Feast of St Mary of the Cross – 8^th August

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast Day of St Mary MacKillop – St Mary of the Cross. St Mary is Australia’s only saint, and in our School Mass Year Three/Four presented a beautiful tribute to her. St Mary of the Cross devoted her life to God and to the service of others.

Mary’s devoted faith, her determination to provide an education for everyone and her sense of justice and fairness for all make her a wonderful role model for us all to follow.

Mary’s motto was ‘never see a need without doing something about it’.

May we all be inspired by the good deeds of St Mary of the Cross.

A Prayer to Mary MacKillop

God of all people. We thank you for Mary MacKillop who like your Son Jesus reached out to the poor, the isolated, the rejected and all in need with a compassionate and loving heart.

As we walk in her footsteps may we see with her eyes, listen with her ears and love with her heart.

May we respond in practical ways wherever we see a need. We ask this in Jesus‘ name, the One who shows us the way of compassion and love. Amen.

Sister Annie Bond rsj

Visit from the Catholic Education Commission

St Patrick’s hosted a delegation of 17 members of the Catholic Education Commission yesterday. The Commissioners were on a tour of three schools in our area. Professor Patrick McArdle, Chairperson of the Commission lead the group. They were very impressed by our school and felt very welcomed.

Monsignor John Woods celebrated our Mass alongside Father George in honour of Mary MacKillop. Monsignor Woods commended the children on their reverence and enthusiastic participation in the Mass.

Feast of the Assumption - Monday 15^th August

Next week we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this day we celebrate the Assumption of Mary’s body and soul into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. This Feast is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon. Year 5/6 will present this Mass.

Altar Serving Practice

This Friday at 2 pm our Altar Servers will attend a training session with Father George and Peter Gain in the Church. This will be a valuable refresher for all, and especially for our new altar Servers, to gain further confidence and skill.

We sincerely thank all the children who are involved in this special ministry in the Church and their families for supporting them.

Kate Howe

REC