This year at Sts Peter and Paul, we are all called to ‘Let Your Light Shine”

Reconciliation 2022

The preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation is underway. A very big thank you to the parents who have very generously offered to host a home group. There are still a number of groups that are without a nominated host. Groups can only proceed if they have a host, so if you are in a group without a host, please consider offering to host the group (this does not have to be in your home, it can even be online!)

First Eucharist (from 2021)

Many children from our Parish are continuing to celebrate their First Eucharist during 9:30 Parish Masses each weekend at Holy Trinity. We would like to congratulate all these children and their families on this important step in their faith journeys.

On the 27^th February there will also be an additional Mass at 11.30am at Holy Trinity to celebrate the First Eucharist of a number of these children. It is wonderful that we are finally able to celebrate this wonderful occasion with these students and their families.

Blessing of Year 6 Leaders and Opening School Mass 2022

On Friday of last week, we were lucky enough to gather with Year 6 students and teachers to celebrate Mass together and welcome in the 2022 school year. The Year 6 students and their new leadership badges were blessed by Fr John, our Parish Priest. It was such a beautiful Mass, and the Year 6 students are to be commended on their prayerful and reverent participation in the liturgy. A special thanks to Miss Kennelly and Mr Gubler to their assistance in preparing the children.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C  Luke 6:27-38

The radical teaching that was begun in last week’s Gospel as the beatitudes and woes is continued in this week’s challenge to be forgiving, compassionate and generous in the same way that God expresses abundant love. As with the blessings and curses of the Beatitudes passage, this teaching continues the challenge to act against cultural and social expectations. Who would be surprised if you were to express hatred for an enemy or for someone who hates you or treats you badly? But Jesus tells his disciples to love their enemies and to do good to those who hate them. His instruction is contrary to the ‘normal’ way of doing things – and that’s exactly the message Jesus wanted to convey! Rather than a spiteful, vengeful God who keeps score and punishes wrongdoing, Jesus presents a compelling image of a God of unbounded compassion and abundant generosity.

In this passage we find one version of the Golden Rule that appears repeatedly throughout the gospels (as well as most other religious traditions): ‘Treat others as you would like them to treat you.’ It is followed up with a comment that it takes no effort to treat well people whom you like – anybody can do that. The challenge is to treat people you don’t like as you would like to be treated yourself. In a society that had very strict rules about the way to treat different people and clearly established boundaries between different groups, this was a tough ask by Jesus. Bear in mind also that there was an occupying army in the country and Jesus was encouraging the people to treat even their enemies, the Romans, with love, compassion and forgiveness. This was a radical and challenging teaching! (Reflection by Greg Sunter)

Blessings for the week ahead,

Stephanie Burns

Religious Education Coordinator