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PRAYER
Our prayer this week focuses on the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and comes from Sister Joyce Rupp who is a Sister of the Serviette Order. We celebrate this important event in our Church tradition in the season of Pentecost which occurs 50 days after Easter. However, as many of our children are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this term, it is a timely reminder of our own Confirmation, connecting us to God through the Holy Spirit and calling us to live our lives, using the fruits and gifts granted to us.
Come, Spirit who is our Light.
Shine among the shadows within.
Warm and transform our hearts.
Come, Spirit who makes a home in us.
Draw us to the treasures of your dwelling.
Reveal to us the inner journey of love
Come, Spirit, Comforter and Consoler.
Heal the wounded. Soothe the anxious.
Be consolation for all who grieve and ache.
Come, Spirit who energizes our being.
Keep us from the tangles of toil and travail.
Lead us to moments of prayer and play.
Come, Spirit, consuming Fire of Love.
Fill us with enthusiasm for your vision.
May the desire for truth be vibrant in us.
Come, Spirit, joy of our souls.
Dance amid life’s hills and valleys,
Encircle us with the delights of your dance.
Come, Spirit, source of our Peace.
Deepen in us the actions of peacemakers.
Heal the divisions that ravage the earth.
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Welcome to Term 4 2020 with the finish line in sight. I trust that everyone has had a restful and well-deserved break, and each of you is looking forward to the beginning of all that term 4 brings. For the last few days at morning drop off, it has been lovely to see the smiling faces of our students and their eagerness of returning to school - jumping out of the cars with enthusiasm- well mostly. This highlights for me that Stella Maris is a safe and happy place for our students. So, despite the fact that the world has been engulfed by a pandemic, we as a community, have continued to see all that is good in our lives and push forward with a sense of positivity.
LEAVE
Mrs Julie Hopkins, our REC and 1 Gold teacher, will be on Long Service Leave for the first 3 weeks of this term. In her absence, Ms Grace Sullivan will be teaching 1 Gold. Mr Sykes is also currently on Long Service Leave and will return to school on Thursday 22 October. I will be the Acting Principal in Mr Sykes’ absence.
WEDDING BELLS !!
During the vacation break, three of our staff members tied the knot. Trying to do so in COVID restricted times has been increasingly challenging and they have had to change plans many times! However, their commitment of wanting to be married was far stronger than any world pandemic. Our Year 2 teacher Mr Adam O’Grady and our PE teacher, Ms Jacqui Fry, took the life long step of choosing each other to spend the rest of their lives together. Miss Tina Porter, our Year 6 teacher married the love of her life, Travis. By all accounts it was a beautiful day for all involved. We wish them all the very best as they embark on married life and create their own history book of memories and life events.
WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY
World Teachers' Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and thank teachers for the important role they play inside our classrooms and out in the community. Celebrated in more than 100 countries world-wide, World Teachers' Day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1994 to recognise the role of teachers in society.
Each October, people around the world celebrate the contributions of teachers made in the pursuit of educating our young people. Despite the major challenges faced in 2020 by all educators, the staff of Stella Maris have continued to strive for excellence in educating and helping our students reach their full potential. As I am sure you can imagine, this has been no mean feat but to the staff’s credit, they have continued to work extremely hard and have done so with a positive, collective attitude.
To celebrate this important event, the P and F will be supplying a morning tea on Friday 16 October for the staff on behalf of the parent community, to thank them for their constant hard work. On behalf of the staff, I wish to thank the P and F for their thoughtfulness and generosity in recognising the great work of all the staff.
CHRISTMAS STORY ART COMPETITION
As mentioned in the final newsletter of Term 3, six students from Years 5 and 6 had their artwork selected to go through to the first judging level of the Diocesan Christmas Art competition. The students were:
Year 5: Jack Broadhead, Charlotte Gelfius, Bronte Grove
Year 6: Keegan McIlwaine, Amelia Dimitrievski, Cate Mansbridge
From the many entries submitted across the diocese, two of our students have been selected to move to the next stage of judging. Congratulations to Keegan McIlwaine and Amelia Dimitrievski who will now have their artwork exhibited at the Wollongong Art Gallery. Congratulations to Keegan, who was awarded a Highly Commended Award in the Year 6 section. The opening night was last night and the exhibition will remain open until the end of November. The opening event is now available as a virtual event and you can view it via the following link:
PRACTICUM STUDENTS
This term we welcome two Practicum students from Notre Dame University, who are in their second year of study.
1B- Angus Chadwick
2G - Christina Dominis
We trust that this experience will be fulfilling and a wonderful learning opportunity in developing their teaching craft. They will be part of the Stella Maris community until the end of Week 9 Term 4.
This Sunday’s Gospel is from the book of Matthew 22:1-14+.
Invite everyone you can to the wedding
Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He dispatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Confirmation
During Term 4, many of our Year 6 children will be preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Their preparation will be done as part of a Parish and Parents Partnership with School Support. This is due to COVID restrictions which continue to change our normal operations. The students will be involved with lessons at school and they will be asked to take home their workbook and share their learnings with their parents/carers. During the course of the next few weeks, they will be learning about the importance of receiving this important Sacrament and will be preparing to do so. Receiving such, completes all that was given to them at Baptism and the candidates become full members of the Catholic Church. In receiving the Holy Spirit, the children will be called upon to participate in the ministry and mission of Jesus, strengthening their capacity to follow Jesus more closely. The relevant candidates will be confirmed at All Saints Church Shellharbour City on either the 5 or 6 November.
The symbolic actions in being confirmed include:
- The Laying of the Hands. Here, Fr Joe will raise his hands above the children and pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This ritual is connected to Baptism, strengthening the Holy Spirit in their vocation to follow the way of Jesus.
- Anointing with oil. The anointing of the children at Confirmation, recognises that they are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Fr Joe will anoint the candidate’s forehead with the Oil of Chrism, saying ‘Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit’.
- The Sign of Peace. At the end of the rite, Fr Joe will place his hand on the side of the candidate’s face and say, ‘Peace be with you’ to which the children will respond, ‘And with your spirit’. This symbolises the children’s place within the Church community.
In preparing and receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, allows these children to act out their missionary life, calling on the gifts of the Holy Spirit to live out the mission of Jesus. As a Catholic community, it is important for us as parents and educators, to continue to discuss with our young people how they can use their gifts to be the face of Christ in our world, how they can be fully alive and present in living their faith and be a gift to others. During this time of preparation, please pray for the candidates.
October - Month of our Lady of the Rosary
October is the month of our Lady of the Rosary. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the people at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, praying the rosary with the faithful and said:
‘Today, together we confirm that the Holy Rosary is not a pious practice banished to the past, like prayers of other times thought of with nostalgia. Instead, the Rosary is experiencing a new Springtime. Without a doubt, this is one of the most eloquent signs of love that the young generation nourish for Jesus and his Mother, Mary. In the current world, so dispersive, this prayer helps to put Christ at the centre, as the Virgin did, who meditated within all that was said about her Son, and also what he did and said. When reciting the Rosary, the important and meaningful moments of salvation history are relived. The various steps of Christ's mission are traced. With Mary the heart is oriented toward the mystery of Jesus. Christ is put at the centre of our life, of our time, of our city, through the contemplation and meditation of his holy mysteries of joy, light, sorrow and glory. May Mary help us to welcome within ourselves the grace emanating from these mysteries, so that through us we can "water" society, beginning with our daily relationships, and purifying them from so many negative forces, thus opening them to the newness of God. The Rosary, when it is prayed in an authentic way, not mechanical and superficial but profoundly, it brings, in fact, peace and reconciliation. It contains within itself the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the centre of each "Hail Mary".
CatholicCulture.org
During this month of October, you are encouraged as a family to pray the rosary. It doesn’t have to be done as a whole thing. You may decide to pray just one decade of the rosary at a set time each day. It is a powerful prayer that can add meaning to your life, strengthen your family and bring peace to the world.
Sunday Mass Times
All Saints Church
19 College Avenue, Shellharbour City
Sat Vigil 5:00pm
Sun 9.00am - including Children’s Liturgy
5.00pm
Weekday Mass Times
Tuesday: Stella Maris Church 9:45am
Wednesday: All Saints Church 9:00am
Thursday: All Saints Church 9:00am
Friday: All Saints Church 9:30am (Eucharistic Adoration 9:00am)
Saturday: All Saints Church 9:00am
Midweek Masses have resumed as normal.
Confession
By Appointment
Mass and Reconciliation times are subject to change.
Please confirm times with the Parish Office.
Please follow the link to the Parish Bulletin
Angela Crandell
Assistant Principal
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Canteen News
We are a school run canteen and rely on volunteers to operate.
Canteen is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to make and prepare lunch orders and serve the children over the counter.
Online orders can be made via the My School Connect app - www.myschoolconnect.com.au/stellamarisps click on create account.
