From APRE Term 2 Week 1

EASTER AND OUR WORLD IN 2024

Throughout our Liturgical year and particularly in this season of Easter, we read and contemplate the accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus. So how does this pivotal event of our Christian faith which occurred historically over 2,000 years ago, continue to give meaning to each of our lives in this early part of the 21st Century? Almost daily we witness, “the extensions of Christ’s body” being crucified through torture, bombing, homelessness, and exploitation, in so many parts of our fragile world. We are particularly saddened this week by the Bondi killings and other attacks in Sydney.  There are many times when watching graphic television reporting on these events, we feel we are gazing into the “heart of darkness”. What is our Christian response to such global pain and darkness? In discerning this, it may help us to recall the words of the poet Gerard Manly Hopkins when, in one of his poems he uses the word, “easter” as a verb – a doing word! This alerts us to the twofold nature of Easter. In remembering and celebrating this pivotal historical event, we open ourselves to the rising of life from death, happening in the heart of our present-day lived experiences. As with the first witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus, we are invited to allow ourselves to be surprised by the touches of the Risen Jesus within our human experiences. It is good to remember that the first Easter was experienced in the ordinary events of one’s life; having a meal, walking along a beach, being in the garden, even in the workplace of fishing! Furthermore, it is obvious that the Risen Lord transcends human boundaries imposed by space and time. The Easter narrative is our human/divine story. We are called to live it every day as we radiate light flowing from the gift of grace in both the ordinary and extraordinary events of our lives. Such a way of being, enables the Resurrected Christ to “easter” in us. It is in the daily rhythm of our own “living and dying” that Christ rises. May we continue to commit ourselves to journey into the “heart of light”, keeping our focus on Jesus, the one who in taking flesh, makes his home with us; and who, “the darkness can never overpower” (John 1:5).

PRAYER

May God bless us with gratitude for the love with which God freely gifts us in Jesus.

May Christ bless us with generosity to offer our lives – our time and energy – for peace, healing, and unity on the earth.

May the Holy Spirit bless us with wonder as we share the joy of Easter rising with all whom we encounter.

MOTHERS DAY CELEBRATION

Mater Dei will be celebrating our mothers on Friday 3 May with breakfast from 7.45am followed by a whole school liturgy in the hall led by Year 1 students.  All mums are warmly invited to attend.  We are a week earlier than the actual Mothers Day because Year 6 students are on camp the following week and we don’t want any students to miss out on celebrating with their mums.  Don’t forget to send a photo of the mum in your family to Ms Doherty – Kathleen.doherty@twb.catholic.edu.au – by Thursday 2 May. 

GRANDPARENTS DAY

Grandparents Day was a wonderful celebration of family connection and love.  We had over 450 grandparents join us for a wet but fun day of activities, morning tea and a whole school liturgy.  Once again, we are very grateful to all families for the food that was shared for morning tea.   Below are some of the many happy photos that were collected throughout the day.

CARITAS CARNIVAL

Our Year 6 Spirituality group ran a very successful Caritas Carnival on the last day of last Term.  There was much enjoyment and fun during the morning as we raised money for Caritas through Project Compassion.  This money will be used by Caritas to support people both locally and internationally to help themselves.

HOLY WEEK LITURGY

On the last day of Term 1, we gathered as a whole school to remember the events in Jesus’ life during Holy Week.  Our Year 6 Spirituality group lead our liturgy with all classes participating in the music throughout the liturgy.  We began Term 2 this week with an Easter liturgy remembering the joy and hope that is offered to us on Easter Sunday and throughout the Easter season.

MAYORAL MORNING TEA

Today, four of our Year 6 leaders, as part of the Community group, very ably represented Mater Dei at the Mayoral Morning Tea held at the Highfields Cultural Centre.  They joined 50 other schools from the Toowoomba region.  Mayor Geoff McDonald spoke about his personal values and the importance of leadership in any community.  It is great to know that Toowoomba's future is in the hands of many strong prospective leaders.

UPCOMING DATES:            

• ANZAC Day Liturgy – Wednesday 24 April 10am in the WMC
• Mothers Day breakfast (from 7.45am) and liturgy (8.45am) – Friday 3 May
• Parish Family Mass – Sunday 19 May at 9.30am in St Theresa’s Parish Centre (invitation coming soon to all families)

From APRE Week 9

HOLY WEEK

Holy Week is named “Holy” because it is an intense week of re-focusing on the most sacred story of our Christian belief – Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is a time of invitation to open a space into the heart and soul of our deepest search for meaning. Who is this Jesus that has changed the world? What does that mean to me? Can I respond to the invitation to deepen my Christian call to also make a difference.

May your celebration of Easter by a rejuvenating and relaxing time filled with family-love, and may the school holidays re-energise everyone ready for Term 2 adventures.

PRAYER

Gracious God, you sent your Son to show us how to live in love and peace with each other. Through your holy Word may we come to know and understand how Jesus teaches us to be people of love and compassion, people of courage and hope, people of kindness and understanding. May our hearts be open to his message. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, who is love. Amen.

GRANDPARENTS DAY

We are eagerly looking forward to welcoming Grandparents Day next Monday 25 March beginning at 8.45am and concluding at 12noon. 

Thank you in advance to families who are able to share a plate for morning tea.  If you name your container, we’ll return it to you straight away. 

If you have a grandparent who hasn’t been able to RSVP, they are still very welcome to join us.  There will be plenty for everyone.

CARITAS CARNIVAL

On Thursday 28 March, our last day of term, we will be holding a fun morning of activities on the oval to raise money for Project Compassion.   We are calling it our ‘Caritas Carnival’.  Children are invited to bring along coins of any denomination to participate in 5 different activities run by Year 6 students.  At the completion of the activities, each class will build a coin line with any coins they have left.  The class with the longest coin line, and the coin line with the most money will win a small prize.  All money will be given to Caritas for their Project Compassion appeal supporting people around the world with resources to be able to be self-sufficient. 

UPCOMING DATES:            

• Grandparents Day Monday 25 March from 8.45am to midday
• Caritas Carnival Thursday 28 March (last day of Term 1) on the oval from 8.45 to 10.30am (Please bring coins)
• Holy Week Liturgy Thursday 28 March (last day of Term 1) in the WMC at 11.15am

From APRE Week 7

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Today we celebrate all women and their contribution to the world:

All the women who are teachers, lawyers and bus drivers.

All women who are hairdressers, waitresses and actresses.

All women who are politicians, secretaries and social workers.

All women who are ministers, school officers and dentists.

All women who are homemakers, judges and police officers.

All women who are singers, gardeners and writers.

All women who are mothers, daughters and sisters.

All women who love us, nurture us, inspire us and encourage us.

PRAYER

Loving God, you created men and women in your likeness and equal with each other.  As we celebrate International Women’s Day, help us to be amazed, challenged, appreciative, and inspired by the women in our lives especially those who are leaders in our community.

May they continue to be beacons of strength, courage, faith, and hope.  We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

GRANDPARENTS DAY

We are excitedly planning for our 2024 Grandparents Day which will be held on Monday 25 March.  We will begin in the William Morris Centre (the hall) at 8.45am with an introduction.  Grandparents will then be escorted to the classrooms of their grandchildren for a morning of activities.  We will share morning tea together before a whole school liturgy at 11.15am to complete our time together.

Following the success of last year, we again ask families to bring along a plate of their favourite family food to share for morning tea with our visitors.  Here’s hoping the weather is on our side and we can share morning tea together on the oval.  All families have now received an invitation.  Grandparents are welcome to respond via the link in the email or by phoning the school on ph 46376100.  Any questions, please contact Kathy Doherty at Kathleen.doherty@twb.catholic.edu.au or through the school phone.

A RAINBOW DAY FOR STANDARD 1A

A very big thank you to our community who responded so generously today to support our Year 1A (Standard 1A) class at St Jude’s School in Arusha, Tanzania, Africa.  Below are some photos of the colourful school grounds today.

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GOOD SAMARITAN AWARDS

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Good Samaritan awards at Assembly last week and today – Samara Dyer, Tom Montgomery, Olivia Nairn, Camilla Davey and Narah Weier.  Their photos will be placed on the ‘Good Samaritan Wall’ in the William Morris Centre.

UPCOMING DATES:        

• Grandparents Day        Monday 25 March from 8.45am to midday
• Caritas Carnival            Thursday 28 March (last day of Term 1) on the oval from 8.45 to 10.30am
• Holy Week Liturgy       Thursday 28 March (last day of Term 1) in the WMC at 11.15am

From APRE Week 5

LENT

Last week the whole school participated in a liturgy for Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent within the Christian church.  We are now on our journey to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  We journey with Jesus who spent 40 days in the wilderness preparing for his mission, and with the Israelite people who spent 40 years in the wilderness on the way from slavery to the Promised Land.  While the wilderness brought both loneliness and despair, it also helped Jesus and the Israelites to discover the meaning of life and to connect with God.

So throughout Lent this year, we will ask this question for our own journeys.  What might be waiting for us in the wilderness?  People who live by an ocean, or a riverbank look for what they can find along the beach.  But what about the wilderness?

What can we discover in our Lenten wilderness journeys that we can’t in other places?  When our usual distractions have quietened down, what are we left with?

Ashes are all that is left when we burn the palm leaves from Palm Sunday every year. On Ash Wednesday those ashes were put on our foreheads in the shape of a cross.  They remind us of Jesus’ love in his death and resurrection, and our need to turn back to him.

PRAYER

God of the wilderness, you are present in our times of need and whenever we reach out to you.  Walk with us on this journey of Lent, closer and closer every day.  We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

GRANDPARENTS DAY

We are excitedly planning for our 2024 Grandparents Day which will be held on Monday 25 March.  We will begin in the William Morris Centre (the hall) at 8.45am with an introduction.  Grandparents will then be escorted to the classrooms of their grandchildren for a morning of activities.  We will share morning tea together before a whole school liturgy at 11.15am to complete our time together.

Following the success of last year, we again ask families to bring along a plate of their favourite family food to share for morning tea with our visitors.  Here’s hoping the weather is on our side and we can share morning tea together on the oval.  Keep an eye out for the invitation.

A RAINBOW DAY FOR STANDARD 1A

Up until the end of last year, our school sponsored Careen, a student at St Jude’s School in Arusha, Tanzania, Africa.  This year, we have been invited to sponsor a Year 1 class called Standard 1A.  Our fundraiser for this year will be ‘A Rainbow Day for Standard 1A’ which will be held on Friday 8 March.  Children are invited to wear rainbow / bright coloured clothes and bring a gold coin donation.  Rainbow donuts will also be available for $4 each through the Flexischools App.  You will be able to order donuts from Monday 26 February until 6pm on Wednesday 6 March. 

MINI VINNIES

Last Friday, we welcomed Ms Julie Inskip from St Vincent de Paul who spoke with our Year 6 students about becoming members of Mini Vinnies – a school-age version of Vinnies.  Our Year 6 leaders rotate through 4 leadership experiences each term – Community, Service, Hospitality and Spirituality.  The Spirituality group will coordinate our new Mini Vinnies.  These children were given their Mini Vinnies badges during assembly today: Charles Edge, Neve Oliver, Cleo Beirne, Gabby Dull, Blake Logan, Grace Muller, Grace English, Jesse Boshammer, Sam Rowe, Jake Robertson, Cooper Philp.

GOOD SAMARITAN AWARDS

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Good Samaritan awards at Assembly last week – Ajooni Gill, Eden Worsley, Mia Logan and Rocco Carlon.  Their photos have been placed on the ‘Good Samaritan Wall’ in the William Morris Centre.

UPCOMING DATES:

• Our next Assembly       Friday 8 March at 11.15am in the William Morris Centre (WMC)            
• Rainbow Day for Standard 1A Friday 8 March
• Grandparents Day Monday 25 March from 8.45am to midday
• Holy Week Liturgy Thursday 30 March (last day of Term 1) in the WMC at 11.15am.

From APRE - Week 3

2024 MATER DEI YEAR 6 LEADERS

Our Year 6 leaders were commissioned during a ceremony in the William Morris Centre last Friday.  All 43 of our Year 6 leaders committed themselves to their personal goals and to leading the student body through modelling respectful and kind living.

Below is the commitment made by teachers to all children at Mater Dei:

We promise to care about you.

We promise to be patient with you.

We promise to help you when you are struggling.

We promise to be fair and consistent.

We promise to be trustworthy.

We promise to support you in your leading and learning.

We promise to believe in you.

We promise to make learning interesting, fun and meaningful.

We promise to illuminate the love of God with you.

We promise that we will challenge you to be your very best.

We promise to do everything we can to help you to succeed.

We promise that no matter what, we will not give up on you.

PRAYER

We offer a prayer for our new student leaders:

Loving God, our creator, our friend, our companion, bless our journey of leading and learning with a listening heart.  May the Holy Spirit flow freely through the classrooms and playgrounds of our school, through the rooms and gardens of our home, through all aspects of our lives.  We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, Amen.

BLESSING OF TEACHERS AT PARISH MASSES

Last weekend, staff from Mater Dei joined either the Saturday night or Sunday morning Masses to receive a blessing from the Parish for the start of the 2024 school year.  Mr Michael Ball introduced the staff and our 2024 school theme.  Fr Brian then blessed each staff member using water from the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized.  At Mater Dei, we are very grateful for our Parish connections.

GOOD SAMARITAN AWARDS

As part of our school charism, our way of being, we acknowledge people within our community who show acts of kindness without looking for any acknowledgement.  They go out of their way to help the people and the environment around them.  Last week, we were proud to award our first Good Samaritan award to Max Coonan in Year 3 Camellia who showed great kindness in looking after a new member of his class. 

To help celebrate these Good Samaritans, we are building a ‘Good Samaritan Wall’ in the William Morris Centre.  We will add the pictures of Good Samaritan award recipients to this wall.  At the end of the year, at the final assembly, we will acknowledge this group of children.   

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent – a period when we prepare for the Easter season.  This year, Ash Wednesday is 14 February.  We will have a Liturgy with Prep to Year 2 students in the St Theresa’s Parish Centre at 10am and a Mass with Year 3 to 6 students at 11.30am.  Parents and members of the wider community are very welcome to attend.

UPCOMING DATES:

• Assembly
  • Friday 16 Feb at 11.15am in the WMC
  • Friday 23 Feb at 11.15am in the WMC
• Ash Wednesday Mass – Year 3 to 6 students Wednesday 14 February at 11.30am in the church
• Ash Wednesday Liturgy – Prep to Year 2 students Wednesday 14 February at 10am in the church

Monday 25 March 2024 8:45am to 12 noon

More information coming soon

APRE Term 1 Week 1 2024

Welcome to a new year of learning at Mater Dei. 2024 has started with much potential for students and staff. Next Saturday (6pm) and Sunday (9.30am) at St Theresa’s Parish Church, staff will gather to commit themselves to the Mater Dei / St Theresa’s community for the 2024 school year. As always, families are very welcome to join us.

OUR 2024 THEME -'Treasure Our Story'

This year, our school theme is ‘Treasure our Story’.  During the professional learning days, teachers have reflected on their own story, the school story, our school charism of the Good Samaritan, and the stories from the bible, all of which form the stories that we treasure.  Each classroom teacher made a treasure chest that is the focal point of each classroom sacred space.  Throughout the year, we will continue to unpack all of the elements of our stories that we treasure.

OPENING LITURGY AND YEAR 6 LEADERSHIP

This year, our school theme is ‘Treasure our Story’.  During the professional learning days, teachers have reflected on their own story, the school story, our school charism of the Good Samaritan, and the stories from the bible, all of which form the stories that we treasure.  Each classroom teacher made a treasure chest that is the focal point of each classroom sacred space.  Throughout the year, we will continue to unpack all of the elements of our stories that we treasure.

ASSEMBLY AWARDS

This term we will have school assemblies in the hall (the William Morris Centre – WMC) on the following Fridays beginning at 11.15am.  Parents and members of the community are warmly invited to join us.  During these awards, each class teacher presents a learning award to one student.  Parents of students in Prep will be notified prior to assembly if their child is receiving an award in case they would like to join us.  We will only be notifying Prep parents because it is their first experience of receiving a class award.

Assemblies in Term 1:  9 February, 16 February, 23 February, 8 March

ASH WEDNESDAY

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent – a period when we prepare for the Easter season.  This year, Ash Wednesday is 14 February.  We will have a Liturgy with Prep to Year 2 students in the St Theresa’s Parish Centre at 10am and a Mass with Year 3 to 6 students at 11.30am.  Parents and members of the wider community are very welcome to attend.

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

UPCOMING DATES:

• Opening Liturgy and Year 6 leadership ceremony Friday 2 Feb at 11.15am in the WMC
• Assembly Friday 9 Feb at 11.15am in the WMC
• Ash Wednesday Mass – Year 3 to 6 students Wednesday 14 February at 11.30am in the church
• Ash Wednesday Liturgy – Prep to Year 2 students Wednesday 14 February at 10am in the church

Term 4 Week 9 2023

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS – We wait for the coming of Jesus at Christmas

As we prepare for the first Sunday of Advent, let us all pray for peace in our world. Below is a photograph of an art installation from the Holyland. It is an artwork that appeared in Bethlehem in the Westbank a few years ago now. It was allegedly created by Banksy, the anonymous English-based street artist and titled Scar of Bethlehem, a wordplay on 'Star of Bethlehem': the star that led the three wise men from the east to the city where Jesus was born.

At first sight it seems to be a traditional Christmas scene, but in the background, there is a gaping hole in the shape of a star. The scene shows also the words "love" and "peace" as graffiti on the barrier in English and French. The artwork is a collaboration between Banksy and the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem. All the hotel’s rooms overlook a concrete section of Israel's barrier. According to the hotel manager, Banksy used the Christmas story to "be a voice for those that cannot speak. It is a great way to bring up the story of Bethlehem, the Christmas story, in a different way - to make people think more.

It needs no further explanation but to say let us pray for peace between all people in the Holyland and the world over.

We pray as we wait, being reminded of one of the most important of life’s pilgrimages:

Lord Jesus, master of both light and darkness,

Send your Holy Spirit upon our preparation for Christmas.

We are Your people walking in darkness yet seeking the light.

To You we say, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’

Amen

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

Thank you to all the families who contributed to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal that we have run over the last couple of weeks.  The response has been amazing.  Sr Robyn Brady from the St Theresa’s St Vinnies conference shared our final Mass with us today and received our gifts.  The generosity of our community is much appreciated and not ever taken for granted.

Sharing Christmas Joy with St Vincent’s Aged Care

Year 3 and 6 students have all made individual cards for the residents of St Vincent’s Aged Care.  These will be delivered to each person next week.  For some residents, this is the only Christmas message they will receive and their gratefulness is humbling.  The children did a wonderful in preparing beautiful messages and cards.

APRE Term 4 Week 7 2023

A PRAYER FOR THOSE FINISHING THEIR TIME AT MATER DEI

The 2023 school year is quickly coming to a close and over the next couple of weeks, there are opportunities to thank and say goodbye to members of our community who are moving onto new adventures in 2024 – our Year 6 students which includes many families who complete their time at Mater Dei; families moving away from Toowoomba;  families moving to other Toowoomba schools; staff moving on to different communities.  We take a moment to thank each and every person for the thread that you have woven into the fabric of Mater Dei.

Today at our final school assembly for 2023, we farewelled teaching staff who are moving on to new adventures for the 2024 school year.  We say goodbye and thank you to classroom teachers -  Mrs Tegan Jones, Ms Siobhan Fagan, Mr Dominic McAtomney, Mrs Barb Bennett; and also to  Miss Abigail Bunch (instrumental music teacher)

We pray with gratitude:

May the new path you take be enriching and rewarding.
May you find welcome wherever you go.
May you find warmth, encouragement and contentment in each day.
May God’s wisdom guide and direct you.
May God’s gift be a hope-filled and trusting heart.
And may you taste and see God’s goodness each and every day and ever more.
Amen.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

As we head into the summer holidays in a couple of weeks, we also begin our planning for Christmas celebrations.  We remember the people in our community who are doing it tough and need a hand up to help them celebrate with their families.  Our St Theresa’s St Vincent de Paul group do a magnificent job supplying Christmas hampers to many needy families in our community and once again, we are calling on the generosity of Mater Dei families.  St Vinnies are asking for donations of gift cards (Woolworths, Coles, Myers…) that can be given to families to shop themselves for their families.  If you are able to donate, we are very appreciative.  Cards can be left with your class teachers or at the front office. 

Toowoomba Hospice Foundation

At our assembly on Friday 10 November, Ms Amy Goldsmid from the Toowoomba Hospice Foundation was presented with $600 by Lucy and Hamish from Year 2 Jacaranda.  The Year 2 cohort organised the ‘Trash your hair for Hospice care’ at the end of Term 3.  The Hospice Foundation do amazing work in caring for people in their last days of life and we are grateful to the Mater Dei community for their support of this work.

Confirmation and First Eucharist 2024

The Parish has set the dates for Confirmation and First Eucharist for 2024

• CONFIRMATION – Thursday 30 May 2024
• FIRST EUCHARIST – Either Saturday 1 June (6pm Mass) or Sunday 2 June (9.30am Mass)

UPCOMING DATES

Thursday 30 Nov              Year 6 Graduation ceremony at 1.30pm

Friday 1 Dec                        Final school Mass for Prep to Year 5 at 9.30am in the hall.

APRE Term 4 Week 5 2023

A PRAYER FOR PEACE FROM POPE FRANCIS

We continue to hold the people of Palestine and Israel in our hearts and prayers.  Thank you to our generous families – once again – who have today donated to the Caritas appeal to help families from Palestine and Israel who have been displaced during this current unrest. 

We join in a prayer with Pope Francis who offers the following prayer for peace.

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain.

Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost". Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.

Lord, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.

Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words "division", "hatred" and "war" be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother", and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!

Amen.

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

The year is quickly coming to a close at school.  As we head into the summer holidays, we also begin our planning for Christmas celebrations.  We remember the people in our community who are doing it tough and need a hand up to help them celebrate with their families.  Our St Theresa’s St Vincent de Paul group do a magnificent job supplying Christmas hampers to many needy families in our community and once again, we are calling on the generosity of Mater Dei families.  St Vinnies are asking for donations of gift cards (Woolworths, Coles, Myers…) that can be given to families to shop themselves for their families.  If you are able to donate, we are very appreciative.  Cards can be left with your class teachers or at the front office. 

Confirmation and First Eucharist 2024

The Parish has set the dates for Confirmation and First Eucharist for 2024

• CONFIRMATION – Thursday 30 May 2024
• FIRST EUCHARIST – Either Saturday 1 June (6pm Mass) or Sunday 2 June (9.30am Mass)

UPCOMING DATES

Friday 17 November       Final Assembly beginning at 11.15am including:

• Instrumental Music awards
• transfer of Light of Leadership from Year 6 to Year 5

Thursday 30 November Year 6 Graduation at 1.30pm

Friday 1 December           Final school Mass for Prep to Year 5 (time to be confirmed when Fr Brian returns from holidays)

APRE Term 4 Week 3

A PRAYER FOR PEACE

I can’t make the world be peaceful.

I can’t stall tanks from roaring down roads.

I can’t prevent children from having to hide in bunkers.

I can’t keep madmen from creating heartbreaking headlines.

I can’t convince the news to stop turning war into a video game.

I can’t silence the sound of bombs tearing neighbourhoods apart.

I can’t turn a guided missile into bouquet of flowers.

I can’t make a warmonger have an ounce of empathy.

I can’t convince diplomats to quit playing truth or dare.

I can’t deflect a sniper’s bullet from turning a wife into a widow.

I can’t stave off a schoolyard being reduced to ash and rubble.

I can’t do any of that.

The only thing I can do is love the next person I encounter without any conditions or strings.

To love my neighbour so fearlessly that it starts a ripple that stretches from one horizon to the next.

I can’t force peace on the world but I can become a force of peace in the world because…

Sometimes all it takes is a single lit candle in the darkness to start a movement.

Oh Spirit, let me be a candle of comfort in this world.

Let me burn with peace.

Amen 

Day for Daniel

On Friday 27 October, we invite all students and staff to wear red as we remember ‘Day for Daniel’.  This day is headed by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and highlights the importance of educating children about their personal safety.  It launches our week of learning about Student Protection.  All classes will participate in learning using the Daniel Morcombe curriculum which highlights strategies that children can use to advocate for their own safety.  

HELLO BABY CALENDAR

‘Hello Baby’ is a concept created through The Lighthouse – Guiding Creativity here in Toowoomba and involves a competition where artwork by children up to 8 years of age is selected to be used in the 2024 Calendar, ‘Hello Baby’.  This calendar is given to new mothers and their babies in hospital as part of a wellbeing program.  All of our Year 2 students participated.  Their artwork was amazing and has been on display at The Lighthouse.  We congratulate Lucy Donaldson, David Rees, Samara Dyer, Georgia Roper, Julieta Ulloa Bravo, Maggie Watson, Hamish Grady, Grace Venning, Millla Staib and Jacob Eidelman Mora.  They have received a copy of the calendar.  Here are some of the winners pictured at The Lighthouse at the presentation on Tuesday 10 October with Mrs Leigh Lucht, our Visual Arts teacher.  A big thank you to Mrs Lucht who initiated our involvement in this project.

TIM COSTELLO

On Sunday 22 October, Rev Tim Costello will be delivering the Missionary Sisters of Service memorial lecture at St Theresa’s Parish Centre beginning at 2pm.  Tim will speak with conviction on a range of social issues facing our world today.   Cost is $25 which includes a catered afternoon tea.  If you would like to attend, bookings and payment can be made using this TryBooking link:  https//www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1082911  

UPCOMING DATES

Sunday 22 October          Tim Costello lecture

Friday 27 October            Day for Daniel

Friday 27 October            World Teachers Day

Friday 17 November       Final Assembly including transfer of Light of Leadership from Year 6 to Year 5 (11.15am)

Term 4 Week 1 2023

World Teachers Day

On Friday 27 October, we celebrate World Teachers Day, a day when we celebrate and give thanks for our wonderful teachers.  The teachers will be honoured during Assembly on this day and we will share a morning tea together.  It’s a great opportunity for children to thank their classroom teacher for their dedication and professionalism. 

We pray:

God of Love, thank you for every teacher who notices a child’s special gift. Thank you for teachers who are listeners and gentle guides. Thank you for teachers who expect much and love enough to demand more. Thank you for the special teacher each one of us remembers.

God of Mercy, sustain teachers who give everything they have. Strengthen teachers who assume the blame for so many problems beyond their control. Help exhausted teachers rest. 

God of Strength, encourage teachers to care and inspire them to nourish. Motivate teachers to keep on learning for the fun of it and to make learning enjoyable for children.

We wonder at teachers who know how to quiet a class of five year olds or help fourth graders be empathetic. We admire teachers who enjoy middle school writers, or teach physics or math of history. Bless the people who are expected to accomplish these miracles and who know how to comfort children when miracles don’t happen.

God of Justice, help and support teachers in their special calling, wherever they teach and whatever obstacles they must face. We pray these things in the name of our great teacher, Jesus Christ.

Amen 

Day for Daniel

On Friday 27 October, we invite all students and staff to wear read as we remember ‘Day for Daniel’.  This day launches our week of learning about Student Protection.  All classes will participate in learning using the Daniel Morcombe curriculum which highlights strategies that children can use to advocate for their own safety.  

Tim Costello

On Sunday 22 October, Rev Tim Costello will be delivering the Missionary Sisters of Service memorial lecture at St Theresa’s Parish Centre beginning at 2pm.  Tim will speak with conviction on a range of social issues facing our world today.   Cost is $25 which includes a catered afternoon tea.  If you would like to attend, bookings and payment can be made using this TryBooking link:  https//www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1082911  

UPCOMING DATES

Sunday 22 October          Tim Costello lecture

Friday 27 October            Day for Daniel

Friday 27 October            World Teachers Day

Friday 17 November       Final Assembly including transfer of Light of Leadership from Year 6 to Year 5 (11.15am)

From APRE Term 3 Week 9

SEASON OF CREATION

The month of September is set aside by Pope Francis as the ‘Season of Creation’.  The theme for this year is ‘Let Justice and Peace Flow’.  We are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity.  

Our Waste Warriors at Mater Dei are constant reminders of our responsibility to be stewards for all of creation.  The projects that they are working on include:

• Sub pods for food recycling and production
• 10c recycling program
• Recycling paper
• Minimizing the use of lamination
• Recycling pens
• Nude Food Fridays – minimising the waste from our lunch wrappings

As the people of God, we must work together on behalf of all creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.

We pray:

Spirit breathe your breath of love! Creation yearns for you to come.
Renew your earth and pour your healing care.
Lord, restore the harmony where humankind may learn to see:
the hope, the dream in your almighty plan.

Amen

On Friday 15 September (last day of this term), Year 2 are coordinating a fundraiser for the Toowoomba Hospice.  The Toowoomba Hospice is a community based privately funded healthcare facility that offers free palliative care for terminally ill people.  We are inviting children to ‘trash their hair’ – that is wear a wig, a crazy hair-style, add some temporary colour – and bring a gold coin donation.  At an assembly in Term 4, we will invite a representative from Toowoomba Hospice to present our donations.  It will also be a free-dress day.    Thank you very much for your support of this worthy cause.

WHOLE SCHOOL MANDALA BUILDING

As part of our Feast Day celebrations this week, we built a whole school mandala on the stage in the William Morris Centre using coloured rice.  Each class spent time meditating around the mandala as every child contributed to the building of it.  On completion, Year 6 students swept up the rice and it was distributed to each class during the Feast Day Mass for their classroom sacred space.  This way, the blessings and prayers offered during the building of the mandala are shared with the school community.  This year, we are focusing on the importance of prayer and meditation as part of our Religious Education program.  Mandalas are formally taught as a meditation practice within the Year 4 curriculum.   

From APRE - Term 3 Week 7

FATHERS DAY

On Sunday 3 September, we stop to celebrate our fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers, big brothers, or male carers who have been fathers for countless, grateful kids. It’s a time to celebrate how blessed we are to have our fathers in our lives.

This is when we rejoice in fatherhood itself, and the central figure in our lives that our loving and responsible fathers have been. He fills our world with joy and discipline as we grow, and with some enduring memories for us as adults.

On Father’s Day, we celebrate Dad’s role as a mentor, a provider, a protector, and caregiver, without ever expecting anything in return. Many homes, and many families, however, have not been as fortunate, and may not had a father figure. This is where mothers have had to fill the demanding role of both parents. It brings to mind how single mothers, and an increasing number of single fathers, have performed miracles in this way for their children. But often those single mothers and single fathers have gained a true pillar of strength by having had a loving father in their own younger lives.

And there are homes and families where fathers have failed, where there seemed no love at all, leaving an empty place in a child’s heart. Even in this instance we celebrate the idea of responsible fatherhood. It is where some of us have the chance to be good fathers ourselves, to protect and provide for our loved ones in ways we may never have had. In a sense, those fathers who never really had a father of their own can compensate, and carry out that vital, fatherly role in their children’s or step-children’s lives, filling that space in their children’s hearts.

On Wednesday 30 August, we will be celebrating our dads with breakfast before school and a Liturgy at 8.45am which will be led by our Year 2 students.  All dads and people who act as dads in our children’s lives are warmly invited to attend.  It will be held in the WMC.

Happy Fathers Day to all the Dads, to all who play a Dad’s role, and all the Dads-to-be!

We pray:

May God bless our fathers and all the father-figures in our lives with the same love, care and support that they have given to us.

May Christ bless our fathers with that life-long embrace for their children reflected in the words of the father of the prodigal son – “You are always with me!”

May the Holy Spirit bless us with all that is reflected in the lives of our biblical fore fathers – unconditional love, selfless service to others, and willingness to forgive and reconcile.

Amen

On Friday 15 September (last day of this term), Year 2 are coordinating a fundraiser for the Toowoomba Hospice.  The Toowoomba Hospice is a community based privately funded healthcare facility that offers free palliative care for terminally ill people.  We are inviting children to ‘trash their hair’ – that is wear a wig, a crazy hair-style, add some temporary colour – and bring a gold coin donation.  At an assembly in Term 4, we will invite a representative from Toowoomba Hospice to present our donations.  It will also be a free-dress day.    

FEAST DAY OF MATER DEI

On Friday 8 September, we will be celebrating our Mater Dei feast day.  Mater Dei is Latin for Mother of God, and 8 September is the birthday of Mary.  We will celebrate with Mass in the William Morris Centre at 9.30am.  All parents and members of the wider community are warmly invited to attend. 

From APRE - Term 3 Week 5

FEAST OF MARY MACKILLOP

This week, we celebrated the feast of Mary MacKillop on Tuesday 8 August.  St Mary of the Cross MacKillop is the first Australian saint having been canonized on 17 October 2010.    Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Josephite and is known as a strong woman of faith who prioritized education for all during her life.    We remember her words to ‘never see a need without doing something about it’ as an important way of living that complements our Good Samaritan charism. 

We pray:

Holy God, source of all goodness, you show us in Mary MacKillop a woman of faith who lived by the power of the cross. Teach us to embrace what she pioneered: new ways of living the gospel that respect and defend the human dignity of all in our land. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. All: Amen.

On Friday 15 September (last day of this term), Year 2 are coordinating a fundraiser for the Toowoomba Hospice.  The Toowoomba Hospice is a community based privately funded healthcare facility that offers free palliative care for terminally ill people.  We are inviting children to ‘trash their hair’ – that is wear a wig, a crazy hair-style, add some temporary colour – and bring a gold coin donation.  At an assembly in Term 4, we will invite a representative from Toowoomba Hospice to present our donations.  It will also be a free-dress day.    

BAPTISM OF EDEN PIKE

Congratulations to Eden Pike in Year 4 Kauri who was baptized by Fr Brian on Wednesday morning alongside her parents, her sponsor, her great grandmother and her classmates.

FATHERS DAY LITURGY

On Wednesday 30 August, we will be celebrating our dads with breakfast before school and a Liturgy at 8.45am which will be lead by our Year 2 students.  All dads and people who act as dads in our children’s lives are warmly invited to attend.  It will be held in the WMC.

MASS

This term we will celebrate a Parish Family Mass on Sunday 20 August at the 9.30am St Theresa’s Mass.  If you and your family are able to attend, please RSVP to Kathleen.doherty@twb.catholic.edu.au by Wednesday 16 August.  We are excited that the choir will be helping in our celebration. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Sunday 20 August – Parish Family Mass 9.30am at St Theresa’s Church

Catholic Identity Term 3 Week 3

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK

This week, all Catholics schools across Queensland are celebrating Catholic Education Week.  Mater Dei celebrations have included our NAIDOC celebrations on Tuesday,  Andrew Chinn’s visit on Wednesday, a gala sports day on Thursday and a pupil-free day on Friday. 

The theme of Catholic Education Week is ‘Communities of faith, hope and love’.   We work to ensure our community at Mater Dei is full of faith, hope and love.  Part of our celebrations was an acknowledgement of long service awards for 20 years of service to Catholic Education to (pictured from left to right):  Mr Michael Ball, Mr Andrew Ryan, Mrs Marleisa Connors, Mrs Rebecca Logan and Mrs Amanda Holzheimer.  These valuable staff members continue to offer their service to our community and we would like to thank them for their contributions to Mater Dei.

We pray:

God, you promised to walk with us every day as we work to build communities of faith, hope and love.  You have given us the opportunity to go to a Catholic school so that we learn more about you and how you want us to live.  Help us to learn, to share friendships and to reach out to those who are poor and suffering.  We now place our prayers before you:

For the church.

For the staff, students and families in Catholic Education

For all involved in education in our country.

For the world in its poverty, violence and sadness

For teachers and staff in schools everywhere.

For students striving to learn and discover about the world.

For the children who do not have the chance of education

For places where school buildings and resources are very limited.

For families facing danger just to live in their home country.

We ask for your blessing.

Amen

CELEBRATING MR RYAN

Mr Andrew Ryan, a school officer here at Mater Dei has had two big reasons to celebrate in the last week.  Andrew turned 50 on Tuesday and received an award for 20 years of long service to our school.  We celebrated with Andrew’s dad John and Mrs Pauline Frederick – a former Learning Support teacher at Mater Dei and long-time friend of Andrew – at a morning tea last Friday.  Thank you for all you do for Mater Dei Andrew.  You are an important part of our community. 

NAIDOC CELEBRATIONS

As part of our Catholic Education week festivities, we celebrated NAIDOC on Tuesday.  Year 4 students led us in a Liturgy focusing on the theme ‘For our Elders’.   This was followed by an afternoon of NAIDOC themed activities. 

PARISH FAMILY MASS

This term we will celebrate a Parish Family Mass on Sunday 20 August at the 9.30am St Theresa’s Mass.  Mark it in your calendar.  More details to come in the next couple of weeks. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Sunday 20 August – Parish Family Mass 9.30am at St Theresa’s Church

Catholic Identity Term 3 Week 1

NAIDOC CELEBRATIONS

NAIDOC week was celebrated nationally last week.  As a school, we will be celebrating on Tuesday 25 July with a liturgy at 12.30pm in the hall and an afternoon of indigenous activities.

The theme for 2023 National NAIDOC celebrations is For Our Elders.  Across every generation, Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families.  They are cultural knowledge holders, trailblazers, nurturers, advocates, teachers, survivors, leaders, hard workers and our loved ones. 

Our loved ones who pick us up in our low moments and celebrate us in our high ones.  Who cook us a feed to comfort us and pull us into a line, when we need them too.  They guide our generations and pave the way for us to take the paths we can take today.  Guidance, not only through generations of advocacy and activism, but in everyday life and how to place ourselves in the world. 

We draw strength from their knowledge and experience in everything from land management, cultural knowledge to justice and human rights.  Across multiple sectors like health, education, the arts, politics and everything in between, they have set the many courses we follow. 

The struggles of our Elders help us to move forward today.  The equality we continue to fight for is found in their fight.  Their tenacity and strength have carried us.   We pay our respects to the Elders we’ve lost and to those who continue fighting for us across all our Nations and we pay homage to them.  In our 2023 NAIDOC celebrations, we celebrate our elders. 

God of all creation, through our First Nations brothers and sisters you teach us again that the world you create is sacred.  Help us to walk each day remembering that with every step we take we are standing on holy ground.  May we grow in wisdom so that we too can celebrate and respect your precious gifts to us. 

ALL:    Amen 

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION - FIRST RECONCILIATION

This term, St Theresa’s Parish is offering preparation and celebration of the Sacrament of First Reconciliation (also known as Penance or Confession).  If your child is in Year 3 or older, they are invited to be part of this.  If you would like your child to be involved, please contact Monica Brennan (monica@sttheresas.org.au or phone 0427823126) at St Theresa’s Parish or Kathy Doherty (Kathleen.doherty@twb.catholic.edu.au or phone 46376100) at school.  The preparation begins with a Parent Information Session on Monday 17 July at 6pm at St Theresa’s Church.

ANDREW CHINN VISIT

On Wednesday 26 July, Australian religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, will be visiting Mater Dei to share his songs with us.  Andrew’s songs, such as ‘These Hands’, ‘Rainbow’, ‘An African Blessing’ and ‘Ubuntu’ are used in classrooms and liturgies around Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada.  The whole school concert will be held in the William Morris Centre on Wednesday 26 July from 1.45pm to 3pm.  Parents and community members are invited to join us for this concert. 

PARISH FAMILY MASS

This term we will celebrate a Parish Family Mass on Sunday 21 August at the 9.30am St Theresa’s Mass.  Mark it in your calendar.  More details to come in the next couple of weeks. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Monday 17 July at 6pm - First Reconciliation Parent Information Session
• Friday 20 July at 11.15am – Assembly Liturgy to launch Catholic Education Week
• Tuesday 25 July at 12.30pm – Liturgy to celebrate NAIDOC
• Wednesday 26 July at 1.45pm – Whole school concert with Andrew Chinn

Winter Appeal

Thank you so much to the wonderfully generous Mater Dei Community for the donations for our Winter Appeal. The blankets will provide warmth and security to those in need in our community this winter and the money will also enable St Vinnies to continue their great works supporting many families.

The students also had a great day wearing their Pyjamas and enjoying a movie afternoon. The funds raised by selling chips and drinks to enjoy while watching the movies also will be donated to this worthy cause.  We have raised over $1600.

 A big thank you to the year six students and teachers for all their work organizing this. Many hands make light work!

I would also like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday. We will welcome Kathy Doherty back into the APRE role next term. I’m sure her time away has been relaxing and enjoyable. Thank you to all that supported me while I was in the acting role.

Joanne Cavanagh

Pyjama Day 23rd June

On the last day of this term, Friday 23 June, we will be holding a Pyjama Day as a fundraiser for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. We are inviting children (and staff!) to wear their pyjamas and to donate a gold coin.  We are also asking for donations of blankets and warm bedding to be given to St Vincent de Paul for distribution within our local community. Students are asked to bring along donations on Friday 23 June and we will arrange for the Parish St Vincent de Paul to collect them. 

Students are also having a movie afternoon with chips (Prep to year 6) and hot chocolate (years 3-6) being sold to also raise money for the Winter Appeal. Students in years 3-6 are asked to bring in Keep Cups for their hot chocolates to save rubbish going into landfill. A small treat for us can make the world of difference to someone in need.

Bishop Robert McGuckin confirmed a number of Mater Dei students and members of our wider community on Thursday night.  During the Parish Masses over the weekend, these children will receive their First Eucharist.  We congratulate them and their families on this significant milestone in their faith journey. 

Catholic Identity Term 2 Week 6

Prayer

It's perfectly fine to be ordinary.

Over recent years, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of superheroes at the movies, particularly through the Marvel franchise, providing a vicarious experience for anyone who fantasizes about being a hero with superpowers.  Perhaps the popularity of these movies is connected to people’s desire to feel special and to stand out.   The desire to be extraordinary has a direct impact on how people act, feel and make decisions about their identity and their worth.  Happiness is often considered the result of extraordinary and special efforts but living a complete life is about acknowledging and accepting the ordinary, simple moments – seeing God in our day-to-day routines.  Author, Caroline Myss, in her book ‘Anatomy of the Spirit’ explains that the road to spiritual maturity and happiness begins with the process of ‘humbling up’ and learning to accept our ordinariness in the natural world.   

As the Easter season ends this week with the feast of Pentecost, we begin the second season of Ordinary time in the Church’s Liturgical year which will take us through until Advent.  And while the name ‘ordinary’, in Church terms comes from the Latin word ‘ordinalis’ which means showing order, rather than ordinary, – there is an order to the Sundays of Ordinary time - 34 Sundays in all -  it is also a time when we celebrate the entirety of Christ’s person and is connected with the importance of our daily lives and the weeks we spend together. 

Let’s celebrate our ordinariness through the following examples: 

1. Redefine what it means to be ordinary – Rather than being normal, standard, typical, usual; instead let’s be drama-free, peaceful and content.
2. Cultivate meaning and purpose - Our path will seem a lot more meaningful if we are able to connect with our values and infuse our actions with purpose in every step we take, from caring for our loved ones, to tackling job tasks.
3. Embrace your community and contribute – We are anything but ordinary to the people who love and care about us.  As we connect with our community, we experience millions of ordinary moments that encourage us to contribute more and to be aware of our links with people in our lives.
4.  Get into nature – As we look at the night sky, stand on top of a mountain or walk the streets of our neighbourhood, the small sacramental experiences in the world around us remind us that everything is holy - that nothing is ordinary.

Perhaps not all of us are meant to be extraordinary on the world stage, however we certainly can be extraordinary for those around us.  If we can do one thing to change and add to someone’s life, then we have achieved greatness in showing the face of God.  Take a look around you.  See what you have, who fills your life, the manner in which you contribute, and wonder in awe at how extraordinary you are. 

 “Extraordinary magic is woven through ordinary life.  Look around!”  Amy Leigh Mecree 

PARISH FAMILY MASS

Thank you very much to all the families who celebrated Parish Family Mass with us last Sunday.  The parishioners were very excited to see so many bright, young people helping with reading and singing.  Our next Parish Family Mass will be on Sunday 20 August.  Mark it on your calendars!

Catholic Identity Term 2 Week 3

Reflection

‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’ (Mahatma Gandhi)

It is a well-known fact that helping others makes us feel good.  In moving out of our comfort zones and aiding someone in need we show who we really are.  We witness to the gospel message of inclusion of others who may be on the periphery or cannot access the material goods and services that we take for granted.  We do what the Good Samaritan did, by delivering the beaten man to the inn, but completing the job with love by paying for his needs.  Sometimes serving others is challenging and confronting.  When we see a social justice initiative through or make a difference to a child’s life because we went beyond our job description, we have lost and found ourselves in the service of others.

This winter, St Theresa’s Parish is joining a project called the ‘Winter Shelter’ program.  This program originated in Victoria and has been operating in Toowoomba for the last couple of years.  During 13 weeks of winter, churches open up each night to provide a bed, dinner and breakfast, a place to shower and wash clothes, and community connection for up to 10 people who would otherwise be sleeping rough.  Our community has committed to opening the church on 4 Monday nights this year - 19 June, 10 and 31 July, 21 August.  There are opportunities for people to volunteer their help from within the St Theresa’s Parish and Mater Dei school community.  If you would like more information or have questions, please contact Kathy on phone: 46376100 or email: Kathleen.doherty@twb.catholic.edu.au.

We pray:

Loving God, called or uncalled, you are present.

Open our eyes to see your hand at work, in the splendour of creation, in the beauty of human life.  Touched by your hand our world is holy, created by you, we are all holy.

Help us to cherish the gifts that surround us, to share your blessings with others, and to delight in your presence.

Amen.

Mothers Day

This year, as part of our Mothers Day celebrations, we will have a Liturgy in the WMC at 8.45am on Friday 12 May, following the Mothers Day breakfast.  As part of this celebration, we invite families to send in a picture of their mother or the person who acts like a mother in the family. 

These will be used as part of a reflection in the Liturgy.  Please send the photos to Kathy Doherty:  email – Kathleen.doherty@twb.catholic.edu.au by Thursday 11 May at 5pm.

Parish Family Mass

This year, our Parish Family Masses will involve the whole school community rather than specific year levels.  Our Parish Family Mass this term will be on Sunday 21 May at the 9.30am St Theresa’s Parish Mass.  All families are invited to join us for this celebration.  If you would like to join in, please let Kathy Doherty know on phone: 46376100 or email: Kathleen.doherty@twb.catholic.edu.au.