Laudato Si'

Inspired By Faith News

St Vincent de Paul Annual Christmas Hamper Appeal

As part of our involvement in the Western Port Mini Vinnie’s Project, we are helping those in need in our community this Christmas, by collecting items to donate to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Appeal.

Each year level has a shopping list of items that we are collecting. If you have brothers and sisters in different year levels, your family can select items from one of the lists.

Please bring in your donations before Wednesday 27th November.

The Western Port St Vincent de Paul members will then distribute Christmas hampers to help make Christmas a bit brighter for those in need. Thank you for your support.

End of School Year Mass and Prep Nativity - Save the date!

You are invited to our End of School Year Mass and Prep Nativity which is taking place on Friday 13th December, 1pm at Immaculate Conception Church. More information to come soon.

Faith Overview Term 4, Weeks 7 & 8

Please take some time to read and reflect on our Faith theme for the fortnight of Hope which focuses on the first week of Advent. The first week of Advent starts on the 1st December, however in order to recognise and celebrate this special season of the liturgical year during the school term we are recognising it now.

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop ~ Quote of the week

As we continue to journey with Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop each day at St Mary's, let us live out her wise and comforting words which link to the fortnightly faith theme of hope.

How does this quote resonate with you?

How can you apply it to your life?

Sustainability News

St Mary's recently hosted the Peninsula Teachers Environmental Network meeting where we showcased the amazing things we are doing in Sustainability, focusing on our Community Garden and the recently installed Biogas Digester, which was funded by the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s climate action grant.

What is a Biogas Digester: The biogas digester is an advanced system designed to efficiently manage and recycle organic waste at our school. It will process food scraps from our canteen, leftovers from student lunches, and garden waste from our permaculture projects.

Benefits of the Biogas Digester: The implementation of the biogas digester to St Mary's brings numerous benefits:

• Environmental Sustainability: Reduces our carbon footprint and diverts organic waste from landfills.
• Waste Reduction: Efficiently processes organic materials, minimising waste volume.
• Nutrient-Rich Fertiliser: Produces high-quality fertiliser for our school garden.
• Renewable Energy: Generates clean energy, reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
• Community Involvement: Engages families and local businesses through educational workshops.
• Educational Opportunities: Provides hands-on learning experiences in sustainability and renewable energy.
• Scalability: Creates a model for replication in other schools and organisations.

Conclusion: The biogas digester project is a remarkable opportunity for our school to lead in sustainability and environmental education. By reducing waste and harnessing renewable energy, we can engage students in meaningful, real-world learning experiences.

We look forward to discussing how we can collaborate to make this project a success for our school and community!

For any questions or for further details about the Biogas Digester please contact Miss Dullard at school or via email ndullard@smhastings.catholic.edu.au and I can provide you with further information.