Our Lady Help of Christians
This Sunday 24 May is the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia. This Feast Day has been celebrated in Australia since 1844. The early church in Australia had a special reason for turning to Mary: it was largely through the saying of the Rosary that early Australian Catholics kept the faith alive as no priests were sent to the colony, and until 1820 Mass was not allowed, with the exception of a brief period in 1803-1804.

Under normal circumstances we would hold a Prayer Assembly to mark the Feast; instead, a simultaneous prayer will be held throughout the school on Monday morning. 

Prayer to Our Lady Help of Christians:

Almighty God, deepen in our hearts
our love of Mary Help of Christians.
Through her prayers and under her protection,
may the light of Christ shine over our land.
May Australia be granted harmony, justice and peace.
Grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens.
Bless especially the men and women
of the Australian Defence Force and their families.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.

Laudato Si Week
May 24 also marks the fifth anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, which inspired our school theme for 2020. Catholics the world over have been invited to think about and undertake a shared commitment to help build and strengthen constructive attitudes aimed at caring for Creation. The Pope’s message can be viewed here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-francis-laudato-si-week.html

Mobile Phones and Smart Watches Reminder
Many families provide a mobile telephone for their child for safety reasons, especially when travelling to and from school independently. Mobile telephones are not to be used during the school day, and we ask that students leave them for safekeeping at the school office, to be collected at 3:10pm. Developments in technology have seen a variety of phone-enabled watches now available on the market; if families choose to provide one of these for their child the same policy applies: telephones are not to be used during the school day and we ask that they be left at the office for safekeeping or set to school-mode (telephone/messages disabled) during school hours. Telephones used during school hours, including watches, will be confiscated.

May God’s peace be in your families,

Michael Green
Principal