FAITH MATTERS

During the last week of Term 3, I was fortunate enough to take three of our Year 10 students to Tasmania on a St Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods Immersion. Our students Grace Doherty, Anna Whiting and Otto Conlan were chosen to represent St Mary MacKillop College after submitting a written application and then an interview with Michelle Haeusler.

On arrival in Hobart we travelled to the Josephite Mission and History Centre where we were met by other students and staff from different AJASS schools across Victoria and Tasmania. The students spent a large part of their time at the Centre gaining a better understanding of the work of Julian Tenison Woods and St Mary MacKillop, how they moved around Tasmania, opened schools in remote areas and taught and cared for people in these communities. 

We travelled to Geeveston, Richmond and Oatlands which were some of the towns where the Josephite nuns opened schools and provided children with the opportunity to gain an education. We heard about the hardships the nuns endured and the dedication and commitment they showed towards God. The students began to understand the resilience and courage that Mary and Julian displayed and how they continued on, even when the situation seemed hopeless. 

Over the three days in Tasmania, all the students formed solid bonds with each other and a strong feeling of belonging. During this time I noticed the students develop a deeper sense of respect and dignity towards St Mary MacKillop and Julian Tenison Woods and an understanding of the Josephite charism and all that it means for us.

Grace, Anna and Otto, represented St Mary MacKillop College with maturity and pride and I am sure that this experience will contribute to their future growth and development.

Prayer

God of all blessings, you revealed in Mary MacKillop a sensitivity to the rights and dignity of every person, regardless of race or creed. 

May we learn from her to overcome the obstacles of prejudice and fear. 

Help us to value the goodness of each person and all the blessings of unity in diversity.

We ask this through the depth and unity of you, our bountiful God, who holds all things in being.

Jesus,  light of the world, guide us.

 St Joseph, journey with us. 

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.