Filter Content
St MARY OF THE CROSS MACKILLOP
On Saturday we celebrate the feast day of Australia’s first saint, Mary of the Cross Mackillop. Mary was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne in 1842. Her life was never easy, her path continually beset with obstacles, but Mary was courageous and trusted in God to see her through the difficult times. Her vocation was to open and run Catholic schools in Southern Australia. She became foundress of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and the order opened many of our Wollongong Diocesan schools. Mary’s commitment to God remained unshaken throughout her life and right up to her death in 1909, Mary was a faithful servant.
Loving and provident God,
We give you thanks for the life and goodness of Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop.
You placed within her the desire to promote the love of Jesus in the lives of little children through education.
Her loving and compassionate heart led her to a life of service t
o the poor, and to the neglected men, women and children of society.
Inspired by her example may we follow in her footsteps with a joyful heart and live by her motto: “Never see a need without doing something about it.”
We ask this prayer through Jesus your Son,
AMEN.
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
The year is certainly marching on and here at Stella Maris we continue to implement Phase 3 of our COVID-19 Management Plan. We have recently heard of schools in Sydney being closed for deep cleaning after students have contracted the virus. We have a plan ready to go in case we are faced with the same scenario. I continue to be thankful for parent cooperation especially regarding the morning drop-off and afternoon pick up arrangements. I am sorry that I have to stop people from having chats in the playground after school, however we have to follow guidelines which are going to minimise the risk of infection. On a positive note I am extremely proud of all our students who are engaging so well with their learning and playing fairly with each other whilst following our school rules. I marvel at their enthusiasm and their resilience to cope with what is unprecedented times.
PARENT- SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS
This week we outline the fourth principle of the Parent- School Partnership Framework: Connected Community, which is about creating a connected and welcoming community. We live this in our communities by:
- Being interested and aware about school events and activities.
- Engaging in the life of the school and parish by participating in community events.
- Allowing all voices to be heard:
- individually, by participating in formal and informal opportunities to receive information and provide feedback;
- collectively, by participating in or supporting forums which allow collaboration and consultation between parents and the school.
- Modelling positive messaging about the school, parish and members of the school community.
SISTER KERRY'S DIAMOND JUBILEE
This Saturday we celebrate Sister Kerry’s Diamond Jubilee. It marks 60 years of service to the Sisters of Charity. Sister Kerry is a wonderful friend of Stella Maris and has had a close association with the school and it's students for many years. Our staff will commemorate this special occasion with a morning tea next Tuesday.
SCHOOL FEAST DAY CELEBRATION -FRIDAY 14 AUGUST
Saturday August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption and our school feast day.
We will be celebrating this special day at school on Friday August 14. Students will be able to wear Mufti clothes and will be engaging in a variety of fun activities over the course of the day.
There will be NO ZOOM Assembly on this day.
This Sunday’s Gospel
Mt 14:22-33
Jesus walks on the water.
Online registration for weekend mass is available at: https://www.dow.org.au/…/all-saints-catholic-parish-shellh…/
* CONDITIONS APPLY
YOU CAN FIND THE ALL SAINTS PARISH BULLETIN ONLINE
On the All Saints parish website: www.allsaintscatholic.org.au
Click on the link at the bottom of the page where it says Bulletin.PDF
Confession by Appointment
Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Command me to come to you over the water.
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
We Congratulate Sr Kerry on her Diamond Jubilee.
Sr Kerry celebrates her Diamond Jubilee on the 17th August. Due to COVID 19 Sr Kerry has postponed her celebration of 60 years as a Sister of Charity until May 22nd 2021. We remember Sr Kerry in our prayers at this special time.
Ripples Podcast
by Robyn Gallagher
For PARENTS: https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/clem-spiritual-formation/spiritual-formation/parents
Feast of Mary MacKillop
8 August
Mary MacKillop was an ordinary woman who lived an extraordinary life. She was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne on January 15, 1842, to Scottish immigrants Alexander and Flora MacKillop and died in North Sydney on August 8, 1901.
After living what she described as “a most unhappy” early life, largely due to financial hardship, Mary moved to Penola, South Australia at age 18 to work as a governess for relatives.
There she met Fr Julian Tenison Woods and they set up a school for underprivileged children before going on to establish the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart – the first religious institute established by an Australian. The Order grew and the Sisters travelled the countryside setting up schools, orphanages and other good works for those in need.
In 1871 Mary was excommunicated following a dispute with the Bishop of Adelaide, but the following year, the Bishop lifted the excommunication order and exonerated Mary of any wrongdoing. She travelled to Rome by sea in 1873/74 to have the rule of her Order approved by the Pope himself.
Today, there are about 800 Sisters of St Joseph, still working with the poor and marginalised in Australia, New Zealand, Timor Leste, Scotland, Ireland and Peru.
The road to Sainthood
Even at the time of her death, those who knew her, or knew of her extraordinary work, spoke openly of her holiness – her heroic goodness. The official Cause for the Canonisation of Mary MacKillop was begun in 1925. In January 1995, Pope John Paul II beatified Mary during a Mass at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. This followed official recognition of a woman being miraculously cured of cancer after praying for Mary’s intercession. The recognition in December 2009 of a second miracle, also a woman being cured of cancer, ensured Mary’s path to Canonisation.
A Saint for our time
The Church does not make a saint – it recognises a saint. Canonisation is the declaration by the Pope that a Catholic Christian is actually in the glory of heaven, intercedes for us before the Lord and is to be publicly venerated by the whole Church. Canonisation is a double statement – about the life of the person and also about the faith of the people who are alive at this moment. They are as much a part of the Canonisation as the person who is being recognised.
Mary MacKillop lived her life with an unwavering sense of gratitude and confidence that God would always provide. “She spoke over and over of ‘our good God’ and she lived with grateful receptivity of God’s love and all that God’s love asked of her in life. She truly imitated Christ to whom she had committed her life.
Live-streaming of Mass from Mary MacKillop Chapel, North Sydney
8 August 2020
Further to the information sent last week about the Diocese’s Liturgy of the Word being available on 8 August 2020, please refer to the attached letter from the Sisters of St Joseph, North Sydney, advising of the live-streaming of Mass from Mary MacKillop Chapel.
Diocese of Wollongong | Feast Day Mass of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop
8 August 2020
On the feast day of St Mary MacKillop (8 August) the Diocese of Wollongong, in collaboration with the Diocesan Catholic Women’s League, usually celebrates Mass at one of the churches where Mary MacKillop visited during her lifetime. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions and limitations arising from that, this year we will be filming a special Liturgy of the Word for the feast day. You are invited to view the liturgy on the diocesan YouTube channel and website www.dow.org.au on Saturday, 8 August 2020.
Feast of the Assumption
15 August
Saturday, 15 August the Church celebrates the Feast Day of the Assumption of Our Lady when according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed her course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.
The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus.
Julie Hopkins
Acting Religious Education Coordinator
If your child arrives at school after the bell, they must be signed in, at the office, by a parent or carer. Please ensure that they are accompanied and are signed in as otherwise, they may miss out on being marked present for that day and then a note will go home to the parent to explain their absence.
Thank you for your assistance with this.
Canteen News
We are a school run canteen and rely on volunteers to operate.
Canteen is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to make and prepare lunch orders and serve the children over the counter.
Online orders can be made via the My School Connect app - www.myschoolconnect.com.au/stellamarisps click on create account.
The Athlete's Foot, School Reward Program, run in conjunction with the school, has been very successful this year with the school receiving a cheque of $5 per pair of shoes purchased, when the school's name has been mentioned. Athlete's Foot thank the whole school community for supporting them and for being involved in this Program.
The Program will continue, so please remember to state the school's name when purchasing a pair of shoes through Athlete's Foot Shellharbour, for the school to continue to receive donations.
Thank you
