Week 7, Term 3 2023

APRIM News

National Child Protection Week

This week is Child Protection Week and the overarching message is ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’. This message captures the essence of National Child Protection Week which aims to promote a safe and supported life for every child, now and into the future. The Catholic Church in Australia marks Safeguarding Sunday (formerly Child Protection Sunday) this Sunday 10^th 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.

You can find out more about the Church’s work in this area at: www.catholic.au/s/article/safeguardingsunday2023

You will find our Commitment Statement in our front office which outlines the Catholic Archdiocese Schools Commitment to keeping children safe in our setting. We are commitment to child protection by adopting measures to ensure the safety of all, for example teacher training, volunteer checks and ensuring our children’s voices are heard. Resources can be found at: https://www.napcan.org.au/ncpw-theme/.

A Prayer for National Child Protection Week

Gracious God,
you said let the children come to me.
The hurt felt by those wounded by abuse weighs heavily upon us.
Often trust has been eroded when institutions failed to appropriately respond to their needs.

Lord, we as your Church stand in need of your healing and help.
We ask you God, to strengthen and guide all in our communities.
Grant us wisdom in our time to make decisions that protect children and the vulnerable.

May our families and communities, through love, generosity,
commitment and patience build stronger communities safe for children.
Let your grace and love fall gently upon our children
giving them the inner strength, peace and resilience they will need for their life’s journey.

We ask you God to help our communities to be resolute in building communities where our children both flourish and are safe.
We pray this all through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Sacrament Program

The Sacrament Program is about to begin. Thankyou to those parents who have already paid and registered their child for the 2023/2024 Sacramental Program. If you are yet to do this please fill out the registration form and hand DIRECTLY to the Parish Office with payment. Opening hours Mon-Fri 10am-4pm. All payments and registration go directly through the parish office as it is a parish-based program. If you have misplaced your registration form or would like to enrol your child it is not too late. Forms and an information letter is available in our school office in the pamphlet stand.

Family Workshops are a compulsory part of the Program as they prepare children for making the sacraments. These family workshops are for all children from the school and parish who are preparing for sacraments. The first workshop is next week.