As a Catholic community, the movement towards Easter Sunday is a critical time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

It is an especially difficult period of time in which we live, particularly given our local circumstances of increasing COVID cases and many of our families still feeling the impacts of excessive rain and flooding in recent weeks.

Therefore, I include the following impactful reflection from Sister Joan Chittister for your consideration. It addresses the importance of following Jesus in times of challenge. Additionally, Joan Chittister, speaks of the important role of Mary Magdalene – something most apt given who we are as a College. Indeed, Mary Magdalene was a powerful woman and a strong supporter of Christ, a woman who lives on, in our minds and hearts, as a powerful role model for us all:

“Easter confronts us with the greatest challenge of them all: faith in darkness. Just because we know that what we’re doing is right does not mean that it will be easy. It certainly does not mean that even our best efforts will prevail. It finally does not mean that what we live for will happen in our lifetime.

Mary Magdalene is our model. She was one of the women who, according to Luke’s Gospel, “followed Jesus, supporting him out of their own substance.” She banked her whole life on the fact that the vision of this Jesus would come to fullness.

She believed in him and everything he believed in: She believed in the Beatitudes. She believed that the curing of cripples was a more important moment in time than even the celebration of the Sabbath. She believed in women as he did and in the poor as he did and in the reform of the synagogue. As he did. She believed in him first, before anyone else, and she followed him to the end, even when all the others had disappeared.

She followed him in the light and, finally, like the rest of us, she followed him in darkness. She went to the tomb, to the place where it was clear that failure lay. But she went in the faith that what had come to life in her because of him, even if suppressed in the world around her for a while, could not die. Not in those who had been touched by him. Never in her. Not really.

It was then that she found him risen. Gone. Beyond the grasp of those living in whom there was no life and who had wanted him dead so that their own death-dealing could go on.

The message to us is a clear one. When we follow Jesus, the path is often through darkness to what looks to the world—to us—like failure and defeat. But when we ourselves carry the message of Jesus—when we live the life of Jesus here and now, when we, too, confront the world around us with the blessedness of those poor, those outcast, those foreigners, those women, those voiceless for whom Jesus gave his life—we carry within ourselves the promise of new life. We live the ongoing message of the Resurrection itself: What comes in the name of Jesus will not die. The darkness will not overcome it as long as we ourselves never blow out the light of Truth in our own hearts.” (Sr Joan Chittister: http://joanchittister.org/word-from-joan/easter-message )

I wish all families the very best during this Easter season. In Tuesday’s Easter Liturgy I will be encouraging our students to attend at least one of the upcoming Easter services.

CAMPS

A big congratulations to our Year 7, 9 and 11 students who have just returned from their respective camp experiences.

All held at different venues and involving a range of varying activities and alternate programs, I commend our students for being involved and prepared to ‘step outside of their comfort zones’.

Several days were wet, windy and/or cold but sometimes it is through the very worst of conditions that students can learn the most about themselves and find some of the greatest rewards out of challenges.

I would like to thank the large number of staff that attended the camps and gave up valuable time (multiple days and nights) away from their own personal lives and/or families; some staff even backed up for back-to-back overnight experiences!

ATTENDANCE

CEO has now brought in a significant change to attendance recording. 

In short, families must indicate the reason for a student’s absence within 7 days of the absence. Failure to do so will result in the student being marked as “Absent – unexplained”. Such a change is now consistent with the requirements of the Education Act (1990). 

For further details see my Compass notice from 30 March (also included in this Newsletter).

COVID

• YEAR 9

A Compass notification will be sent out later today providing details for Year 9 for Week 11. Given the number of cases of COVID, amongst Year 9 students, that have been recently reported the College will be recommending that Year 9 students stay at home in Week 11.

Students in Year 9 (who do not have COVID and are not required to isolate) are still encouraged to attend Tuesday’s competitor-only Cross Country and Tuesday afternoon’s MISA trials, however, lessons across the week will be provided online.

Any Year 9s who must be on site (supervision will still be provided) are strongly encouraged to complete a RAT test before coming to school.

Lessons in Years 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 will continue as normal.

• MASK WEARING

With an increasing number of COVID cases in our Magdalene community, I remind families that the College strongly encourages students and staff to wear masks while at school.

We are aware that some schools in our local area have mandated mask use, but at this stage, the College will continue to monitor the situation and advise parents/carers/students if any change is required.

STAFF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAY – FRIDAY 8th APRIL

Please remember that this coming Friday (8 April) will be a Staff Professional Learning Day. This is a pupil free day for all students. The College Office will still be open till 3pm.

2023 YEAR 7 ENROLMENTS

Please remember that applications for Year 7 2023 are due by 3pm on 8th April. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes for Office staff to check details and book an interview – so please ensure you arrive in plenty of time.

PRAYER

I particularly like the hope that the following Easter Prayer offers. I’m sure you will also note the close connection between it and our mission here at Magdalene.

Break Open the Tomb

Lord of Easter’s Promise, I live in faith of the Resurrection, but such is the nature of my faith that so much of me remains entombed. Break open the tomb.

Where I’ve buried my compassion, break open the tomb. 

Where I’ve buried my sense of mercy, break open the tomb. 

Where I’ve buried my humility, break open the tomb. 

Where I’ve buried my humanity, break open the tomb. 

Where I’ve buried my love for my Heavenly Father, break open the tomb. 

Where I’ve buried my sense of joy, break open the tomb. 

Where I’ve buried my willingness to forgive, break open the tomb.

Lord, in you I’ve found a Saviour no grave can withstand. 

Help me to roll away this stone and find the miracle of new life. That I may live more fully in your saving grace. 

– Amen

{Prayer © 2018, Catholic Relief Services}