Principal's Address

Dear Parents/Carers,

The word Pentecost is Greek and it means "50th day." This Sunday, 9 June is a celebration of the birth of our Church fifty days after Easter Sunday and we pray:

For the Spirit of Peace that calms our mind and stills our life,

we give you thanks.

For the Spirit of Love that touches hearts and reaches out,

we give you thanks.

For the Spirit of Joy that lifts our soul and gives us faith

we give you thanks.

For the Spirit of Power, that gift of grace for this Your church,

we give you thanks.

Amen.

National Reconciliation Week

Last week we celebrated National Reconciliation Week, which acknowledges and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. The dates that bookend the week are significant milestones in the reconciliation journey:

26 May — marked the anniversary of the 1967 referendum, which saw over 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise them in the national census.

2 June — commemorates the High Court of Australia’s landmark Mabo decision in 1992, which legally recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a special relationship to the land and paved the way for Native Title.

All Australians are invited to participate in our nation’s reconciliation journey. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of us all as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples.

Celebrating NAIDOC

Our College will also celebrate NAIDOC during our College Assembly on Thursday 4 July. Parents/carers are warmly invited to join the College community and invited guests at the Assembly. Please confirm your attendance with the Office and be seated by 12.15pm in the Hall.  

This year’s theme is Voice. Treaty. Truth. Let’s work together for a shared future.  NAIDOC Week 2019 will be held nationally from Sunday 7 July, which is in the school holidays and continues through to Sunday 14 July.

Congratulations

I would like to congratulate the Senior Girls’ AFL Team who won their final convincingly against Kildare Catholic College and all our teams and their coaches/managers involved in the AFL and Netball Finals last week. We are proud of their skill and commitment and the sportsmanship that was shown by all Mater Dei teams.

Prayers Please:

We pray for the repose of Sr Mary Silk, whose funeral took place last week at West Wagga, her family and the Presentation Sisters. Sr Mary is remembered with gratitude for her contribution to Diocesan schools over many years and her work with the hearing impaired and refugees. Eternal rest grant to her, O Lord. May she rest in peace. Amen.                                                                                

At this time we remember in our prayers Illaria Donebus, whose anniversary occurs on 11 June, and her family. May God be with them and all who are grieving for loved ones.

Thank you to parents/carers who attended Parent/ Student/ Teacher Meetings during the last fortnight. The meetings are an invaluable component of our partnership in your child’s learning journey at Mater Dei.

Best wishes for a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend.

Mrs Val Thomas | Principal