Today the students and teachers engaged with the events of Holy Week.  Led by the Youth Ministry team, we were given the opportunity to reflect on the meaning and impact of this special time and to consider what this means for us in our current social context.

Our Youth Ministry Team will continue to support their peers by leading Community Prayer, reading and altar serving at Mass and working with teachers to run mini retreats and reflections.  We hope to extend their influence into the Parish in the form of Youth Masses and perhaps, into the future, a youth group.

My prayer for you is that you take time this Easter to nurture your sense of hope. For Christians, hope comes from the knowledge that God loves each of us with a love that is beyond our understanding.  This hope encourages us to accept each day as a gift.  It allows us to look on the world with the eyes of compassion.  It strengthens us to continue despite our personal and global challenges. It assures us that we are never alone. Hope leads us closer each day to God’s promise of eternal life with Him.

Friendship Fridays 

Friendship Friday is a renewed initiative to embrace and develop the sense of community which forms the heart of St Thomas the Apostle school. 

The initiative aims to; 

• Encourage new friendships
• Develop positive, supportive networks
• Provide a space for siblings to meet and play
• Provide activities for young children to engage with
• Engage with some charitable works such as craft or cooking activities for members of our school and Parish community. (No skill required!)

Each week we will gather in the Library at 9:15am after Community Prayer. We will then have a chat and a tea/coffee and work on an activity together.  There will also be activities for young children to play and they will be encouraged to borrow from the library.  They may also like to join in our community projects if they feel skilled enough. 

We encourage you to come and join us on a weekly basis or as often as you choose.  A balance of adults with young children and adults with only school-aged children would be wonderful.  It is really important that everyone feels welcome.  Those with children in upper grades would provide positive support to those new to our community while those new to the community could develop friendships that have the potential to span many years. 

We will begin in Term 2 Week 1 with a general meet and greet and discussion on what the initiative looks like.  Activities for following weeks may include; cooking for the community pantry, making some muffins/biscuits for families in need/parishioners, making cards, doing some gardening, book sharing and walking. 

We hope to see this initiative well supported by our wonderful community. 

Have a blessed and joyful Easter!

Penny Vanzwol
REC