A highlight of Term 4 is always our Mission Fete. The Catholic Church calendar celebrates Mission Week every year. Traditionally Catholic schools, including Our Lady Star of the Sea, have supported the work of the Catholic Missions through fundraising. This money has assisted initiatives in the poorest communities throughout the world.

In 2013, one of our then Year 3 students, Tia, returned to Ethiopia to meet her birth mother. Tia had been adopted as a baby because her birth mother was too poor to care for her. Tia kept a blog of her experiences. Through this blog it became evident that the community of Bulbula was very similar to the communities we were supporting through Catholic Missions. As a school we decided to support Bulbula for Mission Fete. Through Tia’s experiences and her family’s ongoing support and communication with the community, we have been able to learn first hand how 100% of our money is being used.

Sr Abeba from the Daughters of Charity, makes the decisions on where our money will be best used within the community. She needs to be fair and identify areas which will provide the greatest benefit for the most people. Last year our money paid for an irrigation system, medical assistance, education, small business initiatives and food for poor families. Please find attached, Sr Abeba’s financial report.

Our Mission Fete will take place on Friday 10 November. The day includes:

• A Liturgy at the Church, which you are welcome to attend at 9:15am
• A sausage sizzle lunch
• Mission Fete from 1:30pm - 3:00pm
• Raffle

We encourage students to use their own money, or complete tasks around the home to earn money for Mission Fete activities.

In the next newsletter we will ask for donations to class stalls, advise of raffle prizes and send home tickets.