Religious Life of St Monica’s 

August: A Month of Reverence for Three Remarkable Women 

August holds special significance in the Christian calendar, honouring three extraordinary women: Mary, the mother of Jesus, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, and Our Patron Saint Monica. Each of these women has left a permanent mark on the faith of Christians and continue to inspire millions around the world. 

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop 

Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Australia's first saint, is celebrated tomorrow on 8 August. Known for her dedication to education and social justice, Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, providing education to the poor and marginalised. Her legacy of compassion and service continues to inspire Australians and people worldwide. 

Mary, Mother of Jesus 

15 August  is celebrated as the Feast of the Assumption, commemorating the occasion that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken up into heaven body and soul. This day is a major feast in the Catholic Church and one of a few Holy Days of Obligation, where practising Catholics must attend Mass. The Feast of the Assumption reflects Mary's purity and her role as the mother of the Saviour. The Assumption is a reminder of the hope and promise of eternal life. Next Friday at 9.30am all students and staff will attend mass in the St Monica’s church. All are welcome to join us for mass. 

Saint Monica 

Saint Monica, our patron saint and the mother of Saint Augustine, is remembered on 27 August 27th.  She is revered for her unwavering faith and perseverance in prayer, especially for the conversion of her son. Monica's life is a testament to the power of prayer and the strength of a mother's love. 

As we journey through August, let us reflect on the virtues of these remarkable women and draw inspiration from their lives of faith, service, and devotion. 

Sacrament of Confirmation 

Tonight we begin the journey for many of our Year 6 students in preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation at our first parent and child formation session at 6pm in St Monica’s church. We keep these students in our prayers as they take this important step in completing their Christian initiation -   

Sophie A, Donato A, Harriett B, Lola B, Lucas C, Lucas C, Zara C, Mitchell C, Phoebe D, Eliana D, Joseph F, Milla F, Elsie F, Edward F, Luci G, Isabella H, Andreas K, Ana L, Niko M, Ruby M, Maddie N-H, Lachlan P, Nellie R, Beau R, Jack R, Joshua R, Imogen , Maxwell S, Aya T and Ryan W.

Opening Our Hearts to the Holy Spirit

2025 Sacramental Program – for students who are baptised and will be in Years 4-6 in 2025.

Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated this term. 

The dates for the Sacrament are 16-18 September and will be celebrated at St Michael’s and St Monica’s churches. You will only have to attend on one of these days.  Parents and children must attend the Parent and Child Introductory Activity Session being held tonight between  6pm-7pm at St Monica's Church, Evatt and the Parent and Child Prayer Night  on Thursday 4 September, between 6pm-7pm at St Monica's Church, Evatt.  There will be a children’s retreat day on Thursday  4 September. If you have questions or issues with registration please contact the Parish Office on sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au.

For further Information – please contact the Sacramental Program Coordinator at sc.belconnennorth@cg.org.au or check the parish website at www.cg.org.au/belconnennorth

We are excited to announce our upcoming Father's Day Stall event taking place on Friday 5 September. To make this event a success we are seeking  volunteers who can spare a few hours of their time starting from 9.15am on the day to assist with the stall set up as well as during the purchasing time and pack up.

If you are available to lend a hand sign up on the link below.

https://volunteersignup.org/HRFBJ

Your support means a lot, and we appreciate any assistance you can provide.

NB: To assist on the day of the event you will need a current WWVP card.

Right from birth, kids learn new skills at a dizzying rate. Along with those new abilities, they also acquire the confidence to use them.

As children get older, that confidence can be as important as the skills themselves. To thrive, kids need to trust in their own capabilities while, at the same time, knowing that they can handle it if they aren’t successful at something. It’s by experiencing mastery and rebounding from failure that they develop healthy self-confidence.

Here are 12 ways from the Child Mind Institute that you can set kids up to feel capable and get the most mileage out of their skills and talents.

1. Model confidence yourself

Seeing you tackle new tasks with optimism and lots of preparation sets a good example for kids. That doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be perfect. Do acknowledge your anxiety, but don’t focus on it—focus on the positive things you are doing to get ready.

2. Don’t get upset about mistakes

Help kids see that everyone makes mistakes and the important thing is to learn from them, not dwell on them. Confident people don’t let fear of failure get in their way—not because they’re sure they won’t ever fail, but because they know how to take setbacks in stride.

3. Encourage them to try new things

Instead of focusing all their energy on what they already excel at, it’s good for kids to diversify. Attaining new skills makes kids feel capable and confident that they can tackle whatever comes their way.

4. Allow kids to fail

It’s natural to want to protect your child from failure, but trial and error is how kids learn. Falling short on a goal helps kids find out that it’s not fatal. It can also spur kids to greater effort, which will serve them well as adults.

5. Praise perseverance

Learning not to give up at the first frustration or bail after one setback is an important life skill. Confidence and self-esteem are not about succeeding at everything all the time, they’re about being resilient enough to keep trying, and not being distressed if you’re not the best.

6. Help kids find their passion

Exploring their own interests can help kids develop a sense of identity, which is essential to building confidence. Of course, seeing their talents grow will also give a huge boost to their self-esteem.

7. Set goals

Articulating goals, large and small, and achieving them makes kids feel strong. Help your child turn desires and dreams into actionable goals by encouraging them to make a list of things they’d like to accomplish. Then, practise breaking down longer-term goals into realistic benchmarks. You’ll be validating their interests and helping them learn the skills they’ll need to attain their goals throughout life.

8. Celebrate effort

Praising kids for their accomplishments is great, but it’s also important to let them know you’re proud of their efforts regardless of the outcome. It takes hard work to develop new skills, and results aren’t always immediate. Let kids know you value the work they’re doing, whether they’re toddlers building with blocks or teenagers teaching themselves to play the guitar.

9. Expect them to pitch in

They might complain, but kids feel more connected and valued when they’re counted on to do age-appropriate jobs, from picking up toys to doing dishes to picking up younger siblings from a play date. Homework and after-school activities are great, but being needed by your family is invaluable.

10. Embrace imperfection

As grown-ups we know perfection is unrealistic, and it’s important for kids to get that message as early as possible. Help kids see that whether it’s on TV, in a magazine, or on a friend’s social media feed, the idea that others are always happy, successful, and perfectly dressed is a fantasy, and a destructive one. Instead, remind them that being less than perfect is human and totally okay.

11. Set them up for success

Challenges are good for kids, but they should also have opportunities where they can be sure to find success. Help your child get involved with activities that make him feel comfortable and confident enough to tackle a bigger challenge.

12. Show your love

Let your child know you love them no matter what. Win or lose the big game, good grades or bad. Even when you’re mad at them. Making sure your child knows that you think they’re great — and not just when they do great things — will bolster their self-worth even when they’re not feeling good about themselves.