Gospel Reflection - Luke 11:1-13

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, giving them the words of the Our Father. He then encourages them to approach God with persistence and trust, reminding us that God is a loving Father who hears and answers our prayers.

As parents, this passage speaks directly to the heart of our vocation. Just as we want what is best for our children, our Heavenly Father desires what is good for us. Jesus reassures us that when we seek, we will find; when we knock, the door will be opened.

In the busyness of family life, prayer can often feel like something we "fit in" rather than a vital part of our day. But this Gospel reminds us that prayer is not just about asking—it is about relationship. Our children learn to trust and communicate by watching us. When they see us turning to God with faith, even in small moments, they come to know that they, too, can speak to God as a loving Father.

Let us continue to be models of prayerful trust for our children, teaching them that God is always listening—and that His love for us is greater than we can imagine.

St John Vianney Feast Day - Monday 4th August

We are looking forward to celebrating the feast day of our school’s patron saint, St John Vianney, on Monday 4th August (Week 3). Our day will begin with Mass at the Church at 9:30am, followed by activities in classrooms reflecting on St John Vianney’s life and work.

In our middle session, we will be having a GEMathon! As part of our work with The Resilience Project program this year, our students have been learning about the three elements of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness or GEM! On our feast day, the students will participate in rotation activities with their class, led by our Year 6 students, focusing on GEM. To participate in the GEMathon we are asking for a gold coin donation from each student. All money raised will go to support Global School Partners who fund school projects across many African countries.

Our day will conclude with our SJV Variety Show! We are looking forward to seeing our students showcase their talents on stage. The show begins at 2:10pm in the hall.

Parents and friends are welcome to join us for Mass and the Variety Show. We hope to see you there!

St Vincent De Paul - Hygiene Station

A reminder that we are always looking for donations for our hygiene station which is located in the school’s foyer area. We welcome donations of new and sealed hygiene products such as

• Oral hygiene products (toothpaste, toothbrushes)
• Deodorant, body spray, and perfume
• Body wash and soap
• Hair care items (shampoo, conditioner)
• Face wash and skincare products
• Moisturiser and hand sanitiser
• Sanitary products
• Toiletries bags

Your donations are made into small bags which will be distributed by the Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Canberra Goulburn, ensuring they reach those in our local community most in need.

If you’re wondering how you can contribute, here are a few simple ideas:

• Planning a holiday? If you visit a hotel and don’t need the complimentary toiletries, consider bringing them home to donate to our hygiene station. Please ensure they are sealed.
• Shopping for yourself? Next time you’re buying a new toothbrush or bottle of shampoo, why not pick up an extra one to help someone in need?

Sacraments 2025

Registrations for the Sacrament of Confirmation for 2025 have now closed. Families of students who are eligible to make one of the Sacraments (Reconciliation, First Eucharist or Confirmation) are encouraged to visit the Parish website: https:stjvwestoncreek.blogspottcom/ for information and registration details for each of the Sacraments. Announcements about plans for the 2026 Sacramental program will be made later in the year. All questions about the program are best directed to the Parish Office via email: SacramentalOLA@cg.org.au 

We ask that you hold our students who will be making their Confirmation later this term in your prayers. Key dates for Confirmation candidates and their families are as follows:

Tuesday 19th August: Confirmation Reflection evening, 5:30pm at St John Vianney’s Church

Saturday 23rd August/Sunday 24th August: Gathering Mass (any of the weekend Masses)

Wednesday 27th August: Sacrament of Confirmation, 6pm, St John Vianney’s Church, (celebrated by Archbishop Christopher Prowse)

School Masses

As a school, we regularly attend Mass at St John Vianney’s Church. The choir sings at Mass and sometimes our students have a role in other parts of the celebration. Parents and friends of our school are welcome to join us alongside parishioners at any of these Masses. Dates the school will be attending Mass in term 3 are as follows:

Monday 4th August: St John Vianney’s Feast day, 9:30am (Week 3)

Friday 15th August: Assumption Feast day, 9:30am, led by Year 1 (Week 4)

Wednesday 17th September: Parish Mass, 9:30am, led by 5/6P (Week 9)