Principal's Newsletter
Newsletter Thursday 12th September
We the staff of St Patrick’s acknowledge the traditional owners, the Kulin nations, of the land on which we learn and play.
We pay respects to the Aboriginal Elders, past and present, who are our teachers.
We thank them for taking care of children and country for countless generations.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
You are the Christ … the Son of Man was destined to suffer much.
Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’ And they told him. ‘John the Baptist,’ they said, ‘others Elijah; others again, one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he asked, ‘who do you say I am?’ Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again; and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, ‘Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’
He called the people and his disciples to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.’
Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,
The Gospel this week tells us that Jesus was well aware of what was going to happen to him. He also wanted to let his disciples know that it did not matter about what others thought of him; but Jesus needed to ensure that his disciples knew that He was in for an insurmountable amount of suffering. And then asking them, are you willing and prepared to stay by my side when things get tough?
He indicates that his death and great suffering will not be final. He gave reminders sometimes of his future. At times the apostles must have remembered and wondered what he meant.
Jesus outlines the cost for us in verse 34. Anyone wishing to come after Me – to follow Me – that is, be a disciple, must do the following three things: he must deny himself; he must bear his cross and he must follow Christ.
What sacrifices do we make in our own lives to ensure that we allow the ones we love to stay safe and protected. Do we willingly allow suffering to occur because in the end it will bring great peace, and you will be remembered for the good things we did? And what if people do not remember?
Sacrifices are made every day, everywhere around the world. People are walking in Jesus’s footsteps; they want to carry on His word and be proud to stand up and say, Jesus is my Lord; the Light of the World. How wonderful to think we can have something to believe in.
Yesterday, our two Foundation classes went on an excursion to Healesville Sanctuary. Amazingly, the rain stayed away until they returned to school which was a bonus. The students were so very happy as they wandered around and visited the echidnas, koalas, dingoes, wombats and some slimy reptiles. The students learned about the habitats of the Australian animals and the many incredible features. The students were well behaved. In next week’s newsletter we will have some recounts from the preps themselves. Thank you to our Foundation teachers, Geraldine and Katherine for the organisation of this wonderful day. And another big thank you to our wonderful parent helpers, Anastasia, Pawan and Elena for their support as well.
On Monday we had a visit from the students at Aspire Kindergarten in Pakenham. They came in for the morning to visit our foundation students and take part in our classes. They joined in with classroom activities, listened to stories, and learned some Italian with us.
God Bless
Meg