Religious 

Education News

Celebrating the Nativity of Mary

On 8 September, the Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Yesterday we reflected upon this joyous day in prayer led by 

our Year 5 students. 

The Church sees Mary’s birth as the dawn before the sunrise. Just as dawn announces that daylight is coming, Mary’s birth points towards the coming of Jesus, the light of the world. Pope Benedict XVI described Mary as “the Dawn of our salvation” and explained that her life is closely connected with the mystery of Christ’s Incarnation, God becoming human for our salvation. 

Mary’s importance does not come from seeking attention or power. It comes from her humble trust in God. When the angel announced that she would become the mother of Jesus, Mary responded, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Her whole life became an example of listening, courage and faithful obedience.

This gives Mary a special message for our school community. Each of us has been created by God with dignity and a unique vocation, a particular way of loving and serving others. Like Mary, we may not always understand everything God asks of us. However, we can learn from her to remain open to God’s word, to trust Him in difficult moments and to use our gifts for the good of others.

Prayer Service Celebrating the Feast of St Ursula

On Wednesday, 21 October, our school community will gather for a prayer service to celebrate the Feast of St Ursula, whose example continues to inspire the Ursuline charism at St Francis Xavier School. This will take place on the Primary Playground commencing at 9:00 am followed by morning tea in the Merici Hall for all parents and guests.

St Ursula is remembered as a courageous witness to Christ and a patron of education and young people. Her feast invites us to reflect on the values that have shaped Ursuline education: faith, compassion, courage, service and a commitment to helping every student grow in dignity and purpose.

The Ursuline tradition has always understood education as more than the development of academic knowledge. It seeks to form the whole person's mind, heart and spirit so that students may use their gifts in service of God and others. 

We hope that you are able to attend such a joyous and reflective day for our school as a Catholic Community.

God Bless,

Nick Criniti