Prayer

During the month of August, Pope Leo has asked us, together with Catholics around the world, to pray for mutual coexistence, especially in societies where confrontation over ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons are present.

Jesus, Lord of our history, Faithful companion and living presence, You who never tire of coming to meet us, here we are, in need of Your peace.

We live in times of fear and division.

Sometimes we act as if we were alone, building walls that separate us from one another, forgetting that we are brothers and sisters.

Send us Your Spirit, Lord, to rekindle within us the desire to understand one another,

to listen, to live together with respect and compassion.

Give us the courage to seek paths of dialogue, to respond to conflict with gestures of fraternity, to open our hearts to others without fear of differences.

Make us builders of bridges, able to overcome borders and ideologies, able to see others through the eyes of the heart, recognizing in every person an inviolable dignity.

Help us create spaces where hope can flourish, where diversity is not a threat

but a richness that makes us more human.

Amen.

The Jubilee Year of Hope continues

Despite the passing of Pope Francis, the Year of Hope continues both around the world and around our own Diocese. Earlier in the year, in Rome, the Jubilee was dedicated to people with disabilities. About ten thousand pilgrims were in Rome, including family members and companions, from more than 90 countries. Locally, the mini Cathedral pilgrimage was in Wee Waa and next week will travel to Narrabri. The mini Cathedral will be in Tamworth in October. The Holy Year in local churches will end on December 28. The closing of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican will occur on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord on January 6, marking the end of the Jubilee.

Mission and Liturgy

During the recent school holidays 13 McCarthy students travelled to Sydney for the 2025 Ignite Conference; they joined over 2500 high schoolers, young adults, leaders, teachers, priests and religious. The school extends its gratitude to Mrs Katie Buckman for escorting our students on this trip.

Year 10 RE classes continue their involvement in the Alpha program once a fortnight, this will continue until the end of the term.

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.

Year 10 Catechist Assistant Program

Our team of five Year 10 students, Teagan Smith, Ella Hertslet, Aiden Heatherington Maddison Moss, and Taylah Evans continue to visit Tamworth Public School each Friday to assist the Catechists with their delivery of the faith program with Kindergarten students.

Readers and Commentators Formation

Two Year 11 students, Katie Buckman and Charli Manning have recently undertaken the Readers and Commentators formation course and have now been added to the Parish reading roster at St Nicholas’ Church. They will be formally commissioned following Bishop Peter’s approval.