19. The Soul
The Proclaim Lismore Staff gatherings across our diocese in 2019 called us to radical hospitality and reminded us that “All Are Welcome, All Belong”. In remembering these important tenets, we walk with our students as witnesses within the communities of faith in our Catholic schools and parishes. The highlight video from the six Proclaim Lismore Staff days in 2019 is a great reminder of the importance of community in fulfilling our mission to enable our students to achieve the ‘fullness of life’ (Jn 10:10).
In reinvigorating Catholic identity and mission in Catholic schools, Proclaim Lismore has focussed on the head, heart and hands of staff, parents and students. This week’s video, a part of the Proclaim Lismore Student project, powerfully gives students a voice. “We yearn for more. Will you listen? Who will walk with me?”
As our churches offer the Mass to the public once again and our Spiritual Communion becomes a physical community experience, some may ponder the need to rejoin their community of faith.
The life of the Church provides us direct contact with God through the sacraments and an infusion of grace. We are wired for relationships because we were made in the image and likeness of God, the Most Holy Trinity - a perfect relationship of divine persons in consubstantial communion. God desires us to be in relationship with Him and together build a community of love.
Religion is not meant to be a private experience. As the Church, the body of Christ, we all share the mission of taking Jesus to the streets and inviting all people into our faith communities through radical hospitality.
The final epic episode of The Search series on the FORMED platform is titled Why a Church? Join the presenters as they explore the questions and challenges we face in our call to be part of the Church community, and the compelling reason to be missionary through the Church; Jesus.
As Lismore Diocese Catholic Schools prepare to acknowledge NAIDOC in the coming weeks we are invited to embrace the true history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations. This beautiful rendition of Geoffrey Gurrumal’s Jesu, sets the scene for our contemplation leading into NAIDOC.
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this presentation may contain the voices, images and words of those that have passed.
Address of Pope John Paul II to the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in Blatherskite Park - This 1986 address is full of inspiration and hope. It is a great resource worth breaking open in the classroom during NAIDOC Week 2020.
- @Home with Wildfire - Juliet and David Eyles
Enjoy a beautiful rendition of ‘Sinking Deep’, sung by father and daughter duo, David and Juliet Eyles, Leader of SchoolEvangelisation and Youth Ministry Officer, from Xavier College, Ballina. Juliet is a member of Wildfire this year and is looking forward to reuniting with the band next week at Ten:Ten in Kempsey and Dorrigo.
- The Blessing Australia - Churches of Australia
‘The Blessing’ (by Elevation Worship) was featured in an earlier edition as a timely declaration of God’s blessing (from Numbers 6:24-26) over one another during the pandemic. Since its release, many countries have united and released an ecumenical version. Here is the Australian version; God’s blessing over the ‘GREAT Southland of the Holy Spirit’.
- Fall Afresh - Jeremy Riddle
Those staff who attended the first gathering of Proclaim Lismore Staff back in 2013 may remember ‘Fall Afresh’ (by Jeremy Riddle) as the theme song. This timeless hymn calls upon the Holy Spirit to fall afresh on our daily lives.
- Meditation with Children and Young People - A Gift for Our Times - a Meditatio Online Seminar. Tuesday 20th June. Register by 28th June. Click below for details.
- NATSICC have produced a liturgy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday on 5 July.
The Student Station will be scaling back as schools move towards a return to normal. These resources remain archived on the Home Learning Site.
Accendere
The Year 4 Accendere retreat package prepared by SEACS was recently shared with schools so that students might still experience this retreat despite the COVID-19 restrictions. St Francis Xavier Primary School at Woolgoolga sent in these pictures of students participating in Accendere with their new Chaplain, Fr Joy D’Souza.
NAIDOC Week in the Classroom
- NAIDOC activities based on the theme and artwork for NAIDOC Week 2020
- Aboriginal Spirituality - A simple word search activity that may be useful during NAIDOC Week
- Teaching resources relate directly to supporting teachers in addressing The Australian Curriculum: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Culture cross-curriculum priority; with provision of content that can be used across multiple learning areas and stages/grades from Foundational Studies to Year 12.
General
- Lectio Divina is an ancient Catholic prayer method for reading and praying with the Bible. In this simple video, the Lectio Divina lesson plan model of ‘learn, meditate, pray’ is explained.
- Confused about the difference between the apostles and the disciples? This short video explains the meaning of both terms and what sets the apostles apart from the disciples.
Primary
Activities based on the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
- Stage 1 & 2 - "Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me" worksheet.
- Stage 3 - "Anyone who welcomes you, welcomes me" worksheet.
Click the image above to submit your prayer intentions. These will be included in the weekly Divine Mercy Chaplet
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Proclaim Lismore Staff
All staff in Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lismore receive The Soul by email. The link in these emails can be forwarded and shared with family and friends. Alternatively, use this form to subscribe as an additional reader to The Soul mailing list.