Sunday 4th November – Responsorial Psalm
I love you, Lord, my strength,
my rock, my fortress, my saviour.
My God is the rock where I take refuge;
my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold.
The Lord is worthy of all praise:
When I call I am saved from my foes.
I love you, Lord, my strength.
Last Sunday’s readings at mass, expressed that the love of God overshadows all the weaknesses of our heart. God’s love sets us free from these weaknesses. He demonstrates through his love for us the art of giving. When we experience this love, we are able to truly witness the power of God’s love for us. We all receive the gift of love, the same equal amount of love. Therefore, we need to question ourselves “How do we express this love?”. Are we blinded by the selfishness within us? We need to realise how large our hearts really is, if we are to appreciate the true gift of love. Harden not your heart and allow your love to be shared with all.
All Saints Day – Thursday 1st November
All Saints Day, the day on which Catholics celebrate all the saints, known and unknown, is a surprisingly old feast. It arose out of the Christian tradition of celebrating the martyrdom of saints on the anniversary of their martyrdom. When martyrdoms increased during the persecutions of the late Roman Empire, local dioceses instituted a common feast day in order to ensure that all martyrs, known and unknown, were properly honoured.
Question: Is All Saints Day a Holy Day of Obligation?
Answer: All Saints Day is a Holy Day of Obligation. However, when it falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated (temporarily waive).
All Souls Day – Friday 2nd November
Y7 Parent Information Evening on Wednesday 31st October officially introduced the parents of our 2019 Y7 students to life at St Dominic’s College. There was great excitement amongst the parents who felt very welcomed by the College community. Thank you to all who made this welcome possible.
HSC concludes this Friday. After four weeks, our students can final rest until the marks are published midway through December and then for some finalise their university courses. The exams have proceeded exceptional well and I would like to thank Mr Turner and all the students for the smooth administration of the examinations.
It was great to see so many of our students engaged in the Y11 Parent/Teacher/Student interviews. These interviews provided teachers, parents and students the opportunity to review the HSC Preliminary course and then set some goals for the HSC course that has now commenced. This ongoing dialogue is vital if our students are to reach their true potential.
Year 10 will sit for the final assessments next week before they go on their outdoor camp during week 6. Hopefully a clear study programme has been developed by students in their preparation for these final assessments. On Friday 16th Nov, there will be a Thanksgiving Mass where the College will also farewell those students who are not returning in 2019. Parents and family members are most welcome to attend the mass. Following the assessment week, most of Y10 will be involved in the outdoor camp for five days. The Year 10 students will complete their 2018 school year with three days of preparation for senior studies that includes training for peer support.
Outstanding Fees. Could parents please attend to overdue school fees as soon as possible. Whilst many families have contacted the College Fees Office, a number of families are yet to do so. There are numerous ways in which you can pay your fees and these have been highlighted in previous newsletters and also appear on the back of your invoices. Families who are having some difficulties with their school fees can simply contact the College to discuss any financial problems that may have arisen and make arrangements that they can commit to. The College has a very clear process to follow for any families who may be encountering some financial hardship. I ask that you contact either Ms Powell or myself to discuss your fees should you be unable to finalise your account.
Dominus Mea
Let Your Light Shine
Mr M. Ronchetti
College Principal