Director Faith and Mission
Mrs Loretta Shannon
A Prayer for the beginning of Term 4
The Sacrament of Eucharist
On Sunday 11 October, St Mary’s College joined with families and our Parish community for the beautiful celebration of the Sacrament of Eucharist. It was a significant moment in the faith journey of our students as they came to the table of the Lord to receive Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time.
Celebrated by Fr Ashkar, the Mass invited our students and families to reflect deeply on the Eucharist as a gift of nourishment, unity and love.
The Scripture readings carried the imagery of God preparing a banquet for his people, the Lord as our shepherd and Jesus’ invitation for all to come to the feast. Together they reminded us that the Eucharist is both a gift we receive and a call to live as people of faith, hope and love.
A particularly meaningful moment came as parents stood with their children and presented them to receive the Sacrament, renewing their commitment to continue supporting their children’s growth in faith. Later, during the Offertory, students brought forward the bread and wine together with symbols of the Eucharist - water, wheat, bread and grapes - as the community prepared for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
At the heart of the celebration, our students received Holy Communion for the first time, surrounded by the prayers and support of their families, teachers and Parish community. The Mass beautifully reflected the message that, although we are many, through Christ we are one body, gathered together at the table of the Lord.
Following the final blessing, our communicants received their certificates and gathered with their families to mark this special milestone. I am extremely grateful to Ms Patterson, Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Pierce for their support of our students in preparation for this very important sacrament.
May the Eucharist continue to nourish the students throughout their lives and inspire them to live each day ‘Guided by Faith and Driven by Purpose.’
Staff Collaborative Artwork
Staff Spirituality Day – A Shared Expression of Faith
During our Staff Spirituality Day on July 13, St Mary’s College staff came together to create a collaborative artwork exploring five expressions of prayer: 👂 Listen, 🎨 See, ❤️ Respond, 🌿 Care and 🌟 Trust/Faith.
Each staff member created an individual canvas using colour, symbol and personal expression to reflect their own experience of prayer and faith. When brought together, the canvases form a beautiful spiral moving from darkness towards light.
👂 Listen – black and blue represent prayer, contemplation and listening for God in everyday life.
🎨 See – purple and pink express creativity, beauty and wonder as ways of encountering God.
❤️ Respond – red and orange represent justice, compassion and putting our faith into action.
🌿 Care – green and turquoise remind us of the beauty of creation and our responsibility to care for our common home.
🌟 Trust/Faith – gold and white form the glowing centre, inspired by Mary’s trust in God and her courageous “Yes” to God’s call.
No two canvases are the same, yet together they create one beautiful whole. The finished artwork reflects our St Mary’s College community: individual gifts, experiences and expressions of faith coming together to tell one shared story of prayer, hope and purpose.
This artwork was displayed in our Arts and Technology Showcase this week, so is timely to share in this space, as a reminder of our staff’s commitment to Catholic Education at our College. I am very proud of how this has come together and it will be displayed in the College Reception if you would like to peruse it more closely.
Upcoming Secondary Retreat Days
Next week, students in Years 7, 8, 10 will take part in a series of Retreat Days as part of our Faith Education and Faith and Mission program at St Mary’s College.
Retreat Days provide an important opportunity for students to step away from their usual classroom routine and spend time reflecting on themselves, their relationships with others and their relationship with God.
Through engaging activities, team-building, personal sharing, small-group discussion, drama, reflection and prayer, students are encouraged to explore questions of identity, belonging, relationships, values, faith and the people they are becoming.
Each year level will explore a theme appropriate to their stage of development:
· Year 10 – Tuesday 20 October: Self-image, uniqueness and individuality - recognising personal worth, being authentic and understanding the dignity of every person.
· Year 8 – Wednesday 21 October: Relationships - strengthening healthy relationships, valuing others and recognising how God sees and loves each person.
· Year 7 – Thursday 22 October: Knowing God - recognising personal worth, seeing others through God’s eyes and exploring friendship with Jesus.
These Retreat Days are an important and compulsory part of the students’ Faith Education program. Students may attend in appropriate casual clothing and are asked to bring their morning tea and a drink bottle. Lunch will be provided each day.
As a Catholic College community, we hope these days give our young people the space to recognise their own worth, deepen their relationships with others, grow in faith and continue becoming people of compassion, courage and purpose - Guided by Faith, Driven by Purpose.
Liturgical Calendar
Ordinary Time
We are now in Ordinary Time in the Church’s liturgical year.
While the name may sound like this is a “less important” season, Ordinary Time is anything but ordinary. It is a time for growth, a time when we are invited to live out the message of Jesus in the everyday moments of our lives.
After the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we are sent forth as the disciples were: to be people of faith, hope, and love in our community. In the rhythm of school life, this means showing kindness in the playground, patience in the classroom, and compassion in our relationships.
Ordinary Time reminds us that holiness is found not only in special celebrations, but in daily life - in the small choices we make, the way we treat one another, and the care we show to those around us. As we continue through the term, may we be open to the Spirit at work within us, and strive to live out our faith in simple, meaningful ways each day.
Mrs Loretta Shannon
Director Faith and Mission