St Mary’s Faith News

 School and Parish Connections 

Gospel: Luke 2: 22-40

My eyes have seen your saving power

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,

just as you promised;

because my eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared for all the nations to see,

a light to enlighten the pagans

and the glory of your people Israel.’

Introducing The Charism Team for 2025

Congratulations to Elyssa Eid, Scarlett Beckton, Noah Johnson and Sebastian McKellar on being selected for their role as Charism Team leaders for 2025.

I look forward to working with this amazing team. I know they have so much to offer St Mary’s as a school and a community.

You will see our Charism team leaders, lead the Prayer every Monday morning. Please follow their lead.

In the next few weeks of term they will be visiting classrooms and talking to the children about Project Compassion.

St Mary’s Family Mass

Children’s Mass - Sunday 23rd February

We have our first St Mary’s Children’s Liturgy on Sunday the 23rd February at 10:30 am.

Flyers will be sent home this week asking for volunteers to read and sing in the choir.

For Families new to the school, the 10:30 Mass on the last Sunday of each month is dedicated to the students who attend St Mary’s Primary School.

The children lead the Mass with the support of the Charism team. Children at the school can volunteer to read and /or sing with the choir.

Both Monique, the pastoral care officer for the parish and myself, Charlotte Lipnicki, attend the Mass and support the children.  We run through with the songs with the choir and listen to the readers a couple of days before the Mass, so that they are familiar with the songs and how to project their voice in the church.

The numbers in the choir are growing and the children are keen to be involved.

Thank you to all the families who continue to encourage their children to get involved.

It is wonderful to see familiar faces and as a school this is something we hope more families will take up the invitation to join.

As a testament to how much the students love to sing in the choir, it was so beautiful to see and hear two of our year 6 students last year.

Lizzie Nardo and Georgie Bolle, requested to sing with the choir at the end of school Year Mass.

Lizzie was also involved in the Children’s Christmas pageant, as a narrator and leading with the choir.

Sacramental Program 2025

This year the only Sacrament the school will be facilitating is the “Rite of Reconciliation”.

If you child is in Year 4 and is yet to make their “First Eucharist” please contact Mrs Lipnicki at clipnicki@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au.

Likewise if your child is in Year 6 and is yet to make their “Confirmation” please contact Mrs Lipnicki at clipnicki@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au

School Masses

Some important Dates to Remember for Term 1

All families are welcome to attend the school Masses.

At St Mary’s, students sit as a class with their teacher in reserved pews.

The Altar servers sit in the first pew to the left of the Altar. The pews to right of the Altar are reserved for the choir and music ministry.

Parents are asked to find a seat towards the back of the church and not sit in the pews reserved for the school children.