Synergy - Newsletter 

Education In Faith

From the Director of Catholic Identity

#WithRefugees

This hashtag and phrase was the theme for Refugee Day which is celebrated on 20 June. This short but powerful statement calls for changes of the heart, of the mind, but most importantly it calls for countries to change their policies related to Refugees and Asylum seekers. Currently our policies do not protect and uphold the dignity of those seeking freedom and safety on our shores. It is a basic human right to seek asylum from persecution yet we continue to build walls around our country. As I write this article the news is flooded with stories of Donald Trump separating families at the border in the US, it saddens me to think about the untold stories in our media of the treatment of families from our Government as they take the risk of freedom to get on a boat and get to Australia.

During the week, here at MSJ we took time every morning to prayer, reflect on the needs of those seeking refuge on our shores. We prayed for change, we prayed for open hearts, we prayed for hospitality and most importantly we stood in solidarity #withrefugees. At the front gates of the College a banner was displayed to show our College’s commitment to this cause. We hope that when you drive by to collect your daughter from the College that this banner has spoken to you, or other locals, and that it has opened up a dialogue that drives people to call for action from our Government.

 

At MSJ we look to the example of the Holy Family during this week, for they themselves were refugees, fleeing their home to obtain a safe future for their family. Recently Pope Francis called upon Catholics to respond proactively to this world issue, “Do not tire of courageously living the Gospel, which calls you to recognize and welcome the Lord Jesus among the smallest and most vulnerable.” (Pope Francis, 2017, Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.) Our Faith calls us to seek out Christ in the refugee and migrant, to welcome the stranger and to ‘love thy neighbour’. We pray the Australian Government also can show this love in their future policies.

 

With this in mind I leave you now with a prayer reflection led with staff by Mr Mitchell Piazza (Humanities Domain Leader) in the following clip. It is a powerful poem and prayer that I hope stirs you to respond, and calls you to stand with #withrefugees.

 

Home By Warsan Shire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We pray:

 

Lord God,

 

may your children who reject the cries of the broken and the refugee have their hearts softened and eyes opened to the real plight of humanity. Help us to do what we can to follow in the compassionate steps of Jesus Christ and St Mary Mackillop.

 

Amen.

Trash Free Tuesdays!

This term the Year 12 RE Ministry students explored the impact of plastic waste on our society. World Environment Day was celebrated in early June this year with the campaign to reduce plastic waste and its impact on the environment. In response to their studies, the students began to audit the College’s plastic impact and proposed the introduction of a TRASH FREE TUESDAYS!

 

Starting in Term 3, students are encouraged to come to school with no trash recess and lunches. This means bringing food in re-usable containers, using alternative wrapping solutions such as bees wax cloth and any other options they can find.

 

We ask that you help support this new movement at MSJ by encouraging this practice at home.

 

Fast facts on plastic waste

  • 18 billion pounds of plastic waste flows into the ocean every year
  • 40% of plastic produced is packaging, used just once and then discarded
  • Nearly half of all plastic ever manufactured has been made since 2000
  • Less than a fifth of all plastic is recycled globally
  • Nearly a million plastic bottles are sold every minute around the world.

Feast Day – Fundraising Cause

Our College’s annual Feast Day, Mary MacKillop Feast Day is fast approaching. Every year on the Feast of Mary MacKillop students run a school fete in their learning mentor classes to raise much needed funds for the work completed by the current Sisters of St. Joseph.

 

This year our fundraising cause is the organisation Mary MacKillop Today, specifically supporting the work they achieve in East Timor.

 

Leading up to Feast day students will learn more about this organisation and the work of the Sisters in East Timor.

 

How can you help at home? Encourage students to start saving their money to use on Feast day and discuss where the money raised is going.

 

Here is an idea of the benefit our funds can bring to the communities in East Timor:

 

Teacher training and Tetum Literacy Program: $2017 per teacher for one year. We still need funding to train our target of 156 teachers. You could challenge the school to see how many teachers they could help access training.

 

Volunteer teacher stipend

$93/month

 

Health Literacy

$593 for 1 teacher to attend health literacy training. 

$3800 is the cost of the resources needed for each training.

 

Mobile Learning Centre

$2114 would support the regular learning activities through the mobile learning centre for one school. The Mobile Learning Centre goes to 48 schools and this is the cost per school for 3 months. This would also be a great program for your students to come up with a target for.

 

Parents education

$341 is the cost of sending one parent to the 10 parent education workshops.

$675 would pay for the resources for 1 workshop.

 

Thank you for your support of this key organisation.

 

Danielle Fairthorne

Director of Catholic Identity

Healing Mass at St. Leos

On June 7, ten Year 7 students from MSJ volunteered to go to a Healing Mass along with the elderly at Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church in Altona Meadows. As we entered, the St Leo’s students walked in, reminding us what it was like back in primary school.

 

We began the Mass by singing a hymn as the Priest walked in. Not long after, Charlotte Chow read and she was followed by a Grade 4 student. The response and hymns continued, everyone including the elderly, sang with joy and happiness. Natalie Fong and Haylee Nguyen brought up the gifts. It was great to be involved in the different roles of the Mass.

Before we knew it the mass had ended. The year 7 MSJ students then volunteered to wheel the elderly to their lunch. All the Year 7 MSJ students and Grade 4 St. Leo students helped out with the serving of lunch while the patrons ordered tea and coffee.

 

It was an extraordinary experience and we learnt many things. 

 

By Haylee Nguyen, Year 7.

Catholic Education Today

CLICK HEREto read the latest edition