There is something special about coming together and raising voices in song. In the Summer edition of Australian Catholics, many musicians talk about why singing in Church and at school liturgy events is so important. In his Explorations, Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ discusses the close but sometimes fraught relationship between music and faith. St Hildegard of Bingen, however, had no qualms about the importance of music in the Church, reportedly saying, ‘Only the devil would forbid music’. This term, we take a deep dive into the relationship between music and the Church, theology, worship and spirituality.
Term 1 Dates 2024
QLD: Tues 24 Jan – Fri 31 Mar
VIC: Mon 29 Jan – Thurs 28 Mar
ACT: Wed 31 Jan – Fri 12 Apr
NSW: Mon 30 Jan – Fri 12 Apr
NT: Wed 31 Jan – Fri 5 Apr
WA: Wed 31 Jan – Thurs 28 Mar
TAS: Wed 7 Feb – Thurs 11 Apr?SA: Mon 29 Jan – Fri 12 Apr
Dates are approximate, please check with your school for accurate dates.
Catholic Teacher newsletter
Thursday, 25 January
This week we look at how Catholic singer and voice movement therapist Trisha Watts believes music is one of the most powerful forms of prayer.
As the academic year begins, it’s also a great time to consider Pope Francis’ monthly prayer intentions for 2024. You may like to discuss them with your religious education classes, use them at the start of a lesson or start the day by including them in your home room discussion. Classroom questions and activities support both articles and are on the topic of Prayer.
We are also keen to share some of our favourite teaching strategies that help to promote reading comprehension in the religious education classroom. Below you will find some more links to articles from our archives designed to support teachers to make a strong start to the year.
· Strategies for elevating reading comprehension in the classroom
· Smile until Easter – The Education Hub Guide for teachers on making the first week count
· The New 7Ps – The Education Hub Guide to lesson planning and preparation
· Writing skills on the decline but Religious Education can help
Dates to remember: Feast of the conversion of St Paul the Apostle (25 January), Australia Day/Survival Day (26 January)
International Day of Commemoration in Memory of Victims of the Holocaust, Feast of St Thomas Aquinas (28 January), Feast of St John Bosco (31 Jan), World Interfaith Harmony Week (1-7 Feb), Feast of St Brigid (1 Feb), Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (2 Feb), World Wetlands Day (2 Feb), Ash Wednesday (14 Feb)
Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Prayer
For AC+ subscribers: Welcome
Thursday, 1 February
This week we look at how music is used to enhance religious experience but must not be allowed to detract from it. In ‘Explorations: Music and the Church’, Fr Andrew Hamilton writes about how a close but sometimes tense relationship between music and faith has been true of the Catholic Church throughout the centuries. Meanwhile, in ‘Language of God’ Peter Fleming argues that the musical and lyrical compositions of St Hildegard are a perfection of the verbal and the melodic.
Dates to remember:
World Interfaith Harmony (Week 1 – 7 Feb), Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (2nd Feb), World Wetlands Day (2 Feb), Anniversary of Stolen Generations Apology (13 Feb), Ash Wednesday, Feast of St Valentine (14 Feb).
Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Psalms
For AC+ subscribers: Ash Wednesday
Thursday, 8 February
In ‘Music in the Bible’ Laurie Woods writes about how good music and theologically-sound lyrics connect us with each other and the divine Presence. While in ‘Packed and ready’ you can discover how Maeve Heaney uses tools from her musical ‘Irish backpack’ in her mission to reach people theologically.
Dates to remember: Anniversary of Stolen Generations Apology (13 Feb), Ash Wednesday, Feast of St Valentine (14 Feb).
Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Lent
For AC+ subscribers: Love
Thursday, 15 February
Music can be incredibly uplifting, offering a positive way to explore theological concepts. In this vein, we offer the ‘Sneaky Jesus’ epic musical by Michael McVeigh. Cue the lights, draw back the curtains, and come join Australian Catholics on an epic musical journey through the Gospels.
Then in the ‘Soundtrack of our lives’, we consider how there’s nothing in everyday life that cannot be improved by song.
Dates to remember: World Day of Social Justice (20 Feb), International Mother Language Day (21 Feb), Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle (22 Feb),
Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Theology
For AC+ subscribers: Music and faith
Thursday, 22 February
This week we encourage you to ‘Embrace the music’ by demonstrating how parishes have the power to lift their music programs from the mundane to the truly inspiring by reaching out to young people.
Then we look at the role young people play in music ministry in ‘Let the young sing and play’ where we show how Church communities could learn a lot about building communal enjoyment if they followed the example of schools in helping young people to express themselves through music.
Dates to remember: Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle (22 Feb), Zero Discrimination Day (1 March, Clean Up Australia Day (3 March).
Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Hymn
For AC+ subscribers: Stewardship
Thursday, 29 February
Gen Bryant has not long returned from World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, where she and her band performed before 1.5 million young people – and Pope Francis. Read about her in our article ‘A new voice.’ Then, in ‘Team support’ read about how the best advice for those involved in music ministry is to find a community that helps advance your musical skill while also supporting you in your exploration of your faith.
Dates to remember: Zero Discrimination Day (1 March),
Clean Up Australia Day (3 March), International Women’s Day (8 Mar),
Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Mission
For AC+ subscribers: International Women’s Day
Thursday, 7 March
This week we explore ‘The meaning behind Messiah’. Laurie Woods explains that there are centuries of tradition in how we understand the terms messiah and kurios. Then in the ‘Magic of Music’, Ann Rennie writes about how music is a gift that calms, uplifts, soothes and consoles.
Dates to remember: International Women’s Day (8 Mar), Feast of St Louise de Marillac (15 Mar), Feast of St Patrick (17 Mar).
Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Messiah
For AC+ subscribers: Holy Week
Thursday, 14 March
Music was one of the main ways religion was communicated to the masses during the Middle Ages. Find out more in ‘Marvellous medieval music’ by young writer The Kurniawan. We then look at another article by a young writer. In ‘A battle lost, a tradition won’ Ann Maria Sabu writes about how with age came an appreciation for the rich cultural traditions of Syriac Masses.
Dates to remember: Feast of St Patrick (17 Mar), Close the Gap Day (17 Mar), Feast of St Joseph (19 Mar), International Day of Happiness (20 Mar), Harmony Week (20 – 26 Mar), World Poetry Day, Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Harmony Day (21 Mar,) World Water Day, National Ride2School Day (22 Mar), Earth Hour (23 Mar), Palm Sunday (24 Mar).
Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Resurrection of Christ
For AC+ subscribers: Resurrection
Thursday, 21 March
Today’s pop stars owe a great debt of gratitude to the history of Christian music. Read more in ‘Church music pulls a Swiftie’ by John-Paul Turner. Then discover how ‘Heavy metal brings Christian light’, when young writer, Alex Woolnough writes about how, as a genre of music, Christian heavy metal can reach radically different audiences.
Dates to remember: Harmony Day (21 Mar), Harmony Week (20 – 26 Mar), World Poetry Day, Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Harmony Day (21 Mar), World Water Day, National Ride2School Day (22 Mar), Earth Hour (23 Mar), Palm Sunday (24 Mar), Holy Thursday (28 Mar), Good Friday (29 Mar), Easter Sunday (31 Mar), Feast of John Baptist de La Salle (7 Apr), World Health Day (7 Apr).
Catholic vocabulary term of the week: Repentance
For AC+ subscribers: Reconciliation
AC+ subscriber emails
Tuesday, 23 January
NEW AC+ resources on prayer in the Catholic tradition
Next Q&A session: ?
Topic: The Critical Role of Catholic Educators in Our Changing World?
Guests: Ann Rennie and Bernadette Mercieca?
Date: Tuesday, 27 February?Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm (AEST)
Book here.
Tuesday, 6 February
Updated AC+ Lenten resources
Tuesday, 20 February
Updated AC+ resources on Holy Week and Easter
Tuesday, 5 March
Updated AC+ resources on motherhood
Tuesday, 19 March
NEW AC+ resources on Music and the Church