Catholic Identity 

In this newsletter...

• Staff Professional Learning Day

• Our Lady's Grotto

• Project Compassion

• Stations of the Cross

• Sacramental Program 2025

• Pilgrim Image of Mary

• School Masses

• Community Masses 2025

Staff Professional Learning Day

This Monday, the staff of OLSC travelled into the Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre in East Melbourne, for a day of reflection, prayer and pilgrimage. We spent the morning engaging with the inspirational story of St. Mary MacKillop, who reminds us that "We are but travellers here." Staff had the opportunity to explore the museum which included items from the life of St Mary MacKillop, including the wheelchair she used in the final years of her life. 

Following this, staff embarked on a guided walk around East Melbourne and Fitzroy, taking in several places where St Mary MacKillop lived and worked, including her birth place (which is now occupied by St Vincent's Private Hospital).

This walk became a pilgrimage, as it concluded at the front steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Staff celebrated Mass with workers from the CBD and parishioners. 

The day was a wonderful opportunity for staff to engage in professional learning and faith formation, highlighting the part they too play in the mission of the Church.

Stations of the Cross

Yesterday, we gathered as a faith community to reflect on the final days of Jesus' life. An interpretation of the key events of the last days were presented to us by the Year 6 cohort through a dramatic shadow play. The reflections and prayers were written by students, and the entire presentation allowed us to enter more fully into this sacred time. Well done to the Year 6 students and staff who made this possible.   

As we approach the end of this Lenten Season and the Great Feast of Easter, I pray that you and your families have a blessed and holy Easter, and that the light of the Risen Lord fills your hearts and homes now, and throughout the year. 

Our Lady's Grotto - Help Needed

As you would have seen, we have a beautiful statue of Mary that we use during Mass and other celebrations. Some families may remember that this statue was purchased with the view of building a grotto to place it into. This grotto area will become an area of reflection and prayer in our school yard. 

We are hoping to complete this project this year to mark the Jubilee. 

We require some one to draw up some simple plans for the structure and surrounding area. If know of someone who works as a carpenter, bricklayer or a landscape gardener that could complette these drawing, please let me know. 

Also, if you are able to provide assistance in building, either concreting, carpentry, bricklaying, lanscaping etc, please contact me. 

Project Compassion 2025

Throughout the past four and half weeks, we have been collecting money and offering up donations to the 2025 Project Compassion campaign. Thank you to everyone for your generous support of this fundraising. Together as a school community, we were able to raise a total of $1,180.65. 

The 'Heaviest Project Compassion Box' competition was hotly contested by our learning groups. Well done to Ben's group, whose box weighed just over 5kg.

With the money we have raised, Caritas Australia will be able to provide some of the following:

Sacramental Program 2025

First Eucharist

The children below have indicated that they would like to receive the Sacrament of Eucharist, or First Holy Communion. If your child’s name is not on the list below and you believe it should be, please contact me as soon as possible. To receive the Sacrament of Eucharist, children must be baptised Catholic or have been welcomed into the Catholic Church, and celebrate First Reconciliation.

Dates to remember for those celebrating First Eucharist:

Pilgrim Image

During this Jubilee Year, we will once again be offering the opportunity to take home our 'Pilgrim Image' of Mary for a weekend during Semester 1. 

During your chosen weekend you can place the image in a special place of honour in your home and use it as a focus for your family prayer.  There will also be a booklet inside that has some prayers you may like to pray together as a family. There will also be blank pages on which you are invited to create a special family prayer to Mary. Other families may choose to pray your prayer also when they host the image in their homes.

Using the School Interviews link below, choose a Friday/Weekend that best suits you.

John, or your child's teacher, will give the carry bag, with the image and prayer booklet, to your child in the afternoon on the Friday of your booking. You will then take it home for the weekend.

Please return the carry bag, image and booklet to John or your child's teacher the following Monday morning.

BOOK AT:

https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code/zzvgw

School Masses

Please find below all of the scheduled school Masses for 2025. These will begin at 9am this year, so we are hoping many more families can join us at this earlier time. All are welcome!

Community Masses in 2025

SAVE THE DATE - 2025 Community Mass Dates

Community Masses have begun and we have had wonderful attendance so far. Last month we celebrated the baptism of some of our students. Over the next few months, we will also be celebrating First Eucharist and Confirmation as part of our Community Masses. 

We encourage you to spread the word of our Community Masses and invite as many family, friends, neighbours and others to these celebrations. 

Follow and like the Wyndham Vale Catholic Community Facebook page to get updates and further information about Community Masses and other events. 

John Dini

jdini@olscwyn.catholic.edu.au 

Catholic Identity Leader