Dear Parents and Caregivers
Child Protection Week
Last week was National Child Protection Week, concluding last Sunday, 11 September with Safeguarding Sunday. Prevention of abuse of children is a commitment and priority in our Church and school community.
The Catholic Church in Australia marks Safeguarding Sunday (formerly Child Protection Sunday) on the second Sunday of September - at the conclusion of National Child Protection Week. Safeguarding Sunday seeks to acknowledge the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and adults at risk, including by priests, religious and lay people within Catholic contexts. It makes a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all people. It invites people to pray for those harmed by abuse directly and indirectly.
Andrea Musulin, the Perth Archdiocesan Safeguarding Office Director said that while there are still challenges faced in this area, “we have to empower children to talk about abuse when it happens and for the wider society to embrace the voice of the child and to value children.”
Parishes across Australia were also being encouraged to celebrate Safeguarding Sunday on 11 September, focussed on the theme – ‘Every Child in Every Community Needs a Fair Go’. An important aspect of empowering and protecting our children is to support them in identifying five people they trust: a trusted network. In schools, this is a non-negotiable aspect of the Child Protection curriculum for each Year level and is reviewed frequently throughout the year. Networks should include people that the child feels they can trust as well as age appropriate outside agencies like Kids Helpline or Headspace. Parents and teachers should check in regularly with children to discuss their trusted network of people and encourage children to keep this list in a handy place for easy access if or when it may be required.
In the New Testament, Jesus often preached about HEALING. Not only the physical but also of the spiritual self. Healing of the deaf and mute man, the healing of the woman at the well, the healing of Zacchaeus the tax collector, the healing of the blind man, and I could go on with many other examples in scripture. This is the place where the Church is at the moment with all that is happening. At this time, we pray for the healing power of the Spirit of God and for the victims that have been affected.
The more we can do to listen and empower children and the vulnerable in our communities the more we create a world of love and caring, and the best way to prevent abuse of any kind is to turn ourselves into a strong society in which social justice, love and compassion are prevalent where violence becomes a distant memory. The God we see imaged by Jesus; the Good Shepherd, wants to embrace all. May we realise this is our call to be interconnected and to share compassion and peace.
A Prayer For Children
Loving God, we thank you for the care and affection of Jesus, who placed children in the very centre of his community. We pray for children, created in your own image and likeness, dwelling places of your Spirit, each one called to experience the freedom of your daughters and sons. We pray for all children – those in our family homes, those in our community of faith, those in the wider community, those in our global village, those with plenty and those who struggle to survive. We yearn for the day when all children may know safety and freedom and protection from violence and abuse, when they may bask in constant love, safe from any harm, where they may flourish and be all they can be. God of all goodness, we hope in you. Inspire us to surround others with gentleness and love and empower us to build a world that no longer knows abuse and violence. Grant us courage to speak out and act when children need protection, care and shelter. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
How Well Do We Know Our school?
Another beautiful area of our school.
Have you seen it before?
Do you know where it is?
Sacramental Program 2022
The Sacramental Program has concluded for this year with the Sacrament of Reconciliation being celebrated on Thursday 8/09/2022 in the Church. Congratulations to all the candidates.
If you have any questions about the program for next year or; if you are considering starting your children’s Religious Journey with the Sacrament of Baptism, please contact Franco Canil at the School Office or email fcanil@sjms.catholic.edu.au
This Week’s Sunday Readings are:
First Reading: Amos 8:4-7
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8
Gospel Reading: Luke 16:10-13
Also, as a quick reminder that Mass times at St Ignatius Church, Norwood are:
Saturday: (Vigil) 6:00pm
Sunday: 8:30am, 10:00am, 5:00pm
“We are all a reflection of God’s love”
Franco Canil
Acting APRIM