St Francis of Assisi Primary School - Calwell
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120 Casey Cres
Calwell ACT 2905
Subscribe: https://stfranciscalwell.schoolzineplus.com/subscribe

Email: elc.stfranciscalwell@cg.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 02 6292 4500
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RE NEWS

lost_and_found.jfifThis Sunday the Gospel passage begins with an accusation that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. This is the gravest social accusation one could level at another because who you ate with was a reflection of your own status. To welcome sinners and to eat with them was to effectively become one of them yourself. In response to this accusation, rather than mounting an argument, the gospel writer has Jesus tell three parables about the lost being found. The answer to the accusation is that those dismissed as ‘sinners’ are the ‘lost’ who will be celebrated with extravagant rejoicing when they have been ‘found’ again through their acceptance of the message of Jesus.

The parable of the lost son is usually taken in isolation and rarely is heard in the full context of the three parables of the lost being found. We need all three to recognise the ridiculous nature of the celebration of the forgiving father’s actions. All three parables display great folly. What shepherd would leave 99 of his sheep in the wilderness to go in search of just one? Similarly what woman is going to reveal to her friends how poverty-stricken she really is by inviting them to rejoice with her at the finding of one lost drachma – the least valuable of coins. When we come to the father rejoicing at his son’s return, this too would have seemed a ridiculous folly. Because of his actions, the son completely shamed himself and his father. The father’s expected and justified response would have been to turn his back on his son and banish him forever. To welcome him back would have been unthinkable to Jesus’ audience. In an echo of God’s ridiculous and unbounded loving forgiveness, the father welcomes his son with open arms and reclaims him as his own.

Reflection by Greg Sunter

EUCHARIST CELEBRATION

On Tuesday evening 21 of our students received the Sacrament of Eucharist for the first time in a wonderful celebration with Fr James, Fr Josh, Deacon Gavin and some children from the Parish School of Religion. We thank out Year 5 teachers Miss Hay, Mrs Waltmann, Mr Stevens, Mrs Brook and Mrs Reedy for preparing us so well and Mrs Gowan for her organisation of the Sacrament and the retreat day.

Congratulations to the following students.

Kyle Agudoo            Connor Annann             Noah Barron            Evan Bradbury

Nicholas Clarke       Izzabella Comandari       Emily Dennis           Miles Eyers

Isaac Gariguez        Jahkara Grosser             Matilda Hyland        Georgia Kessey

Chloe Lean               MariaLojaa                   AnnieMcBryde         Eva Miller

Katalina Redmond     Laura Roach                Mia Van Den Boogaard

Oliver Sazegar         Avaya Weaire

We continue to keep Harry Lowe in our prayer as he receives the Sacrament this Sunday at the 10am Parish Mass.  

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

This week families in Year 4 will receive a letter from the Parish inviting your child to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The letter will contain key dates and what is expected of families completing the process. After you receive the letter if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me here at school or via email. Alternatively you can contact Anne Gowan, our Parish Sacramental Coordinator on TuggeranongSouth.Sacraments@cg.org.au 

Have a great week

Sharee Thomas