Dear Sacred Heart families,

Often at difficult times of our lives we come to rediscover or to discover faith.

Our faith ticks along quite comfortably in good times; we may draw on it often or rarely and we sometimes forget to nourish it. When difficult times arise then we reach for what calms us, what makes sense and what helps tilt our world back onto its axis. Maybe it is an experience or a growing realisation that helps us to get back on track. Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to reconnect with our faith because it can be the one connector that brings us to a simple, pared down life when all else has been stripped away. I enjoyed watching Luke Longleys ABC Australian Story this week as it showed that he was happiest getting back to a simple life and being connected to his roots - his love of the game of basketball. What does our simple life look like when all else is stripped away? Do we give ourselves the opportunity to be open to Jesus’ presence? Is lockdown a time to reconnect with God? I encourage you all to read Heartfelt each week for the opportunities to connect with our Catholic faith which it provides.

“How do we come to faith? Everyone has their own mysterious biography - the people and events who spark interest and openness to Jesus’ presence and message, the arresting experiences that force us to sit up and take notice, the slow and enduring force of people and God’s presence that take us over gradually. Each of us has our own journey, our own milestones, our own turning points. But in them all is the power and strength of God’s Spirit drawing us on to follow Jesus”  Father Michael Kelly has a daily podcast which explores that day's  gospel. These were his thoughts from Tuesday’s podcast. -link

Walk to Tokyo for the paralympians

The Paralympics opened last night. While our able-bodied athletes show awesome strength and determination our paralympians take this determination and grit to the next level. Please join in our school challenge to walk again to Tokyo in support of our athletes. The link to the challenge is here. 

Photo Competition

Our Book Week photo competition was launched this week. This is an optional task the children might like to try this week. Please see the article in the Newsletter below. 

Fathers Day Zoom 8.40am Friday 3rd September

Next Sunday, the 5th September is Father’s Day. Normally we would ask our dads to come to school for breakfast and a liturgy. Please ask all our dads if they could put our Friday Zoom assembly in their diaries as we will have a special prayer service just for them. If they could be ready with their child/children and a cup of coffee we would love to see them.

Enjoy your week.

Regards

Julie Caldwell

Prayer for a Pandemic

May we who are merely inconvenienced, remember those whose lives are at stake. 

May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable. 

May those who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent. 

May those who have the flexibility to care for our children when schools close remember those who have no options. 

May we who have to cancel a trip remember those who have no safe place to go. 

May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all. 

May those who settle for quarantine at home remember those who have no home. 

As fear grips our country, let us choose love during this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us find ways to be the loving embrace to God and our neighbour. 

  - Prayer by Cameron Wiggins Bellm