St Kieran Newsletter Term 2 Week 6 - 26 May 2022

Mary Mother of God

In a school play about the life of Jesus, one of the actors got stage - fright and couldn’t remember his line. He caught his mother’s eye and she mouthed the line: “I am the light of the world.” With a huge smile on his face the boy declared: “My mother is the light of the world.”  

Catholics have as their universal mother, the Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus who truly could claim to be, “the light of the world”. Because Jesus had a human and a divine nature which cannot be divided, Mary holds the title of Mother of God.  

Often Catholics are accused of praying to Mary as if she was a Goddess of sorts. But we have a saying, “To Jesus through Mary”, which indicates that we pray through Mary as our intercessor who prays to God on our behalf. Because Mary was “favoured by God” Luke 1:30, when she was personally chosen to become the mother of Jesus, we believe that we have a greater chance of obtaining God’s graces by asking Mary to intercede for us. When Mary told her cousin, Elizabeth, of her pregnancy, she stated, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” Luke 1:46. Mary is stating that Jesus is magnified by her soul. We still believe today, that Mary’s soul “magnifies the Lord” and so we petition her.  

From the earliest days of Christianity, Mary has been perhaps the principal figure depicted on Icons. The Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches are where most of the Icons had their origin and where they are still venerated. The Icon with which we are most familiar, is that of Our Lady of Perpetual Help which emerged from Crete in the last half of the 15th Century. Dr Margaret Ghosn in her work, “The Iconic Mary”, gives an insight into the significance of the Mary image in Icons, when she writes: “Mary symbolises many  images including maternal presence, affection, protector, guide, intercessor, holiness and above all the Mother of God. Mary is called ‘blessed among women’ Luke 11:27 because of her ‘yes’ in faith, ‘let it be done to me according to your word’ Luke 1:38, which brought Jesus into the world. Mary calls to mind the words of St Paul, ‘It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me’ Gal. 2:20. While Mary is the Saviour’s Mother, it is as his faithful disciple that she serves as the primary model of a Christ-centred life. Like Mary, we uncover the secret of who we are on discovering Christ at the centre of our lives.”  

Mary’s human life helps her to be a bridge between earth and heaven helping us all to see what is possible. It is possible to be born poor into a simple life, yet achieve mightily in life. It is possible to be uncertain about ourselves, experience fear when opportunities arise and then accept with courage what is offered to us. It is possible to persevere through times of sorrow and disappointment and to keep our trust in God. It is possible to live our lives in hope, trusting that God’s spirit will be with us in all we do.  

God, who by the Resurrection of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, has been pleased to give joy to the world, grant we ask You, that through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of eternal life, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.”  

Daine Burnett 
Principal 
daine.burnett@cewa.edu.au 

Holy Communion Celebration

Please keep the Year 4 classes and their teachers in your thoughts and prayers as they make the Sacrament of Holy Communion this weekend. We wish you the very best and hope the celebration is a special one for you and your families. 

Father Gatt

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Father Gatt has passed away. As a school and parish community we pass our condolences and prayers to Fr Gatt's family at this time. Father Gatt was the St Kieran Parish Priest for 15 years between 2000 - 2015 and I am sure holds many fond memories with members of the community. 

The details regarding the Rosary and Funeral Mass are St Kieran Catholic Church 
Monday 30th May 2022 – Rosary at 7pm 
Tuesday 31st May 2022 – Funeral Mass at 10am 

National Sorry Day 26th May 2022

Today, on National Sorry Day, we acknowledge the past policies and practices which caused hurt, dispossession and loss of connection, language and identity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge that there needs to be recognition of the impact of past policies and practices and healing between non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal peoples.  
Pope John Paul II in 1986 reminded Australians that “for thousands of years this culture of yours was free to grow without interference by people from other places. You lived your lives in spiritual closeness to the land, with its animals, birds, fishes, waterholes, rivers, hills and mountains. Through your closeness to the land, you touched the sacredness of man’s relationship with God, for the land was the proof of a power in life greater than yourselves.”  
This National Sorry Day, let us all reflect on the need for genuine reconciliation – not just in word, but in deed and in action. Genuine reconciliation requires acknowledgement of the harm done by those enacting past policies, and those who did not act out against these policies, so that healing can reach the whole community. Today, and every day moving forward, we are invited to be brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can make change for the benefit of all Australians.  

RAT Collection

We would ask all parents to make the effort to collect the RAT's from the administration office as soon as possible. Primary school children are unable to have these sent home with them, therefore parents must collect these from the office personally. Please make the time to do so. 

Parking and Supervision at St Kieran

Please note parking in front of administration on Tyler Street is reserved for our Students with Additional Needs families - please refrain from parking here. All other families walking in to collect children are asked to park in the church car park. A reminder that before school, St Kieran Staff will only supervise the undercover area; and after school, staff will supervise the drive through and the undercover area. 
This means students at NOT allowed on any of the play equipment before or after school. We understand Kindy parents and students may have to wait around for older siblings at the end of the day, but this is not a time to play on equipment. We ask that you sit in the undercover and when siblings arrive, leave the school grounds immediately.  

Enrolments Kindy 2023

We are currently undertaking enrolments and conducting interviews for Kindy 2023. Please make sure that you let your family and friends know and if you have a sibling please ensure that you have completed an enrolment form. 
Please contact the office if you require more information or refer to our school website. 

Waste Free Wednesdays

Mercedes College

Mercedes College | A College for every girl in the heart of your city!

We have limited places available in all year groups for 2023 and are currently interviewing for 2024 & 2025.  If you are considering enrolling your daughter at Mercedes College, please visit our website at www.mercedes.wa.edu.au to request a prospectus, to enrol online or book a tour of our campus. Please contact our Enrolments Officer, Mrs Nicole Kirk on 9323 1323 if you require further information.

Hollywood Private Hospital

Australian Girls Choir Open Day - Saturday June 18

Look no further than the Australian Girls Choir (AGC) because we encourage, challenge and inspire girls as they learn to sing, dance and perform. School aged girls are invited to come along to our Open Day on Saturday June 18 to try our fun and inclusive classes and learn more about being part of the AGC! Please visit our website to register to attend our free Open Day: https://ausgirlschoir.com.au/joinagc

The Council for Catholic Women Perth

Promoting the Participation of Women in the Catholic Church

Understanding John's Gospel
The Council for Catholic Women Perth warmly invite you to hear Dr Mary Coloe PVBM at two free events in Perth.  Mary is a Presentation sister and a professor of New Testament Studies at Yarra Theological Union. Her primary focus in teaching and writing is the Gospel of John. An inspiring and informative speaker, Mary explores John's positive message that affirms life and speaks to the heart of human desire.  RSVP by Thursday 9 June to Kerry at kerrymacfarlane2@gmail.com/ 0400 886 835. All welcome   

The Passion Gospel of John - Friday 10 June 6-8.30pm at James Nestor Hall Catholic Education Office 50 Ruislip St West Leederville,WA.  Gather at 5.30pm for light refreshments.                               

Understanding The Woman at the Well Story - Saturday 11 June 9.30am -12 noon at Treacey Hall, Iona Presentation College Junior School Campus. Enter from 43 Victoria Street, Mosman Park (Next to Playing Courts and opposite Cafe).