Term 4, 2025 Newsletter: week 2

Dear parents,

When Robert Cardinal Prevost first appeared after his election as Pope Leo XIV, the Holy Father marked himself as a son of St Augustine: “I am an Augustinian, a son of St. Augustine, who once said, ‘With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.’” We are sure to learn more about St Augustine now that an Augustinian friar occupies the Chair of Peter. (Not to mention Fr Byrnes' recent, not-at-all controversial declaration of St Augustine to be the greatest Catholic theologian.) But not only St Augustine, Pope Leo has spent much of his early addresses and homilies referencing the example and writings of saints, especially the Fathers of the Church, including St Ignatius of Antioch, St Gregory the Great and St Ephrem the Syrian.

An emphasis on the saints is one of the deepest marks of our school. We are firstly sons and daughters of St Mary MacKillop, a great saint of the Church, Australia's first canonised saint, our patron in prayer and the duties of school life. Every morning after prayers the saint of the day is read about, reflected upon and intercession sought. Several saints are proposed for emulation in the monthly virtues program. The current virtue of the month is forgiveness with the K-2 saint St Patrick, Year 3-6 Bl Margaret of Castello and the Year 7-10 saint St Josephine Bakhita, who was unspeakably abducted into slavery before converting to Christianity. 

Each SMMC classroom is named for a saint in whose patronage the teachers and students teach and learn. As you know, four new classrooms are on the cusp of readiness, while two portable classrooms are being fitted out for use as atriums in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. I would like to invite you and your children to propose new names for these six learning spaces. A suggestion box will be placed in the front office. May I suggest that to each saint's name be added some reasons for proposing that particular saint? Attached is a flyer that each family may use to make their suggestions.  The new rooms will be officially opened and blessed at Presentation Night, and an opportunity to tour will be possible at the end of the night's program.

I am deeply grateful for the many parents, staff, students and friends who prepared and managed stalls at last week's Country Fete. Many local people have commented to me about how lovely the event was. As this is a particular occasion to reach out to the local community, it was a witness of community spirit and friendship that touched those who came. Thank you.

And thanks for your support.

Warm regards,

Ian Smith

Principal

Week 2 Term 4 2025 Newsletter.pdf

Download PDF • 1.56MB