The Assumption of Mary

On 15 August, we celebrate the Assumption of Mary. The Assumption commemorates the belief that when Mary died, rather than going through the natural process of physical decay on Earth, both her soul and body were taken to Heaven, to be with her Son, Jesus.

It’s speculated that this could have been possible because she didn’t suffer from Original Sin, as stated in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This can be further confirmed as there is no relic of Mary’s body in existence, and no one has ever claimed to have found one.

“There Mary is surprisingly portrayed as falling, as if she were definitively letting go of all the trials and sufferings of this life and allowing herself to fall asleep. Indeed, she is letting go of life itself as she passes from this world to the next. It is just at this moment of abandoning herself into the Father’s hands that the angels rush down to catch her and bring her up to Heaven.” – Depiction of the end of Mary’s life, found on one of the main doors of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

The Assumption was formally seen as a defined dogma of the Catholic Church in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. “By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.´

In Revelation 12:1 it says, “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.” This is the image depicted on the Miraculous Medal of Mary.

Father in heaven,

all creation rightly gives you praise,

for all life and all holiness come from you.

In the plan of your wisdom

she who bore the Christ in her womb

was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.

May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness

and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Year 8 Emmaus Walk

Year 8 will participate in the Emmaus Walk, a Pastoral and Spiritual Formation Programme, which takes on the coastal track between Minnamurra and Surf Beach, Kiama. The  Emmaus Walk is an experience of Christian spiritual renewal and formation that begins with a prayer at Minnamurra. It is an opportunity to meet Jesus Christ in a new way as God’s grace and love is revealed to you through other believers. The students will participate in four spiritual activities on the day. Through the formational process, each student’s individual gifts and servant-leadership skills are developed.  

The objective of Emmaus is to inspire, challenge, and  encourage students to demonstrate Christian actions in their homes, churches and communities. Emmaus lifts up a way for our grace-filled lives to be lived and shared with others. 

Students will be informed about this more in their Catholic Studies Lessons.