Reflection
During the month of August, there are several celebrations related to the Catholic Church. It is important that we acknowledge these as we, as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition, have become an important voice for the church and its mission. Following are some of these significant celebrations.
Feast Day of Saint Mary Mackillop – 8th August
Australia’s first saint.
“Patience and God will reward you all the more in the end.”
St.Mary of the Cross Mackillop 4.8.1874
Mary Mackillop Prayers
Ever generous God,
You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop
To live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
and constant in bringing hope and encouragement
to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.
With confidence in your generous providence
and through the intercession of Saint Mary MacKillop
We ask that you grant our request……………….
We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit
so that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness.Ever generous God hear our prayer.
We ask this through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The feast day of Australians first saint on the 8th August let us reflect on why St. Mary MacKillop was so highly regarded as a person dedicated to her faith and her god. Mary dedicated most of her life to educating the poor children of society. She was prepared to challenge the authorities of the time to ensure that those at the margins were care for in a loving manner. Mary’s legacy has gone well and truly beyond the beginnings in Penola. Sisters of St Joseph today are a robust group of women working in Australia, New Zealand, East Timor, Ireland, Peru and Brazil and follow in Mary’s footsteps doing a wide variety of works, revealing to all the hospitable heart of God.
Saint Mary Mackillop Pray for Us
National Vocations Awareness Week
The Catholic Church in Australia celebrates National Vocations Awareness Week in August, coinciding with the feast of the country’s first saint: St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. In 2022, National Vocations Awareness Week is being celebrated from August 7-14. During the week we were encouraged to pray for vocations of all. The laity hold a significant role in the life of the Church. Every Christian vocation is rooted in a sense of journeying and going forward, so that Christ is at the centre of our life. Pope Francis wrote, quoting from retired Pope Benedict XVI:
“The Christian vocation is first and foremost a call to love, a love, which attracts us and draws us out of ourselves, ‘decentring’ us and triggering ‘an ongoing exodus out of the closed inward-looking self towards its liberation through self-giving, thus toward authentic self-discovery and indeed the discovery of God”.
(Catholic Weekly, 2 August, 2015)
Let us pray that we fearlessly use the unique gifts God has given us to bring Christ into the world.
Prayer for the Assumption of Mary
Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Assumption of Mary Painting: Our Heavenly Hope – Artist: Lisa Andrews. In her painting of the Assumption, Lisa has Mary’s arms outstretched, signifying the acceptance of her status as Co-redemptrix, and echoing her Son’s outstretched arms at the crucifixion, as well as her reception of His body from the cross. This pose also bespeaks the hope we have through Christ’s Resurrection, for her arm reaches up in joy as she is taken up by angels to Him now in glory. With her face turned toward heavenly light, away from earthly trials, her veil, representing earthly obedience and humility, falls away, and her right hand drops the sundry cloth used to wipe away sweat. Having let go of the toils and sorrows of this life, and radiant in the light streaming toward her, highlighting her spotless garment as the Bride of Christ, she reaches towards heaven where a crown of stars shimmers before her. With her eyes ablaze with the light of heaven, her gaze is steady toward her Divine home where the Father, Son and Spirit, the fullness of Trinitarian Love, await her.
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Amen
The Feast of the Assumption
Each year on 15th August, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast day commemorates the death of Mary and her bodily
assumption into Heaven, before her body could begin to decay–a foretaste of our own bodily resurrection at the end of time. Because it signifies the Blessed Virgin’s passing into eternal life, it is the most important of all Marian feasts and a Holy Day of Obligation for all Catholics.
The Gospel for this holy day recalls Mary’s actions after the announcement of Jesus’ birth by the Angel Gabriel. Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth who is also with child. Elizabeth greets Mary with full recognition of the roles they and their unborn children will play in God’s plan for salvation. Mary responds to Elizabeth’s greeting with her song of praise, the Magnificat. Both women recall and echo God’s history of showing favour upon the people of Israel.
Therefore, today’s Gospel highlights Mary’s faith. Mary’s faith enabled her to recognize the work of God in her people’s history and in her own life. Her openness to God allowed God to work through her so that salvation might come to all. Mary is a model and symbol of the Church. May we be like Mary, open and cooperative in God’s plan of salvation.
Around the world, this is a very significant day with many celebrations planned. Having visited my parents’ hometown in Italy several years ago, I was fortunate enough to be present during these wonderful celebrations. The whole town was filled with joy and happiness as people from all over the world came together to celebrate the feast of our most Blessed Mary. As a college we were able to celebrate this feast day as the community of St. Dominic’s sharing in the love for Mary. May we also continue to devote ourselves to Mary in our lives so that we are open to God’s plans for us.
Social Justice Sunday – Sunday 28th August
The Catholic Bishops have released their Social Justice Statement for 2022-2023. Entitled, Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse, the statement points out that the roots of domestic violence and family violence ‘lie in the abuse of power to control and dominate others’ and that ‘this stands in contrast to the relationships to which Gad calls us’. The statement affirms the work being done by faith communities and organisations to support those who experience domestic and family violence, and abuse. It addresses the drivers and enablers of violence. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB writes in the forward:
“The message of the Gospel is not a message of domination of one person over another but a message of mutual esteem and kindness.”
I employ you to read the statement as it plains that family and domestic violence “affects people of all ages and from all backgrounds”, but notes it “predominantly affects women and children”. We all have a role to play in challenging violence and abuse. You can find the statement and associated resources at https://socialjustice.catholic.org.au/
Year 12 Rite of Passage
A rite of passage is a powerful social activity or ceremony that marks an evolution from one stage in life to another. One pertinent to St Dominic’s College is from being a member of the College, to being a graduate of the College. There is a need to emphasis the connections with our St Dominic’s community, our values, our beliefs, our faith and our traditions so that Year 12 students understand this pivotal transition to adulthood. The Year 12 Rite of Passage program assists the students in this transition and fosters a sense of belonging and identity in each young man. We are halfway through the program and look forward to the ongoing support the College provides as our sons in their formation as gentlemen and their transition to life without St Dominic’s.
2023 College Prefect Retreat
On Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd August, Ms Shaw, Mr Jansz and myself had the privilege to host the College Prefect Retreat for our newly elected College leaders. The retreat provided an opportunity for the students to reflect upon their decision to accept their role as leaders. It also allows the students to commence sharing ideas and thoughts into how they will best serve the St Dominic’s College community during the next eighteen months. The elected leaders are most impressive and will confidently continue the great work of all the leaders who have come before them and thus contributing positively to the College. I would like to also thank the current College Prefects who shared their insights into their leadership of the College during a reflective session after school on Monday. It was obvious that there is a special bond between members of these two groups. The student leadership of the College is in safe hands.
Semester One Academic Awards
On Wednesday August, the College acknowledged the academic success stories from Semester One reports. Over 350 students (approx. 45% of the student population) were recognised for their Semester one achievements. Students received a certificate for Academic Excellence (First in Course for Y11 and a Grade “A” for Y7 – 10), Academic Commitment (for a DSE score of above 90%) and Academic Improvement (significant learning gains from Term 1 to Term 2). It was a great celebration of learning within the College and all students should be proud of their achievements. I would like to thank Mr Borg (Director of Curriculum) and all our Support Staff who helped bring this significant day together.
Literacy and Numeracy Week
During week 7 the College acknowledged National Literacy and Numeracy Week. Throughout the course of the week students had the opportunity to engage in a number of literacy and numeracy activities. During the week, over 70 students were involved in “Write a Book in a Day”. The books produced by the students were amazing. The imagination demonstrated by our students clearly proved we are producing some outstanding writers for the future. Literacy and numeracy continue to be a significant focus for the College therefore I would encourage families to engage with their son’s literacy and numeracy skills. One idea could be for families to read a book together or set time aside were as a you are reading.
Father’s Day connected to Jersey Day (organ donation awareness)
On Friday 2nd September, the College will celebrate Father’s Day. Over 500 fathers, grandfathers, carers, sons and grandsons will be involved in the celebration of the Eucharist followed by breakfast. The response to this day has been amazing. We have connected this day to Jersey Day that highlights and promotes organ donation. As we celebrate Father’s Day let us pray the following prayers to thank, remember or protect our fathers, grandfather, carers or significant male role models in the lives of our sons.
For those who cannot be with us on Friday, I would like to wish all our fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers, uncles, or significant male role figure a very happy Father’s Day. May this be a time for our sons and grandsons to express their love for those men in their lives that mean so much to them. Have a blessed Father’s Day.
YR 12 HSC Trial Examinations
Year 12 students have completed their HSC trial examinations and from all reports students were pleased with the examinations themselves and are very hopeful that they have performed well. There are great expectations from the students about their successes in these exams and we look forward to some great results. Persistence and determination to strive for your personal best is most important during these exams. Maintaining enthusiasm post the examinations is very important especially in the receiving of the feedback from teachers
During the month of August, we experienced a great variety of activities. Please view many of these events through our College Website:
2022 Semester 1 Academic Assembly
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Liturgy
Literacy and Numeracy Week Commences
Literacy and Numeracy Week Continues
Year 10 Geography Excursion to Pyrmont and Ultimo
NRL Great Royce Simmons Visits St Dominic’s College
PDSSSC Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to all our athletics for their efforts at the PDSSSC Athletics carnival. This was the first time we have entered this carnival. All our athletes should be congratulated in their efforts and support of each other during the carnival.
Congratulations to the following students for their performance and achieved many personal best. St Dominic’s started exceptional well with comfortably winning both 16-17+ and 14-15’s relays. Our 12-13s battled the entire way giving it their personal best and finished 5th. Other successes achieved throughout the day are listed below:
- Brayden Petersen 2nd in 1500m
- Jaylin Moran 2nd in Discuss and 3rd in High Jump
- Brodie Williams 2nd in Long Jump & 4th in 400m
- Ethan Hadfield 2nd in 100m & 200m
- Jarred Haydon 1st in 200m & 2nd long Jump and 100m
- Lachlan Green 1st in Discuss
- Toby Camilleri 1st in Javelin
- Kennedy Storr 5th in 400m
- Riley Pollard 1st in Shot put
- Jett Hickson 3rd in High Jump
- Adrian Hadfield 1st in 100m & 200m
- Brandon Kopp 2nd in 100m
I encourage all students to continue to seek opportunities so that the Lord’s light can shine brightly in their heart.
May we all continue to live life with hope.
Dominus Lux Mea
Mr Michael Ronchetti
St Dominic’s College Principal