Dear Parents, Friends, Staff and Students of Mount Carmel,

Last Sunday’s Gospel reading recalled Jesus addressing his disciples shortly after the Last Supper and issuing them with “a new commandment. Love one another; just as I have loved you. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples” (Jn 13:33-34). This commandment strikes right to the core of true Christian discipleship - a genuine love of God and a genuine love of neighbour. The ways in which we can live out this commandment are many and varied, however, one needn’t look beyond our own model of Christian discipleship in St Marcellin Champagnat, as one to aspire towards. A man who, back in 1816, responded to a call from God to establish a community of Brothers that would take the message of Christ’s love to the poor and marginalised, first through Europe, and eventually across the world.

In the coming weeks, Marist schools and communities will join in spirit across the globe to celebrate the Feast of Marcellin Champagnat. Here at Mount Carmel, we will come together for a Eucharistic celebration on the morning of Friday 7 June at 10am in the Champagnat Centre. This will be immediately followed by the presentation of the 2019 Mount Carmel Champagnat Day awards. I take the opportunity to invite all parents and friends of the College to this significant feast day and to join us for light refreshments following the Mass and awards ceremony.

It was a great pleasure to host close to 100 visitors to the College this week for our annual Year 7 G-Day celebration. Students were invited to bring along a Grandparent, Godparent or Good friend to spend the morning with them, participate in a liturgy, attend a range of practical classes and to enjoy a special morning tea, prepared by our talented Year 7 students. I am grateful to all our visitors for joining us on Monday and to Mr Huntly, Miss Donellan and Mr Powell for all their work in preparation of such an enjoyable morning.

The busy nature of Term 2 continues next week with two major events taking place. I remind all parents of Year 11 students that this coming Wednesday night is our Year 11 Parent/Teacher/Student interview evening. These interviews provide a crucial opportunity for students and parents to sit down together and discuss the progress of each student to this point in their Preliminary course. I urge all parents and students to avail themselves of this opportunity and to take on board and respond to the advice they receive from their teachers.

The second major event taking place this week will see house pride on the line at the annual College athletics carnival which will be held at Campbelltown Stadium this coming Friday. As always, parents are invited to join us for what promises to be yet another enjoyable, community-building day.

Ite in Veritate