Yesterday I attended an REC network day. An opportunity for all REC leaders across the archdiocese to receive input from our curriculum leaders.  During the day, we went through the process of registration. Every five years we are required to show that we are meet the targets for the government on how we teach, what we teach, how long we teach each subject area for, how we assess what we teach and then ultimately report this back to the parents and community.  We need to be able to show that there is a clear connection between what is in the curriculum and what is happening in each classroom. 

This is also relevant for Religious Education. As a catholic school, we live out what is known as the Moran Model. The model shows the relationship between teaching people religion and teaching people to be religious which draws upon the Catholic Christian tradition in ways that are mindful of local contexts and the ecumenical and multi-faith realities of contemporary culture.

Our school seeks to understand and utilise the distinctiveness and complementarity of these two dimensions of religious education in the holistic education and the formation of students. Our programs, activities and experiences for the classroom learning and teaching of religion and the religious life of the school are responsive to religious diversity, while being faithful to the Catholic Christian identity of the school.

In order to share how these two facets of the model are being taught and lived out at St Francis of Assisi, I am going to start placing in the newsletter a little snippet of what the students across the school are learning in the academic subject of Religious Education as well as how we are currently living our our faith.

 What students are learning about

In Year 3 the students have been introduced to initiation rites of the Catholic Church and specifically the subject of Baptism. They have been looking at how this Sacrament is the first visible symbol of God's love and how we are welcomed into the Catholic community. 

Sunday Gospel Reflection - John 6:41-51 

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Jesus is the living bread.

The murmuring of Jesus' Jewish opponents, prompted by his claim to be bread from heaven, is reminiscent of the murmuring of the Israelites in the wilderness, to which God responded with manna from heaven. The exchange between Jesus and his opponents was a kind of social sparring meant to enhance the status of one as it diminished the status of the other. In a clever turn of phrase, Jesus declares that only those drawn by God will be drawn to the one who was sent by God. Jesus makes two self-revelatory proclamations: I am the bread of life; I am the living bread from heaven. Unlike the manna that provided sustenance for a short time, Jesus is the source of life eternal.

Adapted from Dianne Bergant CSA

Eucharist Commitment Masses

A reminder to our families of children who wish to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist who have not yet made their commitment that you will have the opportunity this weekend at any of the masses. Please remember to bring your commitment form as well as the prayer cards you were given at the formation evening. Please ensure your child has written their name on the bottom of the prayer card.  

A reminder also that the First Eucharist Mass bookings are open through the parish Qkr! app.

The Mass bookings will close next Friday, 16 August.

Have a great week!

Sharee Thomas

REC