Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
Today our school community celebrated the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. As Australia's first saint, Mary MacKillop holds a special place in our hearts and our nation's history.

Born in Melbourne in 1842, Mary MacKillop dedicated her life to God and the service of others, especially the poor and disadvantaged. In 1866, she co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, an order of nuns committed to providing free education to children in rural areas who otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity to go to school. St Mary MacKillop's pioneering work in education and social welfare left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire us all.

Today, students gathered in their grades and  took part in a special prayer service to honour St Mary MacKillop and reflect on her values of faith, courage, and compassion. We were especially grateful to the parents who joined us for our Parents' Liturgy, making the celebration even more meaningful. It was a wonderful opportunity for our school to come together in prayer and thanksgiving, following in the footsteps of St Mary of the Cross. 

Feast of the Assumption of Mary
Friday, 15th August, our school community will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. On this important day, we celebrate that at the end of her life on earth, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven. It is a day of great joy and significance for Catholics around the world.

To mark this special occasion, we warmly invite all parents and carers to join us for Mass. 

• The Mass will be held in the school hall on Friday 15th August at 12pm and will be led by Fr Healy. 

It will be a beautiful opportunity for our students, staff, and families to come together in prayer and celebration. We look forward to seeing you there!

Year 6 Singing Workshop with Tim Hart
Our Year 6 students recently had a fantastic opportunity to participate in a singing workshop with the talented Tim Hart from the Catholic Education Office of Wollongong. Tim, whose beautiful music is well-known and loved by our students, spent the day preparing them for their upcoming Year 6 Mass with the Bishop.

It was a wonderful chance for the students to work directly with the composer of so many songs they sing at school. Tim's guidance and energy was truly inspiring, and the students gained invaluable experience and confidence in their singing. We are so proud of their hard work and dedication and can't wait to hear their beautiful voices at the mass!

Parish Sacramental News - First Holy Communion
The parish Sacramental Program for First Holy Communion is about to commence. Children who are Baptised, in Year 3 or older and have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, are invited to participate in this preparation program. 

This year, there will be no information evening for parents. Instead, the Sacramental Team kindly ask that parents and their children attend and enrol at the first lesson. 

Letters with all the details have been sent home with all Year 3 students and were also distributed via Compass to parents with children in Years 3-6. Please refer to these for specific dates and times for the lessons. 

Liz Jensen 
Religious Education Coordinator