Throughout the Liturgy there was a focus on Pope Francis\u2019 initiation of The World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly: <\/span>\u201cOn July 24, the Church celebrated the third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Established by Pope Francis in January 2021, the day is celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July and shares the feasts of Mary\u2019s parents and Jesus\u2019 grandparents: Saints Joachim and Anne. This link to Jesus\u2019 family tree encourages us to look at our family tree and the special link to our grandparents. The theme for this year\u2019s World Day was \u201cIn old age they will still bear fruit\u201d and highlights how grandparents and the elderly are a value and a gift both for society and for Church communities. In his message for the second World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Francis said: \u201cOld age is no time to give up and lower the sails, but a season of enduring fruitfulness: a new mission awaits us and bids us to look to the future. \u2018The special sensibility that those of us who are elderly have for the concerns, thoughts and the affections that make us human should once again become the vocation of many. It would be a sign of our love for the younger generations\u2019. I encourage you, dear grandparents and elderly persons, to take an active role.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Our grandparents have blessed our families with the gift of life and are there to care and nurture their children and grandchildren with their many acts of goodness, kindness and love.<\/span><\/p>\n May each of us learn from their wisdom and example how to be good and holy people.<\/span><\/p>\n A huge thank you to all our Year 7 students who participated on the day.<\/span><\/p>\n Loving God, Bless all our grandparents, those with us here today, those who cannot\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n be with us. May they be faithful to your call to share their wisdom and faith.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n May they have courage and confidence to hand on your gifts of experience and knowledge, of stories, songs and memories. May they continue to learn and grow with us day by day.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Bless them with length of days and joy at the last. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u00a0STUDENT LEADER\u2019S GATHERING<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n On the 19th of October 2024, the College Captains and Social Justice captains were invited to travel to Mittagong to attend the Student Leaders Gathering, run by the Marist Youth Ministry. We spent the duration of the camp with many student leaders from fourteen other Marist schools across New South Wales and Canberra. This camp was an incredible opportunity for us to be able to ignite our Marist faith and discover new ways in which we can shine as leaders by keeping these virtues central to our community. Over the course of the three days, we engaged in various workshops in both small and large groups examining the Marist characteristics and how we, as Marist leaders, and the community as a whole can put them into practice. We investigated the characteristics of Simplicity, Love of Work, Presence, Family Spirit and living in the Way of Mary. These operate cohesively to form the foundation on which the missionary of the Marist families were built and are the basis on which we, as a Marist community, build our own teachings and actions. Throughout the time we spent away, we built many new relationships with countless other student leaders while also strengthening our own relationships with one another in utilising the \u2018sisters\u2019 aspect of the compass.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As a group, we discussed the unique features of our school communities and shared initiatives and opportunities that we currently host at MSCW, whilst learning about those that take place across our fellow Marist schools. This gathering taught us about true leadership and service and the ways in which we can continue to serve our communities in the way of Mary. Our time at the Student Leaders Gathering provided us with an invaluable opportunity to share our gifts with one another and meet like-minded students from other Marist schools. We would like to express our gratitude to Ms Vu and Dr Ireland for making the trip out to Mittagong, where we enjoyed a mass and formal dinner with the Principals of our fellow Marist Schools. We are immensely grateful to have been provided with this experience and it is something that will resonate with us long into the future.<\/span><\/p>\n Aisling O\u2019Connor, Hannah Khoury, Jasmine Comerford and Elena Battaglia<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n YEAR 8 REFLECTION DAY<\/b><\/p>\n On Friday, 18th October, Year 8 students attended their Year 8 Reflection Day at Holy Name of Mary in Hunters\u2019 Hill. The Scriptural basis of the Reflection Day was Jesus\u2019 question; \u2018Did I not choose you?\u2019 from John 6:67-70. Our response to this question focused on the value of LOVE. In particular, a type of love that each and everyone one of us deserve being chosen by God in His image and likeness. The day consisted of a variety of activities including Chat-A-Box discussion cards, reflective journaling and picture frame decorating with a focus on each students\u2019 gifts as made in the image and likeness.<\/span><\/p>\n Thank you Year 8 for your participation on the day and to the following staff for leading a small group that enriched the day for our students; Mrs. Caroline Morizzi, Dr. Anne Ireland, Ms. Te\u2019Annie Makdessi, Mr. Joshua Allen, Ms. Melissa Carson, Ms. Marissa Watson, Mr. Jack Newey, Ms. Mary-Anne Boutros, Ms. Veronica Barbagallo, Ms. Stephanie Dito, Ms. Leoni Hopkins and Ms. Tanya Guiness.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n MARY\u2019S HOUSE FUNDRAISER WALK<\/b><\/p>\n Mary\u2019s House Services is a not-for-profit, grassroots organisation which supports women and their children escaping from domestic and family violence and abuse. Mary\u2019s House Services was built by the community for the community, following a recognition of a gap in services within the local region. Mary\u2019s House Services in entirely funded by the generosity of our community of donors.<\/span><\/p>\n Thanks to funding from the community, Mary\u2019s House have been able to deliver over 14,000 safe nights\u2019 accommodation at their refuge as well as establish a community program centre to assist women still living in the community.<\/span><\/p>\n On Sunday 27th October over 100 of our Marist Sisters\u2019 College Community participated in the Mary\u2019s House Walk, which is an initiative to supplement the fundraising efforts. A huge thank you to our Marist Sister\u2019s community for raising $16000! This is an amazing effort for such a significant cause. The funds raised from this event will allow Mary\u2019s House Services to provide more case management hours for women and their families seeking safety at the refuge and the provision of more programs to aid women still living in the community.<\/span><\/p>\n https:\/\/maryshousewinterappeal.raisely.com\/<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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