St Mary's School

Catholic Identity

Mercy Prayer

We pray for the Sisters of Mercy, who established our school and for the priests who have  served at St. Mary’s.  

It is through their vision,  determination and strong faith that we enjoy the benefits of a Catholic Education here in Mooroopna.

We are proud to be a Mercy School, where the values of love and justice are taught and lived every day.

 

 

NEW News - Project Compassion Story

Third Week of Lent - Week beginning Monday, 4th March.

Samoa may be a country surrounded by water, but access to clean 

drinking water is scarce in some areas, with many families facing 

extreme hardship as a result.

Leaia lives with her five children, husband, brother and sister-in-law 

on the island of Upolu in Samoa. Not having access to a reliable source 

of clean water caused Leaia a lot of worry.

Their home is not connected to a piped water system, so they had to 

rely solely on rainwater collected in old fridges. When their water ran out, 

Leaia had to walk with her young children to collect water in buckets and 

containers from a neighbour down the street.

With the support of Caritas Australia's local partner, Caritas Samoa, a 

water tank was installed at Leaia's home. She and her family now have a 

steady supply of clean drinking water at home.  

                                          

Next year, they will also have a toilet built, with the support of Caritas Samoa, which will further improve their health and living conditions.

“We are very thankful and grateful for the water tank. It has helped us so much and made our daily life easier,” Leaia said.

Watch Leaia’s Story

Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations.

You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes, online by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413.

Please donate to Project Compassion by adding some coins and notes to your Project Compassion box and sending it back to school by the end of this term!

 

NEW News - Grade Six Social Justice Team

The Grade Six Social Justice Team meet each Tuesday afternoon. The members of the team are: Maya Williams, Grace Sibio, Sophie Marshall, Cooper Forsyth, Willow Dean, Eli Ratcliffe, Zach Vanderdonk, Simmie Kaur and Ethan Ulrich.

These students are also part of our Mini Vinnie’s Group and have all demonstrated terrific social justice skills. Their knowledge of social justice issues continues, and on Tuesday afternoon this week they researched the wonderful works of Caritas to create a poster that raises awareness of what Caritas, and our Project Compassion funds, actually do to help others!

Below is the completed poster by Grace Sibio! Well done, Grace! This, and other posters, will be used to promote Caritas around our school and in our community!

 

NEW News - St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations

Sunday 17th March

Saint Patrick was actually born in England! As a teenager, he was captured by Irish pirates who took him to Ireland as a slave. After six years, Saint Patrick escaped and returned to England and his family. When Saint Patrick became a priest, he travelled back to Ireland as a missionary so he could teach people about God. He used examples to explain the mysteries of the faith in simple ways. Saint Patrick compared the Trinity to a shamrock. He said that the shamrock has three leaves, but it is only one plant. In the same way, God is three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—but one God.

 

We will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Monday, 18th March! Students are invited to wear something GREEN on this day - GREEN socks, a GREEN hair ribbon, a GREEN shamrock badge - as well as their NORMAL SCHOOL UNIFORM. 

GREEN JELLY will also be sold in cups on this day - $1.00 per cup - to raise money for Caritas and Project Compassion. The Grade Six Social Justice Team will coordinate this activity at lunchtime.

Green jelly cups!

$1.00 each

Monday, 18th March!

 

NEW News - Harmony Day Celebrations

Harmony Day is a celebration that recognises diversity in our community and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It is about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.​

We will celebrate Harmony Day here at school on Thursday, 21st March with whole school activities. Stay tuned for further details!

 

NEW News - Holy Week Liturgies

Our whole school Holy Week liturgies will be split over two days this year, due to the early dates of Easter and Palm Sunday.

Grade 1/2 will introduce the first part of our Holy Week liturgy, presenting the events of Palm Sunday, on Friday, 22nd March at 2:45pm. All families and friends are most welcome to come along to see this reflection on the events of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.

Our Holy Week liturgies will continue on Thursday, 28th March, with Preps and Grades 3 - 6 presenting the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

All Holy Week liturgies will be held in the Marian Centre.

Families and friends are most welcome to attend to join in this reflective prayer time.

 

St. Mary’s School presents:

Holy Week Liturgies.

 

 

Palm Sunday: Grade 1/2 - Friday, 22nd March at 2:45pm.

 

Holy Week: Preps, Grades 3 - 6

Thursday, 28th March. 

Time: TBC.

 

REPEATED News - Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation, 2024

Enrolment forms for the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Term Two), the Sacrament of First Eucharist (Term Three) and the Sacrament of Confirmation (Term Four) are available at the school office or please contact Michelle Hicks at mhicks@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au 

 

Enrolments for ALL sacraments close at the end of Term One.

 

Please note the following dates for the Sacraments this year:

Grade 3 - 6: Sacrament of Reconciliation: TERM TWO.

  • Tuesday, 23rd April - Parent Information Night for Sacrament of Reconciliation at 7pm in Marian Centre.
  • Friday, 24th May - Sacramental Reflection Day for sacramental students.
  • Tuesday, 28th May -  Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation at 7pm in the Church.

Grade 4 - 6: Sacrament of First Eucharist: TERM THREE.

  • Tuesday, 23rd July - Parent Information Night for Sacrament of First Eucharist parents at 7pm in Marian Centre.
  • Friday, 6th September -  Sacramental Reflection Day for sacramental students.
  • Saturday, 7th September and Sunday, 8th September - Celebration of First Eucharist at Parish masses.

Grade 6: Sacrament of Confirmation: TERM FOUR. 

  • Tuesday, 15th October - Parent Information Night for Sacrament of Confirmation at 7pm in Marian Centre.
  • Friday, 22nd November - Sacramental Reflection Day for sacramental students.
  • Saturday, 23rd November and Sunday, 24th November - Celebration of Sacrament of Confirmation at Parish masses.

REPEATED News: Altar Servers

A number of our Grade 5 and 6 students have expressed interest in training to be altar servers to assist at school and weekend masses.

If your child has received the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and First Eucharist and is interested in joining this group, and willing to train on some Friday mornings from 9:00am - 9:30am with Mrs. Hicks and Graeme Quinlan at the Church, please contact Michelle Hicks at mhicks@smmooroopna.catholic.edu.au for an enrolment form for this special ministry.

Important dates.

Monday, 18th March - WEAR SOMETHING GREEN for St. Patrick’s Day and buy a cup of GREEN JELLY FOR $1.00 to assist Project Compassion.

Thursday, 21st March - Harmony Day whole school celebrations.

Friday, 22nd March - Palm Sunday liturgy presented by Grade 1/2 in the Marian Centre at 2:45pm.

Thursday, 28th March - Holy Week liturgy presented by Preps and Grades 3 - 6 in the Marian Centre. Time: TBC.

Enrolment forms for ALL sacraments for 2024: close at the end of Term One.

 

With thanks,

Michelle Hicks