Prayer

Prayer for Pope Leo XIVth

Heavenly Father,

You have raised Your servant, Pope Leo XIV, to the Chair of Saint Peter.

Pour out Your abundant blessings upon him.

Through him, guide Your pilgrim Church along the path to Heaven.

Grant him wisdom to discern Your will,

Courage to fulfill it,

And charity to shepherd Your people with the Heart of Christ.

May he be a faithful successor to Saint Peter,

A humble servant of Your Word,

And a fearless herald of Your Divine Mercy and Truth.

Strengthen him with the grace of the Holy Spirit,

That he may lead the Church in unity, holiness, and fidelity.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(From: https://mycatholic.life/habemus-papam/)

The Jubilee Year of Hope

The Catholic Church teaches that hope is a theological virtue, rooted in trust in God’s promises and the goal of eternal life with Him. Key aspects of the Church’s message on hope include:

Trust in God: Hope is based on faith in God’s love, mercy, and guidance, even in difficult times.
Resilience in suffering: Hope gives strength to endure trials, knowing that God brings good from every situation.
Action and justice: True hope leads to active love – helping the poor, working for peace, and caring for creation.
Eternal perspective: Christian hope looks beyond this life, focusing on salvation and God’s Kingdom.

Pope Francis says ‘Christian hope is not mere optimism’ but a deep trust that God’s love is greater than any challenge.

In 2025, the Catholic Church’s message of hope centres on the Jubilee Year, themed ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. Pope Francis calls for spiritual renewal, urging Catholics to trust in God and be signs of hope in the world. Key themes include: Renewing faith (strengthening one’s relationship with God and others); Peace and justice (advocating for the poor, debt relief, and prisoner amnesty); and, Environmental care (marking 10 years of Laudato si’ and caring for creation).

The Church encourages believers to embody hope through action, prayer, and community service. (From Australian Catholics Magazine)

Mission and Liturgy

During Term 2 the McCarthy community has been involved in and represented at a number of significant liturgical celebrations. The first of these was the ordination of Bishop Peter Murphy at Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral in Armidale on the 8th May. This was followed by Catholic Schools Week Mass, also in Armidale on the 28th May. And on Monday 26th May, Father Roel Llave (Mary Help of Christians Parish, Father Damien Locke (Cathedral Parish), Father Sabu (St Patrick’s Parish) and Deacon Paul Manvell concelebrated Mass for the Tamworth Catholic schools at McCarthy. Also in the midst of these celebrations was our whole school Mass for Edmund Rice on the 6th May.

Three Year 10 RE classes will participate in the first of five Alpha Life Essentials Program sessions which will be delivered by Damian Roff and Darryl Martin from the ACS Office. The program offers our young people an opportunity to have open and honest faith conversations without the pressure of having all the right answers. The program was very well received by our students last year.

On the 15th May, eleven staff attended the second of four staff twilight retreats; the retreat was entitled “A Journey of Hope - Pilgrims of Hope” in keeping with the Jubilee Year of Hope. During the retreat participants explored and reflected on the meaning of pilgrimage and being a pilgrim of hope in our school and world today.

MCC Youth Group

The Immaculata Mission Team Youth group continues to attract a number of students each fortnight and is a welcomed opportunity for our students to gather with others who are interested in talking about and sharing their faith.

Cate Allen

Leader of Mission