Synergy - Newsletter 

Education In Faith

From the Director of Catholic Identity

‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come’

 (Mark 13:33)

 

As the year winds to its close, with longer and hotter days, endless Christmas parties, shopping and preparations; the Church is alive with a new energy as the new liturgical year begins. The season of advent calls us to: ‘Stay Awake.’

 

Advent is a time of preparation, waiting for the coming of Christ at Christmas. Advent runs over four Sundays in the Church and comprises of four general themes reflected in the Gospels each year:

  • The First Sunday is a Sunday of Lamentation, where we express our grief and sorrow for our sins (Mk 13:33-37)
  • The Second Sunday sees us reflect on a divine response (Mk 1:1-8)
  • The Third Sunday, known as Gaudete Sunday, is a Sunday of Hope and rejoicing (Jn 1:6-8, 19-28)
  • The Fourth Sunday of advent is where we reflect on the fulfilment of the Hebrew scriptures (Lk 1:26-38)

 

Advent is a season of rich symbolism and colour in our Church’s year. The colour purple that will sprawl our Church’s reminds us of the penitential character of the season of advent, however a lighter coloured purple is used to also reflect the season of joyful expectation rather then the deep purple used during Lent.

The candles in the advent wreath focus our attention towards the coming of the Light of the world, Jesus Christ, the son of Justice. Advent challenges us not to go on as we have before. Allow the light of Christ to shine into our hearts and make us a people ready to see the signs of God’s love in the world.

 

As we conclude our school year I wish you all many happy advent blessings and a very Merry Christmas.

 

Together we pray;

God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reins with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

 

Danielle Fairthorne

Director of Catholic Identity

Leading with a Josephite Heart

Each year our new leaders gather with other AJASS schools to discuss what it means to lead with a Josephite heart. Through understanding the spirituality of Mary and Julian our leaders are called to reflect on the elements of our school, our world that Mary and Julian would challenge them to change. This reflection then forms the start of a conversation with each school Principal. My highlight of the day was to witness each school Principal sit in deep conversation with all the leaders of AJASS Schools across Victoria as they sought to determine their goals for the year ahead. The day concluded with a beautiful liturgy where each school leader made a pledge to lead through the values of servant leadership demonstrated by Christ, to walk with their community, to listen to their community and to challenge injustices. A fantastic day had by all.

Ms. Dishon and the AJASS leaders
Ms. Dishon and the AJASS leaders

Year 12 Retreat

As the year came to a close for our current Year 11 students they took time out from their exams and head start program to formally begin their time together as Year 12 students, engaging in the annual Year 12 Retreat in Daylesford. The retreat is filled with team building games, reflection activities, personal prayer time, a mountain climb, small group sharing and much much more. The retreat focuses on the students’ journey of life, allowing them truly to identity that Love is the treasure within them all. Through story telling students are able to learn more about each other, and themselves to establish clear goals for the year ahead. Many students returned from retreat refreshed and ready to begin their final year at MSJ. It was a fantastic three days away that I am sure many students won’t forget.

Australian Catholic Youth Festival

The bi-annual Catholic Youth Festival is currently running in Sydney. Twenty-five staff and students have made their way from Melbourne to engage in various activities centred on fun, prayer, worship, service and taking time out to talk to different people in our Church. Nineteen thousand young people have travelled from across Australia to experience all that the festival has to offer. Our pilgrimage began in Mount St, North Sydney where we explored the journey of the Sisters of St Joseph in NSW and took time out to pray by Mary MacKillop’s tomb.

 

Moving then into the city the students explored historical sites of Sydney and ended the evening attending the Christmas lights display at St. Mary’s Cathedral. A short ferry ride over the harbour took us home and ready to begin the festival on Thursday. The students enjoyed the large plenary sessions at the festival, listening to guest speakers from around the world, conversing with Bishops, singing on the train to the venue and meeting new people. The festival experience will end with a pilgrimage into the Domain for a final outdoor Mass. What an amazing experience of the Church alive for our young people. The Year of Youth in the Australian Catholic Church has now officially begun and our young people are ready!

Catholic Education Today

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