Mission

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY MASS - A HEART FULL OF LOVE

Last Tuesday - 15 August, the Mater Dei Catholic College and Mater Dei Primary School Communities came together to celebrate Mass in honour of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary holds a sacred place in the mission of both our Schools, which are named in Latin, Mater Dei - meaning; Mother of God. 

The theme of our Mass was “A Heart Full of Love”. Sacred Scripture tells us that Mary’s faith gave human flesh to Jesus, God’s only Son. Mary first conceived Jesus in faith and then in the flesh, when she said “yes” to the message God gave her through the angel. Pope Francis encourages us to be open to the voice of God, who desires to be with us in a world that hungers for His love. Mary shows us the way. She heard the promise, her heart swelled with love, she was filled with grace, and conceived the Lord who is love incarnate. 

Mary’s heart, full of love, always points us to her son, Jesus. Through her witness, we are inspired to proclaim the greatness of the Lord within our lives through evangelising service and abiding love. We thank Father Rafter for celebrating this Mass for the Mater Dei Communities, his support and encouragement of us in the life of our faith is so valuable.

May the prayers of this woman clothed with the sun bring the joy of Jesus into our waiting world. Let us pray…

God of love, 

May we be strengthened to be servant people with open hearts 

and minds, ready to do your will. 

Inspired by Mary’s heart, full of love

may we live as faithful and trusting disciples.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen

NAGLE EDUCATION ALLIANCE OF AUSTRALIA CONFERENCE 

During Week 3, Mrs Val Thomas, Mrs Millie Bright and Mrs Trish Fellows travelled to Hobart to attend and present at the Nagle Education Alliance of Australia (NEAA) Staff Conference. Together with representatives from Presentation Heritage Schools around Australia, the Conference explored the theme, 'Honouring the past: Inspiring the Future'. Mrs Thomas and Mrs Bright presented a Workshop on ‘Designing and Developing our MDCC Reflection Walk’ and Mrs Bright presented a Workshop entitled ‘Keeping the Dream Alive’. 

Both Workshops captured and shared contemporary wisdom and practical insights about Nano’s vision and the breadth of her cause which spanned Ireland and reached the most vulnerable around the world. Nano harnessed the strength of the spirit, trusting that ‘her schools’ would would be a catalyst of social change, in service to her greater mission. Our challenge, is to illuminate Nano’s ‘Dream’ in our time and context. It is both a enormous privilege and challenging responsibility be emboldened with this mission.

The range of speakers, content and spirit of the NEAA Staff Conference encouraged us as Presentation People to consider our fundamental role in nurturing, preserving and reimagining the charism as a great blessing and gift for the future.

NAGLE EDUCATION ALLIANCE OF AUSTRALIA - NAGLE PRIZE WINNER

At the end of Term 2, our Year 7 Religious Education students created many poems and prayers as entries for the Nagle Prize, 2023. The Nagle Education Alliance of  Australia was delighted with the very high quality of entries submitted this year and have selected Abbey Broadhead as a winner, to be awarded a $50 voucher.

Congratulations Abbey! Please read her prayer about Nano Nagle below.

Mrs Amelia Bright | Acting Leader of Mission