Dear parents,

This weekend again sees many of our Year Three students receive the sacrament of First Eucharist.  This is a significant milestone on each child’s faith journey.  These are memorable family events usually shared by close relatives. Unfortunately restrictions on numbers has meant that the celebrations will be more intimate this year.  Earlier this year our Year Six students received the sacrament of Confirmation and had similar restrictions, yet the masses were memorable and faith filled.  I am sure the masses this weekend will be the same.

There are six masses this weekend to cater for all of the children with two masses to be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I thank parents, staff, parish workers and Mrs Leet for all the work put in to making this occasion so special. I also congratulate all of the students.

Well done to our ELC staff and students for their wonderful Art Show last night.  To allow parents to attend, bookings were needed for a 15 minute viewing.  I went to the hall yesterday afternoon and had a private viewing of all the drawings, paintings and wonderful displays of art on show.  Thank you to the parents for supporting the ELC with this event.  All funds raised from this event went to support Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health.

MTS Awards

Next Wednesday we will be holding a whole school assembly to announce the winners of this term's Mother Teresa Awards.  We will also, for the first time this year, be presenting our Academic Effort and Academic Excellence Awards.

Due to Covid restrictions only the parents of those receiving the Mother Teresa Awards will be present.  We will put a list of the award winners in next week's newsletter as we want it to be a surpise.

Maths Problem

Congratulations to Brody Press who was last week’s winner. As last week’s problem was easier this week will be harder and again based on Dr Seuss’ book One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

The Yop who likes to hop hops from one finger to another, all day and all night. As the Yop hops from the left index finger to the right, its hopping follows the path of a perfect circle. How far does the Yop have to hop if the 2 fingers are 10cm apart? What if they are 20cm apart? 50cm apart? Draw a picture to help you solve the problem. About how far apart would the 2 fingers have to be for the Yop to hop 2 metres?

The Whole school focus theme for this year is: Be Just Like Jesus

To be like Jesus is to be a person willing to put others before yourself, to seek wisdom, and to care about how you interact with all people you come across in life.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 20 September 2020

"Are you jealous because I am generous?”

Something to Think About

Today we reflect on the generosity of God and God's great love for all people. God does not

judge worth in the same way as human beings do. We often fall into the trap of judging

others. Can you think of a time that you have judged someone a little too harshly this week?

The Story

Today's gospel story is about a man who hired some workers to pick grapes in his vineyard.

The men who stood in the market place were there for a reason - they were waiting for work.

In Jesus' time, a man would take his tools to the market place early in the morning and wait for

someone to offer him work for the day. If a man missed out on a day's work, then his family

might starve. In the gospel today, men were hired at different times throughout the day - some

early in the morning and others late in the afternoon, but they all received the same money.

The land owner was generous to pay a full day's wage to everyone - even those who had only

worked for one hour!

The Scriptures

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 20:1-8, 10-13, 15

As Jesus was telling what the kingdom of heaven would be like, he said:

 "Early one morning a man went out to hire some workers for his vineyard. After he had agreed to pay them the usual amount for a day's work, he sent them off to his vineyard.

"About nine that morning, the man saw some other people standing in the market with nothing to do. He said he would pay them what was fair, if they would work in his vineyard. So they went.

"At noon and again about three in the afternoon he returned to the market. And each time he made the same agreement with others who were loafing around with nothing to do.

"Finally, about five in the afternoon the man went back and found some others standing there. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. Then he told them to go work in his vineyard.

"That evening the owner of the vineyard told the man in charge of the workers to call them in and give them their money. The workers who had been hired first thought they would be given more than the others. But when they were given the same, they began complaining to the owner of the vineyard. They said, 'The ones who were hired last worked for only one hour. But you paid them the same that you did us. And we worked in the hot sun all day long!'

"The owner answered one of them, 'Friend, I didn't cheat you. I paid you exactly what we agreed on. Why should you be jealous, if I want to be generous?'"

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection on the Parable

This parable is about the generosity and compassion of God.

Even at the final hour, the owner welcomed the workers.

Those men received a day's wage even though they worked for only an hour.

This is who God is!

We cannot earn God's love - it is for God to give to us!

God's love is not payment for work done or a life well lived - it is pure gift.

Talk together about how amazing this is and praise God for such a generous love.

First Eucharist

Please keep these children and their families in your prayers as they prepare to celebrate their First Eucharist. This will be our final weekend and all the children are very excited and can’t wait to receive their First Eucharist. 

First Eucharist Blessing

May Jesus and Mary take your hand and lead the way as you come to the holy table for the first time.  May you never lack for daily bread and drink.  May you always be fully fed on God’s love.  May God bless you on this day and whenever you come to this holy table.

Peace and Best Wishes,

Anne Leet REC