Next Thursday we will be celebrating Grandparents Day as a school. Parents and grandparents are most welcome to come and join us for this day from 11am, finishing with a shared lunch with your grandchildren from 12.30pm.

God of Justice, open our ears to hear the cry of the poor and to seek them where they are. Let their cries for healing and wholeness move us to action. Open our hearts to deepened relationship with those in need that we may draw near in love and our shared identity as your children. Open our mouths to advocate for health care as a human right, not a privilege of the economically secure. Let us hear in the cry of the poor the hope of future liberation grounded in the love of a good God. Remind us that what we do to the least ones, we do to you. 

Amen.

Vinnies Give a Gift

Until the end of the year the Special Character leaders will be collecting wrapped gifts and non-perishable food to donate to St Vincent de Paul's Christmas Appeal. We encourage students to bring these into class from now until the end of week 8. Thank you

School Family Mass

St Joseph's are celebrating our Term 4 School Family Mass next Sunday at Christ the King Church at 9am. It would be wonderful to see all of our families at this mass. You are welcome to join us for a morning tea after the mass. Looking forward to seeing you there! 

Fr Alister's/North Parish Gospel reflection is from Mark Bond, a seminarian in Auckland at the moment. 

GOSPEL Luke 21:5-19

Some people were talking about the beautiful stones used to build the temple and about the gifts that had been placed in it. Jesus said, “Do you see these stones? The time is coming when not one of them will be left in place. They will all be knocked down.”

Some people asked, “Teacher, when will all this happen? How can we know when these things are about to take place?”

Jesus replied, “Don’t be fooled by all those men who will come and claim to be me. They will say, ‘I am Christ!’ and ‘Now is the time!’ But don’t follow them. When you hear about wars and riots, don’t be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that is not the end.

“Nations will go to war against one another, and kingdoms will attack each other. There will be great earthquakes, and in many places people will starve to death and suffer terrible diseases. All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.

“Before all this happens, you will be arrested and punished. You will be tried in the Jewish meeting places and put in jail. Because of me you will be placed on trial before kings and governors. But this will be your chance to tell about your faith.

“Don’t worry about what you will say to defend yourselves. I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you or to say that you are wrong.

“You will be betrayed by your own parents, brothers, family, and friends. Some of you will even be killed. Because of me you will be hated by everyone. But don’t worry! You will be saved by being faithful to me.”