PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Parents/ Guardians,
As we move into the Term 1 school holidays, I pray that you can all enjoy a restful holiday and some beautiful Easter weather and immerse yourself in the solemnity and joy of the Easter liturgies during Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. We would normally finish school with a Holy Thursday liturgy, with no school on Good Friday. I trust that all families will make time to visit their local Parish and enter into some of the services and events offered.
Palm Sunday is this weekend and is the commencement of the holiest week in the Catholic year. Jesus arrives into Jerusalem to a thunderous welcome - the messiah, the saviour. Less than a week later the same people wanted him dead. And what a terrible death, of torture and humiliation on the cross. This week is so pivotal to all of humanity.
The symbolism and messages are immense and so very pertinent to all of us. The messiah, a few days later betrayed, then crucified. However, the final scene is one of victory and overcoming human death - because of faith. This magical week is a summary of life - to be able to have a Resurrection Sunday, we need to suffer the trials of a Good Friday.
Again, I urge all families to attend their local Parish services this weekend and next. This is the time to ask yourself questions, to look inside, to be open to the new and to be changed for the better. What do I stand for, what do I want?
APPIN MASSACRE MEMORIAL
I remind all that the memorial event for the Appin Massacre takes place on Sunday 10th April. Commencing at 11.00 and concluding by 3.00pm with the formal ceremony taking place at 1.00pm. This takes place at the Cataract Dam Picnic Grounds. Traditionally the John Therry aboriginal students play a significant role on this day with music and providing dancers. A free sausage sizzle lunch is provided for all.
This event commemorates the massacre of aboriginal people – men, women and children, of the Dharawal nation in 1816 by English soldiers. Fourteen bodies were counted but the true count will never be known. This night attack came after months of soldiers trying to round up the local peoples with no success. This was partly because the local settlers supported the Aboriginal peoples efforts to avoid the soldiers.
As we live and work on Dharawal land at John Therry, we respect this sad episode in Australia’s history and mourn with those who gather at Cataract.
HOLY WEEK CEREMONIES 2022
Our Lady Help of Christians, Rosemeadow
PALM SUNDAY
| SATURDAY 9 APRIL | 6pm - Vigil Mass |
| SUNDAY 10 APRIL |
8.30am - Mass 10am – Mass |
| TUESDAY 12 APRIL | 7.00pm – CHRISM MASS of the HOLY OILS at ST. FRANCIS XAVIER’S CATHEDRAL, WOLLONGONG, (Includes renewal of Priestly Ordination promises by all Priests of the Diocese). (NOTE: Restricted numbers to attend. Details given later when known) (Note: No 6.30pm Mass today in the parish) |
| HOLY THURSDAY 14 April | 7.00pm – SOLEMN MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER - followed by Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to Altar of Repose where Exposition will continue until Midnight. By tradition, the Church Sanctuary will be stripped, and statues covered until the Solemn Easter Vigil, in honour of the Lord’s burial in the Tomb. (Note: No 9am Mass today) |
| GOOD FRIDAY 15 April | (A day of both fast and abstinence). 10.00am - STATIONS OF THE CROSS 3.00pm - SOLEMN COMMEMORATION OF THE LORD’S PASSION AND DEATH |
| HOLY SATURDAY 16 April | 7.00pm – SOLEMN EASTER VIGIL and MASS OF THE LORD’S RESURRECTION. (Note change of time for vigil Mass) EASTER |
| SUNDAY 17 April |
8.30am - Mass 10.00am - SOLEMN MASS OF THE LORD’S RESURRECTION |
| CONFESSIONS |
Saturday 9 April 5.00 – 5.45pm Wednesday 13 April 9.30am – 10.00am Wednesday 13 April 7.00pm – 8.00pm Friday 15 April 11am – 12noon PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO Confessions heard on Holy Saturday, 14 April. By tradition, no sacraments are celebrated on Holy Saturday in the Church, in memory of the Lord’s burial in the Tomb. All the faithful should have confessed their sins prior to the celebration of the Sacred Triduum of Easter. |
St John the Evangelist, Campbelltown
|
Thursday |
7:00 pm |
14 April—Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Adoration until 10pm) |
|
Friday |
10:00 am |
15 April—Stations of the Cross (outside in lower carpark) |
|
3:00 pm |
15 April—Passion of Our Lord (at school COLA) |
|
|
Saturday |
7:00 pm |
16 April—Holy Saturday Vigil |
|
Sunday |
7:30 am |
17 April—Easter Sunday |
|
9:00 am |
17 April—Easter Sunday |
|
|
10:30 am |
17 April—Easter Sunday |
|
|
5:00 pm |
17 April—Easter Sunday |
St Thomas More, Campbelltown
| Saturday Vigil Mass | 6.00pm Vigil Mass |
| Sunday Mass | 9.00am Mass |
| Tuesday Mass | 9.30am Mass |
| Wednesday Mass | 9.30am Mass |
| Thursday Mass | 9.30am Mass |
| Friday Mass | 9.30am Mass |
Mary Immaculate Catholic Parish, Eaglevale
| Holy Thursday | 7:00PM |
| Good Friday |
10:00AM - Stations of the Cross 3:00PM - Passions of our Lord |
| Saturday Vigil | 7:30PM |
| Easter Sunday |
8:30AM 10:00AM (also live streamed) |
| Reconciliation |
Good Friday after Stations of the Cross and the passion of our Lord Holy Saturday between 10:00AM & 11:00AM |
Commencing Term 2, 2022 the College Newsletter will be issued each fortnight.