Catholic Identity

2025 Diocesan Theme
Pilgrims of Hope: Embracing the Jubilee Year 2025

2025 Year Six Graduation Mass ~

Last night, we gathered as a school community to celebrate our wonderful Year 6 students as they marked the end of their primary school journey. Families, staff, and parishioners came together for a beautiful Graduation Mass at St Mel’s Church, honouring the students’ growth, achievements, friendships, and leadership throughout their years with us.

During the Mass, our Year 6's led with reverence and confidence, taking on readings, prayers, and symbols that reflected their time at St Mel’s and the values & traditions they have carried with them. It was a moving celebration, filled with gratitude, pride, and hope for the exciting path that lies ahead for each student.

Following the Mass, we returned to the school grounds for a relaxed picnic-style dinner. Year 6 students enjoyed pizza and a drink, while families gathered together, sharing food, stories, and memories. It was a joyful way to finish the evening, a fitting celebration of our graduates.

We are incredibly proud of our Year 6 cohort. Their kindness, courage, leadership, and example have enriched our school, and we thank them for the many ways they have contributed to the St Mel’s community. We also extend our warmest thanks to the families who have supported them throughout their journey.

We wish our graduates every blessing as they move into secondary school, confident that they will continue to shine their light brightly wherever they go.

"Go forth and set the world on fire"
St Ignatius of Loyola

Mungo ~ Prayer Reflection

Yesterday, I had the privilege of sharing our Mungo Prayer Reflection, the same one I recently led with our St Mel’s staff and students, at the CES Ltd Aboriginal Network Day. It was a true honour to guide colleagues from across our system through this reflective journey grounded in story, land, and faith.

We gathered at Borinya Wangaratta, a setting that could not have been more perfect. Surrounded by their olive grove, standing beside a still billabong, and walking along a sandbank framed with scar trees on the river’s edge, we were held by a landscape rich with story and spirit. The Country itself became our teacher.

As we moved through the reflection, trees, water, sand, and meeting place, the environment around us echoed the themes of Mungo: deep time, ancient footsteps, connection, and the presence of God in creation. It was a reminder that prayer does not always happen within four walls; sometimes it is the land that speaks first.

Sharing this with our broader Catholic Education community felt deeply meaningful. It strengthened our shared commitment to walking gently with Country, honouring Aboriginal culture, and grounding our faith practices in place, story, and relationship.

We are continuing to grow together as pilgrims of hope.

Actions speak louder than words, let your words teach and your actions speak”

Saint Anthony of Padua

Season of Advent & Giving Tree

As we continue our journey through Advent, at school, we have begun to prepare for the coming of Jesus. Our beautiful Advent Liturgies and Christmas 'Sing-a-long' have been a highlight of this. During these liturgies, we focus on the meaning of each week of Advent and our students led us in ways we can 'be ready' for Jesus' birth.

At each of our liturgies, you will see our Advent Wreath ~ Our children learn that the circular shape of the Advent wreath symbolises God’s infinite love for us – it is never-ending, just like the true Light of the World. The materials of the Advent wreath similarly lead us to reflect on the everlasting nature of God; traditionally, Advent wreaths have been made of evergreen leaves, such as pine or fir, which maintain their green colour beyond the season in which they are collected.

The candles on our Advent Wreath also have rich meaning, and we focus on the words of hope, peace, joy & love in each of the weeks of Advent:

Week 1 - Hope (Purple)

During the first week, we light the Prophet’s Candle as we focus on the virtue of hope. This week is a time to acknowledge that Jesus is coming. We should begin preparing our hearts to welcome Him at Christmas.

Week 2 - Peace (Purple)

The second candle on the Advent wreath represents Peace. Like the first candle, it is also purple. Often called the “Bethlehem Candle,” the second Advent candle reminds us of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem before Mary gave birth to Jesus.

Week 3 - Joy (pink) ~ Gaudete Sunday

The third candle of Advent symbolises Joy. As we continue to approach Christmas Day, our joy grows more and more. The third candle takes us back to the joyful anticipation of the shepherds who journeyed to see Jesus in Bethlehem, even before the wise men. On this third Sunday of Advent, which the Church calls “Gaudete Sunday,” meaning rejoice or praise, we light the third candle and rejoice like the shepherds. For this reason, the third candle of Advent is called the “Shepherd’s Candle,” and its colour is pink, the liturgical colour for joy.

Week 4 - Love (purple)

The fourth candle of Advent represents Love, the ultimate love of God that He might send His only Son for us. Called the “Angel’s Candle,” the fourth candle of Advent is lit the Sunday before Christmas, and it is the colour purple, leading us to eagerly await the new Kingdom of God on earth.

Have you got an Advent Wreath for your home? Could you make one together as a family?

May this Advent season bring your family moments of peace, opportunities for connection, and the joy of preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Wishing you a blessed Advent!

St. Mel's Giving Tree: Sharing Christmas Joy

As we enter the Christmas season, St. Mel’s is delighted to continue our heartfelt tradition of the Giving Tree. Each year, our community comes together to provide gifts for those in need, extending our hands in generosity and love through the wonderful work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

If you would like to participate, we welcome donations of small, wrapped gifts with a label indicating the intended recipient (e.g., "10-year-old boy," "5-year-old girl"). These gifts can be brought to school with your child, who will have the joy of placing them under our Giving Tree in the school foyer.

On the final day of term, all the gifts collected will be presented to St. Vincent de Paul for distribution to local families in time for Christmas. This simple act of giving allows our children to experience the true spirit of the season—one of hope, joy, and compassion.

Thank you for your generous support and for helping us spread the light of Christmas throughout our community.