Quo vadis?

I am not a person who typically pays any attention to horoscopes, but there is always that week between Christmas and New Year each year when every publication prints an outlook for the year ahead. In a mindless, holiday frame of mind in 2019, I read my horoscope for 2020.

I don't recall the details but it did say that the first half of the year would present several challenges. This was 'spot on', not just for me, but for everyone. Thereafter, to use astrologers’ parlance, the stars and planets promised to be aligned in my favour.

We have reached the second half of 2020, and only a naïve person would believe that it will be plain sailing for the remainder of the year. Soaring Covid statistics, economic distress, the closure of public schools along with unrest among our nation's citizens suggest that we are still trying to establish the best gear to sustain us on an uphill journey whose peak we cannot see.

The recent resignation of our School’s Board places the School in a disrupted state. However, we are in the very safe hands of the Dominican Council. I admire their collective wisdom, that is discerning and cognizant of all stakeholders, most especially the children. The School community has received communication from the Sisters about their process and this communication will continue as information becomes available.

As a community, we find ourselves on a journey and, for now, each person's opinion of the destination might differ. Let us trust the journey and allow it to take us to a remarkable place.

I read this in a blog that shares thoughts on wisdom. It resonated with me. Perhaps it will do the same for you.

Life is a miracle and a mystery from our first breath until our last.
Live it.

Life is painful and thrilling and beautiful all at the same time.
Feel it.

Life is precious and challenging and maddening and wild.
Go with the flow.

Life is an unlimited risk-filled adventure with no guarantees.
Do what scares you.

Life is swinging emotions and continuous change.
Breathe deeply.

Life is difficult and fleeting and without guarantee.
Love openly.

Life is abundant and expansive and voluminously yours.
Create a masterpiece.

Life is simple and messy and chaotic and blurred.
Don't quit.

Life is lightness and meaning and harmoniously delightful.
Be free.

Life is healing and forgiving and transforming for all.
Live from within.

Life is here to support you.
Be blessed and fortunate and worthy and wonderful.

~ Tess Marshall

PENNY MULLAN

Head of School

God couldn’t be everywhere, so he made Grandparents.

During this past weekend, we celebrated the feast day of St Joachim and St Anne, the parents of Mary. When I think of these two saints, I automatically think of grandparents, as these two special people are Jesus’ grandparents.

Over the past few weeks, I have been told by so many of our girls that, because they are only at school on alternate days, their grandparents have been called in to play such a big role in their lives. Normally, in this term, our Pre-Primary girls would be preparing for their special Grandparents’ Day – something we unfortunately have to forego this year. Someone once said, “God couldn’t be everywhere, so he made grandparents” (unknown). They are indeed a true gift from God.

We pray for the special blessings of our grandparents and ask God to keep them safe and in his loving care always.

Are you a Martha or a Mary?

Yesterday we celebrated the feast of St Martha. On my recorded Assembly for the older girls this week, I spoke about the story in the Bible where Jesus visits Martha and her sister Mary, and the two sisters’ different reactions to Jesus visiting their home. I have, on a number of occasions, heard sermons on this topic, and have pondered long on the question: are you a Martha or a Mary? I must admit to having a great deal of Martha in me, and thus I often feel sorry for her when this story is read, but two things have changed my thinking on this subject.

Last year, at a prayer service in our Chapel held for our Grade 11 Confirmation candidates and their parents, Father Manuel spoke on this very subject. He spoke about the choices made by Mary and Martha on that visit of Jesus, and how the greatest gift God has given us is that we can make choices in our lives. It was an extraordinary sermon which spoke so aptly to our parents about the choice they made to send their daughters to Springfield and bring them up in the Catholic faith, and also to those seventeen-year-old girls who are starting to make choices about their futures.

Secondly, on pondering this subject, I found an excellent article on this scripture reading, written by Tiffany Dawn, on a website called Project Inspired. Here is the link:

https://www.projectinspired.com/are-you-a-martha-or-a-mary/