Welcome Garden

We are pleased to share an uplifting update with you regarding the Welcome Garden. After last year’s unfortunate incident of vandalism, we have taken steps to restore and enhance this space with the installation of a new statue of Our Lady Help of Christians, the Patron Saint of our Parish.

This beautiful statue stands as a symbol of hope, resilience, and faith for all who visit our school grounds. Our Lady Help of Christians has long been a source of protection and guidance for our Parish and school community, and we hope this new statue serves as a reminder of her intercession and the strength of our shared faith.

We kindly remind everyone to use the pathway as you walk into the school, ensuring the space remains accessible and beautiful for all who wish to stop by for a moment of prayer or reflection. May this statue inspire us all to continue to live with love and respect for one another, and may it be a source of blessings for everyone in our school community.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Luke 5:1-11
The fishermen (Simon, James, and John) leave their fishing boats and follow Jesus.

Next Sunday’s Gospel tells us what happened when Jesus called Simon Peter to be his disciple. Simon Peter hadn't caught any fish. But he trusted Jesus. He followed Jesus’ command to lower the nets into the water.

What happened next? (The fishermen caught so many fish that the nets tore.) Jesus told Simon Peter he would be a different type of fisherman. What did Jesus say Simon Peter would be catching instead of fish? Jesus was calling Simon Peter to help him bring people to God. Did Simon Peter follow Jesus? (Yes.)

Jesus calls us to follow him too. One way that we follow Jesus is by telling others about him. Who is someone in your family that you might tell about Jesus and Simon Peter? Remind others that Jesus calls you to follow him, just as he called Simon Peter.

 “Jesus, we are your disciples. We will follow you.”

Sacrament of First Reconcilliation

Preparations have commenced. The final PARENT FORMATION NIGHT will be held on Thursday 13th February 2025. The start time is 7pm at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish. A Levy of $50.00 is payable (payment to be made via the PARISH CDFpay platform).  Making a payment through CDFPay confirms your child's enrolment in the Sacrament Program and registers the parent for Parent Formation Night.  CDFPay Online has been open since Monday 13th January 2025 and closes on Friday 14th February 2025.

Beginning of the 2025 School Year Mass – Thursday 13th February 2025 at 9.00 am

We will be celebrating our beginning of the 2025 School Year Mass on Thursday 13th February 2025 at 9.00 am in the Allen Hall. We look forward to welcoming back Fr. Michael Willemsen, our Parish Priest to celebrate Mass with us. We also look forward to formally commissioning our Year 6 student leaders and blessing our class candles in preparation for our year ahead. Parents and families are most welcome to join us in the Allen Hall.

Diocesan Assembly

Selected representatives from parishes, schools, Catholic organisations, and other invitees will comprise the membership of the Diocesan Assembly 2025. Mrs Verstraete & Mrs Privitera will be attending the two-day Assembly to be held in Churchill on Friday 14th Feb to Saturday 15th February 2025. Pope Francis invites Catholics throughout the world to engage in a process of listening to what steps the Holy Spirit is inviting the Church to take to grow in journeying together in communion, mission, and participation. Through prayer, respectful dialogue, and attentive listening, this process aims to arrive at an agreed set of recommended pastoral and organisational initiatives our Diocese intends to put these into practice over the next five years, to enable our faith communities to become more Christ-centred, synodal and missionary.

Exciting News for the Jubilee Year of Hope & 30th Anniversary Celebration!

We are thrilled to announce that Andrew Chinn and his team have arrived at Mary MacKillop School to help us celebrate a truly special milestone. This year marks our Jubilee Year of Hope and 30th Anniversary, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this moment with our entire school community.

As part of the celebrations, the much-anticipated mural project is officially underway! Andrew, along with Bernadette and Eleanor Chinn, are leading the creation of a beautiful mural on the gym wall, facing the Junior building. The exciting part? Students will have the opportunity to engage with Andrew and his team, contributing artistically to the mural and being a part of something that will remain a lasting symbol of our school’s journey.

To continue the celebrations, we invite all families to join us for a special concert by Andrew Chinn, held on Thursday, 13th March 2025. This evening event will feature an afterschool sausage sizzle and a lively concert, offering a perfect opportunity for the entire school community to come together and enjoy an evening of music, food, and fun.

Mark the date and get ready for a memorable family event to celebrate this incredible milestone!

Shrove Tuesday Activity – Permission Letter Coming Soon!

Keep an eye on your inbox! A permission letter will be sent via PAM for parents to give consent for students to participate in the upcoming Shrove Tuesday activity. Be sure to check your email so your child can join in the fun and festivities!

School Assembly will be held tomorrow beginning at 2.15pm in Allen Hall. Please note the new starting time this year!