Over the past week I have attended the APRE Conference in Cairns where we were engaging with some more of the research and Diocesan data around the Enhancing Catholic School Identity project (ECSI) and the primary purpose is to look at how we can identify as a Catholic school in our school communities. Part of this is the welcoming of other faith traditions but also deepening our own faith.

Last week in our Catholic traditions we celebrated the life of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and this week is we honour and recognise Mother Mary and her devoted life as the mother of our Saviour.

The Feast of the Assumption of Mary

“Blessed Is She Who Believed”  

Catholics refer to Mary, Jesus’ mother, as our spiritual mother, as she is the mother of the Church. Thursday 15^th August was the Feast of the Assumption where we celebrate the belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary, was taken directly to heaven, body and soul, after her life on earth had ended. This belief was made an official teaching of the Catholic Church in 1950 by Pope Pius XII.

The Feast of the Assumption is a celebration of Mary’s faithful relationship with her God and her assumption into heaven. When we pray to Mary, we say “Mary, full of Grace” and Mary truly is a woman of Grace. She made room for God in her life and shows us how to live a life of Trust and Faith in God; to become more deeply the person God has called us to be.

This week I pose the question to you: We can each admire Mary for many different aspects in our lives and admire her for many different reasons throughout different stages in our lives.

Who is Mary for you at this very stage in your life?

Who is Mary for you?

• A woman, meek and mild? Blindly accepting all that happened? A voiceless passive silent observer?
• Or a woman of knowledgeable faith, who understood the prophecies? Who read the signs of the prophecy? Through whom the prophecy was fulfilled?

Who is Mary for you?

Thank you and blessings for a wonderful weekend,

Amanda