From the Principal

The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a devotional name used to refer to the interior life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections, and above all, her virginal love for God the Father, her maternal love for her son Jesus, and her compassionate love for all persons.  Two elements are essential to the devotion, Mary’s interior life and the beauties of her soul, and Mary’s virginal body.  According to Roman Catholic theology, soul and body are necessary to the constitution of man.  It was in 1855, that the Mass of the Most Pure Heart of Mary formally became a part of the Catholic practice.  Traditionally, the heart of Mary in artwork is depicted with seven wounds or swords, in homage to the seven sorrows of Mary.  Also, roses or another type of flower may be wrapped around the heart.  

Veneration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary generally coincides with the worship of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  However, there is a difference that explains the Roman Catholic devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is especially directed to the “Divine Heart”, as overflowing with love for humanity.  In the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, on the other hand, the attraction is the love of her Immaculate Heart for Jesus and for God.  

A second difference is the nature of the devotion itself.  In devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Roman Catholic venerates in a sense of love, responding to love.  In devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, love is formed from study and imitation of Mary’s yes to God as the mother of Jesus.  In this devotion, love is more the result, than the “object” of the devotion; the object being rather to love God and Jesus by uniting one’s self to Mary for this purpose and by imitating her virtues, to help one achieve this.  

History of the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is connected in many ways to that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Christians were drawn to the love and virtues of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and this paved the devotion from the beginning.  Early Christians had compassion for the Virgin Mary, and the Gospels recount prophecy delivered to her at Jesus’ presentation in the temple, and that her heart would be pierced with a sword.  The image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary with the pierced heart is the most popular representation.  St. John’s Gospel further invites us to the attention of Mary’s heart with its depiction of Mary at the foot of the cross at Jesus’ crucifixion.  St. Augustine tells us that Mary was more blessed in having born Christ in her heart, than in having conceived him in the flesh. 

Our Athletics Carnival is going ahead as a whole school event:

Due to the lift in Covid-19 restrictions our Athletics Carnival will be going ahead on Thursday 2nd July on the Junior Campus Athletics Track. It is an opportunity for all the community to come together, to cheer, to participate, and to enjoy our school spirit. I am looking forward to another wonderful day.

CAN 2020:

With the number of students planning and rehearsing their acts, the anticipation is starting to build. I have really enjoyed seeing the joy and enthusiasm in the eyes of the students who I have spoken to. We are all looking forward to another great event.

Positive Education Schools Association:

Linking with our SPIRE Framework is a philosophy relating to the development of the whole person, or a eudaimonic approach to learning and wellbeing in a modern sense. We are proud to be members of the Positive Education Schools Association, a cross sectoral group of like minded schools who believe in the same philosophy. Our membership gives us rights to resources for our wellbeing and learning initiatives, evidence-based research, conferences and networking opportunities, and ideas that we can implement into our initiatives in the context of our community and its needs. I would be happy to discuss the partnership with any parent if they wish.