From the Religious Education Coordinator

In our Church ……

The Feast of the Transfiguration – 6th August

Our divine Redeemer, being in Galilee about a year before His sacred Passion took with him St. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, Sts. James and John, and led them to a retired mountain. Tradition assures us that this was Mount Thabor, which is exceedingly high and beautiful, and was anciently covered with green trees and shrubs, and was very fruitful. It rises something like a sugar-loaf, in a vast plain in the middle of Galilee. This was the place in which the Man-God appeared in His glory.

Whilst Jesus prayed, he suffered that glory which was always due to his sacred humility, and of which, for our sake, He deprived it, to diffuse a ray over His whole body. His face was altered and shone as the sun, and his garments became white as snow. Moses and Elias were seen by the three apostles in his company on this occasion, and were heard discoursing with him of the death which he was to suffer in Jerusalem. 

The three apostles were wonderfully delighted with this glorious vision, and St. Peter cried out to Christ, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents: one for thee, one for Moses, and one for Elias” Whilst St. Peter was speaking, there came, on a sudden, a bright shining cloud from heaven, an emblem of the presence of God’s majesty, and from out of this cloud was heard a voice which said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” The apostles that were present, upon hearing this voice, were seized with a sudden fear, and fell upon the ground; but Jesus, going to them, touched them, and bade them to rise. They immediately did so, and saw no one but Jesus standing in his ordinary state.

This vision happened in the night. As they went down the mountain early the next morning, Jesus bade them not to tell anyone what they had seen till he should be risen from the dead.

Taken from: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2020-08-06

 The Feast of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop – 8th August

Mary MacKillop was born in 1842 in Fitzroy, Melbourne. On 8 August 1909, she died, having suffered a disabling stroke in 1902. Inspired by a meeting with Fr. Julian Tenison-Woods, Mary MacKillop took her vows at the age of twenty five, and the religious name, “Mary of the Cross”. In doing so, she founded the congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph. Soon after taking her religious vows, Mary MacKillop founded several schools. Within five years of taking her vows and founding the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Mary had established over thirty schools in South Australia. By that time, more than one hundred women had joined the Sisters of Saint Joseph. 

Mary MacKillop was very conscious of the plight of the poor and needy. She worked with families that lived in isolated areas of Australia. As a result, Mary MacKillop pioneered a new form of religious life in Australia, and commenced a “system” of “Josephite” schools that would provide education, especially for the children of the poor. In 1873, Pope Pius IX gave Papal approval for the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

Even today, many Australians can say that they too have felt the impact of the enormous work started by St. Mary of the Cross (MacKillop), having been educated or cared for, by the Sisters of Saint Joseph. She was noted for her trust in the providence of God and miracles of healing have been attributed to her. She was declared a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI on the 17th October 2010. In January 2013, St Mary of the Cross (MacKillop) was declared by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, to be the Second Patron Saint of Australia. This means that Australia now has two Patron Saints: Mary Help of Christians and St. Mary of the Cross (MacKillop).

Taken from: https://reonline.sydcatholicschools.nsw.edu.au/2021/08/01/feast-of-st-mary-of-the-cross-mackillop/

Inspired by Mary Mackillop’s quote “Never see a need without doing something about it” Each Marist Sisters’ student has been asked to write down three things they can do from now until the end of term to put the College motto ‘Goodness Above All’ into action by addressing a need they see in their own lives, in the school and in the community. This is a pledge they are making to put into action.

In our Community….

MARIST IMMERSION 

Two of our wonderful teachers; Mr Andrew d’Archy and Mr David Greenwell were selected to attend the Marist Staff Immersion Program last week. This fully residential program was conducted at the Marist Provincial House at Villa Maria, Hunters Hill. They undertook a 5 day residential Marist Immersion and were joined by representatives from 5 Marist Fathers and Marist Sisters Colleges from across Australia. The course focused on a range of topics including Marist History, Theology, Culture and Prayer, with the aim of strengthening ties between colleges and the greater Marist Charism. Having learnt a great deal as well as engaging in an array of complex discussions, Mr Greenwell and Mr d’Archy are keen to bring a new energy back with them to the college community.

I would like to thank Mr Greenwell and Mr d’Archy for attending the immersion and being part of this wonderful experience.

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…..

“World Youth Day celebrations began this week! Students were in high spirits after attending the Australian gathering and opening mass with thousands of other pilgrims from all over the world. What a great experience for all student pilgrims in Lisbon, Portugal!” – 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.

 TUESDAY CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

“Christian meditation is the act of filling one’s mind with Scripture, and dwelling on God and all that He offers to humanity. While the word “meditation” in the Bible has three separate definitions, it can be summarised. It means to “mutter, speak and ponder” to oneself the words of Scripture so that we are constantly meditating on what God has spoken to us. This produces not only knowledge of the Bible, but also, a heart transformation.”

From https://justdisciple.com/christian-meditation/

Every Tuesday throughout this year, two of our Year 7 to 10 classes and their teachers engage in the practice of Christian Meditation facilitated by Jennifer Aduckiewicz. During this time, students and staff are invited to immerse themselves in the depths of contemplation and reflection to embrace the significance of Church celebrations. It provides a unique opportunity for staff and students to prepare for and journey through these sacred times with a contemplative spirit. The beautiful sacred spaces created by Jennifer are thoughtfully arranged to encourage a sense of reverence and openness to the divine in gently guiding our staff and students through moments of silence, prayerful reflection, and scriptural contemplation. This practice allows them to explore the depths of their hearts and minds, fostering a deeper connection with their faith and the teachings of the church.

Tuesday Christian Meditation has been a key element in enhancing the faith formation of all within our community. The impact of Tuesday Christian Meditation on the faith formation of both students and staff has been profound. Many have reported feeling a deeper sense of connection with their faith, a heightened awareness of their spiritual journey, and a greater ability to find solace amidst life’s challenges. The practice has nurtured empathy, compassion, and a sense of community, as staff and students share in the sacred experience together.

As we move forward, we remain committed to fostering an environment where spiritual growth is nurtured. We express our deepest gratitude to Jenny Aduckiewicz and staff who have made this initiative possible and to the students who have embraced this transformative practice.   Ms Samantha Ison. Assistant Religious Education Coordinator

Mrs Caroline Morizzi, Religious Education Coordinator

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