Issoudun Retreat

Our Issoudun enjoyed time for reflection and connection on their Retreat day while at Hartzer Park. Here are some reflections from the students. 

"My highlight was the affirmations and journaling. What I learnt was that people are nice and love me. My memory of this day will stay with me." - Ava

"My highlight was having the opportunity engage with other people with prompts that weren’t awkward, so it was very natural. I learnt a lot about myself and everything I learnt from Ms Oro's presentation was insightful and inspiring." - Summer

"My highlight was having a great time with my peers. I learnt a lot about myself, my friends and where they are from and what their interests are. My memories of the day will stay with me." - Alice

"My highlight was doing the newspaper fashion show. I learnt new things about other peers that I didn’t know and I’m not close with, I also learnt things about myself. The memories I made with my friends will stay with me." - Eve

"My highlight was making the shields. I learnt a lot about other people and their heritage and who they are. The team aspects and how well we worked as a team will stay with me." - TT

Year 11 Retreat: Having the courage to be true to ourselves

On their Year 11 Retreat, our students took time to reflect on their inner and outer selves and what that means for the way they live in the world. The theme of 'Having the Courage to be True to Ourselves!' guided their discussions. They also heard an inspiring presentation from humanitarian worker Moira Kelly AO. Thank you to all our Year 11 parents who supported us with donated goods for Moira’s large family.

Here are two reflections from the Retreat. 

"Year 11 retreat was an amazing opportunity for me to grow my connections with both my peers and my teachers. We were able to have more meaningful conversations and get to know each other a lot better in a casual, homely environment while still being all together like we would be at school.

While on retreat we also got the chance to listen to Moira Kelly talking about her life and what she has done for the world. It was so amazing and eye opening to see her help people who are less fortunate than us and I believe that we were all touched by her stories." - Sophie

"On Year 11 retreat I discovered and learnt different aspects of leadership and ways we all can contribute to be amazing leaders together. I valued this time as I was able to strengthen my friendships and form many new connections." - Catherine

Thank you from Sister Emma

OLSH Sister Emma Villanueva from Saint Alphonsus Catholic School in the Philippines, has written to us, sending us photos and a plan of how they will support the local feeding program by using the money raised for them by our OLSH College Bentleigh community. Thank you PARENTS, STUDENTS AND STAFF for your generous support of this project. I invite you to read Sister Emma‘s words here.

Gospel and reflection

For your personal prayer, reflection and interest we will include the Sunday Gospel reading and a reflection on the Gospel in our College newsletters. I hope this helps you to deepen your faith as you engage with the Jesus of the Gospels.

GOSPEL Lk 14:1, 7 - 14 A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke. All who exalt themselves shall be humbled and all who humble themselves shall be exalted.

On a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’ Then he said to his host, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy

The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ

MEAL TEACHINGS

Today's opening Gospel verse sets the scene for what will unfold. It is a Sabbath, a day of rest when Israelites emulate the action of God in the creation story in Genesis 1. A meal now provides this for Jesus. What follows is in two parts. 

The first is an analysis of social structure and hierarchy in Luke’s day. Jesus notices how some presume to sit in the places of honour. They presume entitlement. We are in a world where one of the most important social dynamics concerns the importance of ‘honour’ and ‘shame.’ Honour is a publicly recognised value by which people are confirmed or grow in their social standing; shame is its antithesis. Honour is a limited commodity which is either inherited or acquired. Those who ‘shame’ another grow in honour. Luke’s Jesus uses this social dynamic to reflect on self-exaltation and humility: ‘Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted’. 

The second part of today’s Gospel further explores what happens at meals. The common expectation would be to host a meal with one’s friends and people of similar social standing. Jesus upends such meal etiquette. Rather than inviting social equals he encourages meal invitees to be the poor and those from the lower echelons. Payment for such graciousness will occur in the time of resurrection. These meal-teachings from Luke’s day, of humility and welcoming of the poor, continue to speak to us today.

Fr Michael Trainor

Gospel reading from The Jerusalem Bible, Copyright © 1966 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. and Gospel Reflection, © St Pauls Publications 2025, are published with permission of St Paul's Publications. Strathfield NSW. All rights reserved.

Ms Megan Donohue
Deputy Principal Faith and Mission