Director Faith and Mission
Mrs Loretta Shannon
A Prayer for World Teachers Day
Staff Collaborative Artwork
Staff Spirituality Day – A Shared Expression of Faith
During our Staff Spirituality Day on July 13, St Mary’s College staff came together to create a collaborative artwork exploring five expressions of prayer: 👂 Listen, 🎨 See, ❤️ Respond, 🌿 Care and 🌟 Trust/Faith.
Each staff member created an individual canvas using colour, symbol and personal expression to reflect their own experience of prayer and faith. When brought together, the canvases form a beautiful spiral moving from darkness towards light.
👂 Listen – black and blue represent prayer, contemplation and listening for God in everyday life.
🎨 See – purple and pink express creativity, beauty and wonder as ways of encountering God.
❤️ Respond – red and orange represent justice, compassion and putting our faith into action.
🌿 Care – green and turquoise remind us of the beauty of creation and our responsibility to care for our common home.
🌟 Trust/Faith – gold and white form the glowing centre, inspired by Mary’s trust in God and her courageous “Yes” to God’s call.
No two canvases are the same, yet together they create one beautiful whole. The finished artwork reflects our St Mary’s College community: individual gifts, experiences and expressions of faith coming together to tell one shared story of prayer, hope and purpose.
This artwork was displayed in our Arts and Technology Showcase, so is timely to share in this space, as a reminder of our staff’s commitment to Catholic Education at our College.
I am very proud of how this has come together; it has now been installed in the College Reception, if you would like to peruse all of the details more closely.
Secondary Retreat Days
Retreat Days 2026: Growing in Faith, Connection and Purpose
During Week 3 of Term 4, students in Years 7, 8, & 10 participated in a series of Retreat Days as part of the Faith Education and Faith and Mission program at St Mary’s College.
These Retreat Days provided a valuable opportunity for students to step away from their usual classroom routines and take time to reflect on themselves, their relationships with others and their relationship with God. Through engaging activities, team-building, personal sharing, small-group discussions, drama, reflection and prayer, students explored important questions about identity, belonging, relationships, values, faith and the people they are becoming.
Each year level explored a theme relevant to their stage of personal and spiritual development:
- Year 10 – Self-image, Uniqueness and Individuality: Students reflected on their personal worth, the importance of being authentic and recognising the dignity and uniqueness of every person.
- Year 8 – Relationships: Students explored the importance of building healthy relationships, valuing others and recognising how each person is seen and loved by God.
Year 7 – Knowing God: Students reflected on their own worth, explored what it means to see others through God's eyes and considered how they can develop a friendship with Jesus.
These Retreat Days were an important part of our students' faith formation, encouraging them to look beyond themselves, strengthen their connections with others and reflect on how their choices and actions can make a positive difference in the world. Students also enjoyed a pizza lunch and were able to share this meal together as a community.
As a Catholic College community, we recognise the importance of providing opportunities for our young people to pause, reflect and grow. Through these experiences, students were invited to deepen their understanding of themselves, appreciate the dignity of others and continue developing as people of compassion, courage and purpose.
In the spirit of our Mercy charism and the example of Catherine McAuley, these Retreat Days reminded students that faith is not simply something we learn about, but something we are called to live each day.
We are extremely grateful to the Youth Mission Team who worked beautifully with our students and who have built a wonderful connection with our students over many years.
Guided by Faith, Driven by Purpose.
Liturgical Calendar
Ordinary Time
We are now in 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.
Blessings!
Mrs Loretta Shannon
Director Faith and Mission