Family Educator's Corner
Mrs Elena Razzoli - Family Educator
Dear St Martha’s Families
Let us continue to pray for the Conclave:
Holy Spirit, enlighten the Church at this time,
especially all the Cardinals who are taking part in the Conclave.
Grant them wisdom and holiness
so that all may cooperate with Your inspiration and guidance
to elect the next vicar of Christ, Your chosen servant.
Through Christ, Our Lord.
St. Peter, pray for us.
Amen.
The new Pope’s Chosen Name Competition
Guess what name the NEW Pope will take (and WIN a prize), not who becomes the Pope, but what name he will take.
Will the NEW Pope pick a name from the previous 266 or choose a name never used before? Will it be Pope John Paul III? Or Pope Pius XIII? Or Pope Francis II?
Or perhaps a NEW name that has never been used before.
Thank you to all the Families who have already returned the paper slips to the Classroom Teachers or emailed me their guesses.
Because the Pope has not been elected yet, we decided to extend the Competition until the Pope is elected so, if you haven’t had a chance to make your guesses yet, you’re welcome to email elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au at any time until the new Pope is elected.
Here is a video you might like to watch with your children about how the Conclave works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtPYMmDMNCs
Yesterday, the doors of the Sistine Chapel closed and the conclave began.
As Catholics around the world join in prayer for the election of our next Holy Father, many are wondering: What exactly happens during a papal conclave?
In this video, Fr. Mike Schmitz explains how a Pope is chosen — from the oath of secrecy to the white smoke rising above St. Peter’s Square:
We don’t know yet who the new Pope will be, but he already has a full schedule:
https://aleteia.org/2025/05/05/we-dont-know-who-will-be-pope-but-he-already-has-a-full-calendar
All St Martha’s Parents, Grandparents and Carers are invited to email elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au the following information:
- What name you think the new Pope will choose (For example, Pope Francis II, Pope John Paul III, Pope Benedict XVII, Pope Dominic, etc)
- Parent’s First and Last Name
- Name and Class of your eldest child at St Martha’s
If any students were absent this week, or if they misplaced their card, parents are welcome to email me the following information:
New Pope’s Chosen Name: ______________________
Student’s First Name: ___________________________________
Student’s Last Name: ____________________________________
Classroom: ___________________
I look forward to receiving your emails with your guesses on what name the new Pope will choose. The winner/s will be announced in the Week 4’s School Newsletter.
A friendly reminder that all Families are warmly invited to a Pope Francis’ Tribute on Zoom led by the Pope Francis Students tonight (Thursday, 8 May) at 7:30pm.
Upcoming Family and Faith Initiatives
- Thursday, 8 May at 7:30pm: Pope Francis’ Tribute on Zoom led by the Pope Francis Students. Here below is the Zoom Link; you are welcome to keep your audio and video off if you prefer to:
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://scscatholic.zoom.us/j/91330205649
Join from SIP/H.323 room system: SIP: 91330205649@zmau.us H.323: 59.124.104.213 (Australia Sydney)
Join from telephone (meeting ID: 913 3020 5649):
(02) 8015 2088 (Sydney) / (07) 3053 8570 (Brisbane) / (08) 7150 1149 (Adelaide) / (03) 8375 9112 (Melbourne)
International numbers available: https://scscatholic.zoom.us/u/acH4afVpUP
Saturday, 10 May 2025: Our Lady of Fatima Procession
Time: 6:00 pm – Vigil Mass, followed by a candle-lit Procession around the Cathedral Forecourt
Location: St Mary’s Cathedral, St Mary’s Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
Arrival Time: We recommend attendees arrive by 5:30 pm and be seated by 5:45 pm. As this is an Archdiocesan Mass, seating will fill up quickly, so early arrival is advised
Thursday 15 May 2025: - Heartfelt’s Gala Fundraiser at Le Montage https://2025-heartfelt-gala-event.raiselysite.com/ :
Event program:
6:30 PM: Arrival for 7 pm start
8:00 PM: Gourmet Dinner & Entertainment
9:00 PM: Panel Discussion
10:30 PM: Live Auction
Monday 19 May 2025: 8:50 am to 10 am: Playgroup in the St Martha’s School Hall, 2:35 pm: Rosary in the Church
- Friday, 23 May 2025: Women Paint and Sip Evening
Womens Mini Retreat with Father Chris Alar MIC
St Mary's Cathedral Sydney City Compass Thursday 29th May 5:30pm - 9pm Register here (free)
| St Joachim's Parish Hall Lidcombe | |
| Friday 30th May | |
| 10:30am - 2pm | |
| Register here. Tickets $30 (includes lunch) |
| Our Lady of Lebanon Harris Park | |
| Friday 30th May | |
| 6pm - 8pm | |
| Register here. (free) |
Wednesday, 18 June 2025 from 12:30pm to 1:15pm: Understanding and Using Parental Control to Help Protect Your Child Online. Here is the link to register: https://www.ccsp.catholic.edu.au/event/137 Join the eSafety Commissioner's expert education and training team for a FREE live webinar for parents and carers. Registration
Tuesday, 24 June 2025 from 7pm to 8pm: Michelle Mitchell ‘Parenting Tweens’ free evening webinar. https://www.ccsp.catholic.edu.au/event/138
Recommended audience: Parents of primary school kids 8+. At this parent event, Michelle Mitchell uses the results from her recent survey of more than 2000 parents and tweens, as well as 20 years’ experience working with families, to help trusted adults capitalise on the years between 9 – 12. Using insight and messages from tweens themselves, this presentation will motivate parents to invest today, knowing it can change the trajectory of adolescence and beyond. Together we will explore:
- New, groundbreaking research about tweens' development
- Proven, research based ways to ensure your communication is effective
- Ways you can forge an unbreakable connection during the tween years
- Insights into the development of self-esteem and body confidence
- A non-judgemental, up-front discussion about technology
Click to register for Parenting Tweens
About Michelle Mitchell: Michelle Mitchell is an author and speaker, sought after for her compassionate and grounded advice for parenting tweens and teens. She began as a classroom teacher but soon found a special interest in wellbeing. In 2000 she left teaching to establish a health promotion charity and psychology clinic which delivered life skills programs and psychological services to thousands of young people and their families each year. Today she uses her experience to write and speak in schools, community events and through media. The core of her work is helping parents be the trusted, leadership presence that their growing kids need.
- Wednesday, 25 June from 7pm to 8pm: Michelle Mitchell ‘Staying connected through the Teen Years’ free evening webinar
As a parent, navigating a healthy relationship with your teenager can be challenging if you don’t have the proper tools to communicate. This presentation will offer parenting insights into the developing brain which will guide a discussion about effective communication, setting healthy boundaries, managing emotionally charged moments and championing strengths. Together we will explore:
- The stages of development that all teenagers experience
- The role of the peer group and how to set realistic expectations
- Ways to maintain connection with teen who isn’t communicating
- Establishing fair, healthy boundaries and tips for saying no
- Managing mood swings and overwhelming emotions
- The role of purpose, passions, and opportunity
- What to do when they mess up
- Mental health, and when to access support
Click to register for Parenting Teens
Here is an article by Dr Justin Coulson that you might like to read these coming days about 7 Habits of Happy Families:
Happy Mother’s Day to all St Martha’s Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunties and Mother-Figures
Prayer for Mothers
Loving God,
We thank you for all the St Martha's Mothers,
Grandmothers, Aunties and Mother-figures,
May they be strengthened in their vocation,
honoured for their love,
and blessed with joy and peace.
May Our Lady, Mother of us all,
wrap them in her mantle of grace.
Amen
“The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral — a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body. The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God’s creative miracle to bring new saints to heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation. What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this; to be a mother?”
Cardinal József Mindszenty
‘(...) so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.’ Matthew 6:4
I would like to invite all Mums to sit down with a cuppa this weekend and watch this video on The invisible woman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU0aNAHXP0
Here below are some quotes from the video:
● With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees;
● They completed things not knowing that anyone would notice;
● Because God sees. They trusted that God saw everything;
● They gave their whole life for a work, a mammoth work, they’d never see finish;
● They showed up day after day and they made personal sacrifices for no credit;
● I see you. You are NOT invisible to me. No sacrifice is too small for me to notice;
● I see every tear of disappointment when things don’t go the way you want them to go, but remember you are building a great cathedral;
● At times, my invisibility has felt like an affliction to me, (..) but it is the cure for the disease of self-centredness, it is the antidote to my own pride;
● It’s OK that they don’t see, it’s OK that they don’t know;
● We don’t work for them we work Him;
● We sacrifice for Him;
● They will never see; not if we do it right, not if we do it well.
Happy Mother's Day from all the Students and Staff Members at St Martha’s Catholic Primary School!
I look forward to praying with you all tonight on Zoom at 7:30pm at the Pope Francis’ Tribute (feel free to keep your audio and video off if you prefer to).
Looking forward to seeing you all this Saturday at the Vigil Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral at 6pm followed by the Procession for Our Lady of Fatima. It would be wonderful if you could please email elena.razzoli@syd.catholic.edu.au by tomorrow (Friday, 9 May) if you’re attending this Saturday’s Vigil Mass and Procession, thank you.
Wishing all Mums, Grandmothers and Mother-figures a very blessed Mother’s Day this Sunday.
God bless,
Mrs Elena Razzoli
Family Educator