On Wednesday, the whole school celebrated mass with Father Joe. The students from years 3 to 6, together with Mrs Best, very capably prepared and presented the readings, prayers and music. They are to be commended for their efforts.

Their chosen theme was ‘Holy Spirit’ which was very relevant for two reasons. First of all, last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday and secondly because this weekend the sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in St Joseph’s parish.

Father Joe made the homily interactive by asking the students to name the ways that we can grow the gifts of the Holy Spirit and bring them into what we do in our families, our school community and the wider communities in which we live. He has a special gift for involving the children in the mass in a way that helps them to remember something about the message of the mass to take with them when they leave the church.

We thank Father Joe for the joy and energy that he brings to the students and to the celebration of the mass. We look forward to his next visit when he will be visiting classrooms and talking to the students.

When Father Joe comes at the end of the term for the K-2 mass, he is going to celebrate the mass with these students in a different way. He is going to celebrate mass with them in their classroom. It will be a very close and personal mass and it will also reinforce for these young students that God is with us everywhere we are. The K-2 students are also looking forward to taking on the important task of preparing the readings and prayers for this mass.

Lord, pour out your gifts of the Spirit on the world. May your Spirit continue to renew the earth.