ST BENEDICT'S CATHOLIC COLLEGE

There were two important themes that arose for the readings at last Sunday’s Mass. The first of these was in the first reading from the Old Testament Book of Wisdom. Wisdom is a fascinating treasure for many and the most interesting part of this is that we can sometimes have it in abundance and at other times, it seems to elude us. This reading however, gives us heart that if we continue to seek wisdom, it will present itself to us. The thirst for wisdom will be rewarded by the gaining of it. It is simply a matter of continuing to search.

The second theme arose from the parable of the bridegroom who was late to his own celebration and half the servants waiting to greet him ran out of oil for their lamps. The lamp is of particular significance to our community as it directly links to our motto “Be my light”. In this case, the servants were not able to escort the groom to his celebration and be the light for him. This was because they were unprepared and thought that they would have time to fix things up before they were needed. Of course in this parable, the Bridegroom is Jesus and the servants are those of us waiting to greet Him and walk with Him to the celebration. How often have we ‘put off’ thinking of others so that we can satisfy our own wants. Have we thought that it will be alright because we will have time somewhere in the future to ‘do the right thing’. We don’t know the time or the place when we will be called, so we should live every day prepared and ensure that we reflect the ‘light of Christ’ to those around us.

In coming to the end of another year we have had a number of staff who have announced new positions and new directions for 2018. Mrs Creswick and Mrs Hayden (two of our foundation staff) have resigned from the end of this year. Miss Adams has moved into a peer support role and has commenced her new position from week 6 of this term. I have been given the humbling opportunity of leading the Mount Carmel College community from 2018. Each of these positions has, or will be, filled in the coming weeks in preparation for 2018. A number of new staff have also been employed as a result of the growth in student numbers which has occurred as our full year groups progress through the College. I take this opportunity to thank those staff who will be moving. They have shown a dedication and expertise that has helped to give our College a strong reputation within the wider community. They have contributed much of themselves and their time and effort during their time at St Benedict’s. For myself, I will have the opportunity of giving more thanks in coming newsletters.

Last Tuesday night we held the last Parents and Friends meeting for 2017. As always, it was a great opportunity to meet with our regular attenders and name all the activities of the College as well as discuss issues of importance to our parents. The evening finished with a short tour through the new building, which was very well received. Thank you to the parents who have attended throughout this year and a special thank you to the P&F Executive who give that extra time and effort to support learning within the College.

Our Year 9 & 10 students have now finished their formal exams and formal junior assessments will also be complete. Teachers are now in the process of marking and reporting. These reports will be distributed to students at the end of term. For the remainder of Term 4, students will continue with valuable learning opportunities and building on skills and outcomes that will complete 2017 courses and assist students for the start of 2018. I encourage all students to continue with their positive study regimes.

Mr Steve Lo Cascio

Acting Principal

Our prayer focus at the moment shifts a little and concentrates on two main areas. Firstly, we continue to pray for the healing of Fr David. Secondly, we pray for those, who at Christmas time, will struggle to enjoy this important period of the liturgical calendar. We pray for those who have very little in terms of money, food and presents. In addition, we will start to raise awareness of the St Vincent De Paul Christmas appeal and will be asking families to donate to this very worthy cause.

The Gospel reading from last weekend's mass was from Matthew 25:1-13., the parable of the ten virgins, and gives us an important insight in to being mindful of living a life that God wants us to. Pope Francis (below from General Audience, Saint Peter's Square, Wednesday, 24 April 2013) so beautifully reminds us of the meaning of this parable:

They are ten maidens who are awaiting the arrival of the Bridegroom, but he is late and they fall asleep. At the sudden announcement that the Bridegroom is arriving they prepare to welcome him, but while five of them, who are wise, have oil to burn in their lamps, the others, who are foolish, are left with lamps that have gone out because they have no oil for them. While they go to get some oil the Bridegroom arrives and the foolish virgins find that the door to the hall of the marriage feast is shut.

They knock on it again and again, but it is now too late, the Bridegroom answers: I do not know you. The Bridegroom is the Lord, and the time of waiting for his arrival is the time he gives to us, to all of us, before his Final Coming with mercy and patience; it is a time of watchfulness; a time in which we must keep alight the lamps of faith, hope and charity, a time in which to keep our heart open to goodness, beauty and truth. It is a time to live in accordance with God, because we do not know either the day or the hour of Christ’s return. What he asks of us is to be ready for the encounter — ready for an encounter, for a beautiful encounter, the encounter with Jesus, which means being able to see the signs of his presence, keeping our faith alive with prayer, with the sacraments, and taking care not to fall asleep so as to not forget about God.

At the end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis announced a new ‘World Day of the Poor’, which is to be celebrated on Sunday, 19 November, 2017. He describes the genesis and the idea behind this day:

“During the “Jubilee for Socially Excluded People”, as the Holy Doors of Mercy were being closed in all the cathedrals and shrines of the world, I had the idea that, as yet another tangible sign of this Extraordinary Holy Year, the entire Church might celebrate, on the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, the World Day of the Poor. This would be the worthiest way to prepare for the celebration of the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, who identified with the little ones and the poor and who will judge us on our works of mercy (cf. Mt 25:31-46). It would be a day to help communities and each of the baptised to reflect on how poverty is at the very heart of the Gospel and that, as long as Lazarus lies at the door of our homes (cf. Lk 16:19-21), there can be no justice or social peace. This Day will also represent a genuine form of new evangelisation (cf. Mt 11:5) which can renew the face of the Church as She perseveres in her perennial activity of pastoral conversion and witness to mercy.”

(Source: http://justiceandpeace.org.au/world-day-of-the-poor/)

The Australian Catholic Youth festival looms closer and closer. I ask that we pray for our students as they embark on this wonderful opportunity.

Mr David Costin

Acting Assistant Principal / Director of Mission and Vision.

This year’s Social Justice Statement is 'Everyone’s Business': Developing an Inclusive and Sustainable Economy and discusses such issues as Workforce insecurity, housing and homelessness, welfare and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Isabella Ravino, Isabella Friscic, Darcey Christl and Rhiannan Moore from Year 9 joined me on a day spent in the Holy Spirit College in Bellambi, to engage with other students from various schools across our Diocese to discuss issues of inclusiveness and a sustainable economy. The day was very interesting and we received a lot of information. We would like to thank Josephine Cooks and Cathy Brown for putting together such a great event and a particular thank you to the guest speakers for giving up their time to spend with us.

This term is a particularly big one for the Social Action Team. For the first few weeks of Term 4, we have focused on helping Catholic Missions to raise money for communities in Uganda. Unfortunately these communities do not have the same level of access to hospitals or schools as in Australia. Therefore, we are trying to raise money to help buy an ambulance and resources for children to be able to be treated for illness without having to travel for 2 hours or more by foot. Students can donate their change by placing it in donation boxes in their homerooms.

We will be holding a ribbon day on Wednesday, the ribbon colours being those of the Ugandan flag. The ribbons will be sold for a gold coin donation.

The second half of the term will be focused on the Vinnies' Christmas appeal so please keep an eye out for hamper food lists.

Mrs Sara-Jane Castelli

A reminder that the due date for the return of the permission notes and payment for the PASS Surfing Skills excursion is Wednesday 22 November. A copy of the permission note is available on the College website.

Permission notes for those students who have been invited to attend the Wollongong University Discovery Day on Wednesday 7 February 2018 are to be returned by Friday 24 November.

The due date is 28 November for the return of permission notes and payment for the Year 8 Science Centre and Planetarium Excursion. Students who do not return the permission slip by the due date will not be permitted to attend the excursion. In accordance with the College's Excursion Policy.

Students from Year 9 will be attending the Sydney Jewish Museum, Darlinghurst on Thursday 23 November. Buses will leave the College and 8:10am and return by 2:30pm, in time for normal after school travel arrangements.

Students are reminded that they are to wear their full summer uniform, including hat, and to bring their own food and drink for the day.

The Year 7 2018 Orientation Evening is being held on Wednesday 22 November in the College Library. Times have been allocated to parents/carers for either Session 1 at 6:30pm or Session 2 at 7:30pm.

Friday 24 November is the 2018 Year 7 Student Orientation Day.

• Time: 8:15am (for an 8:25am start) to 2:15pm.
  
• Parking: Limited parking is available in the front carpark, parallel to Oran Park Drive. Students will be on hand to direct you to the Quad.
• Uniform: Students are to wear their current school's sport uniform. Please make sure that students have a hat and a drink bottle.
  
• Lunch arrangements: Students are to bring their own requirements for Morning Tea. A BBQ sausage sizzle and a drink will be provided for lunch. If your child has special dietary requirements, please contact the College office.

Congratulations to the following students who were nominated as MVPs for Week 6

AFL:

Christian Friscic, Abbey Newton

Martial Arts:

Wesley Sicat

MILO Cricket:

Jorja Brooksby, Luka Sarkis

Swimming:

Jared Simpson

Netball:

Frank Alessi, Marcus Buda

Soccer:

Adam Bales

NRL/Taekwondo:

Emma Schloeffel, Adrian Furina

Taekwondo/NRL:

Blake McDermott

Barefoot Bowls:

Javier Lavega

Beach Sports:

Daniel Hanser, Alexandra Zadrozny

Bowling A:

Bradley Asbury, Cooper Judge

Bowling B:

James Moore

Crossfit:

Jessy Arnold, Billy Emmett

Golf:

Imogen Basa

Pilates/Yoga:

Lilli Power

Powerwalking:

Daniel Viskovich, Jessica McGlynn

Spin Class:

Marlon Font

Tennis:

Jackson Jones

MISA Sport

Our MISA teams had their 5th week of competition against Wollondilly Anglican College

Year 7-9 Girls Oztag Won

MVP: Sofia Lopez

Year 7-9 Boys Oztag Won

MVP: Jack Cave

Year 10-12 Boys Volleyball Loss

MVP: Tom Haidle

Year 10-12 Girls Volleyball Loss

MVP: Courtney Schonell

Year 7 Girls Basketball Win

MVP: Olivia Krpez, Jasmine Cosio

Year 7 Boys Basketball Loss

MVP: Jeremy Battistuzzi

Year Opens Mixed Tennis Loss

Yours in Sport

Miss Julia Liska

The Final family Mass for 2017 will be at St Anthony’s Church, Tahmoor, on Saturday 25 November 2017 at 6.00PM.

All Families with children in both Primary and Secondary Schools are invited to share in this glorious Celebration of the Eucharist as we say ‘THANK YOU TO OUR GOD’ for all the blessings that have been given to us during the year, and for all the support as we faced our difficulties.

Refreshments as usual after mass.