Assistant Principal - Mission & Identity News
….experiencing FAITH in the Mercy Tradition
Dear families
This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day, an opportunity to express our love and gratitude for the male role models in our life.
At this time of year, I think of my Dad, who passed away 20 years ago now, and there’s not one day since then that I haven’t felt his grace and presence by my side. He was a man of patience, strength, loyalty, and love. He was a great listener, very wise, and demonstrated his strong faith by his words and actions. His dream was always to be a Dad and he was one of the best. I send my prayers to those of you whose Fathers and Father figures have also passed away.
A special prayer for Father’s Day
Loving God, we thank you for the love we receive from those men in our lives who are fathers, grandfathers, uncles and those who are like fathers to us. May we value and respect their generosity and kindness, their love and care, and the time and energy they give us.
We pray that our fathers, and those who are like fathers to us, may reflect your love and care in their words and deeds. Bless all fathers with your abundant love and peace.
We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen
Spring is in the air and with the beginning of a new season, we celebrate the Season of Creation! This 1st September, Day of Creation, also known as Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation or Feast of Creation, opens the Season of Creation 2024. Faith leaders from around the globe will lead this time of prayer and reflection as we celebrate the start of the Season of Creation, on this year’s theme, “To hope and act with Creation”. Our students will be learning about how they can care for creation.
In October, we will celebrate World mission month. During the last couple of weeks, students from our Yr 6 Service Learning group have been participating in the launch of Catholic Missions’ awareness and fundraising program, as part of World mission month, called “Socktober’.
We encourage everyone to celebrate World Mission Month! Together, we have the power to create change and build a more just world for people everywhere. By supporting missionaries in their work, we can create life-changing opportunities for countless children, families and communities worldwide. Join us in making a difference for our sisters and brothers.
What is Socktober?
Socktober for Mission Month cultivates the passion of students to rise up, engage with their local community, and take action against poverty through the world game of soccer. It provides young people in Australia with the opportunity to lead in mission, encouraging them to think not only of what they will do to help but also why they will do it.
Each class will design and create a soccer ball by only using socks, plastic bags and string. It is a simple and creative way to bring people together through sport by sharing a simple item that represents a soccer ball. Classes will test the durability of their “sockballs” during our Mercy Day and Grandparent’s day after Mass on Thursday 10th October.
ROSIES TOOWOOMBA NEEDS YOUR HELP Rosies is now recruiting (adults and students aged 16 yrs and over) outreach volunteers to commence a new street outreach on Tuesday nights between 5.30pm and 9.30pm. If you have 4 hours to spare monthly or fortnightly and would like to help our friends on the street as an outreach volunteer, please visit https://rosies.org.au/charity/toowoomba/
For all queries, please email toowoomba@rosies.org.au or call 0499 111 730.
When was the last time you donated blood? As a staff, we’re going to come together to make a donation each term. What a great way to be of service to others! Please consider making yourself a booking so you can contribute to this life saving service. The Australian Red Cross Blood Bank is right opposite our school in Ruthven St so you may be able to make a donation after drop off or before pick up.
Date claimers
Term 3
Week 8 Friday 30th August – Student free day and Staff PD (CTJ - Consistent Teacher Judgement)
Week 10 Thursday 12th September – End of term Mercy value awards assembly 8.45am
Term 4
Week 2 Thursday 10th October – 9am Whole school Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate Mercy day and Grandparent’s Day with open classrooms
Week 4 Friday 25th October – Day for Daniel fundraiser – gold coin donation and wear red
Enjoy a great week and thanks for reading.
Ann-Maree Ward
Assistant Principal – Mission & Identity