2019 Connections Term 1

4-5 RESOURCES

2019

8-9 TRAINING & FORMATION

TERM 1

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AROUND THE DIOCESE

11 ANNUAL CCD MASS & AWARDS

CATECHIST SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2019

E VA N G E L I S E + G AT H E R > < S E N D >

VOL 24 ISSUE 1

“To “be” catechists! Not to “work” as catechists.

Catechesis is a vocation: “being a catechist” – this is the vocation, not “working” as a catechist.” Pope Francis Congress on Catechesis

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Jesus

Discerning the Way of Jesus A warm welcome to a New Year and a new school term! Thank you for your dedicated service as a catechist in the Diocese of Broken Bay, whether this is your first year in the ministry of Special Religious Education or whether this year expresses your continued call and mission as a witness and teacher of faith. Together we are privileged with the task of opening young lives to the Gospel, to the life and mission of Jesus himself. It is Jesus who works in us by the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to speak as well as listen in our accompaniment of young people and their families. I hope that through this ministry in public schools that your own sense of belonging, faith and discipleship to the Lord is given fresh life and possibility.

We have spent the last year as a Diocese listening attentively to the Holy Spirit in our TERM 1 Liturgical Calendar 2019 Year C

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR, OFE

Week 1

27 January

3rd Sunday Ordinary Time

27 January

Term 1 commences

2 February

Presentation of the Lord

Week 2

3 February

4th Sunday Ordinary Time

Week 3

10 February

5th Sunday Ordinary Time

Week 4

17 February

6th Sunday Ordinary Time

Week 5

24 February

7th Sunday Ordinary Time

Week 6

3 March

8th Sunday Ordinary Time

6 March

Ash Wednesday

Week 7

10 March

1st Sunday of Lent

Week 8

17 March

2nd Sunday of Lent

18 March

St Patrick

19 March

St Joseph

24 March

3rd Sunday of Lent

25 March

Annunciation

Week 10

31 March

4th Sunday of Lent

Week 11

7 April

5th Sunday of Lent

12 April

Term 1 ends

14 April

Palm Sunday

18 April

Holy Thursday

19 April

Good Friday

20 April

Easter Vigil

21 April

Easter Sunday

Week 9

CCD Newsletter Term 1, 2019 | Vol 24 Issue 1

dialogue with one another as a part of the journey to Plenary Council 2020. Indeed, we were delighted to learn from the National Centre for Pastoral Research that our Diocese of Broken Bay is the highest responding diocese in Australia in proportion to the number of parishes! This affirms our Diocese has shared its voice and sense of faith, and that it will now actively shape the themes and agenda of the Plenary Council to be announced at Pentecost (9 June 2019).

image This year we will dedicate ourselves in Broken Bay to a “Year of Discernment” in which we seek to discover the concrete path that God is calling us on as individuals and as a community of Christians. As Pope Francis has shared, discernment is a gift born in our hearts and minds by prayer, a grace and spiritual instinct given to all of God’s people by baptism and an activity that is to shape and nourish our ordinary life as a Church.

As Lent and Easter approach, we discern with particular intensity the way of Jesus in our life, opening ourselves to His will, word and way of new life made possible through the Cross.

With relevance to the catechist, Pope Francis has shared that this task of discernment invites us to learn the patience of God and His times, which are never ours.

Discernment involves allowing the Word and will of God to direct our everyday decisions and directions. Pope Francis observes, “One may teach and grow in discernment only if familiar with this inner teacher who, like a compass, offers the criteria to distinguish, for himself and for others, the times of God and His grace; to acknowledge His passage and the way of His salvation; to indicate concrete means, pleasing to God, to accomplish the good that He predisposes in His mysterious plan of love for each and for all” (14 September 2017).

Throughout this New Year, our Office for Evangelisation will make available opportunities in our Diocese to enter more deeply into this spiritual exercise of discernment, to keep before our eyes the mission of Jesus and to discern how God is asking of us to respond in Australia at this time. This includes a special seminar in September for catechists with none other than Sherry Weddell, author of the landmark book on evangelisation, Forming Intentional Disciples. Please find within this issue of Connections an outline of some of the opportunities we are opening within the life of Diocese this coming year.

Our shared dedication to discernment as a Diocese will express our conviction that God is at work in world history, in the events of our life, in the people we encounter and those who share life with us, including our students. Together as the People of God in Broken Bay we are called to listen to what the Spirit suggests to us, to discern the movement of God in our lives and communities so we can choose and accomplish the good that God wants.

In this mission and ministry, I wish you all the best and every blessing for 2019

Daniel Ang Director, Office for Evangelisation

Catechists – at the forefront Catechists of evangelisation

Recently I spoke to a young man, a former SRE student, who relayed to me his continuing journey of faith as he encountered Christ through the fellowship of a young Catholic men’s group which provided him with the opportunity to deal with the loss of his father at a very young age. He said the experience brought him to life in Christ as a young man in today’s challenging world and allowed him to move forward.

As you begin a new year in the SRE classroom, I ask you to consider the gift that you are to the students you teach. Enter your classrooms with a commitment to Christ and a joy that will be infectious, so that students look forward to your SRE lessons. You may never see the fruit of your labours, but rest assured you are

To new catechists for 2019, thank you for responding to the call to share your faith with the students. I pray that you will find this vibrant ministry lifegiving, as many before you have done. To our existing catechists, thank you once again for your ongoing commitment to SRE. May you and your families be richly blessed.

The CCD team are here to support you during 2019. Please don’t hesitate to contact your regional office for assistance.

Blessings to all,

Alison

Safeguarding our children Safeguarding – we’re all in this together

Across the 21st Century, several improved systems have been implemented to protect children in society. During the current decade, the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) has introduced Working with Children Checks (WWCC). Like a NSW driver’s licence, WWCCs are valid for 5 years, at which time they need to be renewed. The OCG will contact you three months prior to the expiry of your current WWCC, for the purpose of renewal. If you have changed your email address or other contact information since you first applied, you can update your details on the OCG website. Visit https://wwccheck.ccyp.nsw.gov.au/ Applicants/ChangeOfDetails

Specifically, in the SRE space, the NSW Department of Education now requires mandatory initial and ongoing training for catechists to ensure that they are equipped with the skills to provide quality SRE in a safe and happy environment. Catechists and helpers are required to complete child protection training either online or face-to-face before they begin their ministry in the SRE classroom, and the rest of the CCD Ministry Induction course must be completed within the first year of ministry. Every three years, all catechists and helpers are required to update their training in child protection, classroom management and curriculum use, and CCD provides quality and user-friendly in-services for ongoing catechist training, both face-to-face and online.

Another requirement of the Department of Education is for your parish to advise schools of the names and dates of birth of catechists who have been authorised to go into each school to teach SRE. This additional information allows schools to ensure that adults who enter school grounds are authorised people who have a valid reason for being there. Your Parish

Diocesan Coordinator CCD, Office for Evangelisation

Coordinator will provide this information to schools.

School staff may also ask at the beginning of the year to sight a driver’s licence or passport, purely for identification purposes. Please don’t be offended if you are asked to provide ID, as there was an incident at a school where someone claimed to be another person to gain entry. Finally, it is important that you wear your authorisation card in the lanyard provided so that you can be readily identified by all school staff whilst on school grounds.

The safeguarding measures that have been implemented over the past number of years are now accepted in society as an important step towards protecting our most vulnerable citizens. CCD fully supports the steps taken to protect children. We thank you for your understanding and compliance with all the measures that have been introduced over these past years. All children and young people have a right to feel safe in their schools and these steps contribute towards providing a safe environment in which children can flourish.

FROM THE DIOCESAN COORDINATOR

The WYD pilgrimage has caused me to consider, yet again, the invaluable role catechists play in the faith journey of children and young people. There are many stories of how Special Religious Education can lay a firm foundation for children and young people in life. We constantly hear stories from the classroom of the impact which SRE classes can have on the lives of children and youth.

providing your students with the opportunity to form a relationship with Jesus – the greatest gift you could give them.

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As I write this article to begin a new year, our Catholic Youth Broken Bay pilgrims are journeying to Panama for World Youth Day (WYD) 2019. I pray that the pilgrimage will bear much fruit and provide opportunities for our youth and young adults to encounter Christ as they immerse themselves with like-minded peers and mentors.

CCD Newsletter Term 1, 2019 | Vol 24 Issue 1

W S S C D E T E K J H I Y H O F

G O D I F F E R E N T N O D U C

S N F A Z X C Y V B N N U M R E

X S A G H Y T P W Q W E R C S L

C X T F J U J O B A S D S V O E

V Z H D K I M O R E F O O D N B

F E E D I N G R O W L I N G N R

B T R O U B L E E Z X E D F B A

M A S F L O R B R O T H E R G T

N L O N G P F R I E N D S R T E

THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SON

Find-A-Word

4

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES FOR LENT

There

once was a father that had two ___________. The younger son asked “_____________ could you give me my inheritance?” His dad said yes. When the younger son got the money, he moved to a _______________ country and have some fun with it.

After he had spent all his money, the country he was living in became _____________. He had no money, no place to live and nothing to eat, so he had to get a _______. The only job he could find was ______________ the pigs. He was so hungry he could have eaten the pigs’ food. As the son was walking home his stomach wouldn’t stop _______________ .

He realized something that those who worked for his father had _____________ than they needed. He would go back to his father’s house and say to him, ‘I have _____________ against God and against you. I don’t deserve to be called _____________ ...”

While the son was still a ___________ way off and his dad noticed him and started to run ______________ him. His father was so happy, he shouted joyfully, “Let’s have a party and ______________ because my son was lost and now is found!” This upset the older ______________ and he refused to go join the party. He told his father, “ You never had a big party for me to celebrate with my __________!” “But, my son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is _________________.”

WORD BANK sons father your son long

different towards

CCD Newsletter Term 1, 2019 | Vol 24 Issue 1

very poor celebrate

job brother

feeding friends

growling yours

more food

sinned

TEAR OUT AND KEEP!

T O W A R D S V Y I O S P L Y K

1. In your Bible, look up the reference: Matthew 18: 21-22. How do you understand Jesus’ words?

2. Jesus told a very well-known story about forgiveness. Can you find the title of the story by arranging the following letters in the right order?

OLNSOTS To help you, here is a clue. There are two words. The first word has 4 letters and the second word has 3 letters. To check that your answer is right, look up Luke 15. The title is given just before Verse 11.

3. How does Jesus say we are to forgive one another? Look up Matthew 18:35. Can you say in your own words what Jesus means?

4. What are the first two words of the prayer we say that asks for forgiveness? Look up Matthew 6: 9 5. How important do you think Jesus’ teachings about forgiveness are? Please circle one of the phrases below: EXTREMELY IMPORTANT VERY IMPORTANT QUITE IMPORTANT NOT AT ALL IMPORTANT 6. How did Jesus show us by his example that we MUST forgive? Look up Luke 23: 34. Under what circumstances did Jesus forgive?

(Luke 15:11-32)

Catechist Sunday Catechist Sunday is an annual event which originated in 1935 when the Vatican published a document On the Better Care and Promotion of Catechetical Education. It acknowledged the importance of the Church’s teaching ministry and asked every country in the world to honour catechists and teachers who serve within their parish communities.

• • •

Offer catechist profiles in the parish bulletin Catechist ministry display table Joining together for morning tea and a chat after Mass Catechist Sunday provides an opportunity to invite new people to join the ministry

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES FOR LENT

FIND OUT WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT FORGIVENESS

5

TEAR OUT AND KEEP!

Forgiveness – Forgiveness What Would Jesus Do?

On Sunday 3 March your parish is asked to acknowledge the incredible work and dedication of volunteer catechists. Parishes may choose any number of ways to recognise and celebrate this ministry. Some examples are: • Commissioning service with blessing ceremony • Inviting parishioners to become catechist prayer partners to prayerfully support catechists and the children they teach • Together reciting the catechist prayer • Inviting a catechist to highlight their vocation to the ministry CCD Newsletter Term 1, 2019 | Vol 24 Issue 1

A DAILY PRAYER

CCD HAS A NEW WEBPAGE! You can find us by following the link below.

https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/ccd Visit our new webpage for up to date news and information about our curriculum, training dates and so much more. You can also read past and present editions of Connections and use the ‘In the Classroom’ hints and activities.

WE ARE ON FACEBOOK! You can also find the link to our Facebook page, so don’t forget to click the ‘like it’ button and invite your family, friends and fellow catechists to also like our page. Don’t forget to turn on notifications so you don’t miss out on our updates and join us on an interactive journey where we can share our great ideas and stories.

Colleen Smith CCD Administration Assistant, Central Coast

https://www.facebook.com/ccdbrokenbay/

When I wake up in the morning I wonder “what’s for me today?”

And I ask God to make it easy ‘cause I only want to play.

But, that’s not what life is all about My duty is to learn I must grow up to do my part To make the Earth more wonderful For all the world to see.

So dear God guide me on my way To do my bit for all mankind And think before I do or say Anything to cause a fray.

As well as that my duty is To find out all there is to do And choose the job which I do best I know God will help me with the rest.

And when I’m old my smile will say You were there for me, God, every day. from Anne Moss, Catechist, Pittwater Parish

2019 Caritas Lenten Resources WHAT YOUR DONATIONS CAN DO Lives change when we all give 100%

PROJECT

DIGITAL CONNECTIONS

GIVE LENT 100% Lives change when we all give 100% PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY Printed on a sustainable, purpose-grown fibre and fully recyclable. FPCP19

CENTRAL COAST CCD OFFICE AND RESOURCE CENTRE

$10,000 supports First Australians to train, upskill and gain confidence to lead fellow community members to remain hopeful and connected to country and community.

Zimbabwe

COMPASSION

1800 024 413 caritas.org.au #projectcompassion

$12,000

$5,000 can install a solar-powered water system in a rural school for children like Thandolwayo in the Hwange district of Zimbabwe.

Australia

$10,000

$1,250

$450 can provide educational resources and teacher assistance for a child in Vietnam living with a disability so they can attend school for a year.

Indonesia

$8,000

$250

$325

can provide mentoring and skill-building programs for a community of Dayak people like Tati’s, giving income generating skills in ecotourism, enabling them to maintain important cultural links to their land and the forest.

provides the initial training course for a rural midwife who can help mums like Salma in Bangladesh to safely give birth to their babies.

Bangladesh

Indonesia

$150

$100

PR PRA AYER C Australia

$45

(Please phone Colleen or Michael to make an alternate time to visit outside of these hours.)

$6,000

provides the opportunity for a child like Nguyet, to attend group learning activities with other children living with disabilities, increasing their confidence and their communication skills.

provides First Australians with nutritional local foods for a community bush picnic to strengthen cultural bonds to community and country.

TICE

12 Ashton Ave, The Entrance (behind OLR Church) Resource Borrowing: Monday to Friday 9am—1pm

helps a remote indigenous community such as Tati’s establish a sustainable livelihood in the forests of Indonesia.

Vietnam

$4,000

HOP

Crea You tor supplies for are can buy school d, our colike Go In the a student Thandolwayo nswho tandreams se in Zimbabwe, of t praye ason of Le a nurse. hope! r, fas becoming nt, yo ting u ca and most Zimbabwe ll us to margi love of As a those comm nalis ed. un let ou r gifts ity of fai th be sy mbols to Project and coura Comp of ho ge, with assio our on pe an Acco d so n in e hu will pay for a rural midwife mpan lidari ma Bangladesh to visit a ty mum-to-be, n fam y us to bri as we like Salma, ng ‘go forily a vital . pregnancy check-up rneyin her own home. ready od news jou wi all cre th Jesu comm our heart ’ toBangladesh s s to ation on go work an od of all yo for the d We as ur pe k thi ople. s in Jesu 1800 024 413 www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion s’ na #projectcompassion me AMEN

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Vietnam

$50 will provide a school like Peter’s in the Solomon Islands with five metres of guttering to collect valuable rainwater.

$2,000

Solomon Islands

$5

$1

can provide a school in the Solomon Islands with a reliable water tap so students like Peter have access to clean water, improving health and education outcomes.

Age appropriate lessons – catechist notes and student material, PowerPoints, videos and other resources are available on the Caritas website https://lent.caritas.org.au/page/schools Please scroll down the page to find resources developed specifically for Catechists. Caritas resources are authorised for use in the SRE classroom. Please ensure you select ageappropriate lessons.

Shade as you fundraise

Solomon Islands

www .carit

as.or

LENT .CAR ITAS .ORG .AU g.au

1800

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#pro

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ALL PURPOSE RESOURCES CATECHIST RESOURCES CCD Newsletter Term 1, 2019 | Vol 24 Issue 1

Resource Deliveries: We deliver to all Central Coast Parishes. Orders to be received by 4pm each Monday to ensure prompt end of week delivery. (Contact Colleen for more information) Visiting Resource Centre: If you are making a special trip to visit the CCD Resource Centre, we suggest phoning ahead to confirm that the office is opened, as at times the CCD staff are required elsewhere in the diocese.

Smartboard: We offer the use of the interactive smartboard to assist with the preparation of lessons for catechists who have been trained in the use of the smartboard. (Bookings are essential to use the interactive smartboard)

Return of borrowed resources: Please check if you have any resources at home that need to be returned. You can contact the CCD office and we will arrange for their return.

CONTACT: Michael Ph: 8379 1641 or Colleen Ph: 8379 1642 Email: ccdcc@bbcatholic.org.au

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The Ninety Days of Easter

The season of Lent grew from the tradition that the period leading up to Easter was the best time for the process of initiation for those wishing to belong to the Christian faith. The initiation of the catechumens climaxed at the Easter Vigil celebration. This was seen as a great symbol of Christ’s death and resurrection – the catechumen died to his or her old life and rose out of the waters of Baptism to a new life in Christ in the Easter Vigil. Today this has been re-introduced

by Vatican II in the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) Contrasting Moods The sombre mood of Lent reflects Christ’s suffering and our own sinfulness and as such should lead us into deeper reflection on what we need to do to deepen our relationship with God and our faithfulness to God’s great love for each one of us. It is a time to ponder and reflect.

In contrast the light and colour of the Great Fifty Days of Easter reflect Christ’s victory over death and sin and the new life given to the whole of creation. It is a sign of the fulfilment of the Father’s promise to the people of Israel so many hundreds of years earlier. For us that means it is a time of great celebration.

During the Easter Season, how do we show that we are Easter People?

The Centrality of Scripture Let us not forget the importance of the Scriptures. The Scripture readings we celebrate in the Eucharist set the tone for these two parts (Lent and Easter) of the Ninety Days. They inform the colours of vestments and the decoration of the church for the celebration of the Eucharist. Do we let them guide us as catechists for the creation of the Sacred Space around which we ‘celebrate’ our Special Religious Education lessons?

As teachers of Catholic SRE, we need to reflect on the Sunday readings for each of the Sundays throughout this period to immerse ourselves in this great time of the Christian year. This will enable us to bring the Lenten, Easter and Pentecost lessons alive. Through our reflection and meditation on the Scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to prompt us to do something extra ordinary in these lessons, the children and youth that we teach in our classes or seminars will encounter the “specialness” of this time of the year.

Recall the way your parish church is decorated through the seasons of Lent, Easter and Pentecost Sunday. What stays with you? What do the colours and other items of decoration say to you about what you are remembering and celebrating? Recreate a similar visual statement with your Sacred Space in the classroom. The symbols which are used in creating the sacred space through these 90 days are extremely important. In Lent the purple cloth, a cross, ashes, palm branch and a crown of thorns and in Easter, the lighted candle, white and yellow cloth, flowers, and other “new life symbols will contrast Easter with Lent.

These visual statements will stay with the students as they go about their daily lives and will remind them of their time with you in class.

They may forget the actual words we speak but will remember the symbols and their meaning.

A challenge for us is to take this to the place in which we live. We decorate our homes with bright and colourful decorations and a tree at Christmas, but what do we do during Lent and Easter to reflect this most important time in the Christian calendar?

A simple way would be to have a purple table cloth for the main family meal during Lent. If you have candles in your house, change these to purple ones for the Lenten season. Maybe instead of a vase of glorious flowers in the loungeroom, change this for a more sombre display, for example some simple greenery with a few sticks or some purple or mauve flowers.

These simple things can be easily changed come Easter Sunday with a profusion of colour in the vase of flowers and return to the white candles and white or yellow table clothes for the family meals. Let us learn from what we teach the children!

Music and Mood Recall the music of Lent – the lack of Alleluias, the minor scales of the hymns and the themes of repentance, forgiveness and turning back to God. Now contrast this with the exuberance of the music on Easter Sunday and each of the following Sundays of the Easter period.

Music has the power to reinforce the message of the lesson and the message of the Sacred Space. Do not be afraid to use it in class.

From the music resources you have as part of Walking With Jesus – Pathways of Discipleship, choose one or may be two hymns for these lessons and use them confidently. They will speak to the students and stay with the students better than anything we say.

CATECHIST SPIRITUALITY

Easter is the most important feast of the Christian calendar and the most ancient of the Christian holy days. St Paul links Christ’s suffering and death with the Jewish Passover Feast (1 Cor5:7). Easter and Pentecost, the Great Fifty Days, were in place by the third century of the Christian era. It was a season of great feasting and celebration

Symbols Speak as Loudly as Words

7

The Origins of Easter

Michael Tebbutt Regional Coordinator, Central Coast Region

CCD Newsletter Term 1, 2019 | Vol 24 Issue 1

CCD Training and Formation Offerings CCD training and formation opportunities serve those involved in the mission of Special Religious Education (SRE) in our State Schools but are also open to those in catechesis and evangelising outreach in our Diocese. The Office for Evangelisation offers CCD training to all interested people providing formation that enables the Gospel to be taken into the lives of others.

TERM 1

CCDMI Term 1 2019

Compulsory training for new catechists and helpers on yellow cards

CCD Ministry induction course is compulsory for all new catechists and those catechists returning to teach after an extended break from teaching. The CCDMI is also available to complete online except for Teaching the Authorised Curriculum which is required to be completed ‘face to face’. Please contact registrations for more details.

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CCD TRAINING AND FORMATION OFFERINGS

 The Mission and Ministry of the Catechist  SRE Teacher in the Parish and the School  Safeguarding/Child Protection*  Lesson Planning: Teaching the Authorised Curriculum  The Development of the Child and Adolescent I  Classroom Management: Positive Discipline  Introduction to the Bible  Teaching Strategies: Using the Interactive SmartBoard *For catechists commencing their ministry in 2019, Safeguarding/Child Protection must be undertaken before going into the SRE classroom.

Workshop Day

Teaching Strategies: Prayer in the Classroom Teaching Strategies: Listening and Questioning

Level 1 consists of six, 2-hour units, and is complimentary to the CCDMI. The units offered are ‘tools for the CCD ministry’ presenting teaching strategies for the classroom. It is offered as additional training and is not compulsory. A certificate is awarded on successful completion of the CCDMI and all 6 units of Level One. North Shore Hornsby Region Location: Caroline Chisholm Centre, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills

(Entry Via City View Road) Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Monday 25 March 2019 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Register by: Monday 18 March 2019

CCD Newsletter Term 1, 2019 | Vol 24 Issue 1

Central Coast Region Location: Our Lady Star of the Sea, 165 Serpentine Road, Terrigal Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Monday 18, 25 February, 4 & 11 March 2019 Time: 9:30am to 2:30pm Register by: Monday 11 February 2019 Northern Beaches Region Location: Our Lady of Good Counsel, 9 Currie Road, Frenchs Forest Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Friday 22 February 1, 8, & 15 March 2019 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Register by: Friday 15 February 2019 North Shore Hornsby Region Location: Caroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Monday 25 February, 4, 11 & 18 March 2019 Time: 9:30am - 2:30pm Register by: Monday 18 February 2019

Level 1

Tools for teaching in the SRE Classroom

Central Coast Region Location: St Cecilia’s Parish Centre (Behind the church), 21-23 Byron Street, Wyong Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Monday April 1 2019 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Register by: Monday 25 March 2019 Northern Beaches Region Location: Our Lady of Good Counsel, 9 Currie Road, Frenchs Forest Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Monday 8 April 2019 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Register by: Monday 1 April 2019

Classroom Management Workshop

(to be completed every 3 years.)

North Shore & Hornsby Region Location: Caroline Chisholm Centre, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills

(Entry via City View Road) Date: Wednesday 24 April 2019 Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm Register by: Wednesday 17 April 2019 Northern Beaches Location: St Joseph, Catholic Church, 21 Lagoon St, Narrabeen NSW 2101 Date: Friday 26 April 2019 Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm Register by: Friday 19 April 2019 Central Coast Region Location: Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Hall, 165 Serpentine Road, Terrigal Date: Tuesday 23 April 2019 Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm Register by: Tuesday 16 April 2019

DUTY of CARE

Creating a Safe Working Environment in the SRE Classroom

SAFEGUARDING KIDZ CORNER

CCDMI Term 2 2019

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O

C

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Compulsory training for new catechists and helpers on yellow cards

North Shore Hornsby and Northern Beaches Regions Location: St Ives Date: Tuesday 14, 21, 28 May, 4, 11, 18, 25 June & 2 July 2019 Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm Register by: Tuesday 7 May 2019

For ALL registrations and training enquiries please phone: 8379 1643 or Email: registrations@bbcatholic.org.au

DO NOT

Central Coast Region Location: Lecture Room, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, 12 Ashton Ave, The Entrance Date: Thursday 16, 23, 30 May, 6, 13, 20, 27 June & 4 July 2019 Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm Register by: Thursday 9 May 2019

DO

TERM 2



DO know what to do if a child walks into a classroom alone with you, e.g. walk outside into the playground so that the child follows you out of the room



DO ensure that a full risk assessment has been conducted re activities/excursions



DO act in accordance with policies and school/ diocesan expectations

 

DO NOT be alone with a child at any time



DO NOT drive a child/young person to or from school or excursion or anywhere else



DO NOT have social contact with a child/ young person outside of normal duties unless the families are connected through the parish or family friendships

CCD TRAINING AND FORMATION OFFERINGS

Northern Beaches, North Shore and Hornsby Regions Location: Peter Canisius House

102 Mona Vale Road

Pymble (enter from Mona Vale Road) Date: Friday 29 March 2019 Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm Register by: Friday 22 March 2019

In Service Training

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Central Coast Region Location: St Cecilia’s Parish Centre (Behind the church), 21-23 Byron Street, Wyong Date: Friday 22 March 2019 Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm Register by: Friday 15 March 2019

LENTEN SPIRITUALITY MORNINGS

TERM 1

Ongoing training for experienced catechists on green cards (Held during school holidays)

DO NOT invite a child/young person to your home or visit their home

CCD Newsletter Term 1, 2019 | Vol 24 Issue 1

The Story of Josh Joshua Willard is a young man in his late 20’s who has passed through the hands of many catechists during his life. This story is a tribute to those wonderful catechists who can feel proud.

As a young boy in primary school Josh attended Mona Vale Public School and attended Catholic SRE classes. Maureen Wooldridge, CCD Coordinator and long- time parishioner of Pittwater Parish proudly remembers that Josh was her student in year 2.

Josh went on to attend Manly Selective High. Catechists have been servicing this school on a weekly basis since 2000. All or any of those dedicated catechists may have had the privilege of Josh in their class between 2001 and 2007. He must have been that model student who never disrupted so you may not really know his name. He was listening to you!

Today, Josh, who is a gifted musician, is the Director of Music for Pittwater Parish. Many people in other Northern Beaches’ Parishes have witnessed the talents of this young man at their parish Masses or at funerals and weddings. He has been a part of Diocesan Youth gatherings

and CSO functions displaying his musical talents.

At the beginning of 2018 Josh became a Catechist at Avalon Public School. With no teaching background, at first, Josh found the discipline challenging. He stated he had never seen misbehaviour in the SRE classes that he had attended and had assumed his class was also going to be a model class. He has learned through trial and error and the able assistance of a helper in the classroom that this is a rewarding ministry.

We were delighted to give him the opportunity to display his wonderful singing and piano playing skills at the combined-Christian Christmas Assembly for the whole school to enjoy. We are delighted that he has accepted the challenges and rewards of the ministry and will continue to take a class in 2019.

Recently Josh married in the most beautiful Nuptial Mass I have ever witnessed. He and his wife who is a Catholic school teacher are witnesses to their faith and role models to future generations of our church.

We thank God for the enthusiasm this young man is displaying in his commitment to his faith.

Thank you God for this young catechist and the many other catechists who have journeyed in his life.

by Yvonne van den Berg

Rob Neil –

Chris Micallef, Year 6 Catechist, The Lakes Parish

Sad news from Epping and Carlingford Parish with the passing of Rob Neil on 22 December 2018 after a two-year illness. Rob turned 56 in November 2018 and is survived by his wife, Sue and five children aged from 12 to 19 years. Rob has been deeply involved in the CCD Ministry over the past 16 years. He was also the chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council for some years when Fr Peter Dowd first arrived as Parish Priest of Epping and Carlingford. Rob was a Catechist at North Epping Primary School as well as Cheltenham Girls High School. Up to seven months ago, he taught at Cheltenham Girl’s High School and was very concerned to find someone to take his SRE Class when he couldn’t make SRE lessons due to treatment. Rob had a deep faith and love of Jesus and Christian values. He was unconventional, fun and loving to everyone. He did what he could to show Christ’s love to all.

Hi girls,

AROUND THE DIOCESE

a life well-lived

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A CHRISTMAS CARD FROM A YEAR 6 STUDENT TO

Rob was the voice of North Epping community and rallied residents around when there was a crisis e.g. bushfires, the tragic deaths of the Liu family and many other occasions.

Rob was well known to the general public for his media connections as a radio announcer and a media representative in a large variety of fields. Rob was the MC at the Parliamentary Celebration of SRE held at Parliament House in Sydney in November 2016.

The multi-faith gathering attracted leaders from all major religions involved in SRE and included politicians from all sides of Parliament in support of SRE. Rob was one of those exceptional people whom you liked from the moment you met him. He will be missed by so many people including his family, parishioners at Epping and Carlingford as well as his SRE students. May Rob Rest In Peace in God’s loving care.

CCD Newsletter Term 1, 2019 | Vol 24 Issue 1

Dear M r M ca lief (is that ho w yo u sp ell yo ur na me ?)

Than k yo u wi th all my hear t fo r what yo u have ta ug ht fo r th e last 2 me years.

Yo u are so ins pir ing an d yo u are th e best teac he r I have Sc riptu re ever ha d. Yo u are so kin d an I wi ll miss yo u d mean ingfu l. de ep ly next ye ar , but yo u wi my heart an d ll fo reve r be in wi ll always re me mb er yo u.

Have a M er ry Ch ristmas an d a Ha pp y Ne w Year Lots of love, Am be r.

Chris Micallef dropped in this morning to show me a card he received from one of his students.

Thank you for a beautiful Spirituality morning at Terrey Hills last Friday. The feedback from the catechists was all positive and very worthwhile, especially at this busy time of year and in such a peaceful environment.

Michael, Joe and I were discussing the possibility of opening it up to parishioners (would be catechists?). It may encourage someone to join our ministry if they were to meet other catechists and see how well supported we are

by CCD. May your world this Christmas and beyond be filled with laughter and happiness and may Our Lord smile upon you and your family bringing you His Peace and Joy. Kind regards Alicen van Bokhoven Catechist Co-ordinator, Lakes Catholic Parish

At a Parish level, catechists were awarded for 5 and 10 years of service and for the completion of Levels 1 and 2.

AROUND THE DIOCESE 11

The Annual CCD Diocesan Mass and Presentation of Awards Ceremony was held at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral at Waitara on Saturday 3 November 2018. Our Diocesan Administrator, Fr David Ranson, celebrated Eucharist with Clergy from across the Diocese and catechists from all parishes.

Deceased catechists were remembered for their contribution to the Ministry of SRE. Catechists were awarded for Years of Service for 15 years and above (in increments of 5 years) and for Accreditation for the completion of the Level 3 Diploma of the CCD Training and Formation Program.

CCD Newsletter Term 1, 2019 | Vol 24 Issue 1

A Year of Discernment in our Diocese 6

Lectio Divina: Discerning the Way of Jesus. A spiritual guide for the Lenten season Available in all parishes and schools of the Diocese of Broken Bay

March

‘Messy Families’ seminars with Mike and Alicia Hernon A Catholic conversation on marriage and family Pennant Hills Parish and Terrigal Parish

19-21 July

September

October

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September

Twilight Talk: Holy Spirit, Discernment and Discipleship Featuring Fr David Ranson, for young adults Hotel Pennant Hills, Pennant Hills

SmartLoving Marriage Retreat Featuring Francine and Byron Pirola St Joseph’s Retreat Centre, Baulkham Hills

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May

Holy Spirit Retreat for Young Adults Peter Canisius House, Centre of Ignatian Spirituality, Pymble

International guest speaker: Sherry Weddell “Making Disciples in the Catholic Parish” Caroline Chisholm Centre, Pennant Hills

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22-23

21-22

September

Bible Conference, “The Holy Spirit in Scripture” Featuring Professor Ormond Rush and Dr Debra Snoddy Caroline Chisholm Centre, Pennant Hills

Developing Strengths-Based Ministry: Engaging the Clifton Strengths Finder tool.

For parish teams and ministry leaders Caroline Chisholm Centre, Pennant Hills

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December

Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2019: “Listen to what the Spirit is saying.”

For youth and young adults Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Dates and venues subject to change. Please check the Diocese of Broken Bay website (www.bbcatholic.org.au) and future editions of the Broken Bay News in 2019 for the latest event details and updates.

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October