Education in Faith 

Pope Leo XIV’s Prayer Intention for October

Pope Leo XIV’s October Prayer Intention – For Mental Health Ministry

Each month, Pope Leo XIV invites us to pray for an intention that is important to people around the world. For October, he asks us to pray for mental health ministry, encouraging the Church to be a place where people experiencing mental health challenges feel welcomed, supported and understood.

Pope Leo reminds us of the importance of listening without judgement, showing compassion and helping people feel that they are not alone. We can all contribute to a caring community by being kind, including others, listening when someone wants to talk and seeking help from a trusted adult when someone may need extra support.

As a school community, we are reminded that everyone experiences different feelings and challenges, and that it is important to treat one another with patience, understanding and respect.

An optional family activity

Families might like to take a few quiet moments together to talk about the little things that help us feel cared for and supported, such as spending time together, having someone listen to us or knowing there is a trusted person we can turn to. You could also think of one simple way to show care for someone this week, such as offering a kind word, inviting someone to join in or checking how a friend is going.

There is no need to share anything personal; the focus is simply on helping children recognise the importance of kindness, connection and asking a trusted adult for help when they need it.

Let us pray that our Church and communities become places of compassion and hope, where every person is treated with dignity and never feels alone.

Year 5 Yarning Conference

Next week, our Year 5 students will be heading to Bundoora Park to take part in the Darebin Schools NAIDOC Yarning Conference, an exciting opportunity to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and stories.

In preparation for the day, our students have been learning about the importance of listening to First Nations voices, understanding the impact of colonisation and showing respect for the world’s oldest continuing living cultures. They have also been creating posters with meaningful messages about respect, understanding and reconciliation.

At the conference, students will have the opportunity to learn from Aboriginal Elders, cultural educators and community leaders, and take part in interactive cultural activities. Previous conferences have included traditional games, art-making, dance, weaving and learning about Caring for Country.

Our students have really enjoyed the learning leading up to this special event and are looking forward to putting their knowledge into practice, meeting students from other schools and deepening their understanding of First Nations cultures and histories.

We look forward to hearing about their experiences and the learning they bring back to St Mary’s!