A day of reflection and connection

Our Year 7s spent the day together at their Retreat Day, a special opportunity to pause, connect and reflect on their time at OLSH so far. They deepened friendships, met new classmates and learned more about the OLSH story. Some of the students shared their reflections of the day.

“The highlight was getting into groups with new people that I do not normally hang out with. I learnt more about the OLSH history. The one word that sums up the OLSH spirit for me is teamwork.” - Scarlett

“Making the paper dolls was the highlight because I got to create and have fun making a mini me. I learnt about OLSH’s history and about how all the OLSH sisters lived all around the world. Kindness is the word that reflects the OLSH spirit because OLSH is a kind place that greets others with kind and caring arms, like it did for me when I first started.” - Ruby

“A highlight of the retreat day for me was when we did ‘Just Dance’ because we were all having fun and laughing together. I learnt that there are over 1,000 sisters in 27 countries! One word that sums up the OLSH spirit to me is wellbeing.” - Eva

“The highlight of the retreat day for me was making the paper dolls with our friends because we got to design it ourselves using cutouts from magazines, stickers and coloured paper. Clothes were provided and we were able to make them look as cool as we wanted to. I learnt that there are over 1,000 OLSH sisters in 27 different countries and that there are OLSH campuses in Adelaide and Sydney. My one word to sum up the OLSH Spirit is love. The OLSH spirit is about our love for the school, our love for each other, and our love for God. I think love is the perfect word to describe our spirit here at OLSH.” - Laura

“The highlight of the retreat day was the paper doll making, as there was a lot of creativity and imagination involved, while still having the main idea of the retreat day. One thing I Iearnt about OLSH on retreat day was the history and foundation of the school. Everything from how Jules was born in the French Revolution, to the locations of OLSH sisters around the world. The word faith sums up the OLSH spirit as it ties in with being heart people - people who are many things, but also strong to their faith.” - Abigail

“The activity that was my favourite was the "get to know your year level" games at the start of the day. One thing I learnt about OLSH on retreat day was that OLSH has three different schools across Australia (in Adelaide, Sydney and us in Melbourne). The word that sums up the OLSH spirit is inviting, because it has a warm welcoming environment that I noticed when I arrived.” - Adeline

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 12:32 - 40 A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke. See that you are prepared.

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ

BE ALERT

Luke’s audience consists of people who are wealthy and those who are poorer, from the lower rung of the social ladder. The evangelist’s focus is frequently on those of comfortable and wealthy status. This is presumed in today’s reading. This Gospel passage follows immediately from last Sunday’s. Luke continues to reflect on the themes of wealth and the disciple’s attentiveness to God. Jesus reminds Luke’s audience that God wants to offer the Kingdom to all. It is not restrictive. But there is one barrier for its reception: wealth and greed—a theme noted last Sunday. Disciples are encouraged to be generous and respond tangibly to the needs of the poor, encouragement that is at the heart of Catholic social teaching.

A second theme emerges: besides generosity, disciples must also remember Jesus’ Parousia, his coming at the end of time. This perspective is not to be forgotten, though perhaps some in the Lukan household had done so. The example are householders being alert to the master’s eventual arrival after a wedding or to a burglar who might smash through the house’s mud brick walls. Alertness is thus key. It will surface again later in the Gospel when the disciples are told in Gethsemane to ‘keep awake!’ Luke promises that such existential alertness will be substantially rewarded.

For ourselves, too, today’s Gospel is a spiritually healthy reminder. As we gather around the Lord’s Table, we are encouraged to an alertness for the Lord’s coming at the end of time. The acclamation after the words of Institution in the Eucharistic Prayer echoes this.

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