Our Year 3's are preparing to make their First Communion early next term. This week, the children and their families have workshops to help prepare them to receive this. Here is a prayer for parents to pray for their children making their First Holy Communion.
Lord, give us the wisdom and the courage to help our children as you would
to develop in them a Christ-like love for all people …
To nurture in them a desire to give and not simply to take …
to teach them to be doers of Your Holy Word.
Guide us in our parental responsibilities strengthen our love as a family
so that we may work together in coming closer to You.
May we be the expression of Your love to our children
so that each day will be as today …
Your love received and shared …
to help us be one in the Body of Christ.
Amen
Father's Day
Thanks to our parents who have organised the Year 6 Father's Day breakfast and the Father's Day staff for this Friday. Please remember to $5 for the Father's Day stall.
Book Week
During Book Week, the children were fortunate to have a special session with visiting writer and playwright, Carmel Hogan. Carmel worked with the children to create their own heroic spiritual journey maps of their imaginations.
HUG….. Help Us Grow
Recently, I
had the privilege of being involved with a charity in Uganda called HUG…Help Us
Grow. HUG is an Australian-based not-for-profit organisation founded by a
Kyabram couple, Helen and Adrian Brown together with Ugandan, Ssemwogerere
David almost 10 years ago.
“HUG's aim
has always been to create projects in Uganda to empower Ugandans to make a
positive difference in their own lives. All projects and programs are
established in consultation with local communities and their ownership of the
venture is considered essential from the very beginning. We work in partnership
with the Ugandans to fulfil ambitions they have to create a sustainable
difference. It is not about giving them a hand out, it is about enabling them
to pursue projects they would otherwise be unable to achieve. With this in
mind, all HUG projects in Uganda, are now being co-ordinated through the Suubi
Centre which we have developed in partnership with the local community of
Lubanda Village, Lwengo District.”
The organisation now comprises a health clinic, a community centre, a secondary school and it has initiated a
range of projects, such as the women’s craft group, the chicken project, the
pig project and the coffee project , all of which help support the community in
Lubanda. As well as these, a new project was begun in the last year by another
board member, Loretta Lilford, called “The Smiling heARTs”.
“The
‘Smiling heARTs’ are children with disabilities, who we believe, have great
ability and deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential. The art
project provides a means whereby the children can express themselves, grow in
confidence and truly feel valued. By being part of the classes the children
feel not so isolated and they are able to communicate their feelings to the
world.”
During my
visit with HUG, I was overwhelmed by the welcome from all the people, young and
old and how the students embraced the opportunity to learn new skills. I worked
with the children in the Smiling heARTs and the secondary school students,
creating cards and items made from felt, which the Year 6 children at St
Patrick’s had handmade for them prior to my departure. The children were
enthusiastic participants, learning new sewing skills and teaching me many of
their own skills such as intricate woven wristbands. I have returned to
Australia with the completed craft items from the students, which will now be
sold and the funds raised will be returned to the community and the children to
enable the continuation of the programs, as well as provide financial support
to the individuals who created the crafts.
The
experience has been a life affecting one. A succinct way to sum it up, was
expressed by a friend when she wrote ….”it has made me thankful and mindful.
It’s caused me to consciously manifest an attitude of thankfulness and
gratefulness.”
On Monday 11th September, Helen Brown
one of the HUG founders, will be visiting St Patrick’s to share her experiences
of HUG and to give our students an insight into life in Uganda. The
presentations will be given in two sittings from 2pm in the school hall. Prep
and Year 1 and 2 will participate at 2pm and Year 3,4,5 and 6 students at
2.30pm.
We ask the children to bring a gold
coin donation for the opportunity to contribute to the HUG charity.
We warmly welcome all parents to join us for
this presentation which I am sure you will find most interesting.
Following
the final presentation, the crafts from the secondary school, Smiling heARTs
and the ladies craft group will be on sale for children and parents to
purchase. It will be an opportunity to purchase gifts for friends, family and
even for Christmas. A price list will be sent home next week.
If you would
like to learn more about HUG and read more about the volunteers’ experiences,
follow the link below.
http://www.hug.org.au/index.html
Karin
Dornbierer (Visual Arts Teacher)
Upcoming dates - Term 3
Wednesday 30th August First Communion Workshop @ 6.15pm 3O
Friday 1st September Yr 6 Father's Day Breakfast & Father's Day Stall
Friday 15th September School Disco
Friday 22nd September End of term 3. Students dismissed @ 2pm
Community Notices
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