Dear Families,

School Closure Day

A reminder that next Monday 14 August is a school closure day, as outlined in the Term 3 calendar.

Meditation 

Beginning each day with class meditation makes St Paul’s a very special place to be. It helps to create a calm environment and allows the students to focus and connect with their classmates, teachers and their learning space at the beginning of their day. In order for this to be a truly prayerful and special time, we ask that all phones are on silent and not in use at all; that conversation and movement is kept to a minimum; and by moving off swiftly and quietly when meditation is finished so the teachers can commence the learning sessions for the day without disturbance.  

Effective Communication Guidelines for Interactions with Teachers

As we continue to work together to provide the best educational experience for our students, we would like to emphasise the importance of effective communication when reaching out to your child’s teacher.  

When sending emails to teachers, we kindly request that you maintain an appropriate and respectful tone throughout your correspondence. This fosters a positive environment for both parties and ensures a productive exchange of information.

We understand that there may be instances where you need to address concerns raised by your child. In such cases, it is crucial to consider both perspectives - that of the teacher and your child. By doing so, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of the context surrounding the situation. We encourage you to approach these matters with an open mind and seek to collaborate with the teacher in finding the best solution for your child’s benefit.  

Our goal is to maintain a strong partnership between parents, guardians and teachers, ensuring the well-being and success of our students. Effective communication plays a pivotal role in achieving this objective. Let’s continue to work together to create a positive and nurturing learning environment for our children. 

Thank you for your ongoing support. 

SRC Semester 2 

Student Awards

Term 3 Fee Statements

Fee Statements will be emailed to families this week outlining any outstanding fees.  If you elected to make a lump sum payment and have not already done so, then please ensure payment is made as soon as possible. If you currently have a payment plan in place, then no action is required.

Please review your statements and contact the office should you have any queries.

Upcoming Dates

Monday 14 August: School closure day

Tuesday 15 August: Whole school Mass 10am

Wednesday 16 August: Author visit

Friday 25 August: Book Collection Day. Dress up as your favourite character

Wednesday 30 August: Father's Day breakfast

Friday 1 September: Father's Day stall

Wishing you all a lovely week.

Kind regards,

Freda

Congratulations 

We congratulate the following students who received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on the 29 July, 30 July, 5 August and 6 of August. 

Mitchell Loft, Sam Gray, Samuel Holland, Aria Neve O'Halloran, Matilda Johnson, Rose Heelis, Hamish Heelis, Mason Woloshenko, Finlay Byrne, Loretta Mary Wise, Noah Sandham, Alexander Entwisle, Nicholas Anastasio, Ruby Colquitt, Sofia Madanis, Malu Martin, Lucy Holmes, Chelsea Bourke, Noah Reynolds, Violet Belej, Eva Balint, Ariel Schembri, Ava Miller, 

Ava Lily Rafferty, Kiara D’Angelo, Olivia Payavlas, Riley Thomas Bull, Eli Board, Christian D'Cruz, Reece Bobik, Ben Manakis, Elle Gardiner and Rani Mercieca.

We thank Fr Jacob and Fr Paul for their continued support and guidance. We also thank the Grade 4 families, the teachers (Cathy Lawrence, Elizabeth Heath, Alexandra Carlson), St. Paul's Parish Sacramental Team (Donrita Reefman, Anabel Acosta-Harvey and Andy DSilva) and the Parish Coordinators. Our school and parish communities appreciate all of the hard work that was carried out in the preparation for the Sacrament. As we move forward, let us continue to keep all the candidates in our prayers and wish them and their families the very best as they take this important step in their faith journey.

The Eucharist 

The following extract is from Fr. Mike O’Connor’s homily called ‘Answered My Lord and My God’. The homily was on the readings from the Mass of St. Thomas’ Feast Day (Ephesians 2:19-22 John 20:24-29) which was a few weeks ago. This particular homily reminds me that we can all be like doubting Thomas. The readings and this particular homily align and give us some more insight into the mystery of the Eucharist.

Answered - My Lord & My God by Fr. Mike O’Connor

You can also listen to Fr. Mike’s homily here. 

There really is a mystery to our faith. Faith is a gift from God. Faith is a human act. 

It really is a mystery and we think about Thomas, he saw Lazarus raised from the dead. Thomas saw Jesus walk on water, he saw Jesus multiply the bread - he saw it. Thomas saw it with his own eyes. Now his good friends are telling him, Jesus was raised from the dead and Thomas just happened to be out. Maybe Thomas was Bolder and more courageous. He wasn't up there the first Sunday, he was out somewhere but you know Thomas is probably like you and me. He's been on an emotional roller coaster, hasn't he? Thomas has seen all the Miracles. You can only imagine how disappointing it would have been when Jesus was crucified and died. 

Thomas is there and in so many ways Thomas is there for us who have not seen and so he says these words these words and there's a bit of tragedy there's a tremendous amount of sadness I think as I hear this gospel proclaimed. I can imagine you know 21st century skeptics saying this, “unless Jesus comes and stands in front of me and I can put my finger into the hole in his hand, unless I myself put my hand into the wound on his side; I will not believe”. 

You know what is Faith again? It is a gift. What is Faith again? It is a human act and something that we have to choose - to be faithful. We see in Thomas this paradox of having everything and then saying I won't believe. Having the grace, having the gift, having the presence, I will not believe. 

And then here's Jesus standing in front of him. “Come over here, Thomas”. Can you imagine? I bet Thomas felt like crawling under the table. But Thomas doesn't

go put his finger into the hand, he doesn't put his hand into the side, what does he do? He says something that most of you say regularly, “My Lord and my God” and that's a great statement of faith. 

I can't get into all of the linguistic tricks there but Thomas is saying, “You are equal to the father”. Thomas has come to the understanding of Jesus's divinity, my Lord and my God. So Thomas's faith has leapt up to the fullness of faith in the Trinity. 

Now we're going to celebrate the Holy Eucharist and as I call down the power of the spirit, the epiclesis, the Holy Spirit comes on the gifts and consecrate the bread and the wine. Then a few minutes later I'm going to elevate The Host or in that moment I'm going to elevate the host. I would encourage you, I would ask you to pray for the faith and receive the gift of faith, that as the host is elevated, you say in faith, my Lord and my God because our Lord and our God is present here. Just as he was on the road to Emmaus, stay with us Lord. That's our faith but we are on that emotional rollercoaster sometimes too aren't we? Where we believe. And then sometimes we ask, where are you Jesus? I don't know, I don't know anymore. My Lord and my God. 

So we remember Thomas. We are like Thomas. We are grateful for Thomas, he makes us feel not so bad for the human act and the gift of faith. Lord, I believe. Lord, heal my unbelief.

Fr. Mike has a Youtube channel called: Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. You can listen to his homilies every week. You can also list on the podcast - Pod Apostle.

The reference to Fr. Mike O'Connor is prompted by the awareness that not everyone can physically attend Church. During COVID when there were church closures, my parents introduced me to Fr. Mike O'Connor as an alternative means of spiritual nourishment. This idea resonated with me as my Dad often told us that his parents used to listen to Archbishop Fulton Sheen's radio broadcasts every Sunday night, setting an example of soulful sustenance. In a similar manner, my parents now share Fr. Mike O'Connor's weekly homilies on YouTube with my five sisters and me, emphasising the importance of nurturing our souls. 

As Catholics, the imperative to feed our souls becomes evident when we begin to question our faith. Witnessing a family from St. Paul's attending Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral's Vigil Mass on the 5th of August exemplified the communal aspect of spiritual enrichment. Living in a vibrant city like Melbourne grants us a wealth of Mass options, with numerous splendid Churches available to us. Discovering a parish that feels like ‘home’ is a truly profound experience. Ultimately, the quest to nourish our souls is a vital aspect of our spiritual journey that starts with you. 

I would encourage you to listen to Fr. Mike’s homilies. He is a true Shepherd of our Catholic Church. 

Paschal Candle - thank you

On 15 August 2023, St. Paul's Catholic School will mark a historic occasion. We extend our gratitude to Sister Delia and Donrita for their contributions in allowing us to have last year’s magnificent Paschal Candle. While it may seem a small gesture, it certainly has touched many hearts in our school community. We thank St Paul’s parish for their continued support and direction. 

The students have begun to learn about the significance of the paschal candle to our Church. The Paschal candle is a rich symbol of our faith. It is one of the great and beautiful symbols of the Risen Christ. It reminds us that Christ is the Alpha and the Omega and that all time belongs to him. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. 

The students have also learnt that the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet are used by the letter of Saint Paul when he says “Christ is yesterday, today and forever.” Christ is the same. He is the beginning and the end. He is the Alpha and the Omega. 

NEW Altar Servers

At the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Tuesday 15 August), we will be proudly announcing six new altar servers: Matilda Commerford, Pia Damasco, Christian D’Cruz, Samuel Falaco, Amelia Jackman and Loretta Wise. The term "altar server" originates from the Latin word "ministrare" meaning "to serve". This date will mark a truly special time in our Catholic School history. We congratulate these students and express our sincere appreciation for their dedicated service to our school and parish. 

Volunteers Needed!

Marjorie Brady is an extraordinary parishioner in the Holy Trinity parish and is our ‘in-house’ seamstress. She would appreciate and love for any parents at St Paul’s to help her with the gowns for the altar servers. If you think you can help with cutting out a sewing pattern, please contact the Parish Office - 03 9579 4255 or let the school office know.

The Feast Day of Mary MacKillop

The 8th of August is the feast day of Australia’s first saint, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Her work in establishing schools for all has left a lasting legacy and provided a call to action in responding to the needs we see in our community. 

A consciousness of the significance of Saints has long been part of the Christian tradition. Over the centuries the Church set forth the saints as examples of those who lived exemplary lives in the following of Christ. They were people who modelled great faith. Many suffered and died for their beliefs. The Saints of heaven could intercede for those who prayed to them and they merited public honour and recognition by the Church.

The Vatican II Council gave emphasis to the ‘Communion of Saints’, a rich symbol that speaks to us of relationship and helps us to understand that we belong to a community of people living and dead, who are graced by God. The saints are our companions as we strive to live the Christian life. This communion helps us not just to remember the past but to turn towards the future with hope. It gives us a sense of who we are, where we come from and what we hope to become. In the ‘communion of saints, we find women and men who have courageously given

flesh to Gospel values and whose very lives point us towards the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

The saints are best understood within their own historical and cultural contexts, for only then can we really appreciate the radical nature of their lives. Without this the saints can too easily become romanticised to the point where they can seem irrelevant.

Pope John Paul II declared Mary MacKillop ‘Blessed’ in Sydney Australia in 1995. This was an important step towards formal acknowledgement of Mary as  Australia’s first saint. Blessed Mary MacKillop, known as Mother Mary of the Cross, was born in Melbourne in 1842. Her family emigrated from Scotland and as the eldest child she carried many family responsibilities. When Father Julian Tenison Woods met Mary in 1861 he was inspired by her faith and strong desire to serve God. They shared the belief, uncommon for that time that Catholic education should be accessible to all children including the poor and those living in isolated areas. Their deep spiritual insight into the abiding presence of God and their conviction that they could make a difference directed them to found new institutions to educate children and care for the destitute.

In 1866 Mary became the first Sister, and Mother Superior, of the newly formed Order of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, the first religious order to be founded by an Australian. Inspired and encouraged by Fr Woods, Mary opened the first Saint Joseph's School in a disused stable in Penola, South Australia. From these humble beginnings her vision grew as she addressed the needs of her day, setting up orphanages, caring for the homeless and providing refuges for ex-prisoners who wished to make a fresh start in life.

She died on August 8, 1909 in the convent in Mount Street, North Sydney where her tomb is now enshrined. Mary MacKillop and her sisters were a wonderful example of people who gave shape to the Gospel and took seriously their  baptism call to discipleship.

Today there are Sisters of St. Joseph working in a number of fields in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Peru and Brazil. There are also the Federation Sisters of St. Joseph as well as a number of groups such as the Josephite Associates, Young Josephites and Josephite Partners who strive to live out the Josephite charism in daily life.

(Text extract from Crossways CRIS - Catholic Resource Information Service)

World Youth Day update

On Wednesday 26th of July, pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Melbourne had the privilege of meeting with Pope Francis in Rome. The occasion was a special private audience in preparation for World Youth Day in Lisbon. During the meeting, Pope Francis provided encouragement for the pilgrims' faith journey and thoughtfully addressed a range of topics, including education, evangelization, environmental stewardship, and the responsibility of caring for our shared home.

When asked what message he wanted to get across to young people, the Holy Father simply said: ‘The main message I want to get across is that the Lord is always by your side—always. Even in the most difficult moments, he is always with us. He never tires of walking with us!’

Prayer for WYD Pilgrims 

Heavenly Father, 

You called Mary and opened her heart to say ‘yes’ to the mission you asked of her. Filled with the Holy Spirit, 

She rose and set out in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth to share the Good News. Help our pilgrims as they go on pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Lisbon. 

Be their companion and strength on their journey, 

Open their hearts to the prompting of your Spirit, 

And lead them to a deep and abiding encounter with your Son. 

Like Mary, may they return from World Youth Day, 

filled with your Spirit and ready proclaim the Good News in the parishes, schools, and local communities of Melbourne. Amen 

Saint John Paul II, pray for us. 

Our Lady of the Visitation, pray for us.

Upcoming Whole School Masses

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated at St. Paul’s Church on Tuesday 15 August at 10am. 

Rebecca Nolan

RE Leader

Dear families

All parents and friends are warmly invited to attend the Term 3 P&F meeting.  Details are as follows:

Bentleigh RSL (upstairs meeting room)
Wednesday 16 August
7.00pm 

All are welcome to attend, please rsvp to the P&F Secretary, Julia O'Reilly,  pandf@spbentleigh.catholic.edu.au  if you are planning to come along to the meeting. If you can't attend in person, please join online via link below.

Kind regards

Toni Anderson
P&F Predisent 


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