“Cultivate with love the seeds of goodness, beauty and truth that God sows in every new generation.” Pope Francis

During Lent each year students make donations to Caritas through Project Compassion. This year students raised over $5000 to assist Caritas in their work to provide “A Just Future”. Mary MacKillop Catholic College has helped the most vulnerable throughout the world to have “A Just Future” through their generous donations to Caritas, so their local agencies can combat poverty, promote justice and uphold the dignity of every person.

Thank you to the Justice leaders; Alyssa-Maree Mammoliti & Maya Tesvaesborg, all teachers and students who took part in the many events held during Lent. These included a LemonAID stand, face painting, bake stand, Rob the Nest, toy day and daily donations.

 

Year 7 Mary MacKillop Place Excursion

Year 7 visited Mary MacKillop Place as part of their faith formation program. Year 7 had an opportunity to visit the museum and learn further about Mary MacKillop. They also visited Alma Cottage, the Chapel and Mary’s final resting place. As part of the day students looked at the values of the Sisters of St Joseph; Mary MacKillop a women of God, Courage and Action; and reflected on sayings from Mary MacKillop. It is hoped from their experience they will have a deeper understanding of Mary MacKillop and what is means to be a MacKillop women.

Year 7 & 8 students from the CIEC also joined us, visiting Lavender Bay in the morning for views of the city and the Museum in the afternoon.

 

 

Year 12 Reflection Day

 

Be the source of God’s hope for the world

On Friday 11 May Year 12 students attend their Reflection Day at St Joseph’s conference Centre, Bringelly. The focus of the day was to Be Hope for Others. The students took part in prayer, reflection, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, singing, discussions and Mass.

 

Spreading Joy Concert with Steve Angrisano

On Friday 18th May, 20 Year 10 students attended the SCS Evangelisation Day with performances from Steve Angrisano and a presentation from Jason Evert addressing vocations in the Catholic Church. In the afternoon the MMCC community took part in an evangelisation afternoon with Steve Angrisano performing for the students and spreading joy through his music and message about God.

 

Walk with Christ- (Corpus Christi) 

Representatives from our school took part in this years Walk with Christ, processing in the city with the Blessed Sacrament and concluding with Adoration and benediction at St Mary’s Cathedral. The petitions from Mary MacKillop Catholic College were presented during Adoration, written in the Book of Life.

 

Vinnies Van – Sandwich Making

Once a month senior students will spend time making sandwiches for the Vinnies Van at Liverpool. This Outreach opportunity continues the tradition of the College to assist St Vincent De Paul’s Night Patrol.  Students taking part have completed their On Guard training and donate the items needed to make the sandwiches. The sandwiches are then taken to the Liverpool Night Patrol centre for distribution to those in need in our local community.

 

Irene McCormack Day – Liturgy & Fundraiser

Monday 21 May the College community gathered to commemorate the life of Sister Irene McCormack, the house patron for the McCormack House. As part of this Liturgy all students and staff new to the College were presented with their house badges. The McCormack House also sold Krispy Kreme donuts, raising funds for the Sisters of St Joseph, so the sister’s may continue to help those in need, like Sister Irene McCormack.

 

Our Lady, Help of Christians Mass

24 students attended the annual Our Lady, Help of Christians Mass to commemorate the patroness of the Australian Church at St Mary’s Cathedral. The feast day to Mary Help of Christians has been celebrated in Australia since 1844 but the history to this day dates back to the start of the 1800’s. The infant church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary. No priests were sent to the colony in its early days and Mass was not allowed except for one brief year until 1820.

It was largely the Rosary in those early days that kept the faith alive. Catholic Australia remained faithful to Mary and was the first nation to choose her under the title Help of Christians, as principal Patroness. St Mary’s Cathedral was dedicated in her honour by the Irish pioneer priest, Fr John Therry, who arrived in Sydney in 1820 and assumed responsibility for the planning and initial construction of the Cathedral.

 

Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Day began a week dedicated to commemorate two milestones in the reconciliation journey— the 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. Reconciliation Week aims to create respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year during National Reconciliation Week, Reconciliation Australia invited all Australians to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, to share that knowledge and help us grow as a nation. “Don’t Keep History A Mystery: Learn. Share. Grow” explores history hidden just beneath the surface, ready and waiting to be uncovered.

MMCC commemorated the week through art. Students contributed to a dot painting recreating the Aboriginal Flag, the Torres Strait Islander Flag and a representation of the artwork in the College Foyer – Wakirlpirri Jukurrpa (Snake Vine Dreaming) by Liddy Walker Napanagka. The artwork was to acknowledge need for reconciliation and understanding and that our College is a central meeting place where experiences and stories can be shared.

Mrs Annette Flanagan, Leader of Learning – Catholic Life and Religious Education