We are all so happy to be back to school to continue on with our learning this term. For the remainder of Term 3 we have been focusing on the Sacrament Strand.

The concept of Sacrament is basic to an understanding of Catholic faith. A sacrament is a visible sign of a hidden reality of salvation. In a sense Jesus is the greatest sign of God’s saving action on behalf of humanity. We can therefore speak of Christ as a Sacrament of God.

In a similar way we can say that the Church, the People of God, is a sacrament or sign of Christ. That is, the community of Christ’s followers in every age continue his work of giving glory to God, teaching, healing and saving. In doing so the Church acts as a sign or sacrament of Christ.

All the individual sacraments of the Church draw their meaning and power from this understanding of the Church as the visible presence of Christ himself.

If you see something in the liturgy and you live in the sacramental world you learn to understand what it is that this thing you perceive signifies. For example, ‘McDonald’s Golden arches’. If you say golden arches to anyone in the world they will reply ‘well that means McDonalds’. If the sign is working really well and they’re into the culture of McDonalds, just hearing ‘golden arches’ can make them already smell the fries and they want the fries. The sacramental world works just like that. You see water, and what does the Catholic mind think? We don’t think ‘I’m going to wash the car’ - the Catholic mind thinks ‘Baptism’. Or you hear the word water in Church you don’t think the chemical formula of H2O you think Baptism, the waters of creation, the waters of the great flood, the waters of the Red Sea, the water of Jordan and the water and blood flowing from the side of Christ. When you see water in Church you think of all of these things at all of the same time.

During the Sacrament strand students will gain and apply knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to understand:

1. The Sacraments of the Church as the unique presence of the Risen Christ to whom people respond in faith and love.

2. That the Sacraments nourish, strengthen and express Catholic faith and address, enhance and restore the Tapu - holiness and Mana - spiritual power of people, by the gift of grace.

3. The celebration of the seven sacraments as expressed in ritual, symbol, rite and story, make present the graces of each sacrament.

4. People’s own tapu - sacredness and the sacramentality of life around them which awakes and deepens their relationship with God.

5. The Eucharist of Christ’s presence in the Church and in the world.

Below is a summary of the teaching that will happen in each class in term 3.

Ruma Kakapo

Holiness - People are reminded of the holiness of God through places, times, objects, and rituals. We can discover God in the world which he created and gifted to people to care for and enjoy. The Eucharist is a time to gather in worship and praise of God who is holy.

Ruma Kea

Welcome - Baptism is a time in which we encounter Christ in a special way. In the Rite of Baptism with its rituals and symbols, people are welcomed into the Church, and given a share in the holiness and life of the Trinity.

Ruma Korora

Forgiveness - The Sacrament of Reconciliation restores our friendship with God. It is an experience of forgiving and healing, of taking responsibility for personal sin and expressing sorrow.

Ruma Ruru/Piwakawaka

Healing - Each sacrament makes present its own special grace or gift from God. There are times in the lives of all people when they are in need of healing in body/soul. The Sacrament of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick, bring people the graces of reconciliation, healing, strength and peace.

Ruma Tui and Whio

Called for others - Through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, bishops/priests/deacons, are ordained for the services of the church. The sacraments, especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist, strengthens God's people for the service of others, and provides meaning and healing in the blessed and broken experiences of life.

The Family/Whanau book has a wealth of information that can assist families in supporting their children with religious education. It outlines things to talk about that are specific to the strand that is being taught, attitudes and behaviours to encourage and prayers to pray as a family.

Classroom teachers are happy to answer any queries or questions you may have in relation to the God strand.

God Bless

Pamela Gallagher

DRS