SAVE THE DATE!  The Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop: A School Family Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Help of Christians Church on Saturday 2nd August 2025 at 6.00pm. Students and families are invited to take on special roles for this Parish Mass.  Watch this space for further details.

Pentecost Sunday, Cycle C

Sunday, June 8, 2025

John 20:19-23
Jesus appears to his disciples and gives them the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The season of Easter concludes with the celebration of Pentecost, marking a special moment in the life of the Church. Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem. This powerful event marks the beginning of the Church’s mission in the world.

The Gospel reading from John recounts how the risen Jesus appeared to the disciples. He greeted them with the words, “Peace be with you,” and breathed on them, giving the gift of the Holy Spirit. This was a promise fulfilled—Jesus sent a helper, the Holy Spirit, to guide and strengthen his followers to share his message of peace and forgiveness.

Families are encouraged to take time this week to reflect on the message of Pentecost and explore how peace can grow in the home. One meaningful activity is to create paper hearts and write on each one a way to be a peacemaker within the family—such as sharing, saying kind words, listening to others, or forgiving quickly. Place the hearts in a central space and take turns sharing what each heart says.

Discuss how these actions help bring peace to family relationships. Then, read the Gospel together (John 20:19–23) and reflect on the words Jesus used to greet the disciples: “Peace be with you.”

End the activity with a prayer to the Holy Spirit, asking for guidance to live with peace, love, and understanding in every relationship.

May the message of Pentecost inspire all families to be guided by the Holy Spirit and carry peace into the world.

Winter Appeal 2025 – “Put the Warmth in Winter”

As the colder months set in, the need for material support—especially food—becomes even more important. This year, our MacKillop Kids Group is once again leading the Winter Appeal, focusing on collecting tinned and packet soups to help those doing it tough in our community.

We invite all families to take part in “Put the Warmth in Winter” by donating canned or packet soups. All donations will support the Narre Warren St Vincent de Paul Conference, who work directly with individuals and families experiencing food insecurity during the winter season.

A few reminders to support this cause with dignity and care:

• Please ensure all food donations are non-perishable and undamaged
• Items must not be due to expire for at least 6 months
• Donations can be placed in classroom collection boxes

Thank you for your generosity and compassion as we support our wider community through practical action and heartfelt giving.