Prayer for a Child’s First Eucharist 

Bless the children coming forward to receive  

Holy Communion for the first time. 

May this day be an initial step into a life-long love of the Eucharist. 

Give them a hunger for this sacred food so that they turn to you for 

Comfort, guidance and wisdom as they grow into full discipleship. 

Amen 

First Holy Communion 
As a faith community, we congratulate and keep in our prayers the Year 4 students, who will be celebrating the sacrament of Holy Communion (Eucharist) for the first time in our Sacred Heart Church this weekend Sunday 15 September at 10.00am. All families are warmly welcome to join us for the 10am Mass where Nicholas, Beau, Ethan, Aria, Matilda and Willa will receive their First Holy Communion. 

With the guidance of Father George, our Year 4 teachers Mrs Carla Durnan and Mrs Alicia Hampson, have been preparing the students for many weeks.

First Holy Communion is a significant sacrament in the Catholic Church, marking a person’s first reception of the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It signifies another step in the individual’s full initiation into the Catholic faith and their deepening relationship with Jesus Christ.

The word 'communion' means to be united with; Catholics believe that in Holy Communion we are united in a special way with Jesus Christ. The Eucharist celebrates the real presence of Christ in the bread, wine, and gathered community. At his last supper, Jesus said of the bread that he shared among his followers, "Take and eat, this is my body." When we receive Holy Communion, Catholics believe that in a mysterious way we are sharing in the body and blood of Christ. The Eucharist strengthens us and inspires us to grow with Jesus throughout our lives.

May Christ bless and guide our First Communion candidates and their families during this special time. Everyone please keep them in your prayers.

Let’s Celebrate St Mary's!
As we near the end of another school term, I find myself reflecting on and marvelling at all that we have accomplished. By "we," I mean everyone involved—especially the parents and friends who are an integral part of our vibrant and supportive community. I am continually impressed by the endless energy, goodwill, and support that defines the St. Mary’s community.

This term we have been fortunate to accommodate many events, gatherings and celebrations that add to the rich school life from which our children benefit so much. Term 3 has involved:

• Regional NAIDOC Mass and NAIDOC Week
• 100 Days of Kindergarten
• Liturgies and Masses - Mary MacKillop Feast Day, Feast of the Assumption
• 2025 Kindergarten interviews
• Sports representation at regional and archdiocesan level
• Southern Region Public Speaking
• National Science Week
• Book Week Parade, Book Quiz & Book Swap
• Father’s Day Breakfast and Liturgy
• School Assemblies (Yr 5 and Kinder)
• Sacrament of Holy Communion
• Mary Poppins - Rehearsals, set and costume working parties

Each of these activities demands energy, goodwill, and support from numerous individuals, including staff, students, parents, and the broader school community. Every term is filled with a variety of events and gatherings, whether they are small occasions or large-scale celebrations. All of them draw on the distinctive spirit that defines St. Mary’s.

In 2024, our community of students, staff, and parents embodies this unique spirit. This legacy has been handed down by those who came before us, and in turn, we will pass the spirit of St. Mary’s on to future generations. Thank you all for your generosity and the dedication with which you support and contribute to our school.

We are lucky to have such a diverse community within our school, and on Wednesday, we had the privilege of experiencing the vibrant colours and lively spirit of the Onam festival.

All our students dedicated time in class to learning about the Onam festival and crafting related artwork. Additionally, some of our families and students came together to create a pookalam in the PAC. The students enthusiastically participated in decorating the intricate design with a variety of flowers, working collaboratively to complete the vibrant display. Later, the entire school gathered in the PAC, where our Indian families, dressed in traditional attire, showcased their traditional dances, sharing the rich cultural experience with the whole school community.

It was a wonderful celebration of joy, peace and prosperity! Thank you to the families for generously helping us learn about Onam and your culture.

Next term there is so much to look forward to, including our musical production of Mary Poppins. Please make sure you read the information contained in this newsletter about upcoming ticket sales and the fundraising events that the Community Council are organising on the evenings of the production. It's going to be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!! 

Footy 2 Fight MND Mufti Day
The last day of Term 3 for students will be Thursday 26 September and will be a Footy Colours Mufti Day. This day is to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease. All gold coin donations will go towards the MND foundation. This foundation supports high-quality MND research to discover the causes, improve care and find treatments for those impacted by this disease and ultimately a cure for MND.

Staff Spirituality Day
Every year, we as a staff, participate in a Spirituality Day whereby we are given the opportunity to deepen our faith and connection with God. The last day of this term (Friday 27 September) has been set aside as a Staff Development Day and we will be focusing on our own spirituality and our vocation as catholic educators. This is a pupil free day.

The theme of our day is Silence and Stillness and staff will be exploring the theological understanding of the ways in which humans enter prayerful relationships with God leading to a deeper relationship with others.

Last day of term for students is Thursday 26 September.

God bless and take care,
Mrs Sue Heffernan
Principal (Acting)