From the APRIM
Dear Families,
Diocesan Assembly
Archbishop Pat O’Regan invites you to contribute to the upcoming Diocesan Assembly which is going to be held in September.
“The Assembly is important, helping us all prepare for the national Plenary Council and beyond. You may remember a few years ago we began to discuss that difficult but interesting question, ‘What do you think God is asking of us at this time in Australia?’. It took us a while to get on to this question, but it really helped us to understand what this whole process of discernment is all about.
We’ve learnt much from your responses to that question, and we now seek to extend that process into our ordinary diocesan life. While it’s necessary to do this at the local level in our parishes, schools, communities, migrant chaplaincies, what we’re going to now is to do this at the wider diocesan level. So I am inviting you as members of our diocesan family, to sit down in whatever family in which you belong, and talk about what really is important to us all. Yes, we may need to air our grievances as well, however let’s think about what we can do to make a difference in the world today by putting God at the centre of all things, and allowing us to make that difference.”
The Archbishop’s entire address can be viewed at here
A postcard is coming home which you can complete and send back to school by Friday 13 August. The school will collect them and send them forward on your behalf. Alternatively, you can respond online at the same site as the video.
Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross
It is Mary MacKillop’s special day this Sunday 8 August. Our school was supposed to be a part of the parish Mass but sadly with the latest restrictions, this will be unable to take place. The Year 3 to 7 will be celebrating Mass together this Thursday and the Early Years classes will have a liturgy in their rooms.
Mary MacKillop was an interesting woman; we know her as the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph and a teacher. We don’t always remember that she was sick much of the time, was often bed-ridden but still travelled the world for the sake of her order. Paul Gardiner sj wrote that she was accused of being “young, sentimental, colonial (that is, born in Australia), of non-Irish stock, female, the daughter of a bankrupt colonial seminarian, a former excommunicate, a strong personality, obstinate [and] ambitious.” Some of these were perhaps true and Mary was the first to admit that she was not perfect, but she remained focussed on what she saw as her calling from God. She remained obedient to Rome’s directives and in doing so, “showed other spiritual strengths – understanding, wisdom, prudence, fortitude, courage, patience, courtesy, humility and above all charity.” She personified the Josephite motto of “In all things love.”
“Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom you are trying to follow. Do not be afraid. Love one another, bear with one another, and let charity guide you all your life. God will reward you as only He can.” Mary MacKIllop
Blessings,
Sharyn Black
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission