Catholic Life & Reflection
What we have been learning about at St John’s?
This year each grade has been learning about the seven “I am..” statements of Jesus. John the Apostle also says: “I am a child of God.”
In the scripture from John 1: 12-13:
“To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
He tells us of God’s promise that anyone who receives Christ will be born again and will enter the family of God. This is a spiritual birth from God. To receive Jesus means to believe in His name and His name is who He is. Jesus is God as well as man. All who believe in Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour are given the right to be children of God. All who believe in the person of Christ are spiritually born of God. God transforms us from children of darkness and sin to His holy children.
When we accept Jesus as our Lord, and that Jesus paid our sin debt in full when he died for us on the Cross. The moment that we confess our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we pass from death into life, from children of darkness into children of light. God gives the Holy Spirit to impart this new and holy life to His true children; the Holy Spirit comes to live in our physical bodies when we accept Jesus as our Lord.
Our new display in the foyer reflects that at St John’s we are all children of God. Pope Francis told a group of children on the autism spectrum that they are beautiful, unique flowers in the eyes of God. Pope Francis met with members of an Austrian centre for Autism, Sonnenschein (“Sunshine”), in an audience at the Vatican. He told them that the centre’s name evoked a flower-filled lawn in the sun “and the flowers of this house are you!” Speaking to the children, their parents and caregivers from the centre, Francis said: “God created the world with a great variety of flowers of all different colours. Each flower has its unique beauty. And each one of us is beautiful in the eyes of God, who loves us.” The following YouTube clip is of Pope Francis speaking to the members from the centre.
Sacrament of Holy Communion
A few weeks ago, some of our Year 3 students made the Sacrament of Holy Communion. This week each of our Year 3 students received a beautiful framed print of their I am statement – “I am the bread of life.”.
Congratulations
Two of our lovely St John’s mum’s made their own Sacraments last weekend. Jenny Wheatley (mum of Mason 3B) made the Sacrament of Baptism at the St John the Apostle Church.
Rebecca Neiberding (mum of Emily 4B, Sophie 3B and Katie KM) made the Sacrament of Confirmation at the St John the Apostle Church.
Congratulations to you both and may God always be in your life so that you have someone to lean on as you grow, learn, and become who you are meant to be.
Have a happy and safe holiday
God bless,
Alison Ewyk
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)