Dear members of the Mary MacKillop Catholic College community,

In this first week of Lent we also celebrate Catholic Schools’ Week. During this time I was blessed to be invited to visit our six feeder schools and several of our feeder parishes to speak of Mary MacKillop Catholic College. For a principal, this is a privileged experience, as I was able to see at first hand the wonderful cultures of our local primary schools. At each visit I was accompanied by ex students from the schools who shared their experiences of growing into their adolescent years in a community of challenge, safety and support at MMCC.

I was moved to hear our girls talking of confidence, friendship, faith and the dedication of the staff as they answered questions from the years 5 and 6 girls at each school. To hear these unrehearsed responses affirms the work we have been doing in building the confidence of our students as learners and the welcoming richness of the MMCC community.

We are blessed as a school to be supported by our pastors on a daily basis. As I attended the masses over our associated parishes over the last two weekends, I became even more aware of the blessing of working in such a rich cultural part of Sydney. To be present at two baptisms at St Benedict’s at Smithfield and to hear the wonderful Vietnamese choir at Sacred Heart Cabramatta, or to chat with long standing parishioners at Our Lady of the Rosary at Fairfield who shared with me their long history with the schools were magical experiences.

We are so blessed with our church and school communities. This partnership serves to grow our young people in faith, a sense of justice through the Christ message and a certainty of belonging as they continue their education in our local Fairfield schools.

During this time of Lent I invite you to renew your experience of your parish and during this time of Catholic Schools week, I invite you to visit our school communities and explore the excellence of our partner schools.

My experiences over the past two weeks have certainly reaffirmed the importance of my role as Principal in a Catholic School in one of the most culturally rich areas of our beautiful city.

God Bless

Narelle Archer

Principal