GRANDPARENTS DAY

Last week we celebrated the Feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, parents of our Holy Lady Mary and the grandparents of Jesus.  In Religious Education last week, students were asked to come up with words or a quote that they feel related to their grandparents and then to write a prayer. 

St Mary of the Cross, Mary MacKillop

This coming Sunday, 8 August we celebrate the Feast of Australia’s only saint - St Mary of the Cross, Mary MacKillop. Some suggest Mary was a woman ahead of her time, others believe just a resilient, hardworking dedicated woman who saw a need and actioned a response. “Never see a need without doing something about it.”

It feels very apt to pause and reflect on Mary’s life in the year we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia. Whilst Mary did not begin Catholic schooling in Australia her input was immeasurable. She recognised the fact that many children could not access this education for financial reasons and felt strongly that God’s love needed to be shared with all. So strongly that she begins the battle which would eventually enable many Australian children to access Catholic Education and give them a chance for a stronger relationship with their God.

To fulfill this plan, she surrounded herself with like-minded people who could assist with the workload. It was here that the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart first came to be. Many of our own Diocesan schools were begun by this same order and today we are blessed to have the continued support of these sisters in three of our schools. Mary saw a need and, with much courage, acted on it with the assistance of many others in tow.

Mary’s journey was not trouble-free. She fought many battles along the way and her faith was continually tested as she trod a path that upset many. Throughout this time and with these challenges she showed resilience and continued to fight for what she believed was right. Mary epitomised our Diocesan core values of Hope, Integrity, Justice, and Compassion. She modelled being faith-filled for us as she lived by “Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God.” (1891)

As a diocese we continue to uphold what Mary fought for – that Catholic schooling is available to all, that Catholic schools be places where children gain access to knowledge and also opportunities to allow for an encounter with their God.

We learn from Mary how to stay true to our convictions, work hard for what we believe to be right and show resilience when obstacles are thrown our way.

In preparation, Students will have a focus on Saint Mary Mackillop in their Religion learning this week.  You will also be able to see Father Joe’s live-streamed mass this week on the church’s Facebook page for the Feast of Mary Mackillop.

In this different time that we are experiencing, sometimes we need to shut down and clear our minds of the things going on around us. The podcast Ripples: Inspired Voices, Treasured Stillness was developed in response to COVID-19 and from a desire to find new ways to ‘be’ in this environment.

This podcast was developed for staff and parents on-going spiritual formation. It seeks to offer a space where people can draw on the wisdom of a series of guest speakers and can experience some treasured stillness through meditation. Practices like these create a ripple effect. They have the potential to impact the way we respond to family, friends, colleagues, to creation and to our loving God. Come and enjoy some Inspired Voices and Treasured Stillness.  The podcast can be listened to through ‘Apple Podcast’ or ‘’Podbean.