What's On This Week

• Monday, August 25 - Friday, August 29: Book Fair.
• Friday, August 29: Father's Day Stall.
• Friday, August 29: School Disco!

Upcoming Events

• Thursday, September 4, 2:30 p.m.: 2026 Prep Storytime.

• Friday, September 5: Father's Day Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. and Mass at 9:15 a.m.

This week is packed with exciting activities for our students and school community. Here's a look at what's happening:

Book Week Celebrations

Book Week Celebrations continue this week with our Book Fair. Last Week's highlight was our Book Character Parade on Friday, where students and staff came dressed as their favourite book characters. Thanks to Deborah and Helen for all their work promoting and organising this week.

Dance Club to Visit Kinders

Our talented school Dance Club will be spreading joy and rhythm as they visit the local kindergartens this week. They will perform a short show and teach the little ones some fun and simple dance moves. It's a fantastic opportunity for our students to be leaders and share their skills with the wider community.

Father's Day Stall

Don't forget to stop by the Father's Day Stall on Friday. Students can choose from a great selection of gifts to show their appreciation for the special father figures in their lives. All gifts are priced affordably to ensure everyone can find the perfect present.

School Disco

Get your dancing shoes on because the School Disco is this Friday night!  We'll have a DJ playing all the latest hits, and a snack stall will be available with drinks and treats. The disco will run from 6 to 7:15pm (Juniors) p.m. and 7:30 to 8:45pm for Seniors in the school hall.

Open Classrooms

Mark in your diaries - Tuesday 16th September 8.30am to 9am. More information to follow.

Finally, Our thoughts and prayers go out to the community of Porepunkah and all our Police and their families after the tragic events of yesterday. We particularly thank our police for the work they do for our community that puts their own lives at risk.

St Mary of the Cross, Pray for us.

Anthony

St Mary’s Faith News

 School and Parish Connections

Gospel: Luke 13: 22-30

From East and West they will come to take their place in the kingdom of God

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.

‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”

‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.

‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

Way of the West

 The Month of August

A huge thank you to all our families for the generous donations to the Way of the West program, supporting the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre.

Your kindness will provide essential food and household items to families in our local community who are seeking safety and a fresh start.

Through your contributions, you are living out Jesus’ call to care for those in need.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40).

By sharing what we have, we are showing compassion, hospitality, and love, the very actions Jesus asks of us.

Thank you once again for embodying our school values and making a real difference in the lives of others.

For more information please use this link - Way of the West

 St Mary’s Family Monthly Mass

Sunday 31st August 2025

Forms were sent home on Friday

Please fill in the forms and return as soon as possible - especially if you would like your child to read at Mass. There are limited readings and we need to make sure the children have time to practice at home and then in the church.

Thank you to all those who have responded already. Your commitment is valued.

Everyone is welcome to sing with the choir. There will be a practice in the church with Monique and myself the week before the Mass.

Thank you for your support!

A heartfelt thank you to all families who encourage their children to participate. It is always wonderful to see familiar faces at these Masses, and we hope even more families will join us in this special school tradition.

 New Front Office Display

Crosses from Around the World

We have now collected about 6 crosses - Thank you to everyone who has donated a cross

As part of our recent staff Reflection Day, we were inspired by the idea of creating a new display in our front office – a collection of crosses from around the world. This will be a whole school initiative, and we warmly invite our families and staff to take part.

If you have a cross from your travels – whether from overseas or within Australia – that you would like to donate, we would be honoured to include it. The crosses will be thoughtfully displayed on the wall beneath the mounted monitor in the front office.

We look forward to creating an inspiring and meaningful space that invites contemplation, discussion and reflection for all who visit.

Thank you for helping us bring this idea to life.

Wednesday Morning Masses

As part of our ongoing commitment to nurturing the spiritual life of our students, each class has been taking turns to attend the Wednesday morning Parish Mass at 9:15am.

The response from teachers has been positive. The children have been able to connect with parishioners and pay attention to rituals that they have been taught in class.

Moving in to term 3, we warmly invite parents and carers to join their child’s class on the day they are rostered to attend.

You may receive an email invitation or a paper invitation, so please check emails, children’s reading folders or take heed of your child’s verbal invitation.

This is a beautiful opportunity to come together in prayer and strengthen our connection as a school and parish community.

We encourage you to check when your child’s class will be attending the Wednesday Mass.

We look forward to welcoming you to this special part of our faith life.

During this Mass you are welcome to sit with your child, but we ask that you join us as a class - so please come along and sit with us at Mass.

Term 3 Masses

At the weekend family Masses, families sit together. Children who are reading are encouraged to sit with their family near the front of the church and ideally to have the reader sit in the aisle seat.

We have just concluded our 11^th year of collections throughout August for refugee and asylum seeker families. There has been incredible support from both the Sunday parishioners and the St Mary school families.

Usually we have collected around 3,000 tin food, dried food, toiletries and other household items. This year there is certainly no less. I have witnessed three full sized vans stocked with goods being taken away. These have been sent to the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Footscray.

Please don’t underestimate what this does for those who are on struggle street.

I am more than happy with your response and deeply appreciative of how the Campaign has gone this year.

Yours ‘in Christ’

Fr Greg Trythall PP.

School Disco This Friday!

Our School Disco is happening this Friday, 29th August, and the excitement is building! We know our students can’t wait for a night of dancing, fun, and making great memories.

Please note, ticket sales are now closed. Thank you to everyone who secured theirs in time!

Session Times

• Session 1: Prep, Grade 1 & 2 — 6:00pm to 7:15pm

• Session 2: Grades 3, 4, 5 & 6 — 7:30pm to 8:45pm

Drop-off and Pick-up Info

Students are welcome to come dressed in their disco best, ready to have a blast!

• Drop-off: Please bring your child to the main entrance of the School Hall, where our friendly volunteers will greet and guide them inside.

• Pick-up: Children will be ready for collection from the Cecil Street exit at the end of their session.

To help keep the area safe and congestion-free, we kindly ask parents to depart promptly after drop-off.

What to Expect

Glow sticks, Lollies, A live DJ, Chill-out zones with colouring and a tattoo station.. And of course plenty of dancing!

Please remember: mobile phones must be left at home.

We can't wait to see all the happy faces on Friday night!

Please complete the following if you are able to help on icy pole duty  Icy Pole Duty

Got a bit of time next month? Time to give blood and change lives? 1 in 3 people in Williamstown will need blood, and they need people like you to give it. We’re popping up in town from 15 to 26 September. Don’t forget to pre-book your spot at lifeblood.com.au, on our app or on 13 14 95