St Mary's Catholic School
NEWSLETTER 3 JULY 2024
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Gospel Reading
Mark 5:21-43 ( shorter form, Mark 5:21-24,35b-43)
Jesus heals a woman afflicted with a hemorrhage and raises Jairus’s daughter from death.
Background on the Gospel Reading
For Sunday’s Gospel, we continue to read from the Gospel of Mark. Last Sunday we heard about Jesus calming the storm, the first of four miracles that Jesus performs in the vicinity of the Sea of Galilee. Each of these four miracle stories offers us a glimpse at Jesus’ power. This week we hear about the third and fourth miracles, skipping the second miracle, the healing of a man from Gerasene who was possessed by a demon.
Sunday’s Gospel reports two stories of healing. One story tells us about a father’s great love for his dying daughter. The other story tells us about a desperate woman who risks much as she seeks healing from Jesus. In each story, the request for healing is itself a courageous act of faith, and yet very different circumstances are represented by the lives of each suffering person.
Jairus is described as a synagogue official, a man of considerable standing in the Jewish community. Distraught over his daughter’s poor health, he approaches Jesus and asks him to heal her. Although Mark doesn’t provide many details, we can imagine that his daughter has been ill for some time and that her condition is deteriorating.
As Jesus leaves with Jairus, Mark describes a second person who seeks healing from Jesus, a woman with a hemorrhage. This woman secretly touches Jesus from behind and is immediately cured. In response, Jesus turns and asks who touched him. Jesus’ disciples, always a little clueless in Mark’s Gospel, help us envision the scene. The crowds are pushing in on Jesus, and yet he, knowing that power has gone out of him, asks who touched him. The woman could have remained anonymous, yet at Jesus’ question she steps forward and acknowledges what she has done. Jesus responds by acknowledging her as a model of faith and sends her away in peace.
At this point, we can imagine Jairus’s impatience with Jesus; his daughter is dying and Jesus hasn’t helped him yet. As if to build a sense of urgency, messengers suddenly arrive and confirm Jairus’s worst fear: his daughter has died. Jesus curiously ignores their message and reassures Jairus. When they arrive at Jairus’s home, they find family and friends mourning the girl’s death. Jesus enters the room of the dead girl, takes her by the hand, and instructs her to arise. Jairus’s faith in Jesus has not been in vain; his daughter is restored to life.
The contrasts between Jairus and the woman with the hemorrhage are stark and revealing. One is a man, the other is a woman. One is a public official, an important person in the community. The other is a woman who has lost everything to find a cure to a condition that separated her from the community. One approaches Jesus publicly. The other approaches Jesus secretly. Yet in each case, faith leads them to seek out Jesus in their time of need.
The Gospel concludes with Jesus’ instructions to remain silent about this miracle. This is typical of Mark’s Gospel and is sometimes referred to as the messianic secret. Repeatedly, those who witness Jesus’ power and authority are instructed to not speak of what they have witnessed. These instructions appear impossible to obey, and it is difficult to understand the purpose of these instructions. But in each case, they seem to emphasise the fact that each individual, including the reader of Mark’s Gospel, must, in the end, make his or her own judgment about Jesus’ identity. Each individual must make his or her own act of faith in affirming Jesus as God’s Son.
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Tēnā koutou katoa e te whānau,
Tihei mauri ora, nau mai, haere mai, tēnā koutou katoa, e ngā whānau, e ngā kaiako, e ngā tamariki, e ngā manuhiri, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa
Kia ora Whānau,
This is my last newsletter to my beloved St Marys community. Thank-you for everything. All the support and kind words and certainly the openness from people to be patient with me over the years. Words are hard to express how much this place means so its just thank-you and God bless. I certainly will cherish all the memories. Take care over the holiday break and I'm sure I will see you in Tauranga as I am commuting for Terms 3 and 4.
This is a prayer/reflection that I would like to share
With a heart filled with mixed emotions, I write this farewell message to express my deep gratitude and affection as I prepare to embark on a new chapter in my journey as a Principal. With a sense of both sadness and excitement, I bid farewell to the beloved community of St Marys, which has been my home for the past four and a half years.
Throughout my time here, your support prayers have been a source of immense strength and comfort. The knowledge that I was lifted up in prayer by this community has sustained me through both the joys and challenges of Principalship. Your prayers have been a reminder that we are all interconnected, and united in our faith, through Jesus Christ.
As I prepare to take on new responsibilities I carry with me the memories and experiences I have shared with all of you. You have left an indelible mark on my heart, and I will forever cherish the relationships we have formed and the moments we have shared.
Let us continue to support and pray for one another, even as our paths diverge. I do not doubt that this community will continue to grow in faith, love, and service, guided by the Holy Spirit. As I move forward, please know that you will remain in my prayers, and I humbly ask for your prayers as well, that God may grant me the strength and wisdom to shepherd the new flock entrusted to my care.
God bless.
A prayer to finish my time at St Marys
Ngā mihi nui
James Murray
Principal
CATHOLIC CHARACTER
Term 2 week 10
RE Learning
Next term in RE we will be focusing on Te Rongopai Good News. The Juniors will be learning key stories about Jesus and develop an understanding of these Bible stories.
The Seniors will be learning what a parable is and that parables teach us about God's love and the importance of being fair and just. They will also explore stories in the Old Testament and understand that these are the stories that Jesus would have learnt about when he was growing up.
You may wish to explore the Whānau Learning Packs to support your child at home. Apologies that the Year 5-6 learning pack is not yet available for the new curriculum.
James Murray’s Farewell
You are warmly invited to the Farewell Mass for James Murray on Wednesday 3rd July at 5.00pm at St Mary Immaculate Church.
Grandparents/Grandfriends Day
Early in Term 3 we will welcome Grandparents to our special Grandparents Day on Friday 2nd August from 9.30am - 11.00. Make sure you add the date to your diary and invite Grandparents and Grandfriends to be part of this celebration of the Feast Day of St Anne and Joaquin, Jesus’ grandparents.
Have a lovely blessed holiday, enjoying precious family time together.
God Bless
Ngā mihi nui
Fay Warnock
Deputy Principal/DRS
OTHER SCHOOL NEWS
Term 3 Dates
Parent Teacher Conferences - Hui ā-whānau
A reminder that we will have our Parent Teacher Conferences - Hui ā-whānau in the first week of Term 3 at the following times;
Wednesday 24 July 3:15pm - 6:15pm
Thursday 25 July 12:45pm - 6:15pm
Suzanne Tanner also has conference times available on Tuesday 23 July 3:15 - 5:15pm.
Please note that school will close at 12:00pm on Thursday 25 July. There will be no After School Care and the afternoon buses will not be running on this day.
Booking a Parent-Teacher Conference
To book a conference time please use this booking link to go directly to the booking page, or go to School Interviews and use the event code jdmhe.
We look forward to seeing as many parents or caregivers as possible.
School Photos
In week 3 of Term 3 PhotoLife will be taking Class, Individual and Sibling photographs on Tuesday 6 August.
Team, Cultural and Leadership photos will be on Wednesday 7 August.
NZ Playhouse - The Reluctant Dragon
Next term, on Friday 20 September, we will be entertained by NZ Playhouse, who will perform The Reluctant Dragon. This fun, interactive show is a hilarious and interactive adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s classic story that will have our students (and teachers) laughing and thinking about the value of friendship, kindness, solving problems without fighting and not judging dragons by their covers.
The cost of the show will be $7, which will be added to your term 3 school account.
Bookings close this Friday 5 July for the Term 2 Holiday Programme
The Holiday Programme runs from Monday 8 July to Friday 12 July. Bookings close this Friday 5 July. Book Here now to secure your place.
Before & After School Care Term 3 Booking Link
A reminder that bookings for Before & After School Care close at 10:00pm the day before.
Term 3 bookings can be made here;
https://enrolmy.com/st-marys-tga/book-now/17-St-Marys-Before--After-School-Care-Term-3-2024-
SPORT & EXTRA CURRICULAR NEWS
Karting
Over the course of this year Nico Thomasen has been competing across New Zealand in the Kart Stars Championship and the ROK Cup. Earlier in June Nico won both these championships.
During the school holidays from 12th – 14th of July Nico and Charlie Clarke will compete at the National School Championships in Nelson and represent St Mary's School.
Nico in Cadet Rok & Charlie in VMR. The competition will be live streamed on the Kartsport NZ Facebook page for anyone who wants to take a look and support from home.
Good luck to Nico and Charlie at the National Championships, we look forward to hearing how you get on.
2024 TERM DATES
Term 1
Thursday 1 February to Friday 12 April
Term 2
Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July
Term 3
Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September
Friday 16 August - Teacher Only Day
Term 4
Monday 14 October to Wednesday 18 December
Friday 22 November - Teacher Only Day
Public Holidays
Waitangi Day - Tuesday 6 February
Easter: Good Friday - 29 March, Easter Monday - 1 April, Easter Tuesday - 2 April (a school holiday)
King’s Birthday – Monday 3 June
Matariki – Friday 28 June
Labour Day – Monday 28 October
Please support our Gold Group Sponsors
In addition to the core curriculum requirements, money raised through our Gold Group sponsorship contributes to the many extra opportunities that we run as a school. Please generously support the Gold Group Sponsors as they generously support us.
Contact Us
Email: office@stmarystga.school.nz
Website: https://www.stmarystga.school.nz/
Location: 11 Thirteenth Avenue, Tauranga South, Tauranga 3112, New Zealand
Phone: +64 7 578 8066
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmarystga/