Faith and Religion

A Courageous Australian

Nine years before the Gold Rush began a baby named Mary MacKillop, of Scottish parents was born in Fitzroy in Melbourne in 1842.  168 years later she was celebrated as Australia's first saint. Courage was one of her standout features as she navigated difficult family trials and later the challenges and opposition of starting up a new religious order in Australia. As a young adult she responded to God's call on her heart to dedicate her life to God. She did this, co-founding the order of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. They affectionately became know as the "Brown Joey's" as they wore a brown habit. 

Mary is often depicted in artwork with children or riding a horse. She invested her time by connecting children with opportunities to receive education at a time when many families were marginalised and lived in remote places. The "Brown Joey's started many schools throughout Australia and New Zealand. 

The Sisters, no longer wearing the brown habit, continue their work of caring for children, inspiring and engaging and transforming communities through education, social justice, pastoral and spiritual support.

Can you see how the life of St Mary MacKillop (St Mary of the Cross) is an example for us in our community of St Mary's. Notice the words from our school vision?

 What does courage and invested mean for the members of your family?

Subsidiarity and Participation

As part of Religious Education this term our classes are exploring principals of Catholic Social Teaching.  Some of the questions they are researching are:

What are my gifts and talents?

How can we participate in making the world better?

Who decides?

We look forward to hearing how our children will grapple with these questions and how they might put faith into action.