In this week’s Gospel, Jesus says:  ‘The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me’ (John 10:27-30).  In Jesus’ time, a good shepherd knew each one of his sheep and immediately was able to tell if any were needing help or missing.  Jesus used this metaphor so the people would know that He knew and loved each one of them and that he would guide and look after them.  We have to be prepared to listen and be open to Jesus’ message.  Listening skills are so important in everyday and in particular for our students here at school.  To be able to follow a series of instructions to successfully carry out tasks or just to be a friend and take the time to listen to someone else.  Sometimes we ask a child; did you listen?  The response is generally a quick, yes!   Maybe we should say instead; how did you listen, what actions will show me you were listening? 

This week at Holy Spirit, we value gratitude.  Gratitude is one of many positive emotions. It's about focusing on what's good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have.  There are many ways that we can show gratitude to those around us.  It could be in the simplest form of smiling at someone to show gratitude in something they have said or done.  This week we pray that our students think of a way to show gratitude to those around them to show they appreciate the nice things that are done for them.  There are many people in our school community who are continually working to ensure a number of events happen and we thank everyone for their ongoing support of our school.  

MAY, THE MONTH OF MARY:  By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a certain devotion.  In May, it is the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This devotion arose among Jesuits in Rome in the late 18th century and quickly spread throughout the Western Church.  By the time of Pope Pius IX's declaration of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854, it had become universal.  There are several Marian feast days in May in honour of Mary, including Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament (13th May), and Feast of Mary Help of Christians (24th May) and Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (31st May).  

God bless.

Caroline Fuller