Catholic Identity

Sacramental Program 2024/2025 

Please continue to keep our Sacramental Candidates in your prayers as they journey closer to receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist on Pentecost Sunday, June 8th. This is a sacred and significant time in the lives of these young members of our faith community, as they deepen their relationship with Christ and the Church.

This week, our Sacramental children visited each pastoral group to share moments of their preparation journey, the saint name they have chosen, and why those saints are special to them. They also gave each group a special prayer card as a sign of their journey and to remind us to pray for them. These cards are now on the classroom prayer tables, as a reminder for our school community to continue to pray for our candidates on their journey.

We're looking forward to our next cluster group at St. Mel's on Thursday, 22nd May. 

"Go forth and set the world on fire"

St Ignatius of Loyola

Munarra Visit 

Last week, our school educators had the profound privilege of visiting the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence in Shepparton, an experience that left an indelible mark on our hearts, minds, and faith journeys.

The Munarra Centre is a place of learning, healing, and truth-telling. It offers an inspiring space where Aboriginal culture, language, history, and story are shared with honesty and depth. Guided by local educators, our staff engaged in meaningful conversations, and a cultural experience that deepened our understanding of the important work they do in supporting our community.

We listened to stories of Country, resilience, and connection. We walked on sacred ground and stood still in moments of reflection and learning. We were reminded of the responsibility we hold, as educators in Catholic schools, to walk together in the spirit of reconciliation, respect, and hope.

This visit is part of our ongoing commitment to embedding Indigenous perspectives across all areas of our teaching and school life. It connects deeply with our Gospel values and our call to promote justice, inclusion, and healing. As Pope Francis reminded us, “Authentic reconciliation is achieved through dialogue, mutual understanding, and the recognition of truth.” 

Our time at Munarra helped us take another step on that journey. We return to our classrooms and communities with renewed purpose, to teach with integrity, to lead with humility, and to honour the voices and stories that must continue to be heard.

We thank the team at Munarra for their generosity, wisdom, and welcome. We look forward to more visits, especially with our Fire Carriers. 

St. Mel's Fire Carriers Commissioning 

Actions speak louder than words, let your words teach and your actions speak” 

Saint Anthony of  Padua 

Our New Pope ~ Pope Leo XIV

We are happy to share exciting news from the Vatican – the Catholic Church has a new pope! Pope Leo XIV, is the new leader of the Church and will help guide Catholics around the world in faith and love.

In our spaces, we have had a special prayer time to thank God and pray for Pope Leo XIV as he begins his important work.

Let us pray together for our new Pope and for the Church during this special time.

Our Upper Students have taken a keen interest in the Conclave and the announcement of the new Pope. Their curiosity has sparked deep wonderings, inspired writing seeds and ideas, and led to further research and discussion in class. It has been beautiful to see their engagement with such an important moment in our Church’s story. Our Upper Students' research and writing prompts: 

Prayer for Pope Francis

May the month of Mary & Celebrating the Wonderful Women in our Lives ~ Happy Mother's Day to all for last Sunday

Last Sunday we celebrated Mother’s Day. This is an important day to remember the important role that our mother and mother-figures play in our lives. From aunts to grandmothers to friends, we all have many wonderful women in our lives that we can look up to.

Mary has a unique place in the Catholic faith. She is the Mother of God and her willingness to say “yes” to God’s calling is one which we try to emulate in our lives every day. Mary demonstrates the important role a mother plays in their child’s life, even if that child is the Son of God. We see her gentle guidance in Jesus’ formative years, and it was through Mary’s prompting that Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding in Cana. 

Mary.

In fact, in the church, May is also the month of motherhood. It is the month in which we celebrate the motherhood of Mary. Mary, who by becoming the Mother of God, assumed a special role in our lives.

One of my favourite prayer poems that my Nan taught me as a child is ~ Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue, teach me how to pray. 

Our Wonderful mums, grandmas, aunties, nonnas, special friends ~ thank you!

Catholic Education Week ~ Sandhurst Switches Off 

This week, our school joined other Catholic schools across Sandhurst in the special event Sandhurst Switches Off. We turned off our lights and some electronic devices for part of the day to show that we care for God’s beautiful creation.

By switching off, we showed kindness to the Earth. It was a small but powerful way to say: “We want to help!” Our call to action! 

Pope Francis reminded us that looking after the Earth is part of loving God and loving others. He said that we should look at nature with awe and wonder, and treat it like a precious gift.

As we remember Pope Francis and all he taught us, we are thankful for this chance to care for our common home, our Earth, together.

Our Upper Students led us in prayer to inspire our call to action. Thank you to our Year 5/6's for inspiring us and being great role models. 

Open our HEARTS up to the world & be COMPASSIONATE! 

Pope Francis

Have a wonderful weekend and a blessed and joyful Easter. Enjoy the time with your families, fill your cups doing all the things that bring you the most joy,

Danae Napier

Deputy Principal / Religious Education Leader

Did you know ~