Catholic Identity 

Beginning of the School year Mass  

Families are invited to join with us as we celebrate and mark the beginning of the new school year with Mass in the Brigidine Centre on Thursday 12th February at 2.05pm.   

All learners have been practising their songs, readings and responsibilities in preparation for our first liturgical gathering for the year. I look forward to seeing you and celebrating alongside you.  

‘Seek peace and pursue it’ 

Our Diocesan theme across all schools this year is ‘To seek peace and pursue it’. Staff and learners have begun considering what this means and what peace looks like, sounds like and feels like. 

Peace is not passive. We each need to work at it and to look for it. It is about promoting harmony in our families, our homes, classrooms, playgrounds, community and greater world. 

Volunteer on a sewing machine 

This week learners have made their mark on their individual piece of calico to draw and write what ‘peace’ looks like, sounds like and feels like to them. These Year level squares will be sewn together to form a Prayer cloth for their Prayer table in their shared space. I have eight piles of calico squares in need of forming into 8 Prayer cloths. 

If you are able to assist with any of these cloths, please let me know. 

Thank you in advance. 

Colleen 

champson@smechuca.catholic.edu.au 

Sacramental preparation  

Our Grade 4 learners gathered together on Thursday evening and have begun their Sacramental journey as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation & Eucharist on the weekend of the 2nd & 3rd May. Please keep these candidates in your prayers as the Spirit guides them each step of the way.  

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Tuesday)   

On Tuesday 17th February, we will be celebrating Pancake Tuesday!  

Prior to Lent commencing in traditional times, families would use up all their eggs and flour to lessen any temptation to eat sweet things for the next forty days.  

Pancakes will be made and cooked on this day and shared with learners and staff.   

I am seeking parent volunteers to help in the kitchen to prepare and cook the pancakes between 8.15am and 10.45am in the Brigidine Kitchen on Tuesday 17th February, which will be distributed to learners at recess.  

A gold coin donation from each learner would be appreciated to support Caritas Australia. Project Compassion boxes will be located in each classroom for donations to be inserted.  

Caritas Australia is an aid agency of the Australian Catholic Church and is recognised as a charity in Australia working to eradicate poverty and injustice.  

Please email me to offer your support and culinary skills!  

champson@smechuca.catholic.edu.au  

Thank you in advance.  

Donations for Pancake Tuesday:  

We are asking our Foundation, Year One and Year 2 classes for donations of the ingredients to make this happen. Please note, later in the term we will be seeking donations from the Years 3 to 6 families to donate Easter eggs for our St Mary's Easter raffle.   

Please see below what each learner from the Year Levels is asked to donate:  

Year Level / Community Mass & Liturgy Timetable  

Throughout the year we will gather to celebrate our faith and learning as a school and as a Parish community.  

This year we have extended some of the significant dates within other faiths. We are blessed at St Mary’s in our diversity of culture and religion, and we believe it is important to acknowledge these important religious feasts and celebrations while at the same time, deepening our understanding and knowledge. 

We have also included opportunities for our Parishioners to join with us for weekday Mass each term. We continue to celebrate ‘G’day Weekends’ and have now included ‘G’day Weekdays’! 

Please mark these dates in your calendar as an opportunity to strengthen our connections and share our lives. 

Choir members 

St Mary’s Choir meets in the Brigidine Centre each Tuesday during lunch time. 

Choir resumes in Week 3. 

Please email me to indicate your child’s interest in joining the Choir. For current members you do not need to reapply, simply rock up! 

Colleen 

champson@smechuca.catholic.edu.au 

Prayer of St Francis (Peace Prayer) 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love; 

Where there is injury, pardon; 

Where there is doubt, faith; 

Where there is despair, hope; 

Where there is darkness, light; 

Where there is sadness, joy. 

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek 

To be consoled as to console, 

To be understood as to understand, 

To be loved as to love. 

For it is in giving that we receive, 

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, 

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. 

Amen.