Mission

On Monday, our Year 12 class of 2021 celebrated their Commitment Liturgy to formally symbolise their dedication to the areas of academic learning, faith and care, sport, culture and the arts, commitment to their relationships with family members, peers and the College community. Students, Staff and the College Leadership Team prayerfully reflected on the love God has for each one of us, along with the abiding love modelled by Mary, our College Patron.

Held in the Marian Centre, it was a very special opportunity to gather and focus on the love we have to share with our neighbours as servant leaders of our Community. We reflected on the qualities of the Holy Spirit and bonds of togetherness this class will share over the next 12 months. As part of the Liturgy, students received their Year 12 College Badge and made a Commitment Pledge.

Lord, 

be with us on our journey this year through Year 12.

We pray for Discipline, Wisdom, Patience, and Understanding.

Help us to grow our hearts and minds 

as we face the challenges of each new day.

Send your spirit to guide us as leaders in our school community.                                

May we be supportive of our family and friends.

Mater Dei, Mother of God, just as you nurtured Jesus in his life,

so nurture us in ours.

Through Mary, our mother,  

Amen.

Catholic Mission Global Appeal - supporting Cambodia

This year’s Catholic Mission Appeal highlights the important work of the Church in Cambodia, which aims to reach out to those who have been affected by disability, and give them hope and support to live a fulfilling life.

The theme of the appeal comes from Nehemiah 8:10,‘For the joy of the Lord is your strength’, which reminds us that it is our faith in God that encourages and strengthens us, especially in times of need or hardship.This appeal shares the story of Chen, a landmine survivor who lost both his legs when he was 16 years old. Chen has been given the care and opportunity to turn this tragic event into a positive outcome through the support of the Arrupe Centre in the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang, in north-western Cambodia.

The Arrupe Centre has evolved over the past twenty years from a short-term rehabilitation centre to a full-time home for children with disabilities, including those with landmine accidents and polio. 

As Bishop Kike says,“We are here for the common good; to be a more inclusive society and to bring the joy of life everywhere ... we look with a positive vision and, I would say, with hope and joy and happiness”.

The Arrupe Centre strives to show the love of God through caring for and empowering those in need. They urgently need our support to continue providing young people like Chen with opportunities so they can live a full and dignified life. With every country around the world affected in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that now, more than ever, we stand together in solidarity with our brothers and sisters and support them in any way we can. 

Socktober Fundraising for Catholic Mission

This year, Catholic Mission are encouraging students to get involved as an ‘Everyday Hero’ to raise funds for global projects. Mater Dei Catholic College has registered our school to participate in this ‘Socktober’ program. 

Students/families may sign up by visiting this site and providing some simple details to build a profile. From here they may choose to raise funds individually to donate to the Catholic Mission Appeal. 

Socktober Celebration Day

At Mater Dei, we dedicate our efforts to fundraising for Catholic Mission right throughout the year, sharing the proceeds of each of our House Days to contribute to domestic and global programs. Next Friday, on 30 October, our students are invited to wear mufti socks in recognition of Socktober. Our new Student Leadership Team and the Student Representative Council will also be running a cake stall and individually packaged sweets will be available for 50cents - $1.00 each.   

Let us pray

Knowing that God’s love extends to all of humanity and in a special way to our most marginalised and vulnerable who deserve the fullness of life, we offer these prayers to our loving God...

For the Holy Father, Pope Francis, our Bishop Mark and the Priests of the Wagga Diocese. May they be reflections of your compassionate love, mercy and tenderness every day.

For all people working to support those with disabilities, and their families, especially

those working in Cambodia. We pray they are strengthened in their work by the model of Jesus and are able to see each one they encounter as a child of God.

For children whose lives are made more challenging by disability and experience

restricted access to education and employment, especially those in Cambodia.

We pray that they experience your love and tenderness through the support of others

are given opportunities to thrive.

For our Missionary Church. May she continue to be guided by the Spirit and be a source of love and life, purpose and renewal, a place where our broken hearted, our weary, our

hungry, our sick and our poor can call home.

We pray that our hearts are open and we are moved to loving action that supports all of God’s people. May we be inspired by hearts of mission to do something with God that supports opportunities for all to thrive. 

AMEN

Mrs Amelia Bright | Acting Leader of Mission