In Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus says to us “I am the way the truth and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.”  When we are born, we are baptised and our godparents promise to help us follow Jesus who shows us the way.  At Confirmation, we confirm our promise to share Jesus’ love with others in the way we live and work.  Our signposts which guide us as we travel through the good times and hard times are God’s commandments and the way Jesus showed us how to live, the messages which we hear each week at Mass in the Sunday readings.  We encourage our students to think about how they can live out the Gospel through the actions they take.

This week at Holy Spirit, we value consideration.  Consideration is when we are being thoughtful of other people and their feelings.  It may involve simply thinking about how our actions affect others.  We can pay careful attention to what others like and don't like, and do things that give them happiness.  This week we pray our students show consideration to those around them at school and at home.  Let us take the time to talk to them and see if their words to others are kind and how they can make others have a better day.

Families are the foundation of society.  Some of the most formative years of our lives are spent growing up with our families, so they should be celebrated!

Founded by the United Nations in 1994, The International Day of Families is observed on May 15 every year to celebrate the importance of families, people, societies and cultures around the world and has been around since 1994.  

In 2020, the 18th National Families Week theme is 'Stronger Families, Stronger Communities ', with the aim of National Families Week 2020 being to celebrate the vital role that families play in community wellbeing.  Due to the current situation around COVID-19 and the importance of physical distancing to ongoing community wellbeing, a decision was made to celebrate National Families Week twice this year, with physical gatherings postponed but at home activities encouraged and shared through social media.  Organisations, families and individuals are encouraged to celebrate National Families Week@HOME.

This pandemic highlights the importance of the theme of National Families Week – ‘Stronger Families, Stronger Communities‘ and the role families play by working together to support each other and provide care for those in the broader community.  It is a time to show kindness and help protect the health and wellbeing of everyone in the community.  For more information and activities, please https://nfw.org.au/national-families-week-postponement/

God bless.

Caroline Fuller