Faith and Mission News – 18 August 2022

Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 8 August

Mary MacKillop, Australia’s only saint, whose feast day we remembered on 8 August, was one of those significant early educational pioneers who overcame some of the most challenging circumstances in her efforts to provide education to the poorest children. She knew poverty and sought to help those in her local town of Penola before being encouraged by Fr Julian Tenison Woods to continue her work as a religious sister. So began the journey of the Josephite order, still very much a part of the Australian educational landscape.  We could do well to similarly place our faith and trust in God so that like Mary, “whatever troubles may be before you, accept them bravely, remembering Whom you are trying to follow. Do not be afraid. Love one another, bear with one another, and let charity guide you all your life. God will reward you as only He can.”

Mercy Day Friday 16 September

Mercy Day is our Term 3 fundraising focus. The funds raised on Mercy Day go directly to support Mercy Works, a non-profit organisation working with challenged communities here in Australia as well as communities in Timor Leste, Philippines and Papua New Guinea. The term ‘Mercy Works’ can be understood as both the scope of the organisation’s programs, and that indeed, mercy does work! Jesus announced that ‘blessed are the merciful’ (Matthew 5:7) and taught us to ‘be merciful, just as our Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). More than ever, mercy is needed in our world, and schools like ours are impelled to show mercy to everyone because this is what Jesus has asked of us. Pope Francis reminds us that our mercy must extend to the ‘care for creation’. We have seen increasingly worrying signs of a warming planet and its devastation on some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. Let our works of mercy continue to be a part of every day and in particular on Mercy Day as we support Mercy Works.

What does Mercy Works do? 

From providing education support to refugee and Indigenous students in Australia, to providing agricultural training in remote communities in Papua New Guinea, to reducing the rates of malnutrition in Timor-Leste, to walking with young women and girls who have experienced human trafficking in the Philippines, we depend on the kind support of volunteers, donors and organisations to help improve the lives of vulnerable people. (mercyworks.org.au)

Catherine McAuley College has a proud history of fundraising for Mercy Works and we hope to exceed our previous fundraising efforts on Mercy Day. 

Mercy Day will be a fantastic way to bring Term 3 to a close. It is our aim to bring the entire College community together on this day to share in a Liturgy and an assembly that will acknowledge our Spirit of Catherine Award recipients from Term 1 and Term 2 and announce the recipients for Term 3. The staff Spirit of Catherine Award will also be presented. The Liturgy will be followed by a host of great activities to raise funds and awareness of Mercy Works as well as a variety of food options. The Canteen will not be open on the day. Click below for the Mercy Day poster, with full details of planned activities and events. 

Altar Servers Ministry – Sacred Heart Cathedral, St Monica’s Kangaroo Flat, St Joseph’s Quarry Hill

Our Cluster Parishes are looking for new altar servers. Recruitment is open for those who have received their Confirmation and First Eucharist and are willing to serve in the Church. Expressions of interest are most welcome. Please contact Fr DJ via email (dj.suguitan@sandhurst.catholic.org.au) or phone the Parish Office on 5443 4400.

Mr Michael Goss, Director of Faith and Mission