ST JOSEPHINE BAKHITA - 8 FEBRUARY
The Feast of Josephine Bakhita provides our whole community - parishes, schools, homes and other groups – with a wonderful opportunity to reach out and connect with the wider Catholic community who have a strong commitment to social justice, specifically modern slavery and human trafficking. The feast provides an opportunity for relevant and meaningful formation and prayer. The International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking also falls on 8 February. It too focuses on St Josephine Bakhita, highlighting the circumstances of violence and injustice affecting millions of voiceless people.
To that end the Diocesan Liturgy Council established a Working Party to study the issue of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking and produce a range of resources for parishes, schools, homes and community groups. These are available below.
It is hoped that the experience of prayer focused on current issues will help to form more deeply in the hearts and minds of the community, an appreciation of the integral link between prayer and Christian life and action. The above resources are a first step as we look forward to the journey ahead.
For more information about modern slavery and human trafficking, view articles below:
These are critical issues for a church that exists for mission. They also provide an opportunity to learn more about St Josephine and her story.
SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP - 27 JUNE
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is the Patron of the Church of Maitland-Newcastle. Mass and Liturgy texts are provided in PDF and MS Word format for parishes and schools to use to celebrate our patronal feast solemnity on June 27.
ST MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP - 22 JULY
In Australia Mary MacKillop’s feast is celebrated as a solemnity on August 8. Resources to assist in celebrating this feast are provided below:
- Download texts for the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
- While these texts do not include texts for a Vigil Mass or for Evening Prayer I, communities could begin the celebration with either, given the explanation of Solemnities in the General Norms for the Liturgical year and the Calendar a. 11 Solemnities are counted as the principal days in the calendar and their observance begins with evening prayer I of the preceding day. Some also have their own vigil Mass for use when Mass is celebrated in the evening of the preceding day.
- Download additional resources for the Prayer of the Church Mary MacKillop.
- This article may assist those preparing the community's liturgical celebration.
- Information on Mary MacKillop can be found on the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart website.
- LiturgyHelp users can access the Mass of Solemnity with Lectionary and Missal texts of Mary of the Cross.
