Sts Peter and Paul Feast Day 2023

Tomorrow, Thursday 29th June, we will be celebrating the Feast Day of Sts Peter and Paul. At 9:15am we will celebrate Mass as a whole school, which you are warmly invited to attend.

Mrs Raccosta is organising a special lunch (at no cost to families), which includes a hot dog, drink and treat. If your child/ren will not have a hot dog, please ensure they have lunch with them.

In the afternoon, the students will be participating in a range of fun, whole school activities.

 Sunday Gospel:  Mt 10:26-33 Sunday in Year A

Do not fear those who can kill the body.

Adapted from reflection by Greg Sunter

‘Do not be afraid’ is one of the most commonly repeated sentences in the Bible. In one form or another, the command to ‘be not afraid’ or ‘fear not’ appears several hundred times throughout the Old and New Testaments. Today’s gospel passage is part of the sending out of the Twelve that occupies all of Chapter 10 in the gospel. It follows a little later in the chapter from last week’s reading in which Jesus called the Twelve and sent them out as Apostles. The remainder of the chapter provides an extended teaching on what it means and what it costs to take the message of Jesus out into the world. Jesus teaches the Twelve that the message they bear will not always be well received and there will be those who will seek to silence the Apostles through violent means. But then the teaching comes to the section of today’s passage and Jesus commands the Twelve, ‘Do not be afraid’.

The message to not be afraid is as much for the original intended audience of the gospel as it was for the apostles. The community for whom this gospel was written were on the verge of being ‘squeezed out’ and forced into secret. The passage reminds them to have courage and to have the courage of their convictions; to shout from the house-tops their message, not whisper it in darkness. It is a reminder of the abundant love of God who cares for them and sees all their efforts to continue to live out the message and ministry of Jesus.

It is equally a message for us, today. We are called to continue the spread of the gospel message; continuing the work of those early Christian communities, the Twelve and Jesus himself.

Blessings for the week ahead, and may you and your family have a wonderful and safe holiday break.

Amanda Basedow

Acting Religious Education Coordinator