Mission
YEAR 11 REFLECTION DAY
On Monday our Year 11’s experienced their Reflection Day with Chris Doyle from Karis Ministries at the Boat Club. Using his special talents involving music and song, he led our students through an uplifting and energetic day, designed to challenge students thinking about themselves as servant leaders in their relationships, both with each other, and with God. The students remarked on how enlightening their day together was and how much they are looking forward to continuing their work with Chris next year at the Year 12 Retreat.
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YEAR 11 STREET RETREAT
Our Team of Street Retreat Students and Teachers travelled to Melbourne on Wednesday to work with the Homeless and disadvantaged. Led by Mrs Pauline Streckfuss and Mr Matt Hope the students spent time visiting the Exodus Community, and working with Marist Brother’s Doug and Harry, considering the levels of social injustice and disadvantage and contributing to support services such as the Vinnies Soup Van, that operates a night time service in Melbourne’s CBD.
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Students were challenged to step outside their own comfort zones and approach Homeless people on the streets, offering them a gift, conversation or sustenance. Congratulations to the following students, who represented Mater Dei Catholic College so capably this year; Caolan Wealands, Jacob Ferguson, Owen Gaynor, Abbie Lewis, Isabelle Cunningham, Georgie Hollbrook, Talia McPherson, Ruby Raczkowski, Kobe Priest and Rheena Silvestre.
NAIDOC LITURGY AND ART WORKSHOPS
On Thursday at our College Assembly we celebrated a NAIDOC focused Liturgy. This year’s NAIDOC theme takes inspiration from the aims set out in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, these are expressed simply as three key goals; Voice, Treaty and Truth. These goals represent the hopes and dreams of our First Nations people for a reconciled future. Our students, staff and invited guests, so beautifully captured the spirit and sentiment of this NAIDOC theme in song, dance, word and deed. We thoroughly enjoyed the Brolga dance performed by the Holy Trinity - Dulbinya Dancers, along with listening to the story of William Cooper shared by College Staff, led by Mr Jason Jolley.
Following our Assembly our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students and invited guests were invited to stay for lunch and participate in an Art Workshop, led by acclaimed Aboriginal Artist, Adam Hill. Year 7 Students were given this same opportunity to engage in Art Workshops throughout the day on Friday. This was a wonderful cultural experience, very much enjoyed by all. Thank you to Mr Jolley for his design and support of this NAIDOC program for our community.
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CELEBRATING ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER SUNDAY 7 JULY 2019
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday is all about celebrating the contributions and gifts that Australia's First Peoples have made to the Catholic Church in Australia. It is an opportunity for the Church to take the lead and be a beacon of light and hope in the quest to create a just and loving society. The message that NATSICC would like to share, is to reflect and make time to find inner peace in our busy lives, and celebrate together with your families, friends and the wider community God’s message of peace and love for all.
‘Peace to this house and all who dwell within’
The reforms set out in the Uluru Statement from the Heart can be expressed in three key goals: Voice – Treaty - Truth
Naidoc Week 2019, which occurs officially in the School Holidays, takes inspiration from these three aims which represent the hopes and dreams of our First Nations Australians. This week, let us remember in our thoughts and prayers the Indigenous peoples of our region.
Creator God,
You call us to listen deeply to your Word made flesh, Jesus the Christ.
Teach us to listen for his voice - the voice that speaks of peace.
May we always walk in the ways of your truth and learn to ponder the mysteries of your love. We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Mrs Amelia Bright | Acting Leader of Mission