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This Sunday is the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time and the Gospel reading is Matthew 18:21-35.
Forgiveness
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times."
The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant
For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Executive Director’s Reflections
During the recent Catholic Education Week celebrations I was invited to speak at three consecutive celebration and awards-giving evenings (in Devonport, Launceston and Hobart) about an aspect of the inspirational life of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
Conscious that many other invited personnel (Catholic Education Leaders, Clergy, Commissioners and TCEO officers) would participate each evening, I made it my goal not to repeat the same presentation – but rather choose a different reflection on Mary of the Cross’ saintly example each evening. I am delighted to share some of them with you.
To be declared a saint, it is a requirement of the Church that the person must demonstrate heroic virtue in their life. It is another requirement that a full and detailed document history of the persons’ life (the “cause” for canonisation) be presented in Rome.
As a result of this process we now have the “Cause” of St Mary in published form. Written by Fr Paul Gardener SJ, this two-volume book series provides a remarkable and penetrating insight into the saint’s motivations, challenges, aspirations, and holiness. Via diary accounts and the countless letters she wrote and received we can witness, almost first-hand, the mind of Saint Mary.
My Aunt Margaret was recruited as a young girl in England and came to Australia in the 1930s as a Josephite sister. We regularly made family visits to convents and foundations where our aunt, Sister Edmund Campion was posted, all established by St Mary.
Indeed, we enjoyed afternoon tea in the very rooms and spaces that Mary MacKillop had worked and lived in. Because our aunt lived with many of the sisters who had lived and worked with St Mary, through them, we experienced a living link with St Mary of the Cross, known lovingly to them all as “Mother Mary.”
Her diaries capture moments of great holiness, none more moving than the moment of her excommunication – a short lived exile from the Faith – soon to be justly restored. During the dark, sombre and solemn moments of the ceremony of excommunication, we could imagine that she would experience frustration and anger at such an obvious insult to her faithful service of God. Not so St Mary!
She spent every moment of the ceremony praying fervently for the soul of the bishop who was excommunicating her. She beseeched God to spare and forgive him and called on the deep reserves of her own intimacy with Jesus to strengthen her persecutor’s faith and the faith of all the sisters who depended on her. That is heroic virtue indeed.
Beleaguered with chronic illness for a great deal of her life, St Mary always displayed heroic courage and perseverance in the face of hardship. Deeply embedded in her writings and instructions to the sister of St Joseph throughout Australia was a profound and sisterly love of the ordained clergy. She forbade any of her sisters ever to criticise a priest – no matter what! She reserved her sternest rebukes for anyone who gave less than the required respect for the revelation and personification of Christ that is the life and ministry of the priesthood.
Indeed, we have so much yet to learn about heroic virtue from our Australian saint.
Yours in Christ
Gerard Gaskin
Executive Director
R U OK? Day
Today is R U OK? Day, a national day of action where we are remined of the profound impact a conversation can have. It's an invitation to connect on a deeper level and to ask the simple yet powerful question, "R U OK?"
This year's message is 'here to hear'. The R U OK? Day foundation has created a free Conversation Guide that has practical tips for how to navigate an R U OK? conversation, today, tomorrow, and any time someone needs your support.
Larmenier Catholic School unveils new facilities
The new facilities at Larmenier Catholic School are tangible example of Catholic Education Tasmania's commitment to providing our students with the best possible learning environments.
These new facilities include an administration area, library, staffroom, and flexible learning area. It was a privilege to have Senator Helen Polley in attendance for the opening of these facilities, joining School Captains Matilda Badcock, Ruth Lockhart, Rory Kingston, and Logan Brimfield. Fr Damien Sladen was also in attendance to give his blessings of the new buildings and the school choir performed at the opening assembly.
A special thank you to everyone involved in this incredible project.
CET Takes on Tasmanian Tournament of Minds
Lifelong learning doesn't just exist within our classrooms. Our students are provided with opportunities to flourish in many co-curricular activities, which challenge them to think differently about the world around them.
Tournament Of Minds (TOM) Tasmania is a competition that allows our students to test their problem solving skills, as they compete with their teams in specific challenge categories.
Several of our schools recently participated in the Tassie Branch Finals, competing against schools across the state.
Congratulations to all of our TOMsters for the hard work put into their projects!
Language Literature:
- Primary Honours; Mount Carmel College - MCC Marches
- Primary Honours; St Mary’s College - 3
- Secondary Honours; Mount Carmel College - Team 5
The Arts
- Primary Winners; St Thomas More's Catholic School
- Primary Honours; St Cuthbert's Catholic School
- Secondary Honours; St Brendan-Shaw College - Banksy’s Boys
Social Sciences
- Secondary Winners; Sacred Heart College - Dino-Mighty
- Secondary Honours; St Brendan-Shaw College - The Convergence
Updating DECYP links
The Department for Education Children and Young People (DECYP) will be launching their new public website on 25 September 2023 and encourage any existing links to the DECYP website to be checked. The website URL (www.decyp.tas.gov.au) will remain the same and redirects have been put in place to provide a seamless transition.
All existing links to documents should remain unaffected and links within documents should automatically redirect to their new locations.
If you have any issues or questions relating to broken links please contact: webtechnologies@decyp.tas.gov.au.
Sustainability Fair at St Mary's College
St Mary’s College held its Sustainability Fair on Wednesday 13 September on the College Green, celebrating all things sustainable and green in an afternoon of activities.
Members of the St Mary's College community came along to see all of the excitement on offer as they visited each stall. With a range of activities and stalls including beeswax wraps, fresh veggies, a spit roast, sustainable fashion, and succulents, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Students and staff worked together to create a wide range of hands-on stalls and homemade items available for purchase. The event was a wonderful chance to showcase the passion and drive for sustainability at St Mary's College.
Threatened species art competition
The Wild At Art threatened species art competition closes tomorrow!
Creating and submitting an artwork helps develop children’s connection to Australia’s wild places and the threatened plants and animals that call it home.
Wild At Art is Australia’s biggest wildlife art competition for children aged 5-12.
The Australian Conservation Foundation invite children from across the country to create an original artwork of one of Australia's many threatened native animals or plants, along with a short, written component on their chosen threatened species.
All submissions must be received by 5pm Friday 15 September 2023. Entries received after that date will not be accepted.
Your Health Link National Photographic Competition
The competition is open to amateur and professional photographers of all ages*.
Grab your mobile phone, tablet or trusty camera and capture images that promote ‘Healthy Life - Healthy You’.
Looking for ideas? Here are some suggested themes to get you started:
- physical activity and healthy lifestyles
- nutrition and healthy food choices
- respectful relationships
- healthy environments
- diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion
- healthy communities
- well-being, resilience, purpose and happiness.
The competition closes at 12 midnight (AEST) 8 October 2023.
Nature. Be in it. holiday program
Spring is coming and the Nature. Be in it. holiday program is BACK IN ACTION! Who wouldn't want to get outside for a full day of nature play.
Attached is the October Holiday flyer. Please include in your school newsletter, either the attached flyer or small text box below.
Libraries Tasmania Studiosity program
Libraries Tasmania now offers free online study support through the Studiosity program. Student in grades 3 to 12 can access homework support, writing feedback and practice quizzes from real-life subject specialists. Library members log in free with their library barcode and PIN/password.
What Studiosity Offers:
- Connect Live Service: If you need instant assistance with homework, assignments, or questions in subjects like math, chemistry, physics, and more, the Connect Live service allows you to chat with a Subject Specialist. They'll guide you through your queries using typed or voice chat and even help you solve problems on an online whiteboard.
- Writing Feedback: Upload essays/written articles to Studiosity anytime and receive detailed feedback in less than 24 hours. Improve your writing skills with their suggestions and make your work shine.
Practice Tests and Worksheets: Access over 750 practice tests and downloadable worksheets across English, math, chemistry, physics, and biology from Year 5 to Year 12 levels, including NAPLAN-focused content
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STEM Education Links and Resources
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NATSICC
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Catholic Education Tasmania acknowledges and pays respect to the original and ongoing custodians of the land. We acknowledge the continuing connection to land, seas, air and waterways and commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of reconciliation. We honour Elders past and present.