Spiritual Reflection Day for Staff

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Father's Day Mass

Last Friday the fathers and children of the three schools in the Learning Community of Blessed John XXIII Parish combined to pray together for fathers. A Mass was held at 7am followed by a breakfast which mothers from the schools catered for. It was wonderful that so many fathers were able to schedule this event into their otherwise busy working lives and we thank Fr Istvan for his moving homily. We have featured a Mass and breakfast like this at Holy Cross for several years and it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on fatherhood especially its importance in the lives of our children.

Reception of First Eucharist

Over 100 children received the Sacrament of Eucharist on the weekend of the 24th and 25th August at Blessed John XXIII Church at Stanhope Gardens. It was an historic weekend for the Parish as it was the first time that First Eucharist had been in the new church. The Friday previous the children receiving the Sacrament attended a Eucharist Reflection Day at Holy Cross Primary School at Glenwood. The Sacramental Team from the Parish, parent helpers and teachers from Blessed John XXIII School and Holy Cross School planned the day together. It incorporated several activities which the children rotated around. These included making bread and tasting grape juice, watching a DVD on the parts of the Mass, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation and practising hymns for the First Eucharist Mass, craft activities for the symbols used in Eucharist and meditation and prayers. The day began with Fr Paul praying for its success and ended with the children's prayers of thanks and a slideshow of the day's events. We thank all those involved especially the children and Fathers Paul and Istvan who contributed so much of their time. The children also appreciated very much the pizza lunch!