From the Religious Education Coordinator

In our Church ……

Saints Joachim and Anne

On 26 July, The Church celebrated the life of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, Jesus’ grandparents- Mary’s parents. In the Scriptures, Matthew and Luke furnish a legal family history of Jesus, tracing ancestry to show that Jesus is the culmination of great promises. Not only is his mother’s family neglected, we also know nothing factual about them except that they existed. Even the names “Joachim” and “Anne” come from a legendary source written more than a century after Jesus died.

The strong character of Mary in making decisions, her continuous practice of prayer, her devotion to the laws of her faith, her steadiness at moments of crisis, and her devotion to her relatives—all indicate a close-knit, loving family that looked forward to the next generation even while retaining the best of the past.

We believe that Jesus is truly God and truly human, and this feast of his grandparents is a testimony to that faith. While the names Joachim and Anne may be legendary, we know that Jesus had grandparents in the parents of Mary (as well as those of Saint Joseph). Our God truly became human and lived among us. (taken from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-joachim-and-anne)

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, 23 July

Pope Francis decided in 2021 to institute a Church-wide celebration of a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. He was moved to establish it not just because of the importance of grandparents and the elderly, a theme on which he has often spoken, but particularly because of the neglect and isolation so many grandparents and seniors experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel restrictions, nursing-home policies and fear for their safety prevented their being visited and embraced by their loved ones.

Pope Francis hopes that, on this day, grandchildren will visit their grandparents, perhaps even sharing with them a copy of his letter, and that parish families will have special Masses thanking God for the gift of grandparents, praying for them, and entrusting to him those who have died, particularly during the pandemic.

The choice of the fourth Sunday of July is transparently to connect it, as closely as possible, to the July 26 feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus. This link to Jesus’ family tree and to salvation history suggests that everyone’s genealogy and personal prehistory is part of the providential plan of God.

Pope Francis, in his message used the quote “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20) summoning grandparents to recognize and be renewed in their sacred calling to be guardians of the connection between their family’s history and salvation history and to pass on to younger generations a clear awareness of their place in the bigger picture.(from https://www.ncregiste r.com/blog/world-day-of-grandparents-and-elderly-fourth-sunday-of-july) MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE FIRST WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY

In our Community….

SCS Stage 4 Evangelisation Day

On Wednesday, 28th June, Sydney Catholic Schools hosted the Stage 4 Evangelisation Day at Aquinas College, Menai, which brought together enthusiastic Year 7 and Year 8 students from across Sydney, including 15 Year 7 and Year 8 students from Marist Sisters’ College. The theme of the day was “Walking with the Holy Spirit in our Hearts” by recognising that ‘Love is God’ and ‘God is Love’ in today’s society. The day included a variety of guest speakers, pizza lunch, ice breakers, singing, trivia, dancing and the afternoon with Eucharistic Adoration.

“I enjoyed listening to what the guest speakers had to say about the Holy Spirit, and it was good to learn about the significance of God and the Holy Spirit, as well as ways to strengthen bonds with God. I also enjoyed the fun aspects of the day, such as trivia, and of course, the pizza lunch! It was a lovely day, and on behalf of the students who attended the Evangelisation Day, we’d like to offer a very special thank you to Ms Ison for coming with us and organising the day, and another special thank you to Ms Vu who also organised the day.”

– Lola Christopoulos, Year 8 Student

Through prayer, reflection, and shared experiences, the students explored ways to live out their faith and embrace their role as compassionate and empathetic members of the community. As they returned to Marist Sisters’ College after this spiritually enriching day, the students carried with them a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper connection to their faith, ready to make a positive impact in the community.

Ms Samantha Ison, Assistant Religious Education Coordinator

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #1, #2

CAMBODIA IMMERSION – 6 to 15 July

Going into the immersion, our attitude was one of positivity and awareness of the need to adapt to any situation. Throughout our trip, this was put to the test by the many different experiences, challenges and connections that were present throughout.

One of the highlights included teaching young students an English lesson at multiple Cambodian schools. This time in class with the students and also spending time with students at the Marist Center or Hope Hostel allowed us to create new friendships and strong connections. Leaving these students was very hard for the group as we were spending quality time with them every day and created unforgettable relationships.

We immersed ourselves in Cambodian history by visiting the S21 Prison and the Killing Fields, the Angkor Wat Temples, and we received a blessing from a Monk at the Peace Cafe. Experiencing real-life Cambodian culture through visiting family homes and eating traditional Cambodian meals overall created valuable life lessons.

We were also provided opportunities to visit the local food and clothing markets. At the food markets we purchased all of the food which we would prepare for dinner that night. This allowed all of us girls to contribute to a different way of cooking and working together to make a Cambodian style meal.

All of the opportunities involved in this immersion were selected and organised by both the Catholic Mission and the Marist Brothers. Our day-to-day activities from what we were eating to which places we would visit were taken care of for us and allowed us to completely immerse ourselves with no stress and worries. We are so thankful for the Catholic Mission and the Marist Brothers for providing this immersion experience and allowing us to have the best opportunities and experiences.

This trip has allowed every girl to experience new feelings of gratitude towards the lives we live in Australia and opened our eyes towards these people living in Cambodia every day. The whole group has made unforgettable memories over the 10 days that will last forever and will continue to develop in the after phase of the immersion.

Brianna Kelly, Year 11 Student

A huge thank you to Ms Carolyn Criss and Mr Ryan Leonard for experiencing this wonderful immersion with the students. I would also like to thank Catholic Mission for organising and leading the immersion. Also a big thank you to the families that put their trust in the College and Catholic Mission to allow their daughters to experience this amazing opportunity. And lastly, to the students: Brianna Kelly, Melodie Brown, Sophie Marsh, Freya Bosnich, Sarah Bell, Abby Irving and Bronte Fisher for having the courage to step outside their comfort zone and immerse themselves in the Cambodian culture.

WORLD YOUTH DAY UPDATE

We have heard from our Marist Sisters’ College students and Ms Vu on their travels so far at World Youth Day…..

“Finally arrived in Rome! Our World Youth Day pilgrims set off to explore the city including the Colosseum, Pantheon and mass at the Basilica of St Paul. Pilgrims indulged in a gelato while admiring the history of the ancient city.” Ms Jenny Vu

We keep in our thoughts and prayers: Ms Vu, Kaia Wilkowska, Sarah Khoury, Hannah Khoury, Alliyah Gagliano, Annabella Di Marco, Indianna Fell, Angelika Fuda, Dion Esposito, Sienna Reid and Eva Tiani as they travel to Lisbon via Italy for World Youth Day.

Wednesday 30 August: Father’s Day Mass and Breakfast
Wednesday 6 September: Marist Connect Evening
Friday 8 September: Year 8 Reflection Day- Compulsory Event for Year 8

In our Curriculum….

This coming Monday, our Year 12 students will commence two weeks of Trial HSC Examinations. As a Marist Sisters’ College Community, we will keep them in our prayers for what can be a stressful and anxious time:

Dear Lord

We ask for your blessing on our students undertaking their Trial HSC Examinations over the coming weeks. Grant them the confidence they deserve from their years of diligent study. Grant them the ability to comprehend questions and effectively plan and articulate their responses. May they be enriched by the gifts of the Holy Spirit – Wisdom, Understanding, Fortitude and Knowledge. May their faith and piety give them the strength to face these examinations and the satisfaction of achieving their personal best.

We ask these things through Christ Our Lord,

Amen.

We wish our Year 12 students all the best!

Mrs Caroline Morizzi, Religious Education Coordinator

This article on College life meets The Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools – Charter #1, #2