"Mater Dei Matters"

Principal's Message

All Saints Day and All Souls Days

 

Our prayer focus this week will include All Saints Day, on Tuesday this week  and All Souls Day, which was celebrated yesterday.

All Saints Day is a surprisingly old feast. It arose out of the Christian tradition of celebrating the martyrdom of saints on the anniversary of their martyrdom. When martyrdoms increased during the persecutions of the late Roman Empire, local dioceses instituted a common feast day in order to ensure that all martyrs, known and unknown, were properly honoured.

 

In our contemporary world All Saints Day offers a chance to look to our spiritual forbears, 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. A special Mass was celebrated at Sacred Heart Church last night 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

 

Year 12 Graduation

 

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

 

Remembrance Day 11 November

 

Another significant event will be commemorated next week when our College community gathers with Mater Dei Primary School in the grounds adjacent to Fr Plunkett’s Cross and the Lone Pine to commemorate Remembrance Day. A special prayer, traditionally said on this day by our community, will remind us about the sacrifices that have been made for us all and the abiding need for peace in our world. ’Lest We Forget’

 

Plaque Dedication for Illaria

 

On Tuesday 15 November, a plaque for Illaria will be dedicated in the Peace Garden at 10.30am. Parents/carers are warmly invited to join us for the ceremony. Please advise the office if you are able to attend.

 

Positions Vacant for 2017

 

The following positions have been advertised for 2017:

  • College Manager – (permanent full time) closing tomorrow 4 November
  • Student Support Enrolment Data Processing Officer (permanent full time) closing 18 November
  • Canteen Supervisor (temporary full time) closing 18 November
  • Café Assistant (temporary part time) closing 18 November
  • English/HSIE Teacher (Term 1 full time) closing 18 November

Details are available on the CSO Website.

 

Term 1 and Term 2 2017 Commencement Dates

 

To assist parents with planning for 2017, we would like to advise the following arrangements:

 

Term 1:

  • Thursday 12 January – College Office opens
  • Friday 27 January – Staff Professional Learning Day
  • Monday 30 January – Year 7, Year 11 and Year 12 commence Term 1
  • Tuesday 31 January – Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 also commence Term 1

Term 2:

  • Monday 24 April – Staff Professional Learning Day (Staff Spirituality Day)
  • Tuesday 25 April – ANZAC Day
  • Wednesday, 26 April – Staff Professional Learning Day (Learning Focus)
  • Thursday 27 April – Students return for Term 2

We pray for all those affected by the tragedies that we continue to read and hear about, both in our local area and beyond. Please also keep our College families in your prayers as we journey into the second half of this term.

 

Mrs Val Thomas

Principal