"Mater Dei Matters"

Principal's Message

All Saints Day and All Souls Days

Our prayer focus this week included All Saints Day, celebrated last Thursday and All Soul’s Day on Friday. In our contemporary world All Saints Day offers a chance to look to our spiritual forbearers, those holy men and women who are models of love and fidelity. It is also an opportunity to reflect upon our baptismal gifts and to bring God’s love to those we meet on a daily basis through our words and deeds.

 

The day after is known as All Souls Day, a day to remember and offer prayers on behalf of all who have died. At the College we honoured our loved ones who are no longer with us by gathering in the Peace Garden to remember and to write message of love, which were hung in the trees and by lighting candles.  A special Mass was also celebrated at Sacred Heart Church on Friday evening to pray for all those from the parish who have died in the last twelve months. We pray:

 

Jesus, dear Saviour, on All Soul’s Day we prayerfully remember all our loved ones who have died.

Please give them comfort and hope and may they be at peace,

Knowing that they will rest in God’s arms eternally.

Thank You for our memories of them and for the good times we shared.

We ask You, please, through their intercession,

To deepen our faith, strengthen our hope and increase our love

That we, too, may someday stand before You, ready to enter Your Holy Kingdom. Amen

 

Remembrance Day - Sunday 11 November

A very significant event will be commemorated on Monday when students gather in their Homegroups to offer a special Remembrance Day prayer. On this 100 year anniversary since the signing of the Armistice in 1918, our community will remember the sacrifices that have been made for us all and the abiding need for peace in our world. ’Lest We Forget’

As we acknowledge Remembrance Day, please keep all our College families who serve Australia through the Armed Forces and Peace Keeping  in your prayers.

 

 

 

Year 12 Graduation

Next Friday night, 16 November, we will celebrate for the last time with our Year 12 graduates and their families at their Graduation. A full report of this special evening will be included in the next edition of the newsletter.

 

Christmas Liturgy and Awards Ceremony - 12 December:

Save the Date

Parents/carers are invited to attend the evening, which begins with a family BBQ, followed by the Christmas Liturgy and presentation of Year 7-11 Major Awards. Semester 2 Reports are then given out in Homegroups. Student attendance at this evening is compulsory and parents/carers are warmly invited to join us. The family BBQ negates the need to arrange dinner after the ceremony and the evening us usually concluded by 8.15am so it is not a late night for families with younger children. It is always a beautiful way to come together as the Mater Dei community to conclude the school year together.

 

Key Dates

Term 4 concludes on Friday 14 December for all students and Parents/carers are reminded of the following key dates:

  • Friday 30 November – Year 8-11 New Students 2019 Orientation Day
  • Tuesday 4 December – Year 7 2019 Parent Information Meeting
  • Friday 7 December – Year 7 2019 Student Orientation Day
  • Wednesday 12 December – 6.00pm Family BBQ, Christmas Liturgy and Awards Evening (Student attendance is compulsory)
  • Thursday 13 December – Release of HSC results
  • Friday 14 December – ATAR’s available to Year 12 students
  • Friday 14 December – Last Day of Term 4 for all students
  • Tuesday 18 December – Office closes at 4.00pm for Christmas holiday break

 

Prayers Please

  • For the family and friends of Meg Thomas who passed away in Leeton last week under tragic circumstances. Her funeral was held today.
  • For all our students as they engage in their final assessments and exams for the year in the coming weeks.
  • Year 12 2018 as they graduate from Mater Dei next Friday evening.

Best Wishes

Mrs Val Thomas I Principal