Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross - 8 August

This week we recognised the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross.  As Australia's first and only saint and as Patron of MacKillop House, we remembered St Mary as a woman of great faith, strength and love for her sisters and those she served. This week during staff prayer, the staff meditated on the wisdom Mary shared in the letters she wrote to the sisters in her order, The Sisters of St Joseph. We also reflected on the person of St Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus and husband to Mary. St Joseph’s love, dedication and care for Jesus and Mary were without limit. It is his life of service that inspired Mary MacKillop to follow his example. 

I would like to share a beautiful prayer with you from the Sisters of St Joseph. The prayer is written “in the spirit of Mary MacKillop”.  I think this prayer also reveals the life and actions of St Joseph who, despite great danger to himself and Mary, had the courage to stand up against fear and prejudice because he trusted in God’s plan.

God of all blessings, you revealed in Mary MacKillop a sensitivity to the rights and dignity of every person, regardless of race or creed. May we learn from her to overcome the obstacles of prejudice and fear. Help us to value the goodness of each person and all the blessings of unity in diversity.

We ask this through the depth and unity of you, our bountiful God, who hold all things in being. Amen

At Carroll College, we work to honour St Mary’s mission to uphold the dignity of every child and value the goodness of everyone in our community. 

Feast of the Assumption - 15 August 

Next week the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption. The Catholic Weekly explains the Feast of the Assumption as a feast that celebrates when, according to our faith, the Holy Mother, “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”.

Although defined as an article of faith by Pope Pius XII just over half a century ago, the Assumption of Our Lady into heaven has been accepted from back to the earliest of Christian times.

The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus. While the bodies of both Jesus and Mary are now in heaven, there is a difference between the Assumption and the Resurrection and Ascension. Whereas Jesus arose from the tomb and ascended into heaven by his own power, Mary’s body was taken up to heaven by the power of her Son.

On this day we honour Mary and give thanks for her role in Jesus’ life. We honour her as Mother to us all and ask her to be part of our lives as a guide and a role model, as she was for Jesus.

This year we will stop in prayer on the morning of the Feast and read a little about its history. We will then pause to pray the Hail Mary together.

As the Feast of the Assumption is a Holy Day of Obligation (meaning Catholics are required to attend Mass) Mass will be offered before school by Fr Loi of St Bernard’s Parish. I thank Fr Loi for celebrating Mass for us on this special day. 

Parish Feast Day Celebration 

On Sunday 20 August, St Bernard’s Parish Batehaven is celebrating St Bernard’s Feast Day.

• WHERE: St Bernard’s Church 
• WHEN : Sunday 20 August 
• TIME : 11.30 am 

An Aussie BBQ and Philippino lunch will be provided, preceded by morning tea and coffee.

All parishioners, families and friends are welcome to attend.

A Gold Coin Donation would be appreciated.

Please note: Mass on that Sunday will commence at 10:00 am instead of the usual 9:00 am.

Erica Drewsen

RE Coordinator