Principal's Message
Welcome to Week 6 and Book Week!
We have officially passed the midpoint of this term and our past three weeks have been filled with wonderful opportunities for learning and celebrating our Mater Dei community spirit. This edition of the newsletter captures some of them, including the iconic MDIFA competition with its Grand Final yesterday the Feast of the Assumption Mass with Mater Dei Primary School and Mater Dei’s Got Talent today, just to name a few! Year 12 HSC Trial exams have finished, Year 10 have selected their courses for next year and Year 11 are preparing for their End of Course examinations. Learning in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 has been action packed and we will end the week on a high with Book Week celebrations today.
Social Justice Sunday
This year, Social Justice Sunday is celebrated on 30 August. For almost every year since 1940, our Bishops have joined together to issue a major social justice statement at this time of the year to inspire reflection and action. The first Social Justice Statement, released by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in February 2026, seeks to name the reality of hardship being experienced in households and communities across the country.
The second, released this month, reiterates that across Australia, many of our sisters and brothers are burdened by the rising cost of life’s necessities and need our support. For some, this means skipping meals, delaying medical care, or living without secure housing. These are not just economic statistics, but human stories of struggle and resilience. As disciples of Jesus, we cannot turn away from these realities. The Gospel calls us to see Christ in those who suffer and to walk alongside them with compassion.
Year 12 Parent/Carer and Student Exit Surveys
As we draw towards the end of the Year 12 Course at the end of Week 10 this term, it is important that we gather information from this cohort of students and their parents/carers to assist with future planning. This will again take the form of an online survey that takes about 15 minutes to complete. Parents and students will be contacted by email by the external company conducting the survey. The Parent/Carer Survey will open on Monday 7 September for two weeks and students will complete the survey at school on Wednesday 9 September.
Mount Erin Boarding Farewell Mass and Dinner 2 September
Next Wednesday evening the Mount Erin Boarding community will gather for a very special celebration to mark the end of Boarding for the Year 12 Graduands in just a few short weeks. Bishop Mark Edwards and Fr Andrew Grace will celebrate Mass in the Mount Erin Chapel, with students taking on special roles as readers and musicians. This is always a special evening with parents and invited guests in attendance. Each of the graduands will be presented with their Mount Erin candle, a tradition that encourages students to go into the world to light the way, in the spirit of Nano Nagle.
Following Mass and photos in the Chapel, the Year 12 boarders, invited guests and parents will attend a celebration dinner at the Botanical Gardens.
Father’s Day
As we approach Father’s Day on Sunday, 6 September, we pause to acknowledge with thanks the selflessness, dedication and love of all our fathers/dads and fatherly people in our College community. We ask God to bless them as we pray:
God our Father,
we give thanks for the lives of these special men.
On this special day, we ask that you might send down your spirit upon the dads and father figures gathered here
and give them the gifts of wisdom, gentleness, compassion and your continuous love.
May the Lord bless and keep you;
May He make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
May the Lord be your hope and guide,
and lead you with tenderness and compassion always. Amen.
Ms Val Thomas | Principal