On Monday we accompanied 3 of our senior students, Jad, Tallulah and Joshua, to St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in the city for the National Mass to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education. It was a beautiful Mass which we shared with 500 other students and staff from Catholic schools around SA. Archibishop O’Regan and Dr Neil McGoran (Director of Catholic Education SA) both spoke of the unique gift of Catholic Education as we continue ‘Raising Hearts and Minds’ of young people.
An extract from Dr Neil McGoran’s reflection at Mass on Monday 24th May
A Catholic education seeks to shape lives and shape them to the full. In today’s nomenclature, we wish three things for our students. That they will see themselves as:
- Thriving people;
- Capable learners; and
- Leaders for the world God desires.
As for the world God desires, while as humans we can never really capture the awesome breadth and depth of what this might mean, or what God might truly desire, we can be confident that it is at least a world freed from hunger and oppression; violence and war; poverty and suffering. A world surely underpinned by love, hope and compassion. Our parishes, communities, schools, institutions, and offices remain committed to bringing to life the gospel; an understanding of which has been so well captured in four sentences by Father Philip Marshall. A view of the world where:
- Everybody matters, absolutely.
- Every broken heart and relationship are to be mended, and every captive heart set free.
- Everyone is created for joy and life to the full.
- All humanity and creation are to be a glorious and eternal song of joy.
In Mathew, Jesus says: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them. ”As we look back over our achievements and consider those still to come, each has been made possible through the work of some or many. At its very best, Catholic Education in South Australia is a coalition of both the willing, and of the faith filled. It is our responsibility to ensure that this coalition continues to adapt and grow, in the pursuit of the common good.
During the week Fr Eldridge spent some time with students who were keen to be trained as altar servers for the St Francis Community. The students were very interested in learning about the different symbols and objects used in Mass and look forward to the next training session. Fr Eldridge spoke to the children about the privilege of serving the community and how it is an example of living out Jesus` mission. If your child is interested in becoming an altar server please contact me directly and I will ensure they attend the next training.
On Sunday we celebrated the feast of The Most Holy Trinity. When we pray “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” we are invoking the Trinity. This is a great mystery that not even the most intelligent theologian or the holiest saint could ever fully comprehend. We only know that God is a Trinity because God revealed this to us. God, as a Trinity, exists in three Persons – The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.
Why do Catholics make the Sign of the Cross?
The sign of the cross permeates a Catholic’s prayer life. It is something we do everyday in class prayer time with our children. The sign of the cross, in words and in action, reminds us of the two central realities of our faith: who God is (the Trinity) and what God has done for us (the Cross).
We continue to pray for our sacramental candidates who are preparing to make their First Holy Communion and Confirmation in late June. Please contact me if you have any enquires regarding the sacramental program.
Blessings for the week ahead,
Melissa Canil
APRIM
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