Director Faith and Mission

Feast of St Anthony of Padua 

On 13 June, the Church celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Anthony of Padua, 

one of the most loved and well-known saints in the Catholic tradition.

Born in Portugal in 1195, Anthony joined the Franciscan Order and became renowned for his deep knowledge of Scripture, his powerful preaching and his compassion for the poor. His ability to explain the Gospel in a clear and practical way drew many people closer to Christ. Anthony devoted his life to helping others understand God's love and to promoting justice, mercy and faith.

St Anthony is often known as the patron saint of lost things because of a popular story about a lost book that was returned through his prayers. However, his greatest legacy is not helping people find lost possessions but helping people find their way back to God.

For St Mary's College community, St Anthony holds particular significance as one of our College House patrons. His life reminds us that faith is not simply something we learn about but something we live through service, compassion, prayer and a commitment to sharing the Good News with others.

As we celebrate his feast day, may we be inspired by St Anthony's wisdom, humility and dedication to Christ, striving to be people who are guided by faith and driven by purpose in all that we do.

A Prayer for the Feast of St Anthony of Padua

Loving God, 

We give thanks for the life and witness of St Anthony of Padua, 

a faithful disciple whose love for your Word inspired countless people 

to know and follow Christ.

Like St Anthony, may we seek wisdom 

in the Scriptures and find strength in prayer.

Help us to be people of compassion and kindness, 

attentive to the needs of those who are poor, lonely or struggling.

Teach us to share our gifts generously, to speak words of hope, 

and to be courageous witnesses to the Gospel in our daily lives.

May the example of St Anthony inspire us to grow in faith, 

deepen our relationship with Jesus and live with humility and joy.

Bless our school community, our families and all those who 

turn to St Anthony for guidance and intercession.

Through his prayers, may we always seek what is lost, 

strengthen what is weak, and discover your presence 

in every aspect of our lives.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

St Anthony of Padua, pray for us.

Liturgical Calendar

Ordinary Time

Following the great celebration of Pentecost - the birthday of the Church - we now return to 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.

Upcoming Events

Term 2 Social Justice Initiative – ‘Vinnies Winter Appeal’

As the colder months approach, St Mary’s College will once again support our local community through the Vinnies Winter Appeal.

On Friday, June 12th, in recognition of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, students are invited to wear casual clothes and bring along a non-perishable food item to donate to St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies). 

Collection of items will occur between June 12 – 26.

Donations such as canned food, pasta, rice, long-life milk, breakfast cereals, tea, coffee, and spreads will help support local individuals and families experiencing hardship this winter. Please ensure that items have an appropriate date range to support the ongoing distribution of products. Items that are out of date cannot be used by Vinnies.

As a Mercy community, we are called to respond with compassion and generosity, putting our faith into action. We encourage everyone to be “All In” this winter, helping bring warmth, dignity, and hope to others. Thank you in advance for supporting this important initiative. Our contact at Vinnies has expressed her deep appreciation for the support that St Mary’s has provided to the community through this initiative for many years.

Reconciliation Week Liturgy 2026

During Reconciliation Week 2026, we reflected on this year’s powerful theme: “All In.” This theme calls each of us to commit wholeheartedly to the ongoing journey of reconciliation walking together with truth, respect, courage, and hope. As a Mercy community at St Mary’s College, reconciliation speaks deeply to who we are: people called to justice, compassion, dignity, and respectful relationships.

Reconciliation Week Liturgy occurred on Wednesday 3 June at 9:00am in the MPH.

Through prayer, story, scripture, music, and reflection, we gathered to honour and celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, while recommitting ourselves to the important work of healing and unity.

This year’s liturgy explored what it means to be “All In”, not simply in words, but through action: listening deeply, learning truthfully, and building relationships grounded in dignity and respect. Together, we reflected on how each of us can play a part in shaping a more just and hopeful future as faith in action. We came together in faith and solidarity, recognising that reconciliation is not a single moment, but a shared commitment we continue to live each day. 

Our Aboriginal flag was an amazing celebration of student voice and faith in action. Each student across the College prepared a pledge in a speech bubble, which was pretaught in home groups. It was an amazing centrepiece to our liturgy. The flag extended for 14 metres across the bottom of the stage.

Congratulations to our Student Leaders who led the Liturgy beautifully.

St Mary’s College Sacramental Program 2026

The Sacramental Program commenced with the Reconciliation Information Night on 29 April. Reconciliation Sacrament and Liturgy was held on May 27th in the church.

The Confirmation Information Night also took place on June 10. The Sacrament will occur on Friday July 31 at 6pm – please note the change of time for this Mass from 7pm to 6pm.

If you are interested in your child completing their Sacraments see the schedule for 2026. Each Year level will receive notifications via PAM as the events come closer.

Any questions email Mrs. Loretta Shannon at the College loretta.shannon@smseymour,catholic.edu.au

Student Work

Attached is a photo from a recent Faith Education lesson. 

Year 6 explored the Passover with the completion of a Jewish seder plate.

Blessings!

Mrs Loretta Shannon

Director Faith and Mission

loretta.shannon@smseymour.catholic.edu.au