Welcome back, everyone. I hope you all had a lovely Easter and are refreshed for the term ahead! On the church calendar, we are now in the Season of Easter which began with Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Jesus. It is seen as a time of new beginnings, joy and thanksgiving, a celebration of the risen Lord, a period of fifty days ending with the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday.

In the powerful post-resurrection story in this week’s Gospel, we find the disciples back at the sea, doing what they know—fishing. It had been a long night with no success. They were likely confused, grieving and unsure about what came next after Jesus' resurrection. But then, as morning breaks, Jesus appears quietly and kindly on the shore. He calls out, tells them where to cast their net, and suddenly, abundance—a net so full they can barely drag it in. This is the moment of recognition: “It is the Lord!” Jesus doesn’t scold or correct. He feeds them with a simple fire, bread, and fish. Then comes the tender moment between Jesus and Peter—the one who had denied Him three times. Now, three times, Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” Peter, humbled, answers yes each time. With each reply, Jesus entrusts him again: “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.” And then, a final call: “Follow me.” 

Like the disciples, we often go back to what’s familiar when we’re uncertain. This reading is a story of restoration. Peter had failed, but Jesus didn’t leave him in shame—He gave him a fresh start. Jesus meets us in ordinary moments—over breakfast, in our work, in silence. The invitation remains for each of us: “Follow me.” Not once, but daily.

This week at Holy Spirit we value service. Service, by definition, means doing something for others. The motive for our service is supposed to be love. Our love for God is proven in our love for others, so the quality of our service directly reflects our love for others.  This week, we pray for our students and family members to continue their kind acts towards others to have a positive influence on those around them.

At the end of last term, students from Grades 4, 5 and 6 presented Stations of the Cross for our school community. The students – both choir and actors – were outstanding in their singing and performing on both the Thursday night and Friday morning Liturgy. They are to be congratulated for their dedication over the last
couple of weeks of the term as they practiced for the performances. Thank you to all our families who came along to see the students. It was lovely to hear so many positive comments that have been passed on to our students.

PROJECT COMPASSION:  During Lent, we were asked to help raise funds to send to CARITAS to support their mission work.  Well done to all who contributed to the Project Compassion boxes at home and at school.  This year our school raised just over $1650 for the ‘Be More’ Campaign.  A little bit goes a long way to help those in need!  

Saturday 1 May - FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH THE WORKER 

We celebrate two feast days for Joseph:  March 19 for Joseph the Husband  of Mary and May 1 for Joseph the Worker.  Saint Joseph is the model for all who work, because in his humble and simple work as a carpenter, he cared for the holy family and provided for the needs of Mary and Jesus.  Through Saint Joseph, we can learn the importance of diligence and faithfulness in our daily life and work.

MAY, THE MONTH OF MARY:  By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a certain devotion.  In May, it is the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This devotion arose among Jesuits in Rome in the late 18th century and quickly spread throughout the Western Church.  By the time of Pope Pius IX's declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, it had become universal.  There are several Marian feast days in May in honour of Mary, including Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament (13th May), and Feast of Mary Help of Christians (24th May) and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (31st May).  

                                    Hail Mary, Full of Grace,

The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among
women,

    And blessed is the fruit of thy
 womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
  Pray for us sinners now, and at
   the hour of death.

     Amen.

God bless

Caroline Fuller