Catholic Identity
Mercy Prayer
We pray for the Sisters of Mercy, who established our school and for the priests who have served at St. Mary’s.
It is through their vision, determination and strong faith that we enjoy the benefits of a Catholic Education here in Mooroopna.
We are proud to be a Mercy School, where the values of love and justice are taught and lived every day.
Term 2 Week 4 Catholic Identity Newsletter 2022
2021 First Eucharist candidates:
We congratulate the following students who will celebrate the Sacrament of First Eucharist on the weekends of May 21st/ 22nd and May 28th:
Brandon Doherty
Cooper Smith
Romily Macreadie
Oscar Weis
Desiree Gray
Hayley Glover
Zach Vanderdonk
Ayen Dang
Ethan Ulrich
Dominic Lawless
Louise Garcia
Ashton Foyster
Edward Nioa
Nico Vigliaturo
These students will share in a Sacramental Reflection Day this Friday, 19th May in the Marian Centre, from 9.00am - 3.20pm. They will complete the final preparations in readiness to celebrate the Sacrament of First Eucharist this weekend. We wish them all the very best and thank their families for their support of their children throughout this sacramental journey.
The students will be presented to the school community at Assembly next Monday, 23rd May.
Sacramental Parent Information Meetings.
NEW DATE: Sacramental Parent Information Night: THURSDAY, 26th MAY at 7pm in the Marian Centre. All parents of students enrolled in the 2022 Sacrament of Reconciliation are invited to attend. Payment for the program can be made on this night.
The Parent Information Meeting for the Sacrament of First Eucharist will be held in Term Three on TUESDAY, 19th JULY at 7pm in the Marian Centre. Payment for the program can be made on this night. The Sacrament of First Eucharist will take place on Saturday, 20th August at 6.30pm and Sunday, 21st August at 10.00am.
The Parent Information Meeting for the Sacrament of Confirmation will be held in Term Three on TUESDAY, 13th September at 7pm in the Marian Centre. Payment for the program can be made on this night. The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated in Term Four on Saturday, 5th November at 6.30pm and Sunday, 6th November at 10.00am.
Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ Encyclical Letter.
This week marks the start of “Laudato Si’ Week” - May 16th - 24th.
This is an important week for the International Church and for the Australian Church!
From Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ Encyclical Letter come seven goals we are asked to strive for as part of our obligation to care for our Earth and the environment.
These goals are:
1. Response to the Cry of the Earth (greater use of clean renewable energy and reducing fossil fuels in order to achieve carbon neutrality, efforts to protect and promote biodiversity, guaranteeing access to clean water for all).
2. Response to the Cry of the Poor (defence of human life from conception to death and all forms of life on Earth, with special attention to vulnerable groups such as indigenous communities, migrants, children at risk through slavery).
3. Ecological Economics (sustainable production, Fair-trade, ethical consumption, ethical investments, divestment from fossil fuels and any economic activity harmful to the planet and the people, investment in renewable energy).
4. Adoption of Simple Lifestyles (sobriety in the use of resources and energy, avoid single-use plastic, adopt a more plant-based diet and reduce meat consumption, greater use of public transport and avoid polluting modes of transportation).
5. Ecological Education (re-think and re-design educational curricula and educational institution reform in the spirit of integral ecology to create ecological awareness and action, promoting the ecological vocation of young people, teachers and leaders of education).
6. Ecological Spirituality (recover a religious vision of God’s creation, encourage greater contact with the natural world in a spirit of wonder, praise, joy and gratitude, promote creation-centred liturgical celebrations, develop ecological catechesis, prayer, retreats, formation).
7. Emphasis on Community involvement and participatory - action to care for creation at the local, regional, national and international levels (promote advocacy and people’s campaigns, encourage rootedness in local territory and neighbourhood ecosystems).
The Sandhurst Diocese has committed to working towards these goals on the international platform. As part of that journey, the Sandhurst Diocese, along with Catholic Education Sandhurst, are encouraging every parish and school to register to become an Earthcare Parish/ School.
St. Mary’s Primary School is investigating ways in which we may support these important goals in our own community. We encourage you to reflect on one or two of the goals at home and change practises to look after our Earth.
Thanking you,
Michelle Hicks