Q: Why is October referred to as the Month of the Rosary?

A: The answer is relatively simple but needs a historical context in order to be fully appreciated. The short answer is this: October is dedicated as the Month of the Rosary because we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary each year on October 7.

To understand this feast, we need to go back in time. In the 16th century, the Islamic Ottoman Empire presented a serious military threat to western Europe and sent a fleet of ships to attack Christian defences in southern Europe. Pope Pius V recognized the grave danger and organized a fleet called the Holy League to confront the navy of the Ottoman Turks.

On October 7, 1571, the two navies engaged in a pivotal battle that would determine who controlled maritime traffic in the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean seas.

Pius V knew he needed more than just military strength to defend Christian Europe, so he asked that all the faithful pray the rosary, requesting the intercession of the Blessed Mother. At the end of the Battle of Lepanto, the Holy League was victorious and the maritime expansion of the Ottoman Empire was permanently prevented.

The next year, Pius V established a feast on October 7 in honour of the Blessed Mother, originally called Our Lady of Victory. After a few centuries, the name was changed to Our Lady of the Rosary to more clearly recognize that prayer was the greatest power at work that day on the seas.

The structure of the rosary as we know it today developed significantly from the 12th to the 14th centuries as the larger collection of 150 prayers was further divided into groups of 50 and separated by biblical verses or themes (now referred to as mysteries). It is these mysteries, like a grouping of common roses in a garden, that gave the name rosary to this prayer form.

The rosary is a living prayer form and continues to develop even in recent times. An invocation known as the Fatima Prayer was commonly added in the early 20th century. In 2002 Pope John Paul II added a new set of five reflections called the Luminous Mysteries which encourage additional meditations on the life of Jesus.

The rosary is an invitation to experience the grace of Mary’s spiritual motherhood as she leads us to her Son, Jesus. For this reason, it has been an invaluable source of countless spiritual graces for the saints. Remember, every time you pray the rosary you are given the privilege and honor of pronouncing the holy name of Jesus more than 50 times.

Sad News – Sinh Le’s father

Many of you will know Sinh Le who is in his second year of training for the  Priesthood. Sinh has spent a lot of time in our parish with Fr Duane and will continue to do so. Sinh's father back in Vietnam has recently had a stroke and is in need of costly ongoing medical care. Sinh is the elsest of 7 children with his youngest sister being only 7 years old. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to try to raise some much needed money to get Sinh’s dad healthy enough so that he can support his family. If you are able to donate even a little to help his father and his family at this time, it would make a huge difference to them.

Link to Go Fund Me Page

https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-duyet?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp%20share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR3Ede6nKtz591m9jOTvgZlNXb5cDX_HEk9EIeVEJL41jZ9eDftdAb4irCY

Covid-19

For all information and updates from the diocese, please go to: www.dow.catholic.edu.au/covid19

Students from Years 5 & 6 participated in this competition during the last few weeks of Term 3. Judging has been finalised with the winners being announced during a virtual event tonight at 7pm (unfortunately this would normally be a highly celebrated event at the Wollongong Art Gallery). All families are invited to tune into this event (approximately 40mins) via the YouTube link

https://youtu.be/3B18fjjiRmM

Awards in this competition are not just for the artwork itself but also the explanation of how the scripture passage has been interpreted by the student and expressed from their perspective.

Student artworks are now on exhibition at the Wollongong Art Gallery until the end of November. This is a great opportunity to perhaps introduce children to an art gallery that is free to attend and an interesting building to explore. I especially urge students in Years 4 & 5 to attend as they will gain ideas and insights that will help them during the competition in 2021.

Building Works

Aria Pantsos – 1G

Sophie Tiberio – 1G

Silver Medallion

Ashleigh Ryan – 5B

We are very excited to be participating in Socktober this year and helping our students to Sock it to Poverty!

Students can wear crazy socks to school and we are asking for a Gold Coin Donation. 

Students will also be involved in discussions and class lessons about Socktober and who we are raising money for. Socktober invites students to engage with developing world issues through the universal language of sport. Young people are challenged to ‘Sock it to Poverty’ using the world game of soccer.  

If you would like more information about Socktober you can also view their website https://www.socktober.org.au/ 

Christmas Art