Sunday, March 21, 2021

Gospel Reading

John 12:20-33

Jesus teaches his disciples about the way in which he will be glorified by God, and a voice from heaven is heard to affirm this teaching.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Sunday’s Gospel reading is taken from the Gospel of John. We are reading much further into John’s Gospel than we have for the past two weeks. Chapter 12 of John’s Gospel is a preparation for the beginning of the passion narrative to follow. Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead—an important sign in John’s Gospel, which inspired many people to believe in Jesus. This event also marks the turning point in Jesus’ conflict with the Jewish authorities. John’s Gospel tells us that the Sanhedrin met after this event and made plans to kill Jesus. In the 12th chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus is anointed at Bethany and enters Jerusalem in triumph. We again see evidence of the significance of the raising of Lazarus to this event; John reports that the crowds also gathered to see Lazarus.

Following his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus predicted his suffering, death, and Resurrection and prepared his disciples to believe in the salvation that his death would accomplish. Using the metaphor of the grain of wheat, Jesus presented the idea that his dying would be beneficial. He also taught that those who would be his disciples must follow his example of sacrifice. This theme will be repeated in John’s account of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as an example of how they must serve one another.

The final section of today’s Gospel might be read as John’s parallel to the agony in the garden. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John does not record Jesus’ anguished prayer in the garden of Gethsemane before his arrest. Although comparable words are found in today’s reading, Jesus gives a confident response to the question he raises when asking God to save him from his impending death. After announcing his conviction that it is for this purpose that he came, a voice from heaven speaks, as if in answer to Jesus’ prayer. This voice, like the one heard at Jesus’ baptism and at Jesus’ Transfiguration—events reported in the Synoptic Gospels but not in John’s Gospel—affirms that God welcomes the sacrifice that Jesus will make on behalf of others. In John’s Gospel, Jesus teaches that this voice was sent for the sake of those who would believe in him.

In Sunday’s Gospel, we also hear Jesus speak about the cosmic framework against which we are to understand his passion, death, and Resurrection. Through his death and Resurrection, Jesus conquered Satan, the ruler of this world. In this way the world is judged, but the judgment is not condemnation. Instead, through Jesus’ dying and rising, salvation is brought to the world.

Tēnā koutou kātoa e te whānau,

Tihei mauri ora, nau mai, haere mai, tena koutou katoa, E nga whanau, e nga kaiako, e nga tamariki, e nga manuhiri, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

This Term seems to be certainly racing by. I want to thank our community for the way in which you supported us through our Tsunami evacuation. We have taken some learnings as a school from this and we will put those learnings into practice at our next planned drill.

Also, thank-you for all the support in our extra-curricular activities that all our parents and volunteers give time to support our children with.

We start our Holy Week Celebrations this Friday.

Students are encouraged to bring Jesus Clothes this Friday to wear at the Palm Sunday Liturgy.

Whanau are welcome to attend Liturgies and the Way of the Cross this and next week to prepare for Easter.

Holy Week Timetable

Week 8

Friday 26th March

11:00 am - Palm Sunday Liturgy led by Whanau Wood and Whanau Tanner in the BAMJC - whole school

Donkey parade -All students encouraged to bring ‘Jesus clothes’

Liturgy. Palm Sunday Liturgy - in Centre and move out to field for the Donkey parade.

Week 9

Monday 29th March

10:00 am Washing of Feet led by Whanau Meehan and Whanau Fraser in the BAMJC - whole school

1:30 pm, Way of the Cross led by Whanau Robbie Whanau Fraser, Whanau Walter, Whanau Meehan

2:15 pm, Way of the Cross led by Whanau Laban Whanau Wood, Whanau Piceno, Whanau McCabe

Tuesday 30th March

10:00 am, Last Supper led by Maramatanga in the BAMJC - whole school

1:30 pm, Way of the Cross led by Whanau Akkerman Whanau Oates, Whanau Mayall, Whanau King, Whanau Yorke

2:15 pm, Way of the Cross led by Whanau Kelliher/ McIntosh Whanau Strange, Whanau Goldsmith, Whanau Cochrane, Whanau Tanner

Wednesday 31st March

10:00 am, Garden of Gethsemane (10 am) - Whanau Tanner in the BAMJC - whole school

Thursday 1st April

10:00 am, Good Friday Whanau McCabe in the BAMJC - whole school

Wednesday 7th April

10:00 am, Resurrection Liturgy Whanau Walter in the BAMJC

Holy Thursday - 7pm, St Mary Immaculate (no morning Mass on Holy Thursday)

Good Friday - 3pm, St Mary Immaculate and St Joseph’s, Te Puna

There will be Stations of the Cross on Good Friday 9am at St Mary Immaculate, and 10am St Joseph’s

Holy Saturday - Easter Vigil: 6.30pm, St Mary Immaculate (no morning Mass or confessions)

Easter Sunday - 8am and 10.30am St Mary Immaculate, and 9am St Therese, Bethlehem.

See the poster for more information.

Swimming

Congratulations to the 2021 St Mary's Swimming Cup Winners.

Year 6
Matthew Rogers
Mackenzie Jury

Year 5
Max Page

Daisy Bell

South Cluster Swimming Championships

Good luck to our 26 swimmers who will represent St Mary's School at the South Cluster Swimming Championships on Tuesday 30th March held at Greerton Pools.

Year 1- 6

Season begins Saturday 22nd May and finishes the end of August.

Years 1 & 2 games will be played between 10:00am – 11:00am

Years 3 & 4 games will be played between 11:30am – 12:30pm

Years 5 & 6 games will be played between 12:30pm – 1:30pm

*Grading for Year 6 team on Saturday 15th May (Years 1-5 don’t grade).

Trials for Year 5-6 teams will take place at lunchtime over the next few weeks.

Cost - $50 pp for Year 1-5

$65 pp for Year 6

Register for Year 5 & 6 Netball here

Last day for Registration is 31st March.

Year 3-6

Season begins Saturday 15 May and ends last week of August – NB may be subject to change.

Games will be played between 8:30am – 1:30pm at Blake Park. Occasionally satellite turfs around Tauranga are used.

· Funsticks (Year 1&2) is a separate competition which each child registers individually with the Hockey Association. More information will be available in the next week or so.

Cost - $50 pp

Trials for Year 5-6 teams will take place at lunchtime over the next few weeks. More information will go out to families closer to the time.

Register for Year 3 - 6 Hockey here

Last day for Registration is 31st March.

Hip Hop with Val is a fun introduction to dance for Year 0 – 8’s with a focus on building self-confidence for the children.

Choreography is kept simple so that children of all levels can have a go.

This term fees are $50 per child, per term 1 and invoiced directly to the parents. Classes run for 10 weeks this term which includes 9 classes plus a performance.

Classes will be held Mondays lunch times beginning Week 2.

Full information and invoices will be send in next 7 days after registration.

Simply click on this link & fill out the online enrolment form to enrol.

Enrolments close 2nd May