St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal is being held over this week and next week. 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. Your donations are greatly appreciated.

The Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop: SAVE THE DATE - YOU ARE INVITED TO BRING YOUR FAMILY TO MASS on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 6.00 p.m., a School Family Mass will be held at Our Lady Help of Christians Church.

Families and students are encouraged to play significant roles in this annual parish mass.  Students created an invitation specifically for families, asking them to both this mass and our school mass, which will be held on August 10 in Allen Hall. Students are invited to read and take part in specific roles during the parish mass. Members of the choir are requested to sing a reflective hymn. Please think about encouraging your child(ren) to take part fully in this parish mass. It's still possible. Families have received a separate letter offering the chance to reserve the day in advance and encouraging students to play particular roles during the Parish liturgy. Expressions of interest are accepted until tomorrow. Your student's involvement will be confirmed via email. During next week there will be opportunity for the students to run through their special roles.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Please refer to the separate letter sent home earlier in the term outlining activities in celebration of the Feast of St Mary MacKillop. 

• Saturday 5th August 6.00pm School Family Mass at OLHC Church
• Tuesday 8th August KABOOM SPORTS EVENT & SUBWAY LUNCH FUNDRAISER
• Thursday 10th August School Mass 9.00am, dress up day & a special treat to take home

Confirmation - Parent & child workshops                                                                                                                                       

Parent/s and their child must attend one of these workshops. Attendance at one of these workshops is a mandatory requirement as part of the preparation to receive the Sacrament. Please bring the Confirmation booklet, and your pencil case to the workshop. On line bookings are required for: 

• Wednesday 9th August 2023 5.00pm or 7.00pm  or
• Thursday 10th August 2023 5.00pm or 7.00pm

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Matthew 13:44-52 (shorter form: Matthew 13:44-46)
Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven.

Next Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells us a parable, or story, about the Kingdom of God. He tells us what is truly important. The passages tell about a man who found buried treasure and a man who found a pearl. Jesus teaches us that we are called to make the Kingdom of Heaven the most important thing in our lives. We are to set aside or give up unimportant things so that we can accept God’s gift of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Gospel talks about what we value., let us take some time to think about the things that we value in our lives. God wants us to place everything that we value in the service of the kingdom of heaven.