I hope you all were able to enjoy some quality family time together with your children over the break, whether that was restful and quiet time at home or adventuring and travelling. It is lovely to be back with the children again and to see their smiling faces as they entered school on Tuesday morning. Term 3 is always such a wonderful time for seeing growth in the students as they take on the second half of the year.

NAIDOC Week
During the holidays NAIDOC Week was celebrated across the country. This is an incredibly important observance in the history of our nation, that provides an opportunity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to build positive and respectful relationships, and to celebrate our shared cultures, traditions and histories. 

The theme of NAIDOC Week 2022 was Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! It is an open invitation for us to engage in the richness of Indigenous cultures by respecting and acknowledging the past, healing in the present and creating a harmonious future together.

We all play a pivotal role in the celebration of NAIDOC Week each year and continuing to pave the road towards the healing of our cultures and strengthening the bond amongst all Australians.

A Prayer for NAIDOC Week

God of all wonder, 
We pause in the busyness of our days to listen deeply to the wisdom 
of this land and those who belong to it. 
May our minds be open to dialogue, 
May our hearts be open to transformation and 
May our hands do the work of reconciliation. 
We ask that the Spirit accompany us on our journey of healing 
on these lands, seas and waterways; 
We also ask the Spirit of peace be with all those who are living a life of fear, 
dispossession and distress. 
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus our brother and friend. 
Amen

Confirmation
Last Sunday 24 July, thirteen St Mary’s students received the Sacrament of Confirmation at a lovely Mass. The students have spent time during Term 2 preparing for the sacrament and Sunday was a beautiful and memorable celebration for these children and their families. We thank Father Eden for preparing with the students and for the lovely Mass. He really engaged the children and made them feel very at ease. The children celebrated after Mass with a lovely Morning Tea in the presbytery gardens. 

First Eucharist
The Sacrament of First Eucharist will be celebrated this term with our Year 4 students. In lieu of a Parent Enrollment Evening, which was set to be held next Wednesday, information regarding the sacrament of Eucharist will be sent out to families via email. Some key dates to note in relation to the sacrament of Eucharist are listed below:

Parish Mass - Change of Time
Please note that there has been a change to Saturday Mass time. During the winter months, Saturday Mass will be celebrated at 5:00pm each week.