Faith Formation and Mission

During the holidays I was fortunate enough to participate in a pilgrimage to Issoudun in France where Fr Jules Chevalier msc founded the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. On my way, I spent a few days in Rome staying at the MSC General House. Visiting this international MSC community gave me a newfound appreciation for the many stories from around the world of courageous MSC who have risked a great deal (even their lives) to bear witness to the love of God found in the Heart of Christ. This included the incredible story of the MSC Guatemalan Martyrs – ten courageous individuals who gave their lives during Guatemala’s brutal civil war in the early 1980s. 

Amidst a climate of fear, repression, and violence, they stood firm in their commitment to the Gospel and the dignity of the poor. The Guatemalan Bishops, reflecting on the lives of these individuals wrote, “They shed their blood because they were convinced that there is no greater love than giving one’s life for others... upholding the Kingdom of Heaven values: defence of human dignity, respect for life, social justice, and protection of the weakest and most vulnerable.” As we continue to journey through this term, perhaps we can be inspired by these martyrs and find new ways in the ordinariness of our lives to stand firm in our own commitment to the Gospel and the dignity of all.

Outback Experience

26 Year 11 students attended the Outback Experience during the June-July holidays. The experience saw them journey between Darwin and Kununurra where they were exposed to indigenous culture and the Top End’s natural beauty. Students found the experience truly transformative in their appreciation for remote communities and the vastness of the Australian Outback. Thank you to Mrs Ellen Kearney, Mr John Iverson and Miss Tilly Speerin for accompanying the students.

Yr 11 Leadership Formation Day

This year, we had 76 students willing to step forward for a leadership position. These students gather at the Bowral Rugby Club on Monday 11th August for a formation day to reflect on Jesus’ example of servant leadership and how they can embody that same spirit of service as the student leaders of the College. This day provided an important step in the overall discernment process of our 2026 student leaders, which will be formally recognised at our Investiture assembly on Wednesday 10th September.

Year 8 Retreats

The Year 8 retreats will take place during Weeks 6, 8 and 9 this term. The focus of this retreat is to help students come to a deeper awareness of the wider MSC Story, which they belong to, by introducing them to St Mary’s Towers at Douglas Park. The dates of the retreats are:

The dates are:

25th August (Week 6) – 8.1 and 8.3

8th September (Week 8) – 8.2, 8.4, 8.6

15th September (Week 9) – 8.5 and 8.7

On the day of their retreat students are to meet outside the main Chapel. We will return prior to 3.25pm.

Students need to bring:

• Bring extra food if a muffin, piece of fruit and a sandwich is insufficient. 
• Adequate water for this excursion. 
• Neat casual clothing, including warm outdoor wear and sturdy closed-in shoes. 
• Hat and sunscreen (students are responsible for wearing these as protection against UV damage)

Mary MacKillop

On Friday 8th August, four Year 11 students attended the Diocesan Mary MacKillop Mass. The Mass was attended by many of the Catholic schools from across the diocese and with Bishop Brian Mascord presiding. It was wonderful to join with our wider diocese and celebrate Australia’s first saint.

Heartworks@Chev

Heartworks has continued this term with a gathering on Friday 8th August. This gathering took an informal structure and was a games afternoon. The focus of the gathering was to simply build a spirit of community across the year levels. A movie night is planned for Friday 12th September.