Catholic Education Week May 3 – 9 2021

Catholic Education Week is a wonderful opportunity to revisit, and cement, a unique educational experience which forms our Catherine McAuley community of Faith, Growth and Unity. We work closely with Fr. Pat, and our local parishes and Catholic organisations, to enhance students’ capacity to make sense of their world, to make judgements and to recognise the uniqueness of others within a faith community. This was particularly prevalent during Catholic Education Week.

This year we chose to say the Rosary throughout the month of May (as outlined in our last newsletter) when we come together for spiritual gatherings. We also completed communal prayer throughout the day. We took the opportunity, during Catholic Education Week, to stop, pause and reflect together as a whole school community remaining in individual classes. We completed Morning Prayer at 9.30am, Lunchtime Prayer at 12.40pm and End of Day Prayer at 2.35pm (over ‘loudspeaker’). Thank you to Izzy and Jess, 6/7 students, for running the prayers throughout the day and thank you to staff for ensuring time was provided for all prayers so gracefully and reverently.

Pastoral Works

At Catherine McAuley School, we believe in creating community through acts of respect and kindness – Mercy in Action. Our Outreach Program is designed to promote, develop and implement Catholic organisation based pastoral care programs. In Semester 1, we have raised, thus far, $321.25 from donations on Harmony Day and $269.00 from Project Compassion = $590.25. All funds support those less fortunate than ourselves through various Catholic organisations - help provided today goes toward a hopeful future for many. Knowing that you are helping others in their time of need is extremely empowering. Please know the positive effect it, and you, have on their lives is a blessing. Thank you for always being generous and kind, it is very much appreciated.

Pentecost Sunday 23 May 2021

This Christian holy day commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the New Testament in Acts 2:1–31. The Holy Spirit allowed the apostles to speak in other languages, allowed them to preach the word of Jesus to all. Over the week, students will explore the presence of the Spirit of God in all creation, in the community and in individuals. Students will have the opportunity to examine how the fruit of the Spirit are visible signs of following in the footsteps of Jesus. Galatians 5:22-23: God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. We are all blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They assist us for ministry, to serve others and to do so generously. At Catherine McAuley School, we collectively use our gifts to enable the Church to accomplish its mission to continue the work of Jesus and help others.

Linda Caldinez
APRIM