Jesus tells the parable of the master who trusted his servants to be standing ready and trusted to complete their usual tasks while waiting for him to return. Just as Jesus trusted his disciples to carry on his work when he left, we are trusted to carry on sharing the good news of Gospel, opening the doors of our hearts in our words and actions. We encourage our students to be positive in their learning and make good use of class time. The standard of work students achieve very much depends on the way they approach their learning with a positive attitude, the effort they are prepared to make and in the way they accept and work with staff and their peers.

Jesus’ words are so comforting in this week’s Gospel (Luke 12:32-48): “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” In the midst of busy family life and everyday challenges, Jesus reminds us not to be afraid, for God delights in giving us His kingdom—His love, peace, and promises—right now. He calls us to focus on lasting treasures like kindness and faithfulness, not temporary things. As we stay ready and watchful for His presence in our daily lives, even in small acts of love, God sees our faithfulness and promises to care for us. We can all take hope in knowing we are not alone—God is always with us, guiding, strengthening and blessing us all on our journey.

This week at Holy Spirit Catholic School, we value respect. Respect means seeing the good in others and showing care through our words and actions. We are teaching our students that being respectful means thinking about how others feel and choosing to act kindly and thoughtfully. Whether it’s listening carefully, using kind words, or lending a helping hand, we want our children to notice when someone needs support—and take action. This week, we join in prayer that our students grow in empathy and show true respect by caring deeply for the feelings and well-being of those around them.

Sacramental Programme: Our Parish Sacramental Programme began last week with 30 students from our school participating. Last night, our children made the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please keep these students in your prayers as they continue their faith journey.

Today, August 6th , is the day the Church celebrates the Transfiguration of the Lord. This unique event in the Gospel occurred when Jesus took his three closest companions, Peter, James and John, up a mountain and was transfigured: ‘His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light.’ This event is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. There is more on the Transfiguration at:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15019a.htm 

This Friday, 8th August, we celebrate the Feast of St Mary of the Cross, Australia’s first Saint, Mary MacKillop. Mary Helen MacKillop was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne on January 15, 1842. Together with Fr Tenison Woods, Mary founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph in 1867, an Order dedicated to the education of poor children. Mary faced many challenges, not least of which was her (questionable) excommunication by Bishop Shiel in September 1871 – an excommunication lifted five months later. By 1891, there were three hundred sisters working in nine dioceses in Australia and New Zealand. An ordinary Australian woman, yet a woman of heroic holiness, goodness, warmth and determination, Mary died on August 8, 1909. On October 17, 2010, Mary MacKillop – Saint Mary of the Cross, was declared a Saint by Pope Benedict XVI. One of her best-known sayings is ‘Never see a need without doing
something about it!’ Visit: http://www.marymackillop.org.au/ 

Monday, 15th August, is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII declared as a dogma revealed by God that ‘Mary, the Mother of God, after the completion of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into the glory of Heaven’. Likewise, the Second Vatican Council taught in the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium that ‘the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, when her earthly life was over, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things (n. 59)’.

God bless.
Caroline Fuller