Catholic Identity 

World Youth Day

World Youth Day (WYD) is the gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope. It is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelization for the youth world. Although its Catholic identity is clearly evident, WYD opens its doors to everyone, no matter how close to or distant from the Church they are.

It aims to provide all participants with a universal Church experience, fostering a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. It is a new stimulus to the faith, hope and charity of the entire host country community. With young people as its protagonists, World Youth Day also seeks to promote peace, unity and fraternity among peoples and nations around the world.

This week, World Youth Day 2023 is being held in Lisbon, Portugal. Many young people from St. Andrew's Parish, including former students of OLSC, and Fr. Huy are attending. 

For Lisbon 2023, the Holy Father chose the theme "Mary arose and went with haste" (Lk 1:39). Mary, our Mother and Teacher, has always been “the great model for a young Church, which wants to follow Christ with freshness and docility” (Chv 43). She is willing to be “the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1,38), accompanying her Son with a protective gaze throughout his life. 

She is a living example of deep joy, contemplating life in the light of faith and keeping the beauty of details in her heart. She accompanies us on this journey, where we are invited to rise up and run to meet Christ. God looks upon every young person with love and hope, inviting each one to rise up from the places in life where they are settled. 

Once we rise up, Christ invites us to go on a mission in our daily lives so that we can be His presence in the world, through a life transformed by encounter with Him. In a world thirsty for hope, God counts on us to rise up and go forth, being His response to the aspirations of humanity.

Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Mary Helen MacKillop was born in 1842 in Victoria to Scottish immigrant parents and grew up with seven brothers and sisters. At the age of twenty-four, she dedicated her life to God and took on the name “Mary of the Cross.” 

Mary was an ordinary woman with an extraordinary dream and a big heart. Her dream was to give the poorest families and most neglected children access to education and safe shelter by opening schools. With what little resources they had, Mary and Father Tenison Woods turned an old stable into a school in Penola, South Australia. 

In 1866 Mary and Father Tenison worked together to set up the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart (the Josephites). This was the first religious order to be founded by an Australian. 

As a passionate educator, Mary broke through the prejudice of the early 19th century to educate all — regardless of gender, race, faith, or wealth. She and the Sisters of St Joseph went wherever the need was greatest. They gave up everything to live and teach amongst the people they served.

Today, over 10 years on from the recognition of Mary MacKillop’s holy work, we continue to find hope in her values, character, and actions as a remarkably strong female leader. 

Mary fiercely believed in the power of education to lift communities out of poverty. 

Mary taught everyone — regardless of gender, race, faith, or wealth — while serving with love and compassion. 

In the face of trials, Mary persistently stood by her convictions to help those in need, no matter their situation. She wasn’t afraid to question authority to seek justice – while also modelling forgiveness, insisting no ill be spoken of those who wronged her.

Prayer to Mary MacKillop

God of all people. 

We thank you for Mary MacKillop who like your Son Jesus 

reached out to the poor, the isolated, the rejected 

and all in need with a compassionate and loving heart. 

As we walk in her footsteps may we see with her eyes, 

listen with her ears and love with her heart. 

May we respond in practical ways wherever we see a need. 

We ask this in Jesus’ name, 

the One who shows us the way of compassion and love. Amen 

Sr Annie Bond rsj

1/2 Sacramental Family Evening

We invite you to join us for an evening of prayer, story and reflection. This evening builds on the 'Preps in Pyjamas' evening and is part of the broader sacramental development of our students. The evening will take place in Learning Centre 3 on Wednesday 16th August, at 6pm. 

Please use this form linked below to indicate your intention to attend. Parents/guardians are expected to attend with their child. Families are invited to attend.

Google Form - 1/2 Sacramental Evening Attendance 

2023 Sacramental Program

First Eucharist

Last Monday and Wednesday evenings students from Years 4, 5 & 6 celebrated their First Eucharist. They were wonderful celebrations of the love of Jesus for us! It was lovely to see family members from near and far join us for Mass. The liturgy was enriched by the presence of members of the school choir to lead us in singing. 

A massive thank you to the 3/4 team for their preparation of our students, Tina D, Marilyn and the entire choir, all staff of OLSC for their continued support and to our altar servers (and former students) Thisen, Rivini, Minara and Asini. Lastly, thank you to our parents and families for accompanying your children on their faith journey. 

Confirmation

On Wednesday evening, our Confirmation candidates and their families gathered together for some time of reflection, prayer and sharing. Thank you to all of those who attended. It was a wonderful way to prepare for, and journey towards, Confirmation. 

A reminder for all our Confirmation families that the Mass will begin at 5pm at St. Andrew's Church, next Friday 11th August. Please arrive no less than 15 minutes prior so that the Confirmation candidates can prepare for Mass and the entrance procession. 

For those students in the choir, please arrive with enough time to get changed into a choir top. Also, we kindly ask parents to be ready to pick their child up from the choir by 6pm.  We look forward to the wonderful singing of the school choir!

Our entire school community is invited to attend our Confirmation Mass, if you wish. It is a wonderful opportunity to express our connection to one another in faith and to celebrate this most important step in our students' sacramental journeys. 

Prayer for those preparing for Confirmation

Lord, You send out Your Spirit to touch the hearts of all people,

so that they may believe in You and in Jesus whom You sent.

Look kindly on all candidates for Confirmation

as they listen to Your voice.

Open their hearts to Your Spirit and bring to fulfillment

the good work that You have begun in them.

As we prepare for Confirmation,

make each of us an instrument of Your love.

Teach us to appreciate what is holy in others,

and to be patient with what we do not understand.

Deepen our faith in the Gospel

and help us to pass it on by our example.

We pray that You will continue to guide us and sustain us.

Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

School Masses 

Here are the dates and times of remaining Masses for 2023:

All Masses will be celebrated in the Sports Centre. Parents and families are invited to these celebrations and we hope to see as many of you as possible attend!

Term 3, Week 6: Mass, Friday 18th August at 2pm

Term 3, Week 8: Feast Day Whole School Mass, Friday 1st September at 10am

Term 4, Week 4: Mass, Friday 27th October at 2pm

Term 4, Week 7: Whole School Mass, Friday 17th November at 2pm

John Dini

Catholic Identity Leader