YEAR 12 RECONCILIATION

While a number of students in Primary are participating in Sacraments for the first time, the Year 12 students are being given the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation before they graduate from the College.

What do we celebrate? It is a celebration of encounter with Christ, mediated by the ministry of the priest. It is a celebration of Christ's compassion and love today! The story of Jesus' encounter with the dishonest tax-collector, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, illustrates what is on offer for our Year 12 students in this time and place:

Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town and suddenly a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He kept trying to see which Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd; so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse o f Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him, 'Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your house today.' And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. 'He has gone to stay at a sinner's house,' they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, 'Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.' And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of man has come to seek out and save what was lost.'

(Luke 19:1-10, New Jerusalem Bible, 1985) © Sieger Köder - Turning Point

Pope Francis has encouraged young people to take up the opportunity of encounter with Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In a World Youth homily on Copacabana Beach, he said:

Dear young people: 'Put on Christ' in your lives. In these days, Christ awaits you in his Word; listen carefully to him and your heart will be warmed by his presence; 'Put on Christ': (who) awaits you in the sacrament of Penance, to heal by his mercy the wounds caused by sin. Do not be afraid to ask God's forgiveness! God never tires of forgiving us, like a father who loves us. God is pure mercy!

A celebration of this kind requires a number of priests and we are deeply grateful to the following chaplains as well as priests and Jesuit colleagues from our local parishes who generously made time to make this a special sacramental moment for our graduating Year 12 students:

Cottesloe/Mosman Park Parish: Frs James D'Souza & Wilson Donizetti (John XXIII College Chaplain)

Nedlands Parish: Fr Joseph Sobb SJ

Floreat/Wembley Parish: Fr Andrew Albis

East Fremantle Parish: Fr Steve Astill SJ

Fremantle Parish: Fr Andrew Chen OMI

Chaplain, Trinity & Aranmore Colleges: Fr Oscar Aguilera OSM

Chaplain, University of Notre Dame: Fr John Sebastian OMI

Our sincere thanks to all of you!

ACT OF CONTRITION

God of compassion and goodness,

because you love us,

you sent Jesus, your Son,

to save us and bring us to you.

By his saving death and resurrection

have mercy on me; heal me;

free me from all my sins.

By the grace of your Holy Spirit

help me to live my faith

in holiness and justice and truth. Amen

COMMUNITY MASS

Next Friday, 13th September, we look forward to Year 8s taking on various ministries in our Eucharist, and celebrating the Gospel of the prodigal son. All parents always welcome, particularly those of Year 8 students.

Time: 8:00-8:30am.

When: Fridays in term time.

Where: Chapel.

PARISH LIFE

Sacramental program

We congratulate the following Year 6 students who are being confirmed at St Thomas the Apostle, Claremont, by Emeritus Archbishop Hickey: Anneliese Arundell, Jess Diffen, James Hackett, Thomas Hodge, Samuel King, Toby Morgan, Benjamin Scalise, James Vardanega, Eloise Watson and Hamish Watson. This year, the Family-focused, Parish-based, Catholic school-supported Sacramental Program has been a team effort of families, parishes and class teachers.

If you have children going into these classes next year, you will need to enrol them in your parish. Most parishes will have enrolment details available in Term 4. If you have any questions about the sacramental program, please contact Mary-Anne Lumley: lumley.mary-anne@johnxxiii.edu.au