From the Leader of School Evangelisation

Term 3 Reflection Days

Students in Years 7 to 10 enjoyed their reflection days during Week 1 of this term.  Year 7 and 9 were led by the Passionist Retreat Team.  Year 7 explored how they could improve their relationships and work better together as a year group.  Year 9 looked at what some of the masks are they wear and how they can have the courage to be their true self.  Students explored these themes through games, small group activities and whole group sharing.  The feedback from staff and students was positive and we look forward to working with the Passionist team in the coming years.

Year 8 and 10 had Chris Doyle facilitate their retreat day, Chris is an experienced retreat facilitator and loved by the students.  He brings a serious message to life with his musical talent, sense of humour and fun group activities.  He explored topics like how to have more loving relationships, how to treat women with respect and how the Gospel values of selfless love, respect, kindness, forgiveness and generosity can support us and guide us to a more fulfilled life.

Thank you to the retreat facilitators for their generosity of time and energy and for the involvement and sense of community from each year group.

Catch the Wave

Year 10 Ministry students were the leaders of the Catch the Wave retreat for our Year 9 Ministry students last Thursday and we are so proud of the job they did.  They all had a leadership role to play on the day, including running games, organising lunch, sharing a testimony and running small groups and they all stepped up and exceeded our expectations.  Year 9 had a great day and this will launch their Ministry work and a great lead up to SHINE for both classes.  We look forward to Year 9 running it next year when they are in Year 10.

'Stay Out' and Personal Care packs for the Homeless

As you are aware, over the last four weeks the Mission Team has collected items for personal care pack for the homeless.

To better understand their plight, and to offer some practical assistance, donations were sought by students by the Mission Team, who have been collecting essential items and making packs for local charities You Have a Friend and Fred’s Place.  The Mission Team is also running a competition between House AWCs, culminating this week in the awarding of points in the annual House Competition, and for the winning AWC a pizza lunch by Friday this week.

We are still collecting this week, and we ask if your child might bring to their AWC any of the following items:

• Socks
• Muesli bars
• Women's sanitary items
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Body wash
• Conditioner/shampoo
• Packaged snacks (no canned items please)

Your help is very much appreciated.

A further opportunity to be involved in helping these local charites takes place in Week 6 this term, when we'll be hosting a ‘Stay Out’ at the College on the afternoon/evening of Friday 26 August.  It promises to be a fun - and informative - afternoon and evening.  Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Prayer through St Mary MacKillop of the Cross
Bountiful and loving God,
You have filled the heart of Mary MacKillop with compassionate love
for those who are in need at the margins of our society.
Deepen that love within us that we may embrace the mystery of the Cross
which leads us through death to life.
We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus who having broken the bonds of death
leads us to everlasting life.
Amen

We hope you have the opportunity today to say a prayer through Mary.  If you can only find a moment, why not visit with St Mary MacKillop.  Pause and share with Mary the longings of your heart.  Ask her to pray with you to God for your needs and the needs of our world.

Mrs Hannah Ardrey
Leader of School Evangelisation

On behalf of the Mission Team