Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the beginning of the 2023 school year. It is so lovely to see all of the students back at St Mary’s. A very special welcome to our Kindergarten students and their families. Kinder have had a very settled start to the school year, and are pictured below, learning about Christian meditation.

K-12 religious theme for 2023
At the end of last year, our new school leaders from St Mary’s, St Bernard’s and Carroll College met to workshop the K-12 religious theme for 2023. The students decided that the theme would be:

"The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action".
- St. Mother Theresa

This beautiful quote will be central to everything we do across our K-12 schools this year, encouraging us all to respond to the Gospel messages of kindness, respect and forgiveness. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Students in Year 3 are invited to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation this term. During Week 3, an enrolment letter will be sent home with students. Please also note the following key dates for the sacrament of Reconciliation:

4th / 5th March - Commitment Mass for those receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation 

Friday 10 March - Year 3 Reconciliation Retreat Day at Carroll College

Tuesday 28 March - Celebration of First Reconciliation

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the sacrament of Reconciliation.

A prayer for the new school year
God of wisdom and might, we praise you for the wonder of our being, for mind, body, and spirit. Be with our children as they begin a new school year. Bless them, their families, their teachers and staff. Give them the strength and grace as their bodies grow; wisdom and knowledge to their minds as they search for understanding; and peace and zeal to their hearts.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Gen Schofield
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)