A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Term 2

Loving God,

As we come to the end of Term 2,

we pause with grateful hearts

to give thanks for the many blessings of this school term.

We thank you for the learning that has taken place,

for the challenges that have stretched us,

for the friendships and relationships that have sustained us,

and for the moments of joy, laughter and achievement

that have brightened our days.

We thank you for the life of St Mary’s College,

for our students, staff and families,

and for the ways your presence has been revealed

in classrooms, conversations, prayer, service and community.

Thank you for the opportunities we have had this term

to grow in knowledge, in character and in faith.

In the busyness of school life,

help us to recognise the many quiet ways

you have been at work among us.

As we prepare for the holidays,

we give thanks for the gift of rest.

Renew our energy, restore our spirits,

and help us to make space for peace, family, laughter and stillness.

Bless those in our community who may be carrying burdens at this time

those who are tired, worried, unwell or finding life difficult.

May they know your comfort, strength and hope.

As a Mercy community,

may we continue to be ‘Guided by Faith and Driven by Purpose’,

bringing compassion, kindness and encouragement to one another.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Liturgical Calendar

Ordinary Time

We now return to 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.

Term 2 Social Justice Initiative – ‘Vinnies Winter Appeal’

Vinnies Winter Appeal

Throughout June, St Mary’s College once again supported our local community through the Vinnies Winter Appeal, responding generously to the needs of individuals and families experiencing hardship during the colder months.

In recognition of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, students were invited to wear casual clothes on Friday 12 June and donate non-perishable food items for St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies). Donations continued to be collected across the College until this week with families contributing a wide range of items including canned food, pasta, rice, long-life milk, breakfast cereals, tea, coffee and spreads.

We are incredibly grateful for the generosity shown by our students, staff and families in supporting this important initiative. The response from our community was outstanding, and the donations received will help provide practical support, warmth and hope to local people doing it tough this winter.

As a Mercy community, we are called to put our faith into action through compassion, service and care for others. The success of the Vinnies Winter Appeal was a wonderful example of this in action, as our community responded wholeheartedly to the invitation to be of service to others.

Our local Vinnies contact expressed her deep appreciation for the support that St Mary’s College has provided to the community through this appeal over many years. We thank everyone who contributed so generously and helped make this year’s Winter Appeal such a meaningful success.

St Mary's College Sacramental Program 2026

The Sacramental Program commenced with the Reconciliation Information Night on 29 April. Reconciliation Sacrament and Liturgy was held on May 27th in the church.

The Confirmation Information Night also took place on June 10. The Sacrament will occur on Friday July 31 at 6pm – please note the change of time for this Mass from 7pm to 6pm.

If you are interested in your child completing their Sacraments see the schedule for 2026. Each Year level will receive notifications via PAM as the events come closer.

Any questions please email Mrs. Loretta Shannon :

loretta.shannon@smseymour.catholic.edu.au

Faith Education Program

See below a celebration of lots of great work that was completed in Faith Education this Term.

Year 5 - Explore the Seven Sacraments.

To wrap up their recent Faith Education unit, our Year 5 students became graphic designers! To review and showcase their understanding of the Seven Sacraments, the classes used Canva to create their own digital posters and slide decks.

Students were challenged to explain each sacrament in their own words and/or choose meaningful symbols to represent them.

Year 8 Faith Education

Students have explored the topic ‘Who is Jesus? see the visual representations, stories and reflections below.

Year 12 Retreat

On 15 June, our Year 12 students gathered for Day 2 of their Retreat, beginning with a liturgy centred on the theme of Growth.

Grounded in the Gospel of The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1–9), the liturgy invited students to reflect not only on what they are achieving in their final year of schooling, but more importantly on who they are becoming.

Through prayer, reflection and a symbolic action of planting seeds, students considered the conditions that help them flourish – including gratitude, resilience, kindness, courage and faith. The liturgy encouraged students to recognise the gifts God has planted within them and to reflect on how they are nurturing these gifts as they prepare for life beyond school. In the spirit of our College theme, Guided by Faith and Driven by Purpose, the retreat offered a valuable opportunity for students to pause, reflect, and consider the kind of people they hope to become.

A particularly meaningful moment of the retreat was the closing reflection centred on Growth in the Palm of Your Hand, where each student received a small wooden prayer cross.

As part of this ritual, students were reminded that, like their unique thumbprints, each person is uniquely created in the image and likeness of God, with gifts, dignity and purpose that cannot be measured by results or achievements alone.

The crosses were gifted as symbols of God’s constant presence and faithful love, inviting students to remember that they do not walk alone and that their worth is grounded not in performance, but in being deeply known and loved by God.

Drawing on the Mercy tradition of St Mary’s College, the reflection also connected students to the example of Catherine McAuley and St Anthony of Padua, encouraging them to continue growing in wisdom, courage, kindness and faith as they move towards the next chapter of their lives.

Staff Spirituality Day – 13 July

Our Staff Spirituality Day provides an opportunity for staff to step away from the demands of their daily roles and engage in reflection, renewal, and personal formation. Grounded in the mission and values of Catholic Education, the day invites staff to reconnect with their sense of purpose, deepen their understanding of faith, and reflect on their vocation as educators and leaders.

Through prayer, reflection, dialogue, formation experiences, and shared community, staff are encouraged to explore themes such as identity, wellbeing, relationships, leadership, service, and mission. A Staff Spirituality Day provides space to pause, listen, and reflect on how faith influences both personal and professional life.

Within a Catholic school, Spirituality Days play an important role in nurturing the spiritual life of staff and strengthening the shared mission of the community. They offer opportunities to deepen relationships, celebrate the gifts of colleagues, and renew commitment to the Gospel values that underpin Catholic education.

At St Mary's College Seymour, Staff Spirituality Days support staff to be Guided by Faith and Driven by Purpose, fostering a culture of reflection, wellbeing, belonging, and mission. Through these experiences, we are encouraged to continue growing as educators, leaders, and people of faith, inspired by the Mercy charism and the example of Jesus Christ.

Blessings for a restful and safe holiday!

Mrs Loretta Shannon

Director Faith and Mission

loretta.shannon@smseymour.catholic.edu.au

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