Religious Education News

Dear Parents and Carers,

This afternoon we came together to witness the Year 6 class of 2021 hand over the leadership to our Year 5 students. Leadership is not a position or title, it is an action and example. As instruments in the hands of God, we pray that God will endow our new leaders with strength, wisdom and knowledge. As Mrs Wain said to the students today, “At St Bernard’s our leaders aren’t known by position, they are known by their impact.” As new leaders for 2022 students are encouraged to “Begin with the Heart” in their daily interaction with others. Congratulations to all who were elected by the student community.

K-12 School Theme 2022

Our newly elected captains and SRC will join their fellow members of our K-12 Pathway team next Monday. Students will work collaboratively to workshop a new scriptural theme for 2022. The workshop will be a Teams Meeting and will begin at 9.00am.

Illuminate

Thank you to CSYMA Youth Minister Liarna Miller for her preparation and delivery of the Illuminate Retreat on Monday. Illuminate is part of the growing and evolving faith formation pathway in youth ministry within our Catholic schools and parishes that is focused on working with Year 5 and 6 students.

Hopefully we will be able to join other CSYMA schools in Canberra for this experience next year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Liarna for being our youth minister this year. She is off to university next year to begin her teaching degree. We wish her every success and hope that she will return to St. Bernard’s at some stage during her studies.

Seminarian Mark Ha

Teachers gathered this morning for a special morning tea to farewell Seminarian Mark. Mark has been with us for the past year and has been a wonderful support in the school and wider parish community. We wish Mark every success as he continues his studies.

Graduation Mass & Prize Giving – “From Little Things Big Things Grow”

We are very excited to be celebrating our 2021 Graduation Mass and Prize Giving this Friday 10 December at 9.15am. Thank you to the team of helpers who have supported the preparation of this event. Year 6 guests are asked to be at the church by 9.00am. Full school uniform must be worn

Advent – Preparing for the coming of Jesus

As we begin the Third Week of Advent, we anticipate Christmas, and so we ask Christ to grant us His grace that we might be prepared for welcoming His Birth. Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent, marks a traditional turning point in our preparation, and we see it visually in the Advent wreath. Not only do we light more candles than we leave unlit for the first time in Advent—thus providing more light, symbolizing the light of Christ—but if our Advent wreath has a rose or pink candle, that's the one that we light this week. The rose candle is a symbol of our coming joy.

Parents and Friends

Once again it has been a privilege working alongside you this year in the religious and pastoral areas of our school. During very difficult times we showed great resilience. A special thank you to those parents who committed themselves and their children to sacramental programs during the year- they were lovely occasions. Continued blessings on your family for the Christmas and New Year.

Sharon Beashel REC