This weekend’s readings use the common theme of God providing the bread that people need for survival. From the Old Testament story of manner from Heaven given by God as the chosen people wandered through the desert, to Jesus' message that He is the ‘bread of life’. The theme of bread is a reflection that, as humans, we require nourishment to continue to live and a most basic form of getting this in many cultures is through bread. This theme however takes this much further. The Moses story emphasises that the bread came from God. In the Gospel (John 6:24-35), it parallels this concept that Jesus also comes from God but that the only way that we can get to God is through Him. The bread that Jesus gives provides eternal nourishment. As we consider this theme, it may be an opportunity to also consider how hungry we are for the ‘bread of life’ and how readily we accept Jesus in providing our eternal nourishment.

Earlier this week I had the privilege of travelling to the Marist School’s Australia biennial conference. This conference brings together school leaders and staff from across Australia to meet and focus on issues or directions common to us as educators in the Marist tradition. This year we were encouraged to take a few extra staff who work with our students in a pastoral or mission role. The conference named the fact that as educators, we often concentrate on the head and hands (how we think and what we do) but as Catholic educators, we are encouraged to also consider the soul. This is much more focussed on the why of what we do, and the way that our being is aimed at something far greater than the what or the how. In the Marist tradition, we explicitly state this why as our desire to get to know Jesus because our ‘soul’ or purpose is to bring about the kingdom of God - to make the world a better place and lead to eternal life.

As part of this conference, we visited Standley Chasm and a small Marist school at Santa Theresa (coincidentally named after St Therese of Lisieux). The chasm is the one pictured in our theme document for 2024 - first light - and the school is a small aboriginal community that Marists have been associated with for over 50 years. The conference was reinforcing in that we are well placed within a community that shares values and practices that lead to improvement. We are extremely proud of the work that our staff and students do, day in and day out and the support of our parents. At the end of the conference, Ms Nguyen was invited to reflect on her experience and she gave a moving account of the impact that Mount Carmel has on its community. Following this, she was personally congratulated by a number of principals and a bishop, which all shows the nature of our family spirit at Mount Carmel.

Earlier today I sent out a letter through Compass outlining the diocesan decision that Mount Carmel will increase our Year 7 intake from next year to 8 streams. This is a wonderful way to support students who seek a catholic education in the Macarthur and to enhance further the facilities at the College.

Today we say farewell to Ms Nadine Lee who has tendered her resignation. Mrs Lee is currently on parental leave but has worked at Mount Carmel as an English, and RE teacher as well as a House and Year Coordinator. We hope that Mrs Lee will continue to work at Mount Carmel on a casual and temporary basis and we may be able to lure her back in the future. On Monday we also welcome Ms Eloise Sgroi, who joins us in the English faculty. Ms Sgroi brings with her enthusiasm and passion and will be a wonderful addition to our staff.

In week 5, Tuesday Aug 20, we will be holding our Term 3 Parents & Friends meeting. As always, all parents are invited to attend this meeting and if time permits, we will visit our latest refurbished buildings. The meeting, as always, will start in I3 at 7pm.

Ite in Veritate