From the APRIM

Dear Families

Sacrament Program
We are up and running again. Our students have just completed their First Reconciliation and are now preparing for Confirmation. We ask our community to pray for Lewis, Cameron, Sakura, Liam, Jenae, Carex, Elijah, Matthew, Ciara, Blane, Phillip, Charlie, Harry, Millie, Caitlyn, Alanah, Chloe and Josh. The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Friday 18 September at 6pm. These are our plans but Government restrictions may change them. We trust in the power of the Holy Spirit that all our plans will come to fruition at some time.

Class Masses
Yesterday we celebrated our first class Mass in over 4 months. There are some changes. Students do not have to social distance but adults do. All attending adults need to sign in and then sanitise their hands. There are specific places to sit, please follow the signage. Unfortunately, only those receiving communion can come forward at communion time, maintaining social distance. You will be guided on how this happens before the Mass. At the conclusion of Mass, please remain in your seats until someone comes to clean your space. This cuts down on the number of pews that have to be sanitised by parish and school staff.

Extraordinary Times
Listening to the news in the evening has become a numbers game. How many COVID cases here? How many cases in Victoria? How many around Australia? How many metres per person? How devastating was the terrible explosion in Beirut? 135 dead, over 5000 injured, 300,000 homeless, a 140 metre wide crater. Numbers, numbers, numbers! The news can be so deflating, worrying and miserable.
So how can we help? Of course we need to abide by the government’s restrictions, making sure we maintain hygiene standards and social distancing. We need to keep in contact by phone and digital technology with those who are self-isolating.

We can also scatter kindness and gratitude like sprinkles on fairy bread.

AND we can pray.

Below is a checklist that might help you on those days when you feel overloaded and you just can’t think!

• Praise God for his love
• Thank God for promising to always be with us.
• Ask God to heal those who are sick.
• Ask God to be with those who are afraid.
• Ask God to protect those in the medical field.
• Ask God to give leaders wisdom.
• Ask God to forgive you your sins and to heal our nation.
• Ask God to use the Church to show his love.
• Ask God to bring renewal through this difficult time.

Finish your prayer time by reading Psalm 21.

Psalm 121
1 I look to the mountains;
where will my help come from?
2 My help will come from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let you fall;
your protector is always awake.
4 The protector of Israel
never dozes or sleeps.
5 The LORD will guard you;
he is by your side to protect you.
6 The sun will not hurt you during the day,
nor the moon during the night.
7 The LORD will protect you from all danger;
he will keep you safe.
8 He will protect you as you come and go
now and forever.

Blessings

Sharyn Black
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission