Memorial Mass 2021
Last Thursday evening, November 4, we celebrated our annual Memorial Mass. As a Catholic school community, nothing unites us closer than to share in the Eucharist together. As you are aware, it is always part of our practice here at the College to end our prayers with this phrase, “and may we always remember … to pray for one another”. Although this is only a very simple phrase, we believe it is a really important one, with truly significant meaning, because it reminds us that we are a community, and that as a community, we are all one big extended family. Families love and care for one another and therefore, it is important that we don’t forget to care for each other. It was with this in mind, that we hoped that our Memorial Mass would be a truly special and fitting way to pray for and remember all of our loved ones within our Penola Catholic College family who have passed. As always, Fr Tony Cox, our College Chaplain, celebrated a beautiful Mass. The inclusion of our memorial reflection clips enabled us to highlight the plaques in our Memorial Garden and the photos of our loved ones. This Mass truly captured our College’s spirit of community and enabled everyone who viewed via the livestream, a true opportunity to stop, reflect and pray for those who have meant so much to us.

If you were not able to partake in the Mass last week but would still like to view it, it can still be accessed here.

Remembrance Day
Today our focus for prayer is Armistice Day. Armistice Day is celebrated on November 11 each year and is also known as Remembrance Day. It marks the day World War One ended, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918. We now use the anniversary to remember all the people who have died in all wars - not just those in World War One.

And so we pray...

Lord our God,

On this day of remembrance, we entrust all our prayers and needs to your infinite mercy.

May the memory of wars strengthen our efforts for peace;

May the memory of those who died inspire our service to the living;

May the memory of past destruction move us to build for the future;

O God of peace, O companion of our souls, O builder of Love and Justice in the world, Hear our prayer.

Teach us the way of peace,

Not a peace that is frail and feeble but a peace that is strong and firm and brave,

A healing of wounds, a facing of truth, a building of new understanding, and generous always.

Teach us the way of love, not a love that is blind and foolish but a love that is deep and true and wise,

An opening of hearts, a joining of hands, a valuing people as precious, and generous always.

Teach us the way of life, not a life that is mean and narrow but a life that is rich and full and free,

A finding of strength, a sharing of wealth, a reaching for joy at its fullest and generous always.

Teach us the way of peace.

And we ask this through Christ our Lord,

Amen.

St Mary of the Cross... Pray for us,

St. Joseph… Pray for us,

And may we always remember… To pray for one another.