This week Year 8 students participated in their annual Reflection Day, held at Catholic Leadership Centre, East Melbourne. Our theme was Building Community, with the focus on the integral place of celebrating Eucharist at the heart of our tradition. As a community of faith we revisited how we begin any Liturgical celebration at Siena – by Acknowledging Country – and reflected on how this enables us to enter into the sacred. Fr Peter Murnane OP led us in an exploration of Eucharist before celebrating Mass with us in community; students brought along aspects of nature to contribute to our prayer space and also enthusiastically embraced the opportunity for song and movement.
These days are an important part of our Siena education and our commitment as members of the Dominican family. All Year 9 students will be participating in their reflection experience next week.
This week is a celebration of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’ and a call to action for Catholics around the world to care for our common home. In Australia, we celebrate this week earlier than in other countries in order to privilege National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June).
“The signs of the times are clear –
we know that we human beings need a change of
heart, mind, and behaviour.”
During House Group and our contemplative time of Pause and Pray this week, students have engaged daily with words and images for reflection on this important encyclical from Pope Francis; Listening and journeying together during Laudato Si' Week is a reflection by Laudato Si’ Animators Melbourne Group member, Sr Caroline Vaitkunas RSM.
