Dear Parents and Carers

Welcome back to Term 4. I hope you had a wonderfully refreshing break full of sunshine, laughter and joy.

Today’s prayer asks us to pray in solidarity for a better future for our First Nations people. With the upcoming referendum, there are many different points of view, along with many people without an understanding about what it all means.

As a Catholic community, we can take the time to listen deeply to the statement from the heart and reflect on what our First Nations people are asking in the Voice to Parliament. This version of the Statement from the Heart has been shared previously and certainly evokes emotion as you view and listen. Uluru Statement from the Heart Read by First Nations Collaborators  

Makarrata, coming together after a struggle and walking together into the future, aligns well with our catholic faith of reconciliation and standing in solidarity with the most marginalised in our community. This could be supporting the notion to “close the gap” for our First Nations people, through recognition in the constitution and a voice to parliament, in the hope outcomes for our First Nations people will be improved.

Pope Francis advocates strongly for social justice and says, ”The measurement of a greatness of society is the way they preferentially support the people in need.” (2013)

May the upcoming referendum be a time of respect and informed decision making for us all, uniting us.

At Our Lady Star of the Sea, our Fire Carriers group, teachers and students learn a lot in this space and bring through initiatives that make a difference for our First Nations people. Many thanks to Helen Stephensen and the leaders who recently led our community "Busking for Change" and the Indigenous Literacy Book Swap to raise money for literacy initiatives in the remote areas. $620 was raised.

Parish Invitation: Sunday October 8, 12-00 – 3.00pm

 WHAT?   TIME OUT to experience The Uluru Statement from the Heart, an invitation from our indigenous brothers and sisters.

 WHERE?  “Santa Casa”, Queenscliff. A beautiful retreat centre on the beach.

 If you missed the chance to attend one of the 3 reflection days at OLSOS in late June and early July, organized by our Holy Trinity Parish Spirituality Group, here is an extra opportunity to have:

 COST?  An hour or so of your time. Everyone is welcome.

State  Netball Championships: Congratulations to the Mixed netball team who made it all the way into  the grandfinal  to come runner up in the whole state. 

Indonesian Speaking Cometition: Congratulations to Campbell Sorace placing second in the state in the Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers Association Level 1 Speaking Competition. An amazing effort!

 Working Bee October 15 10 am-12 pm:

You may be aware, we have increased our engagement  with grounds maintenance providers and have scaled back working Bees to one in Term 4 and one tidy up  at the beginning of the year prior to the first day back. These are more about bringing the community together in a different way and modelling with our children the positive contributions we can make in a voluntary way to our communities. We invite you along on Sunday 15 October 10am -12 noon, whether it be for the full 2 hours or half an hour. Please bring gloves and any other tools like brooms, shovel, wheelbarrows you may have. There will be a sausage sizzle at the end and a house point to go towards the "Citizenship Award" which  is given to the winning house at the end of the year. Please ensure you are also registered as a volunteer or sign a code of conduct when you arrive and you supervise your children when onsite for this event.

2024 Enrolments: Please let us know as soon as possible if you are not returning in 2024.

Premiership news: Congratulations to Sam Scott who was part of a winning premiership with Leopold during the holidays.

Wishing you all successful and peaceful start back to the final term of the year.

Kerryn