Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Yesterday was the feast of the Assumption of Mary. The day teaches Mary was taken into heaven, body, and soul. It is hard to comprehend fully what this teaching might mean, but it does place into context the significant place Mary plays in our story as a model for the Christian life - a life called to trust in God’s unconditional love for us.

In truth, we know almost nothing about Mary’s life. The Gospels are silent about her, apart from the few small, almost cameo, appearances that she makes. Through the centuries, the Catholic Church has tried to express the mystery of her life, and these can be summarised as follows.

• That before, during and after the birth of Jesus, Mary was a special woman, a woman set apart, different and unique.
• That Mary was herself conceived without sin – an honour given to her since she was to give birth to God.
• That at the end of her life God granted her the honour of taking her directly to Heaven. Her body, which gave birth to God, does not decay but is immediately with God.

Although we may never completely understand the mysteries associated with these dogmas, it makes perfect sense for this incredible, courageous, and wonder-filled woman – Mary, the Mother of God – to be honoured.

As a member of a religious minority in an occupied country Mary would have faced many challenges throughout her life, she would have been tested on many occasions, but she had constant trust in God’s plan and a willingness to respond to what she was called to do.

Our school has a special devotion to Mary and this feast was an opportune time to gather as a community in our beautiful parish church. We were able to acknowledge how blessed we are to have a wonderful example of faith in our midst, in the person of Sr Colleen. Like Mary, Sr Colleen was open to God’s call and chose a life of service to others through the vocation of religious life. The feast of the Assumption was chosen by Mary Aikenhead, the founder of the Sisters of Charity to be the feast day of the order. The Sisters of Charity were the first religious women seen in Australia, arriving in 1838. Their call has always been to bring the love of God to all through a vow of service of the poor. From the beginning the Sisters of Charity provided care, hope, dignity and meaningful assistance in schools, hospitals, prisons and social welfare activities in the wider community. This continues today and includes the new forms of poverty that exist in our modern and wounded world. 

When the students were asked to think of ways that Sr Colleen serves our community they were able to provide me with a long list of actions to describe Sr Colleen’s service in action - Breakfast Club, providing lunches, looking out for the needs of families e.g. uniform items or groceries. In addition, she is present to all through her open heart and listening ear. She is someone you can always trust to tell important things to and to seek advice from. 

The Assumption reminds each of us of our call to care for all who are experiencing danger, hunger, homelessness, statelessness, or who are treated as outcasts. It reminds us that God cares for the least and the lowly, and so must we. As someone who was the beneficiary of an education in Charity schools I will be forever grateful to my parents for the sacrifices they made to provide me the foundations of faith and life these schools and these inspirational women instilled in me.

Both Mary and the Sisters of Charity exhibited an openness that allowed God to work through them, and in many ways the Feast of the Assumption reminds us of our call to care for all and is an invitation to be open to allowing God to continue to work through each of us in our one wild and precious life. As always the coming week is an invitation to be open to opportunities to make Christ Our Way and Life.

Tina Murray

Principal

This week we had the opportunity to welcome Mr Lindsay Burns to our staff.

Lindsay joins us as the Acting Assistant Principal while Mrs Del is on extended leave for Term 3.

Next week we will welcome Mrs Michelle Rolfe who will be commencing in the Acting Principal role for the remainder of 2023. I wish both Lindsay and Michelle every blessing that comes from being part of this special community.