Religious Education
St Dominic’s Day 2024
Last Friday our college community including the Dominican Sisters, students, staff, parents and ex-students came together to celebrate St Dominic’s Day. We gathered in celebration of all that has shaped our school and our proud history and reflected on what we are being called to do.
Our students have spent the last week retelling the story of St Dominic using our beautiful Dominican dolls designed and created by the women of Kopanang. Sr Sheila and Sr Judi were instrumental in the development of the Kopanang Community Trust to help women in South Africa. Some other symbols that represent St Dominic de Guzman are sunflowers and Oranges.
St Mary of the Cross – Mackillop Feast Day 8 August
Mary MacKillop was born on 15 January 1842 in Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne. With the support and spiritual guidance of Fr Julian Tension Woods, the Parish Priest of the South-East of South Australia, she opened the first St Joseph’s school in Penola in 1866. It was in an old stable. Her brother helped her to make it habitable.
Mary MacKillop had a deep connection to God, whom she loved so much in the person of Jesus. Even in times of intense hardship, disappointment, loss of friendship and even betrayal, Mary MacKillop always welcomed the movement and wisdom of the Holy Spirit within her.
Mary was beatified on 19 January 1995 at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, in a Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II. She was canonised as St Mary of the Cross at a Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on 17 October 2010.
Feast of the Assumption of Mary Feast Day 15 August
The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is a special Feast Day of the Catholic Church. God chose Mary to be the loving mother of God’s son, Jesus. On this day, we specifically remember that Mary is the mother of Jesus, that she believed in Jesus and was one of his faithful followers and believers. She was the first disciple. From the very first moment of her life, Mary loved God. Mary said ‘Yes’ to everything that God asked her to do. On this day, the Church acknowledges that Mary, the mother of Jesus, has a special place in the life of the Catholic Church as the Mother of God. Today we celebrate the holy day when, at the end of her life, Mary was taken to heaven, by God, to be with her son, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
help those in need,
give strength to the weak,
comfort the sorrowful,
pray for God’s people,
assist the clergy,
intercede for religious.
Mary all who seek your help
experience your unfailing protection.
Amen.
Sacrament program
Each year a Sacrament program is organised by the St Martha’s Strathfield parish. Students from Del Monte are invited to receive the sacraments during these programs.
St Martha’s Strathfield will be running the First Holy Communion program in August. Please see the information below including contact details.
St Martha’s Catholic Church
70 Homebush Road, Strathfield NSW 2135
Ph: 02 9746 6131 | Fax: 02 9764 3040
W: www.stmarthas.org.au | E: sc@stmarthas.org.au
Tina Nicotina
Religious Education Coordinator P-6