Family and Faith

News from our Family Educator - Ms Tracey Bowler

Dear Parents and Carers,

This is my last newsletter for the term as I am off to FATIMA PORTUGAL (via South and West Africa) on a personal pilgrimage!

Please pray for me that I don’t get eaten by lions, charged by elephants or succumb to malaria! I will pray for you at Fatima.

Celebrating Mary in the Month of May

SPaRs in the Church - Thanks for coming!

Thank you to the K - 3 parents and carers who were able to pray with their child(ren) at one of 12 SPaRs organised to honour Mary in the month of May.

A Mother’s Heart

By Francine Pirola

For more than forty years I have been honouring my mother on Mothers’ Day, yet it has never really occurred to me to honour the woman who is both perfect mother and heavenly mother: Mary.

She truly is ‘blest among women’ for she surpasses all the wonderful and loving contributions made to my life by many earthly mother figures, including my own biological mother who loved me and raised me to adulthood. She alone has a unique ‘eternal’ perspective when it comes to the challenges and dramas of my life. When I am overwhelmed, discouraged or locked in a battle of wills with a rebellious teenager, earthly mother figures can certainly provide support and counsel. None however, come close to the spiritual nourishing I can receive from Mary.

I know this intellectually, but emotionally I tend to keep my distance. For example, I still approach her as ‘Mary’. In almost every culture, children call their mothers by an affectionate name rather than her given name. Mum, Mom, Mama, Mam, Mummy, Maiter, Ma, Ema, Nay etc. As a child it was ‘Mummy’ who provided me with maternal comfort. When the kids at school teased me, I sobbed my heart out in ‘Mummy’s’ arms. When I grazed my knee while my parents were on holiday, it was ‘Mummy’ for whom I pined. Whenever I have needed reassurance and consolation, she was always ‘Mummy’ rather than ‘Mum’ or ‘Margie’. It gets me thinking… maybe I should try the same with Mary?

Here are some ideas that I’ll be trying this month to bring Mother Mary more powerfully and personally into my life. Will you join me? Read here for more.

A Mother's Heart

Pope Francis Award Program

Year 6 students involved with the Pope Francis Award Program have volunteered with community service at the OLF Preschool and Long Daycare. They are putting their faith into action with tidying and cleaning duties along with assisting the teachers with organising games and fun activities. Check these photos out. The Director Ms Amie Elphinstone (pictured) is impressed with the students’ energy and enthusiasm.

Reconciliation 2025

You are invited to keep the candidates who are preparing for the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation) in your prayers. We hope they will learn more about Jesus, forgiveness and reconciling with each other when conflict occurs. Here are prayers that some of the candidates have written outlining their hopes for their faith journey.

An invitation from the Family Educators of the Shire.

I am inviting you to a Women’s Event organised by the Family Educators (including me) in the Sutherland Shire on Monday 26th May from 7pm - 9pm.

Please join me!

Chat, unpack, feel heard and supported as we listen to guest speakers share how they manage the mental load (and laundry loads) of womanhood and motherhood. The power of a supportive sisterhood over a competitive one. The importance of taking time out for ourselves and moving away from comparisons. Celebrating being ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ Psalm 139:14 and perfect in the eyes of our God.

MEN’S EVENT INVITATION

What are you doing on 31 May - 1 June? Could you benefit from a weekend, featuring talks, personal testimonies, opportunities for discussion, and space to reflect? Since menALIVE commenced in 2003, thousands of Catholic men have been encouraged and inspired at weekends across Australia. Now, menALIVE weekend is being organised at St Patrick’s Sutherland, conducted by experienced leaders.

Perhaps my prayer life needs rejuvenating.

Perhaps I’m struggling with temptations that I find hard to overcome.

Perhaps I’m having difficulties in some relationships.

Maybe there is a lack of peace and joy in my life.

So men-why not do yourselves a favour? Have a weekend off to grab hold of life more fully.