Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care

Mission events in retrospect and looking forward

Year 12 Retreat March 2026

At the end of March, our Year 12 students participated in their final Retreat experience as Santa Sabina students, undertaking either the Outreach Retreat in Goulburn or the Grace Retreat at Tallong. Though different in structure, both retreats were deeply united by our shared Dominican call to live with justice, mercy and humility.

Students on the Outreach Retreat were invited to act justly through meaningful service. Partnering with Anglicare and local community organisations, they cooked meals, created care packs, supported childcare services, visited aged‑care residents and learned firsthand about youth homelessness. These moments were grounded in prayer, scripture and reflective journalling, encouraging students to connect action with faith and compassion.

Those on the Grace Retreat were invited to slow down and embrace grace in their own lives. Through prayer, creative activities, small‑group sharing and moments of stillness, students reflected on their identity, their fears and hopes and what it means to be vessels of God’s grace. The imagery of the potter and the clay reminded students that growth often happens through imperfection and trust.

Across both retreats, students engaged deeply with the Gospels and their own stories. The final liturgies captured a community marked by honesty, vulnerability and hope.

We are profoundly grateful to the staff who accompanied our students with generosity and care, and to the students themselves for the respect, openness and maturity they brought to these sacred days. May the seeds planted during these retreats continue to shape the women they are becoming beyond the gates of Santa Sabina.

Project Compassion and Caritas fundraising in Lent

During Lent, the Santa Sabina community once again responded generously to Project Compassion, Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten appeal, embracing the 2026 theme ‘Unite Against Poverty.’ Students engaged in prayer, learning and fundraising initiatives that invited them to reflect on global injustice and the call to act in solidarity with the most vulnerable. Students from across the College donated to Project Compassion and our Gioia House and Senior students arranged cake stalls and fun activities such as the Carry for Caritas relay to support this cause. Funds raised will support Caritas Australia’s work with communities facing poverty, conflict and climate vulnerability, helping to provide access to clean water, education and sustainable livelihoods. Our Lenten focus on Project Compassion offered a powerful opportunity for students to live out the Gospel values of compassion, justice and hope, reminding us that even small acts, when shared together, can help bring about lasting change.

Mother’s Day Masses

Families are warmly invited to join us for our Mother’s Day Masses on Thursday 7 May, a special opportunity to pause, pray and give thanks for the women who nurture, love and guide us. Students in Years 7-12 and their families are invited to attend Mass at 7:30am, while P-6 students and their families are welcome to join the 9:15am Mass. Between the two celebrations, families are encouraged to gather for the Mother’s Day Breakfast, offering a relaxed and joyful space to connect with one another. These celebrations are an important moment of community building in the life of our College, providing time to be present with your children, to express gratitude, and to give thanks to God for the gift of family. We look forward to celebrating this meaningful occasion together as one Santa Sabina community.

Melanie van der Meer
Deputy Principal Mission and Pastoral Care