Dear Parents and Carers, 

I hope you have managed to enjoy an extra long break with your children over the long weekend. I also wish to thank you all for your understanding and support in allowing many staff to attend both Ebony’s celebration of life on Friday and the funeral for a past staff member, Vanda Szakiel, who was a much-loved, kind passionate and fun teacher, and friend at Our Lady Star of the Sea between 1996 and 2007. Vanda's funeral was Friday also.

Rome, Loreto, and Assisi Pilgrimage.

I would now like to share some reflections on my recent pilgrimage to Rome, Loreto, and Assisi.

This journey was not simply a tour; it was a deeply personal and spiritually transformative experience that has left me feeling inspired and renewed. In Rome, I was immersed in the very foundations of the Church, feeling the weight of history underfoot and witnessing the universal Church at the Papal Audience—a moment that served as a powerful, unifying call to "go forth in mission." The Scavi Tour beneath St. Peter's, where I encountered the humble earthly roots of the Church, was a profound, tangible reminder of St. Peter's commitment. These moments, alongside the quiet, ancient witness of the early Christians in the Callixtus Catacombs, served to connect our local school mission directly to the unbroken two-thousand-year lineage of the Church, urging us all to put our faith into action, just as the early apostles did. The upcoming Mission Fete Day is a wonderful example of this in action.

A highlight and truly Australian touch connected the global Church to our local community during my time in Rome. We were present with the Pope for the blessing of a painting of Our Lady of Pompeii in an Australian church there—a connection that offered a final moment of spiritual intimacy and reminded me that we are indeed part of a remarkable, global community, united by our faith and the enduring grace of God.

The second leg of the journey, through Loreto and Assisi, provided a clear blueprint for our communal life back at school, shifting the focus from the grand history to the simple, profound requirements of daily faith. Loreto, with its image of the Holy House, powerfully affirmed that keeping Jesus at the very heart of the community is the source of our unity despite our diversity. Assisi, radiating the spirit of peace of St. Francis and St. Clare, provided the most crucial lesson: gratitude is the essential foundation upon which faith and love are built. Francis's radical thanks for creation and Clare's deep reverence teach us that a simple, heartfelt thanks opens us to God's grace. 

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools for providing this extraordinary opportunity, which supports the MACS vision to form lives of faith, hope and love. My experience, in turn, inspires and enables every student to flourish and enrich the world. 

Click here to access a slide show from me which has been shared with all classes, following the story of my pilgrimage, with a daily prayer connected to the sites and their Saints. I am committed to sharing these powerful stories.

Ultimately, my time in Italy was a personal and spiritual renewal that has equipped me with a strengthened vision to ensure that together, we continue to nurture the spiritual growth of every child in our care and enrich our faith-filled community.

Mission Fete this Friday:

We are getting very excited about our Mission Fete this Friday, 7th November.

This is our major fundraiser for the year and we personally assist the community of Bulbula in Ethiopia. This year we will again be supporting Vinnie’s Christmas Appeal, with money to go towards Christmas Hampers. It is a day of reflection, gratitude and fun. Some families wonder how much money per child. We recommend around $10 and request students complete jobs at home to earn this money, making it more meaningful. 

Outline for Mission Fete Day 

9:15am Liturgy in the church, you are invited to attend.

10:30am Recess

12:00pm Sausages begin to be delivered to classrooms - $1 each

12:30pm Lunch

1:30 - 3:00pm   Mission Fete, you are invited to attend.

Please click here for more information about the day, and also read Hub News for donations required particular to your Hub. Here are the links to the volunteer roster.

PAM Update: We are receiving updated information from SIMON, regarding when PAM online will be functional again and at this stage it looks like it will be Monday 10 November. Please be assured no breaches of data have been found in the investigations.  In the meantime, please continue to email teachers of student absences or call the office. We will communicate when we have confirmation of PAM being functional again for you to record student absences.

PFA Survey and AGM: