Yesterday I had the absolute pleasure and privilege of attending Year 6 Mass with the Bishop with Mrs Peardon and our Year 6 students. This is a celebration of liturgy and gathering that we have not had the opportunity to experience for the past 3 years. It was such a blessing to be able to gather again in prayer and celebrate with other Year 6 groups.

Bishop Brian Mascord spoke about in his Homily how important it is that we lean into Jesus and others when we need help. He explained how we can not achieve anything without help, and that asking for help is a gift.

Our school was asked to perform the liturgical movement after Communion. I can honestly say how proud I was of all of our Year 6 children. Each and everyone of them were involved in the liturgical movement and they represented our school with pride and show great reverence and understanding of the significance of what they were doing. Thank you to Mrs Brown and Mrs Peardon who prepared the students for this special occasion. We received many words of gratitude and appreciation that all of our Year 6 students were involved in the representation of prayer. A true sign of leadership and of living our school vision.

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The Feast Day of Saint Mary MacKillop is celebrated each year on 8 August. On 17 October 2010 Mary was canonised as the first saint for Australia – the Land of the Southern Cross.

Catholic school teachers in this country have been gifted with the perfect role model in Mary to present to students in modern day Australia. She is an ‘Aussie’, she is down to earth,  she walks the talk and has a deep love for her God and people, especially those on the margins. She is the daughter of the Great South Land. 

At St Michael’s we will acknowledge St Mary MacKillop on Monday with a liturgy at 2.30pm, a perfect time to celebrate the founding sisters of our school.

I would like to share a summary of a reflection from a Josephite nun (the religious order Mary founded) which takes us on a 7 mile journey along the ‘wallaby track’ to Emmaus. Each mile Mary MacKillop or her supporters meet us where we are at. 

Mile 1 – Respect for Human Dignity

Mile 2 – Solidarity

Mile 3 – Preferential Option for the Poor

Mile 4 – Call to Family, Community and Participation

Mile 5 – Rights and Responsibilities

Mile 6 – Dignity of Work

Mile 7 – Stewardship of Creation

God Bless

Mrs Belinda Hughes - Principal