Feast of the Assumption - 15 August

This week the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of the Assumption. The Catholic Weekly explains the Feast of the Assumption as a feast that celebrates when, according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.

Although defined as an article of faith by Pope Pius XII just over half a century ago, the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven has been accepted from back to the earliest of Christian times.

The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Assumption and the Resurrection and Ascension. Whereas Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, Mary’s body was taken up to heaven by the power of her Son.

On this day we honour Mary and give thanks for her role in Jesus’ life. We honour her as Mother to us all and ask her to be part of our lives as a guide and a role model, as she was for Jesus.

As the Feast of the Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation (meaning Catholics are required to attend Mass) Mass was offered before school by Fr Loi of St Bernard’s Parish. I thank Fr Loi for celebrating Mass for us on this special day.

Formation Day - 13 August

On Tuesday, our Year 10 students participated in a Formation Day, designed to nurture their leadership potential and encourage them to embrace new challenges. The day was centred around the theme of "launching out into the deep," a powerful metaphor for stepping beyond one's comfort zone, embracing risks, and taking the initiative to lead by example.

The day began with a series of engaging sessions and activities aimed at exploring the qualities of effective leadership. Students were encouraged to reflect on their own strengths and areas for growth, as well as to consider the importance of leading with empathy, integrity, and a sense of service to others. The Formation Day culminated in an exhilarating "Amazing Race" challenge, designed to reinforce the day's lessons through a fun and dynamic team-building experience.

By the end of the day, our Year 10 students had not only gained a deeper understanding of leadership but also had a memorable experience that will serve as a foundation for their continued growth. As we look forward to seeing these students take on more leadership roles within our school community, we are confident that the lessons learned during this Formation Day will continue to resonate with them.