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Dear Parents, Guardians and Community,
First Eucharist: This Sunday we have our first group of students celebrating their First Eucharist. We wish them all the best for the day and we come together as a community to celebrate with them.
Changes to the end of the year. As some of you may be aware Melbourne Archdiocesan Catholic Schools is negotiating a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement with staff and changes have been established that acknowledge the extra hours staff work. Eg school camps and sleepover staff have never received any extra entitlements or allowances. As part of the acknowledgement, time in lieu is being made more structured accountable. As a result there will now be a new end of year finishing date for students to allow schools to give back time in lieu hours to staff. The last day for students for the end of Term 4 will now be Friday December 15. Previously it was Tuesday the 19th.
Parents and Friends Association. Our a new organising committee has formed to lead and Parents and Friends Association. The main change in structure is that events will become more individualised so parents can volunteer for one event instead of committing to the Parents and Friends for the whole year. The organising committee is made up of
St Mary’s Faith News
School and Parish Connections
Gospel – John 17:1-11A
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come, glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
Just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life: That they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.
And now glorify you me, O Father, with yourself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with you.
“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.
Now they have known, that all things which you have given me, are from you
Because the words which you gave me, I have given to them; and they have received them, and have known in very deed that I came out from you, and they have believed that you did send me.
I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them whom you have given me: because they are yours,
And all my things are yours, and yours are mine; and I am glorified in them.
And now I will no longer be in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to you
Congratulations to the Year 4’s
On Saturday evening the Year 4 students presented themselves to the Parish community and asked for their prayers as they continue their preparation for the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which they will receive at the 10:30 Mass on Sunday the 28th May and Sunday the 4th June.
The children presented themselves confidently. The children reading the prayers of the faithful read beautifully and as a whole group the recited their request for prayers in such unison, you would have thought they were a choral group.
After Mass Fr Greg was full of applause for the children, so too were the music ministry. The parishioners were very impressed as well.
Year 4 students, you should be proud of yourselves and know that you are ready to make your First Eucharist with faith in yourselves and the prayers of the parish.
What if my child is sick on the day of their Eucharist?
We are very aware that there are many viruses and bugs affecting the children at the moment.
If your child is sick leading up to, or on the day of their First Eucharist, please contact your child’s teacher.
We ask that you do not worry, this will impact on your child. Once you have contacted your child’s teacher we will contact Fr Greg. As a school we will also be keeping a record.
Fr Greg will then make alternative plans - what this looks like we are not sure - it may be a small group or individual communions at Parish Masses that suit each family and Fr Greg.
Please keep in contact.
Thank you
Important Information for Year 3’s
Rite of Reconciliation
On Wednesday the 24th May we will be hosting a Faith formation session for the Year 3 students and their families. Maria Forde will be the presenter on the evening and will lead the children and their families in exploring the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Maria requests that all students attend with a parent or guardian. This is a part of the students formal preparation.
I look forward to welcoming Maria to St Mary’s and for us all to be working together to prepare the children for their Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The session will be held in the school Hall and run from 7:00-8:00pm.
We do ask that all students making their Reconciliation attend with at least one parent/guardian.
The year 3 teacher and I look forward to seeing you there.
Desperately needed -Altar Servers
Year 3 and 4 Meeting
On Friday, I will be holding a meeting with all year 3 and 4 students to talk about the opportunity to be an Altar server at St Mary’s. Our current Altar servers will be attending to talk to the children about the role and answer any questions children may have. Please take the time to talk to your son or daughter about this opportunity.
The children will be trained in the role.
All new Altar servers will be partnered with an experienced Altar server until they are confident in the role.
Any student in Years 3, 4, 5 or 6 who would like to train as an Altar server, please contact with Fr Greg at greg.trythall@cam.org.au or Mrs Lipnicki at clipnicki@smwilliamstown.catholic.edu.au.
Training will be organised by Fr Greg. Fr Greg will also put together a roster which he will share with families
Some important Dates to Remember for Term 2
Event |
Date |
Time |
Where |
Year 3 Reconciliation Information Evening |
Wednesday 24th May |
7:00pm |
School Hall |
4RM First Eucharist |
28th May |
10:30 am |
Church |
Seniors Mass - Yr 6 attending ● Swapped with Year 5’s |
2nd June |
11:30 am |
Church |
4H First Eucharist |
4th June |
10:30 am |
Church |
Year 3 Family Mass |
18th June |
10:30 am |
Church |
Year 3 Reconciliation |
Tuesday 20th June |
4:00 - 6pm |
Church |
Year 3 Reconciliation |
Wednesday 21stJune |
4:00 - 6pm |
Church |
Year 3 Reconciliation |
Friday 23rd June |
4:00 - 6 pm |
Church |
Year 3 Reconciliation |
Saturday 24th June |
10am -12:pm |
Church |
2nd Children’s Mass |
Sunday 25th June |
10:30 - 11:30 |
Church |
Important information for year Three Families
Bookings will be open for Reconciliation dates and times in the next coming weeks. We need to wait patiently for the Parish children to be offered the opportunity to sign up for their instruction.
We are hoping to open bookings for the week beginning 29th May, so please keep checking your emails and reading the newsletter.
You will receive an email inviting you to book a date and time. Once you have made your booking can you please add it to your diary.
Sacramental Program 2023
All dates and times for the Sacrament Masses are outlined in the table below. Year 4 and Year 6 students will be making their Eucharist and Confirmation as a class this year. Early in Term 2 we will open the ‘booking online’ for parents in Year 3 to make a time for their child to make their Reconciliation.
Sacrament |
Term |
Date |
Where |
Notes |
Reconciliation |
2 |
Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st, Friday 23rd June Time: 4:00-6:00 and Saturday 24th June Time: 10:00-12:00 am |
Church |
Will need to book a time early in Term 2 |
Eucharist - Year 4RM |
2 |
Sunday 28th May 10:30 am |
Church |
No booking required |
Eucharist - Year 4H |
2 |
Sunday 4th June 10:30 am |
Church |
No booking required |
Confirmation - 6D |
3 |
Tuesday 22nd August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Confirmation - 6B |
3 |
Wednesday 23rd August - 6:00pm |
Church |
No booking required |
Information Sessions for the Sacramental Program
Sacrament |
Date and Time |
Location |
Presenter |
Reconciliation - Students and parents |
Wednesday 24th May 7:00 pm |
School Hall |
Maria Forde |
Confirmation |
Thursday 20th July 6:30 pm |
School Hall |
Fr Elio Capra |
Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia
The ‘Way of the West’ Group have sought our help with this new program to help refugees on permanent visas to assimilate in Australia. We are seeking the help of Parishioners to join this endeavour. The Program is called CRISP! This stands for COMMUNITY REFUGEE INTEGRATION AND SETTLEMENT PILOT.
There is further information in the Parish bulletin.
Alternatively if you want more information you can email sandyandpeter@gmail.com . They have been at the forefront of this potential program.
Open Day 2023 was a wonderful event with families enjoying the opportunity to meet students, see the fantastic facilities we have here at Emmanuel and meet staff and students. We hope that you saw lots of things that you liked and that your child would enjoy doing here at Emmanuel.
If you were unable to attend, or would like to visit the College again, you are most welcome to come along to Information Morning on Saturday 5 August – times for each campus are below and registration is available here: https://www.ecmelb.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-information/tours
Saturday 5 August 2023
Notre Dame Campus 9:00am
St Paul’s Campus 10:30am
Year 7 2025 Applications
A friendly reminder that if you have a child in Grade 5, applications for Year 7 2025 close on Friday 18 August 2023. Even if your older child is already attending or joining us in 2024, it is a requirement for an application to be submitted for 2025. A Prospectus Pack containing an application form can be obtained by:
- Attending Information Morning on Saturday 5 August
- Following this link to the College website: Request a Prospectus here
- Sending an email to: enrolments@ecmelb.catholic.edu.au
- Calling our College Registrar, Ms Donna Grech on 8325 5119
- Coming into either Campus Office between 8am and 4:15pm on weekdays.
Please ensure that you provide us with your current email address as Year 7 2025 Letters of Offer and Waitlist notifications will be distributed to families by email on Friday 18 October.
I hope to see you at a College event soon.
Best wishes,
Jenny Hendricks
Community Engagement Officer