Thank you to all our families for your continued support during these COVID times. We appreciate your commitment to working closely with us to keep our students and staff safe by reinforcing COVID safe practices with your children.

Thank you for your understanding about the need to meet by zoom rather than to hold face to face meetings whenever possible and thank you for the many beautiful emails, letters and messages of support we have received from our parent community during the past few weeks. The staff and I are so grateful for the strong partnership that we have with parents in the education of our students. While we may not be able to meet face to face so easily at the moment, our communications between home and the College and our shared commitment to provide the very best opportunities for the young people in our care remains our strongest priority.

ST MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP AND MARY MOTHER OF GOD

In August each year, we celebrate two women of faith, whose commitment to love and learning are powerful models for our own learning community. This week the Patron Saint of our Diocese and Australia, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, whose Feast Day this Sunday, 8 August, is our focus.

On Sunday 15 August we will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. Each year we honour this significant day in the life of our community by celebrating the Marian Mass with Mater Dei Primary on 19 August. Sadly, this mass will not take place in 2021 due to COVID restrictions but we look forward to continuing our tradition in 2022.

The importance of the Feast of the Assumption at Mater Dei is reflected in our College motto, which invites us all to respond as Mary did, to “live God’s message”.

Mary’s love and devotion is captured in the Magnificat, the beautiful song from the first chapter of Luke:

My soul magnifies the Lord

And my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;

Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid;

For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;

Because he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name;

And his mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm,

He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones,and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of his mercy.

Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever. Amen

The Magnificat represents for us the very human Mary, full of love for God and of great compassion, so concerned about the needs of others. Mary has much to offer us as we search for justice through our own faith.

We keep Mary in our hearts and minds as we pray the Rosary, which is an important part of our Catholic tradition. This too offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of discipleship and the place of Mary in our own lives.

ENROLMENTS FOR 2022

Enrolment interviews are currently taking place for next year, with limited places in some year groups. Prospective families are encouraged to contact the College urgently to enquire about the availability of a place for 2022.

It is hard to believe that we are approaching the midpoint in this term. Please pray for our students in these coming weeks – Year 10 are in the midst of subject selections for the HSC Course and Year 11 are preparing for their End of Preliminary Course examinations in Week 8 and 9. Year 12 commence their Trial HSC Examinations on Monday and are moving rapidly towards the end of their Course and their time at Mater Dei.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Ryan Smythe, a graduate of Mater Dei in 2018 who passed away last week as a result of illness. We pray for his parents Tianne and Greg, brothers Brayden, Harrison, Austin and Benjamin and all Ryan’s family and friends at this very sad time. Ryan's funeral will take place next Monday morning.

Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord.

May perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. Amen.

Mrs Val Thomas | Principal

"Mater Dei Matters"

Issue 12 · 06 Aug 2021

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