The Ascension of the Lord: The Lord of History takes his Throne

Thursday 26 May 2022-a movable feast day as the date is 40 days after Easter!

While she was in Lockdown in 2020, US artist Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs was commissioned to paint an image of the Ascension for a parish primary school outside St Louis in Missouri.

The painting shows the ascension as an event in time, but also as an event that is also for all time. The key detail, perhaps to the whole piece, are the footprints. These show us that Jesus was a real person in a real place. They point to the brute physicality of Jesus Christ and his life on Earth.

Only St Peter looks out at the viewer. The others are lost in the contemplative gaze. St Peter’s role as chief shepherd and teacher means that he must be concerned with how we are drawn into the life of faith. We are often tempted to treat Christianity as a curiosity shop containing interesting bits and bobs that might brighten our lives. We look for values that might make us nicer people or might guide us in relation to some political question.

However, as Pope Francis, the successor of St Peter never tires of teaching us: Being a Christian is not lofty ideas but an encounter with a person - Jesus Christ. (Evangelii Gaudium § 7) Thompson-Briggs’ painting is a dynamic and colourful reminder of the call to faith in Jesus Christ. What Thompson-Briggs’ painting shows symbolically, St Paul declares openly in the second reading: Jesus ‘[is] far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named, not only in this age, but also in the age to come.’

Let us make St Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians our own ‘May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you’.

Dear Parents / Caregivers

At the recent Principal’s meeting I attended in Wagga Wagga, The Director of Catholic Education Dr Andrew Watson has granted all catholic schools in the Diocese of Wagga Wagga an additional pupil free day for teachers to carry out some of the additional duties required of staff. This has been provided to staff in response to the current enterprise bargaining process and is recognition of the additional demands and the ongoing impact of COVID 19 on the work of our teachers.

After discussions with staff on Monday, the following day was agreed upon, Tuesday June 14. The reason why we selected this date is because it immediately follows the June long weekend and enables students a 5 day mid term break. Staff will be attending school to carry on work as outlined in the letter below.

Many of you would also be aware that the new buildings are nearing completion and this extra day will enable the transfer of materials around the school without disrupting classes.

I thank you in anticipation of your support.

From the Director-Dr Andrew Watson

An additional pupil free day will be provided for teachers this year to enable collaborative planning and preparation, individual professional development such as completing various compliance requirements, reporting and assessment requirements or participating in webinars that assist with learning and teaching. This pupil free day will be held at your discretion and does not provide the opportunity for staff to work from home.

As Principal you will be able to determine the timing of this pupil free day that best meets your needs and I ask that you then communicate with staff about the timing of this pupil free day. Please remind your staff that this day has been provided in advance of the settlement of the current enterprise bargaining process and has been given to assist teachers with meeting the demands of their position and will focus on providing time for planning and preparations, and individual teacher professional learning.

As soon as you have determined the date, please notify your parent community ensuring you provide as much notice as possible.

With thanks and appreciation for your work in leading your school communities.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Andrew Watson Director of Catholic Education

IEU Industrial Action - Friday 27 May

The Independent Education Union (IEU) has notified us that teachers and general staff in systemic Catholic schools in NSW and the ACT intend to take part in a full day of industrial action on Friday 27 May in support of a new pay deal.

It will mean Marian Catholic College will be unavailable to operate as normal on that day. Limited supervision will be in place for those students that are not able to remain at home. Classes for the day will not run as usual.

While Catholic Education strongly supports our staff receiving a meaningful wage increase and improved benefits, we are concerned and acknowledge the further potential disruption to students and the school community, particularly given the experience of the last two years, however the Diocese fully supports its employees' right to take protected industrial action in pursuit of a new pay deal.

For a number of months now, Catholic Education representatives have engaged in productive negotiations with the IEU to try to finalise a new Enterprise Agreement that delivers new benefits and a fair and just outcome for our staff.

We have responded to all claims made by the IEU and agreed to:

at least match the pay increases awarded to public school teachers as well as the effective date
address any inequity in pay rates for support staff when compared to the State system
provide teachers an additional pupil free day in 2022 to enable collaborative planning and professional development
match any extra relief from face-to-face teaching provided to public school teachers, on the basis that it be principal-directed to align with school needs and system priorities, and to enhance the teacher and student experience
recognition of prior service for support staff with relevant service at another Diocese, and
improve parental leave for all staff including providing leave for non-primary carers to become primary carers

Given our commitment to at least match any pay increase provided to public school teachers, that last component of our new pay package cannot be settled until the public sector pay rise is determined.

We have worked hard through these negotiations to offer an enterprise agreement that recognises and values the important job our teachers and support staff do every day to deliver a high quality education for our students. We regret the disruption this industrial action will have on you and our school community and hope further disruption can be avoided.

Our representative will continue bargaining in good faith with the union to try to finalise a new pay deal as soon as practicable.

I thank parents and students for their support for alternative arrangements on this day and apologise for any inconvenience this has caused. May 27 was also diarised as the MCC Founders’ Day celebrations. This day will now be reorganised for a date to be determined later in the year.

NATIONAL SORRY DAY

Every May 26 in Australia, National Sorry Day reminds the colonist-descended people of the nation to remember the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Why? During the 20th century, Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families to be “assimilated” into white Australian culture. They are known as the “Stolen Generations.” It took several Australian government administrations coming and going before an apology was officially offered to the Indigenous Australians, but it finally was made official, and actions are still being undertaken to this day to repair the damage caused by tearing native families apart.

Staff Spirituality Day - Friday June 10

Staff Spirituality Day will take place on Friday June 10. All classes will be suspended for the day so that Marian staff can attend this important annual day to deepen our faith. Marist Schools Australia together with the Sisters of Mercy will be leading our program.

Happy Support Staff Day - 16 May

On 16 May we acknowledged and celebrated all the hard work and dedication of our amazing support staff, without them our College would not be the amazing place that it is.

Peace and Best Wishes

Alan Le Brocque

Principal

College Chaplain

Fr Cyprian Onuorah