FOOTSTEPS Dance Company has been visiting our school and is providing three dance sessions for all grade levels. Students will engage in a scheduled session once per week over the next 2 weeks and are being taught a variety of dance styles as an individual and in groups. The program is directly linked to the Dance, Creative Arts & HPE cur­riculum and students will establish skills in fundamental movement as well as appreciation for cul­tural dance. There is a focus on familiarising students with the elements of dance, choreography, characterisation and more. Students will strengthen their interactions with others and continue to establish good social skills with their peers.

The program will culminate with a School Presentation during Assembly on Friday 24th March concluding Harmony Week celebrations. Parents and friends are welcome to join us to celebrate the benefits and strength cultural diversity brings to our School, wider community, nation and Australian way of life.

Harmony Week Activities

On Thursday 23 March:

• Whole School Prayer Celebration  9.00am in Allen Hall – families and friends welcome to attend
• Students are invited to wear cultural dress or the colour orange
• Snack time will be shared with Buddy grades in the Allen Hall

On Friday 24 March:

• Whole School Assembly Dance Presentation during Assembly NB Assembly which will commence at 2.15pm – family and friends welcome to attend

Third Week of Lent 

We are now in the third week of Lent with the Project Compassion story of Priscilla, who lives in the Hwange district in Zimbabwe with her husband, Charles, and two of their grandchildren. Climate change continues to bring unprecedented challenges for people living in the most vulnerable and remote communities in Zimbabwe.

During times of intense drought and food shortages, Priscilla had to commute to the town centre and wait in long queues to collect food.  With the support of Caritas Hwange, Priscilla learnt conservation farming skills to grow drought-resistant crops and started poultry farming to support her family during the current food crisis. Priscilla was able to produce a bumper harvest in her first year of practising in conservation farming. Priscilla also used the funds from her harvest to start poultry farming, which enabled her to sell eggs to pay for her grandchildren’s school fees, books and stationery. The poultry farming provides a safety net for Priscilla and her family during times of hardship, like the current drought.

While the situation in Zimbabwe and across eastern Africa remains dire, the work of Caritas Hwange means that Priscilla can learn the techniques, tools and resources she needs to build resilience and support her family during this current food crisis.  

Watch a short film about Priscilla’s story here.

Please support Project Compassion: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Project Compassion boxes are located in each classroom for student donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion

Your support is greatly appreciated.

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

Sunday, March 19, 2023

John 9:1-41 (shorter form: John 9:1,6-9,13-17,34-38)

Jesus heals the man born blind and reveals himself to him as the Son of Man.

Next Sunday’s Gospel tells the story of how Jesus healed a man who had been blind from birth. As we listen to this Gospel, imagine what life might have been like for this man. Think about how much he must have appreciated the gift that Jesus gave him. It was truly a great gift when Jesus healed the man’s blindness, but it was an even greater gift when Jesus revealed himself as the Son of Man, the Messiah. And the man received that second gift as willingly as he accepted the first one. He became a believer and worshiped Jesus. In Baptism, Jesus reveals himself to us, and we’re called to be like the man in the Gospel, accepting the gift from Jesus so that we may truly see Jesus as our Lord and worship him.

OLHC Parish

Mary MacKillop Primary School is one of the three Parish Primary Schools belonging to the Parish of Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren within the Diocese of Sale. Fr Brendan Hogan is our Parish Priest and Fr Ajin Albarnas is our Assistant Priest. We are grateful for their ongoing prayers, involvement and support of the students, families and staff of Mary MacKillop School. 

PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM 2023

We keep in our prayers the students from our school who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation. First Reconciliation celebrations are scheduled on the following dates:

Wednesday 15th March 2023 @ 7.00pm   

Saturday 18th March 2023 @ 11.00am  

Saturday 25th March 2023 @ 11.00am         

Wednesday 29th March 2023 @ 7.00pm 

• Ethan
• Milana
• Wendal
• Paul
• Natasha
• Remy
• Jocelyne
• Teebel
• Addison
• Eva
• Jovan
• Nathaniel
• Jeremy
• Awur
• Liam
• Caleb
• Chloe
• Chase
• Adrian
• Tyler

Click on the link to access a copy of the 2023 Sacrament Program Booklet https://www.olhc.org.au/parish-sacrament-program/

PARISH BULLETIN

Click on the link below to download the weekly newsletter. https://www.olhc.org.au/parish-bulletin/