SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: PARENT ONLY ENROLMENT WORKSHOP OLHC CDF Payment opened on Monday, 19th June for parents wishing to organise a prepayment for their child to enrol in the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. There will be two workshops and parents/guardian will need to attend only one of these enrolment nights: Thursday, 20th July TONIGHT and Wednesday, 26th July 2023 starting at 7.00pm (please arrive by 6.45pm to sign-in). Attendance is compulsory if your child is preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. Children should have been baptised in the Catholic Church and received the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist prior to 2023.  A prepayment of $50.00 must be made via olhc.cdfpay.org.au. This opened on Monday, 19th June and closes Friday 28th July at 3.30pm.  If you have any questions please contact Vea our Sacrament Coordinator at sacraments@olhc.org.au

Please note that the 2023 Sacrament of Confirmation Masses will be celebrated on the following dates (at the conclusion of Term 3) at OLHC Parish Church:

•       Friday 15th September 2023 at 7.00 pm
•       Saturday 16th September 2023 at 3.00 pm
•       Saturday 16th September 2023 at 6.00 pm

St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal will be conducted over the next two weeks. Our MacKillop Kids club members from Years 3-6 help run the appeal by encouraging the school community to donate specific food items. This year the MacKillop Kids Group have organised the collection of warm winter drinks. Your support of tea varieties, coffee, hot chocolate, milo, etc that would warm up those less fortunate is greatly appreciated. Collection boxes are located in each classroom.

The Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop: On Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 6.00 p.m., a School Family Mass will be held at Our Lady Help of Christians Church. This Parish Mass invites students and families to take on important roles.  Students completed a special invitation inviting families to this mass and also our school mass to be held on 10/8 in Allen Hall. During the Parish mass, students are invited to read and participate in particular roles. Choir members are asked to perform a reflective hymn. Please consider encouraging your child/children to participate actively in this Parish Mass celebration. A separate letter has been sent to families providing opportunity to save the date early and encourage students to take on special roles during the Parish mass. The expression of interest tear-off slip is due no later than 24/7.

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly: Sunday, July 23, 2023

Sts. Joachim & Anne

Joachim and Anne were greatly honoured by God who gave them a daughter conceived without sin who was to become known as the Mother of God! It would seem that they performed their parenting responsibilities with great grace. Their feast day on July 26 is a day to honour them and all grandparents for their contribution to our lives.

 “His mercy is from age to age” (Lk. 1:50) is the theme chosen by the Holy Father for the third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Pope Francis proclaimed the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly to be celebrated on the fourth Sunday in July each year – July 23 in 2023. The Day is marked near the Feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus.

We keep in our prayers and thoughts all grandparents and elderly. In early Term 4 when the weather is far more pleasant we have set aside a special morning tea and mass celebration in honour of our grandparents and friends. Further details will be published later in the year.