Last week, our school celebrated Holy Spirit Day.  The day began with a whole school liturgy and was followed by a number of activities or games from the past across the year levels.  You may have already taken the time to find your children’s paper doll in the Office.  A student wrote a beautiful piece that he completed during the day that I believe encapsulates why we celebrate Holy Spirit Day and the good things at our school.  I thank Caleb from Year 4 for sharing his lovely thoughts with me and our school community.

It’s Holy Spirits 50^th birthday but it’s not about the cake or the fun activities, it’s about celebrating our education, school and teachers.  Sometimes the money for our education is spent for us to learn.  We thank our mum and dad. We should celebrate how good our school is and how lucky we are to have Jesus, God, parents or guardians and teachers for our education.  We also thank animals, not just pets but all the creatures who help our environment. - Caleb D 

On Sunday, we celebrated Pentecost Sunday – the birthday of the Church.  The reading in the Gospel of John tells of the coming of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus had promised.  The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to spread the message of Jesus.  He also gave them seven gifts:  joy, love patience, kindness, understanding, reverence (respect) and courage.  We receive the Holy Spirit in a special way at Baptism and it is then renewed in us at Confirmation.  The Bishop lays his hands upon each of us and says, ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ The gifts of the Holy Spirit can help us follow the right path in our daily lives and fill us with God’s goodness.

O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart 
that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, 
and into my soul that I may meditate. 
Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy.
Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end.
May your grace ever help and correct me, 
and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high,
for the sake of your infinite mercy.
Amen.

by Saint Anthony of Padua

On Sunday, following the Pentecost Sunday Mass, people from the Holy Spirit Parish came together for a meal and entertainment.  Well done to our students who participated in a number of the cultural presentations.

This week at Holy Spirit, we value peacefulness.  Peacefulness brings out the good in life and is known as a state of being at one with oneself and their surroundings.  Peacefulness enables one to slow down and see what surrounds us.  St Teresa of Calcutta continued to remind us of the need for peace in the home stating that it begins within the family.  Let us pray this week for our families to be examples of peace that we can then share with others. 

God bless.

Caroline Fuller

(for Geraldine while she is on leave)