Week 1, Term 3, 2026

CONNECTING WITH THE SUNDAY GOSPEL READING

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus shares the parable of the wheat and the weeds. At first glance, it seems simple: good seed grows alongside weeds. Yet Jesus reminds us that growth takes time and that God sees more deeply than we do.

In our busy lives, it can be tempting to judge situations, others, or even ourselves too quickly. We often want immediate answers and clear distinctions between what is right and wrong. However, Jesus teaches patience, mercy, and trust in God’s timing. He encourages us to focus on nurturing the good rather than becoming consumed by what is imperfect.

As a school community, this Gospel reminds us that every child, every family, and every staff member is continually growing. Just as wheat needs time to mature, each person is on a unique journey of learning, faith, and becoming. God’s love and grace are at work even when we cannot yet see the full picture.

Wonderings

· I wonder what “good seeds” God is helping to grow in me?

· I wonder how I can be more patient with myself and others?

· I wonder where I can notice God’s goodness growing in our school community?

· I wonder how Jesus is inviting me to trust in God’s timing rather than rushing to judge?

CELEBRATING OUR PARTON – SAINT MARY MAGDALENE

Tomorrow, our school community will come together to celebrate the Feast of St Mary Magdalene, our patron saint, with a day of prayer, reflection, learning and community. A highlight of the celebration will be our Whole School Mass, celebrated by Fr Santosh Pereira, where we will gather to give thanks for the many blessings of our school and reflect on the life and witness of St Mary Magdalene.

St Mary Magdalene holds a special place in our faith story. She remained faithful to Jesus throughout His suffering and was the first witness to the Resurrection. In the Gospel of John, Mary recognised the risen Jesus when He called her by name and was entrusted with sharing the Good News with the disciples. For this reason, she is often known as the “Apostle to the Apostles.”

As a school bearing her name, we are inspired by Mary’s courage, faithfulness and unwavering hope. Her story reminds us that each of us is known and loved by God and called to share Christ’s love through our words and actions.

Throughout the day, students will participate in activities that celebrate faith, friendship, belonging and service, strengthening the connections that make our school community such a special place.

“Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord.'” (John 20:18)

JOINING US FOR PRAYER, LITURGY AND THE CELEBRATION OF MASS

Prayer, liturgy and the celebration of Mass are at the heart of life in a Catholic school, nurturing the spiritual growth of our students and strengthening our community in faith. Through daily prayer and shared liturgical experiences, students are invited to develop a personal relationship with God, reflect on Gospel values, and grow in compassion, gratitude and service. The celebration of Mass brings us together as one body in Christ, reminding us of the presence of Jesus in our lives and guiding us to live out our faith in meaningful ways.

We warmly invite all families to join us for these sacred celebrations, as your presence enriches our community and strengthens the partnership between home, school and parish in fostering a living faith.

Dates for celebrations in Term 3 are:

St Mary Feast Day Celebrations Mass: Friday 24th July – 12:00 noon | Whole School Mass with Fr. Santosh – Yarning place

Week 4: Feast of the Assumption of Mary: Friday 14th August – 12 noon Whole School Mass with Fr. Santosh – Yarning place

Week 5: Catholic Schools Open: Week 17th – 21st August First Reconciliation: 21st August St Ann’s Church – 6:00pm

Week 7 Whole School Father’s Day and Special Persons Liturgy: Friday September 4th – 9:15 am – Yarning Place

Week 8: Celebrations on First Holy Communion and Confirmation: Friday 11th September St Ann’s Church – 7:00pm Saturday 12th September St Ann’s Church – 10:00am

Week 9 Year 4 Class Mass: Friday September 18 – 12:00 noon | Mass with Fr. Santosh – Magdalene Chapel

Week 10 Mercy Day Colour Run: Thursday 24th September – time to be advised.

LIVING MERCY AT STM

This term we will have a ‘Mercy Value of the Month’. This month we will focus on Hospitality. Hospitality is one of our cherished Mercy values and calls us to create welcoming, inclusive, and caring communities wherever we are. Hospitality means noticing others, making people feel valued, and ensuring everyone has a place where they belong. In the classroom, this might look like including others in activities, listening respectfully, and encouraging classmates who need support. In the schoolyard, hospitality can be shown by inviting someone to join a game, using kind words, and looking out for those who may feel lonely. At home, hospitality is demonstrated through helping family members, showing gratitude, and creating a loving environment where everyone feels respected and cared for. In our wider community, we live out hospitality by welcoming newcomers, showing

Eucharist, special milestones in the faith lives of our children. We keep all our candidates and their families in our prayers as they prepare to receive these sacraments and grow in their relationship with God and our parish community.

MERCY DAY CELEBRATIONS WITH A COLOUR FUN RUN

We are excited to announce that our Colour Fun Run will be held at the end of this term! This promises to be a fun-filled event for our students, with lots of colour, laughter and school spirit. Families are encouraged to keep an eye on Seesaw and EdSmart over the coming weeks, as important information about the event, including what students will need and any parent information, will be shared through these platforms. We look forward to a colourful and memorable celebration together!