Edition 63 | 24th March 2022

Last week Pope Francis sent us a message, “Having learned of the loss of life and destruction of property caused by the heavy flooding in Lismore, I assure you of my heartfelt solidarity and closeness in prayer to all those affected by this tragedy.”

At Mass on Sunday in Ballina, Bishop Greg spoke of the need to maintain the solidarity of care and resist the urge to blame. Both these pastoral leaders encourage us toward a presence with those suffering, especially our staff and students whose mental health is affected.

Pastoral Care Lead, Karen Evans, writes this week, “During times of uncertainty, it is natural to have feelings of helplessness and disengagement. Spirituality can be an important aspect of building resilience as it contributes to adaptive coping as well as interior growth following a traumatic event. It is important that the students know that they have the skills to make a difference when there are challenges and to find strength in their relationship with God through prayer.” 

She goes on, “According to Emerging Minds, the majority of children will be fine. You can expect most children to recover over time from some initial sadness, worry and distress. Students may need continued reassurance, stability and support from you and those around them. Some children will need extra support. All students need time, love, patience, care and a stable routine in the months following a traumatic event.”

Karen has shared some excellent resources and information that have been produced into easy to read PDF documents in this week's special edition of The Soul.

Gary Reen - Assistant Director Mission