Dear St Martha’s Families

As we prepare to celebrate Father’s Day next week, I’d like to share a brief passage from the book Make Your Mark - Five Hidden Keys to Great Leadership (written by the Catholic leader and father Steve Lawrence):

‘Every day I apply the WIN formula to situations where I need to make a decision.

The WIN formula means I ask:

“What’s

Important

Now?”

Thinking from the point of view of being on my death bed, should I do this or that?

What’s important now? It often helps me to choose (..) to give a kind response when a mistake is made rather than getting angry, or to put some time of silence ahead of filling all my time with activity.’

Father’s Day Events

Dear dads and father-figures, in an age where there is a training manual to do almost everything, there is still no popular manual, map or compass to carry out one of the most important and impacting tasks on earth – Fathering.

Join us for a RAISING FATHERS Evening as we unpack practical advice and share stories that are powerfully important, impacting, informative and instructional for fathering in today’s world.

This is a partnership of the Sydney Centre of Evangelisation's Maximus Men’s Ministry Network, Robert Falzon and menAlive.

To REGISTER visit https://www.trybooking.com/CKEPG

Tuesday, 29 August – Marist College, Eastwood
Thursday, 30 August – Patrician Brothers, Fairfield
Thursday, 31 August – St Patrick’s College, Strathfield

Robert Falzon is a husband, father, businessman, published author and co-founder of menALIVE. He has been awarded many business accolades including:

Australian Marketing Institute Marketer of the Year; Telstra QLD Small Business of the Year; Australian Institute of Management Owner Manager of the Year; and Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist.

In 2007, Robert sold his primary manufacturing business to focus in a full-time volunteer capacity on working with men through menALIVE - a National Catholic Ministry to Men. Since the founding of menALIVE in 2003, this work has delivered 450 events across 26 dioceses and numerous schools in Australia and NZ reaching more than 30,000 men.

Also, all fathers are warmly invited to a beautiful evening for all dads and father-figures on the topic: Forgiveness at St Vincent's College, Ashfield on Wednesday 13 September.

HSC packs for students

St Martha’s School is (together with some local Catholic Primary Schools) once again, this year, making HSC Packs for the students of the local Catholic High Schools: St Vincent’s College, Ashfield and Domremy Five Dock. We are preparing a small pack for the students who are doing their HSC this year.

If your family would like to write a wishing-well-message for a HSC student, could you please email me (elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au) by Tuesday 29 August and I will give a printed card (as shown here below) to your child/ren to bring home so that your family can write a message for a HSC student? Thank you to the families and students who have already expressed their interest in writing a brief card for a student undertaking their HSC, and thank you in advance to everyone else who will also volunteer in writing a card. The HSC students will be very grateful for your kindness and support.

St Monica’s Novena + Booklet with tips on marriage and motherhood

Thank you to all St Martha’s Families, teachers and members of the St Martha’s leadership team who have joined in praying the current Novena to St Monica.

I’m putting together a booklet with some tips/quotes on marriage and motherhood. I’d be very grateful if you could please email me (elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au) at your earliest convenience any tips/pieces of advice/quotes you have on motherhood and marriage. Thank you in advance for sharing your wisdom.

Workshop for Parents, Grandparents and Carers

All Parents, Grandparents and Carers are warmly invited to email me at elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au by Wednesday 30 August to kindly let me know:

What your preferred weekdays/weekend days, and what your most suitable time for upcoming parenting workshops are;
What topics you’d like to be covered.

Save the Date!

Wednesday 8 November 2023: All Parents, Carers, Grandparents and Preschoolers are warmly invited to a Day Pilgrimage to St Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney. If you’re interested in attending the pilgrimage to St Mary MacKillop’s place on 8 November, could you please email elena.razzoli@syd.catholci.edu.au at your earliest convenience?

Upcoming events and retreats

You’re all warmly invited to the following upcoming retreats and events. If you'd like to register or if you have any questions, please email elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au.

Wishing you all a beautiful and restful weekend,

Mrs Elena Razzoli - Family Educator

Dates to Remember