From the Principal

Feast of St Mary MacKillop

Thursday, 8 August, marked the feast day of St Mary MacKillop. Mary’s mission, which was deeply rooted in education and social justice for the poor and marginalised, continues to inspire us all. Her co-founding of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866, an order dedicated to providing education to children in rural areas, has left a profound impact on our community. Her canonisation as Australia’s first saint in 2010 is a testament to her enduring influence, and her words continue to guide us through our school mission statement. 

Mary MacKillop left us with a legacy of many statements. My personal words of inspiration from Mary MacKillop are: “Find happiness in making others happy.”As simple as this statement is, think about how much better the world would be if we all lived by this statement and how much fuller our lives would be if we looked and found meaning in life by helping others. I worry that our students today look for fulfilment in life in places they will never truly find them. 

ASPIRE

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the ASPIRE production “Disconnected” at the Newcastle Civic Theatre. There were over 150 students in the cast, including five students from St Joseph’s who were involved in the production: Daniel C, Megan L, Jimmy D, Lula P, and Triniti E. The storyline was clever, examining students' dependence on technology and the Internet. The students' and parents' dedication to the production and the many weeks and kilometres of travel to Newcastle are admirable. The final production was a quality and professional entertainment experience. 

Bishop Michael Kennedy 25th Jubilee

Next Wednesday, I will attend the Diocesan celebration of Bishop Michael Kennedy's 25th Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood with a Mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newcastle. During the Mass, they will also commemorate several other priests, including Father John Tobin, who has been in the Priesthood for 40 years. Father Tobin was the Parish Priest at St Bernard’s Denman and St Anne’s Merriwa for many years. I thought it was important and appropriate that I attend the service, and hence, the school acknowledge the long service and dedication of these holy men. 

Veronica Rolfe

Principal