Together in Faith and Mission

I have called you by name, you are mine.
– Isaiah 43:1

Our staff began Term 4 with a day to pause, connect and put faith into action.

From prayer and reflection in nature to preparing meals and hampers for people facing hardship, our Staff Spirituality Day offered opportunities to deepen our faith and serve our wider community.

We also honoured the lives and legacy of our Dominican Sisters, connecting their example of compassion and service with our shared purpose today.

One group of staff participated in a Spirituality Day titled ‘Where Grace Grows’. The day offered a valuable opportunity to pause, step away from the busyness of school life and nurture our spiritual wellbeing through prayer, reflection and a renewed awareness of God’s presence in the world around us.

Reflection from Mrs Tina Nicotina, Religious Education Co-ordinator P-6:

Our day began at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney, where we enjoyed a guided tour of the Mary MacKillop Museum. We learnt more about the life, faith and enduring legacy of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, whose commitment to education, service and care for those in need continues to inspire us in our work as educators. We also had the opportunity to visit her tomb and spend time in quiet reflection.

Following our morning visit, we travelled to Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden in Lavender Bay, where we enjoyed lunch surrounded by the beauty and tranquillity of the garden. This peaceful setting provided an opportunity to pause, reflect and appreciate the wonder of God’s creation. We were invited to consider the message of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ and reflect on our shared responsibility to care for our common home.

We concluded our day with a liturgy, bringing together our reflections, prayers and experiences. It was a meaningful opportunity to strengthen our sense of community, nurture our spiritual wellbeing and return to our school community feeling refreshed and renewed in our mission.

The day reminded us that God’s presence can be discovered in the stories of those who have gone before us, in the relationships we share with others and in the beauty of the natural world. We returned with a renewed appreciation of our Dominican tradition and our shared calling to live out our faith through compassion, service and care for all creation.

I would like to sincerely thank everyone who participated in Where Grace Grows. I am grateful for your openness to prayer, reflection and shared experiences, which made the day a meaningful opportunity for us to nurture our faith, strengthen our sense of community and recognise God’s presence in the world around us.