Yesterday we celebrated our last school mass with Father Tom. Very shortly, he will take up his new position as the parish priest of Charnwood parish in Canberra. He says he has enjoyed his years here but he is happy that he will be doing a lot less travelling each week in his new parish.

Yesterday he thanked the K/1 class for the work that they did to prepare the readings and prayers and he paid us an impromptu visit after mass to say thank you. Besides using words, Father Tom always draws something for us. One of yesterday’s drawings was a Kenworth truck, which delighted many of the students.

Father Tom will be missed by all the students for his cheery smile, his sense of humour, his ability to deliver a homily that they can understand, and of course, for his artistic ability and the fact that he shared this gift with us on many occasions. We wish him well in his new parish.

Here is a prayer that was prayed by one of the K/1 students at yesterday’s school mass.

Dear God,

Thank you for the time that we have shared with Father Tom. We ask you to bless him as he moves on to his new parish in Canberra. Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.