Liturgy and Parish Liaison

This Weekend's Feast: Christ the King

This feast marks the end of the liturgical year (next week we begin the season of Advent!) According to Father Russell Hardiman, the feast of Christ the King was added to the Church calendar in the 1920s.

The idea of the new feast was to move away from the medieval idea of the divine right

of kings. This had grown from the biblical practice of the king being the anointed leader

of the people. Now the emphasis was on the Davidic notion of the king as the shepherd of the people - a role that was fulfilled in the very ministry of Jesus.

Rev Dr Russell Hardiman in Pastoral Liturgy, Vol 43, 4-5, June-November 2013.

To celebrate Christ as our Shepherd/King, the Church gives us a profound reading from the first chapter of Paul's letter to the Colossians. Sr Mary Mary Coloe PBVM, writes:

The beautiful hymn from Colossians offers on opportunity to reflect on the understanding of the Cosmos, the universe, in the light of Christian faith.... (This text) sees the Christ event not only in terms of human life, but as something impacting on the whole of creation.

© Mary Coloe PBVM.

We give thanks to the Father who has made it possible for you to join the saints and with them to inherit the light. Because that is what he has done: he has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves, and in him, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.

He is the image of the unseen God

and the first-born of all creation,

for in him were created

all things in heaven and on earth:

everything visible and everything invisible,

Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers -

all things were created through him and for him.

Before anything was created, he existed,

and he holds all things in unity.

Now the Church is his body,

he is its head.

As he is the Beginning,

he was first to be born from the dead,

so that he should be first in every way;

because God wanted all perfection

to be found in him

and all things to be reconciled through him and for him,

everything in heaven and everything on earth,

when he made peace

by his death on the cross.

Colossians1:12-20

Community Mass

Only two Community Masses left for this year. There will be a whole school Mass on Friday 13th, therefore no community Mass. If you have been intending to join this community celebration of the Eucharist, come along next Friday - as we bless the advent wreath and begin a new liturgical year.

Time: Fridays 8:00-8:30am

Venue: College Chapel

Parish Life

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

The 2013 Sacramental Program in Primary has been completed. It has been a year of transition to the Family-focused, Parish-based, School-supported program, in line with archdiocesan policy. Thank you to parents for your support in this transition. If your child celebrated one of the sacraments for the first time this year, could you please send along a copy of the certificate for filing. Ideally, scan and email to Cath Philpot, or give a hard copy to the class teacher.

2014 family-focused, parish-based, school-supported sacramental program, for children in Years 3, 4 & 6.

School-supported

Children complete the classroom component of the sacramental programs for Reconciliation (Year3), Communion (Year 4) or Confirmation (Year 6) at the College.

Parish-based

Children celebrate their First Reconciliation, First Communion or Confirmation within their parish community.

Family-focused

Parents, as first educators in the Faith, enrol their children in the sacramental program in their home parish sacramental program.

What should I do?

  • Check your home parish. Many parishes have begun publishing their sacramental programs for 2014, and are currently enrolling.
  • Alternatively, go to your parish webpage via the Perth Catholic website:
  • Details of sacramental program from parishes close to John XXIII College are on the College website, and are updated regularly.

Any further queries please contact Mary-Anne Lumley: lumley.mary-anne@johnxxiii.edu.au

Is your parish:

Holy Spirit, City Beach

Our Lady of Grace, North Beach?

These parishes have provided comprehensive details regarding their 2014 Sacramental Program. Please access these pages on the College website:

Is your parish St Mary Star of the Sea, Cottesloe/MosmanPark?

Is your parish St Thomas the Apostle, Claremont?

Enrolments for the Sacraments in 2014 are now open. Please enrol your son or daughter to receive the Sacraments in the Parish, by completing the form (on the College website) and returning to the Parish (not the College). The dates for Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation will be available soon.

St Mary Star of the Sea, Cottesloe/MosmanPark

Enrolment form:

Contact: cottesloe.parish@perthcatholic.org.au

Or contact the parish office: 9384 2421. Talk to Fr James D'Souza (parish priest), Fr Wilson Donizzetti (John XXIII College Chaplain) or Sr Mai Delahunty (parish pastoral assistant).

St Thomas the Apostle, Claremont

Enrolment form: The dates for Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation will be printed soon. For more details please contact Silvia Kinder kinder.silvia@cathednet.wa.edu.au or 93844925.

Advent and Christmas

CELEBRATIONS

The seasons of Advent and Christmas are approaching. Many families enjoy the special liturgies around the various parishes at this time. Watch out for special events in your own Parish. Coming up at St Thomas the Apostle in Claremont is the Road to Bethlehem - an Advent celebration of Scripture and carols (see poster).