I welcome you back to Term 3 at Mary Immaculate and I trust that you enjoyed the time with your children over the past couple of weeks. We were blest with some beautiful winters days, which allowed for some quality time for outdoor activities. In my discussions with children, staff and parents over the last two days, I have heard stories of interstate holidays, day trips to the zoo and various parks, and of course, the watching of the latest movies. Toy Story 4 and the new Lion King movie were getting some great reviews from the children. The children seem very keen to be back at school. I hope that the new Term provides the children with the opportunity to further their learning and build on the fabulous work from Semester One.

In this weekend’s Gospel Luke paints a wonderful scene describing how the disciples watch Jesus at prayer. They see how much prayer means to him. One of them gets up the nerve to ask, "Lord, will you teach us to pray?" And Jesus responds by sharing the Lord's Prayer with them. Then Jesus completes his lesson prayer by telling two parables. In the first he urges us to persist in prayer. The second parable reminds us that we do not always pray for the right things and that God knows best how our prayers should be answered.

So, how is your prayer life? If you are like most people, then probably you find that today’s worldly demands tax your time, energy and emotions to the degree that you feel too tired and too tense to consider praying. Your prayer life ebbs and flows with the ups and downs of your life’s journey. You can take some consolation in the fact that prayer does not come completely naturally to anyone. Maybe, we can let our actions serve as our prayers. We can live a life of prayer by being patient, tolerant, compassionate, generous, kind, encouraging, accepting, forgiving, consoling and supportive.

Prayer has been described as, 'half a conversation with God', and as such is an expression of our need to recognise that there is someone greater than ourselves with whom we can converse any time we might choose. Prayers do not have the ability in themselves to change the circumstance of our life but contact with God can direct our hearts and minds to make better choices in the way we live our lives. This is the other half of the conversation: us listening to God. It could be, that we have not had a conversation with God for quite some time. It is important to be aware that God does not sit in judgement when we come to pray; God sits in eager anticipation of everything we might want to share with Him even if we are uncertain about how to say it.

There is a story of a dad passing his young daughter’s room and seeing her with her hands joined and repeating the alphabet. When he asked what she was up to, she replied, ”I’m saying my prayers. I couldn’t think of just what I wanted to say, so I’m saying all the letters of the alphabet, and God can put them together however He thinks best.”

RUGBY LEAGUE KNOCKOUT - Thank you to Mr McMullen and Mr Warren for coaching and supervising the school representatives at the Annual Rugby League Knockout Carnival which was held last Term. The boys played with enthusiasm and displayed excellent sportsmanship. Well done boys.

GOOD LUCK - On behalf of our School Community I would like to wish Parker C, Yr 5 Gold, all the best when he trials for the MacKillop Softball Team today. I am sure Parker will do our school, our diocese and himself proud. 

SPRING FAIR - As you are aware the Mary Immaculate Spring Fair will be held on Saturday 19 October. The Spring Fair is our schools major fundraiser for the year. The Fair Co-ordinators, Kristy Rodriguez and Rebecca Whitburn, have been busily organising this community event and things seem to be coming along very well. Over the next Term our school community will be asked to contribute to the fair by way of donating various items. Parents will also be asked to offer their assistance on the day. What is the saying, ‘Many hands make light work’. I ask that all families contribute to this community event. All monies raised will benefit our children. I thank you in advance for your support and participation.

Have a great week and let Christ be our way and life.