CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2021
This week is Catholic Schools Week, a time to recognise the positive contribution our teachers, parents and students have made towards Catholic Education, from both the past and the present. We celebrate all who have made our schools what they are today.

The theme for 2021 is ‘Faith in the Future’. This theme is shared with dioceses across the country as together, we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia.

As we pause this week to reflect on the precious gift of Catholic education, we remember the intergenerational contributions that preceded us and that we continue to build upon. Since the very first Catholic school was established, countless children and young people have benefitted from the dedication and commitment of parents and staff in our Catholic schools.

The week is designed to be a lively celebration and shared with members of our parish and the wider Catholic community—all in a COVIDsafe way. As Catholic Schools Week is celebrated during the second week of Lent, we will also focus on the ways that our school supports the more vulnerable and disadvantaged members of our wider community.

This year our school is celebrating 130 years of Catholic Education on this site. We are planning a celebration for later in the year, that hopefully our families can attend. Throughout this year, the students will be looking at ways our school has grown and changed throughout its history. I look forward to sharing with you the children’s insights and experiences.

Today, our students participated in a Catholic Schools Week Liturgy. Schools across the Diocese of Wollongong will all participate in a similar liturgy, making links to our wider network of schools that is our Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW). Thank you to Mrs Mitchell and the staff for preparing the students for this special celebration. 

This week, I share with you, a special prayer that has been written to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education. May you take some special time to reflect upon the message of this prayer and pray for the continued positive future of not only our Catholic school here in Mittagong, but all those schools across this great country of ours. 

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
200 YEAR PRAYER

Together we pray:

Almighty and all-loving God, 
with gratitude for the endeavours of Catholic education in the past, 
with confidence in our Catholic pre-schools, schools and universities today, 
and with faith in their continuing contribution in the future, 
we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in this Great South Land. 

As our Heavenly Father, 
we thank you for your providential care for your children in this land 
in inspiring priests, religious and lay people 
to found and staff our schools in ages past. 
Through them the Good News of your Son was brought to the young 
even in colonial times – and ever since. 

As Christ the Teacher, 
you grace the staff and leaders of Catholic education today. 
As they build on the achievements of their predecessors 
direct them in their present efforts 
to ensure that every young Australian has the opportunity 
for an excellent education and formation in faith. 

As our Inspiring Spirit, 
you lead us into the future.
In the century ahead, grant those teaching and learning in our schools, 
those planning and leading, 
and the families and community that entrust their young people to us, 
a love of learning and a willingness to be 
the face of Christ in the world of tomorrow. 

Pour out your abundant blessings upon all involved in the ministry of Catholic education. Amen. 

Our Lady of the Southern Cross – pray for us. 
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop,  Patron of Catholic Education in Australia – pray for us.

WELCOME DINNER FOR NEW STAFF TO THE CATHOLIC EDUCATION OFFICE
Last Thursday, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Wollongong Welcome Dinner for new staff working in Catholic Schools in our Diocese. We have two wonderful ladies who have recently joined our staff as School Support Officers. They are Ms Emma Storry and Mrs Kristie Faavae. During this dinner, Bishop Brian spoke about our Diocese to all who were attending. The following information is a message from Bishop Brian. It contains information about our Diocese and for our new members of our school community, this might be useful, to give you a guide about our Diocese. 

“My Colleagues in Catholic Education
There is so much that can be said about our belonging and our connectedness, but the reality is that we are part of something much bigger than who we are and what we think.  Our work, our life and our being part of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Wollongong, is what we are about.  It’s being part of the whole and not being just one particular area of the Church. To assist you, I am providing some links that show our connectedness to the bigger picture of the Church in Australia.

• A map of the Diocese of Wollongong listing all churches: https://www.dow.org.au/about-us/diocesan-map/
• A list of the parishes of the Diocese of Wollongong: https://www.dow.org.au/parish-mass-times/parishes/
• The structure of the Catholic Church in Australia: http://www.catholicdirectory.com.au/about/the church
• Provinces and Metropolitans and a breakdown of dioceses in Australia: https://www.catholic.org.au/bishops-commission-for-pastoral-life/dioceses

Again, I welcome you to our Diocese and thank you for all you bring to Catholic Education.

Yours in the Lord
Bishop Brian Mascord”

COVID-19 Update
Please refer to the attached message from Bishop Brian Mascord relating to the reception of the COVID-19 Vaccine.

PARENTS AND FRIENDS MEETING TERM 1
Thank you to the many parents who attended our Meet and Greet meetings last week. It was so wonderful to be able to see you again as a parent community. In the class meetings, I mentioned to the parents that I would really like to get our Parents and Friends meetings operational this year. At the moment, we have only two opportunities for meetings, as we still have COVID restrictions applying to meetings on site during school time. The two opportunities are:

1. Meet after school, however parents and children can not be in attendance together;
2. Zoom meeting.

When briefly mentioned, many of the parents noted that perhaps our first meeting could be a ZOOM meeting and if things change further this year, we may be able to have the meetings in a different way. 

I would like to gain perspective from our parents, on what would work best for the majority of the parents who would like to be part of the meetings. Later this week, I will send out a survey about the idea of a ZOOM meeting and if so, what time of the day would work best. 

In the meantime, Mrs Berrell has included information about what is a P&F and how parents and carers can participate in it. Please read this valuable information further in our newsletter. 

Thank you for your continued support of St Michael's School Community.

May you have a wonderful week.

God Bless,
Mrs Katrina West
Principal

Project Compassion
The season of Lent began with Ash Wednesday, which also marked the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice.

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each class has received a Project Compassion box. Students will also engage in video clips each week on the  projects Caritas complete with the generous funds raised by Project Compassion.

Saint Oscar Romero is our inspiration for Project Compassion 2021, so in his words let’s “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”

The Season of Lent
During lent we focus on our relationship with God and the important aspects of PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING.

Each morning at assembly the students of St Michael’s are saying extra prayers and are also encouraged to say extra prayers before going to bed or before meals each night as a family.

Fasting can be giving up something such as sweets, junk food or soft drink. Other items we can fast from could include the time spent using devices. Select an area in your house that is a device free zone and play a board game or read instead.

Almsgiving can be the donation of a few dollars towards Project Compassion. Perhaps donate clothes and toys to a local charity. The smallest gesture like a smile, spending time with someone or a kind word each day is another way to give during lent.

Catholic Schools Week
This week is Catholic Schools week and we celebrate all of the wonderful things students learn at our Catholic schools.

Students at St Michael’s were very lucky to watch a preview of the launch of Catholic Schools Week. They learnt about how the first Catholic school was founded in Parramatta. They also heard messages from different people about the connections of Catholic education in early settlement time. We heard from a sister of St Joseph who feels her strong connection to education and God through the works of St Mary MacKillop. 

On Wednesday morning students participated in a Liturgy to celebrate Catholic education in Australia.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
The World day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement that is led by Christian women and men who welcome you to join in prayer and action for peace and justice. World day of Prayer is celebrated on the first Friday of March each year and annually focuses on a different country. This year the theme is “Build on a Strong Foundation” and the country of focus is Vanuatu. This year with COVID restrictions students from our Liturgy group are not able to attend. Mr Tuckwell will represent our school in a Liturgy with members of our community.

MASS
Be assured that in the Parish, every precaution is being observed to ensure the safety of those who come to Mass: distancing is clearly marked in the Church and maintained during Mass; all of the liturgical restrictions are followed (Communion in the hand and no singing); the Church is cleaned after each Mass; registration of those who attend is carefully recorded; sanitising is practiced by all who enter the Church.  So, please, if you are well and able do not be hesitant about coming to Mass.