHY: All our students who are sleeping out need a medium/large cardboard box each for the night.

Thank you.