In this week’s Gospel, we hear the words:  ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them’ (Matthew 18:15-20).   When we meet to pray, we come together as one family and Jesus joins us in our prayer.  To have a good relationship with God means we must become a truly loving and caring person as part of a loving and caring community of people united in Christ.  As a community, we have a responsibility for each other's well-being and show compassion to those around us.  

This week at Holy Spirit we value compassion, meaning sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.  Compassion gives us the ability to understand someone else's situation and the desire to take action to improve their lives.  It is the quality that allows us to step outside of ourselves and see the circumstances of others.  It supplies the willpower to do what is necessary to make the world a more caring place.  This week, we pray our students show compassion to those around them.

Recently, a number of our Year 6 Mini Vinnies students participated in our Homelessness Awareness Night.  We were joined by Stephen Gasparini, Youth Engagement and Development Officer for the Townsville Diocese, St Vincent de Paul Society Branch.  Stephen shared information about Australia’s Homeless population.  Throughout the night, the students participated in activities that raised awareness about the misfortune of others.  Thank you to all our families for supporting the night by donating much needed items for people in our community.  Your compassion and generosity will be very much appreciated.

In addition to donated items from our Homelessness Awareness Night, after passing on our donation of bedding items purchased using money from our Cash for Cans, we received the following email to thank our school community:

Thanks to Holy Spirit and Stephen Gasparini from  the S.V. de P. Society, our refugees were the recipients of the great lot of blankets and pillows that you collected on our behalf.  It was such a great gift and at such a perfect time, thank you Holy Spirit.  There are a great number of new families arriving every week at the moment.  Finding accommodation and household items for them all is challenging so you can well imagine what a thrill it was for us and them to have such lovely new blankets to give them.  Most of them I delivered myself but I was getting aware of the need for speed so I took them over to TMSG for distribution also.  They also expressed their thanks.  With our very best wishes and thanks to your school.

Regards

Loma Tonnochy

This Friday, 8th September, is the special feast of the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  We honour Mary as a Spirit-filled person who listened to God speaking to her.  Mary showed the fruits of the Spirit in the way she lived her life.  She can inspire us all and show us how to be patient, kind, joyful and hope-filled people so that we too can live out Jesus’ message.  

Loving God,

You love us and want us to be happy.

Help us to use the gifts of the Spirit like Mary did.

May we be inspired by the qualities Mary showed and look to her as a

model of kindness and goodness, patience and peace, love and joy.

We ask this prayer through Jesus, Your Son.

Amen.

God bless.

Caroline Fuller