Issue 13, 9 August 2024

On Monday and Tuesday Mrs Christine Kemp accompanied a number of students to participate in the UniSA STEM Girls Academy in Whyalla. This program encourages girls in Years 9-12 to continue the study of Science and Mathematics throughout their schooling and into university. Our school has engaged in this opportunity for a number of years and continues to support students to develop their knowledge and skills in this space to enable them to explore future pathways in STEM.   

Each year our College offers a number of scholarships to students to affirm our commitment to Mary MacKillop’s legacy of ensuring that a Catholic education is accessible to all children and young people in our community. 

The program includes the following scholarships:  

• Mary MacKillop Scholarship (Middle School) 
• Mary MacKillop Scholarship (Senior School) 
• VET & Industry Pathway Scholarship (Senior School) 
• Indigenous Scholarship (Middle School) 
• Indigenous Scholarship (Senior School) 

Two scholarships will be awarded in each category (one to a current student and one to a new student). Scholarships will be awarded to young people who show a commitment to the values and ethos of our school community, along with academic achievement and leadership. For each scholarship, a panel will award an applicant on the basis of a range of criteria and consideration given to the need of eligible students. 

Through our Scholarship Program, we are pleased to offer these opportunities to current and new families who are committed to our College’s values. The program is currently open for applications until 20th September 2024. Please visit our College’s website here to access information regarding the program, or, contact the school if you have any questions.  

Today our staff utilised the student free day to engage in professional learning onsite. Our commitment to ongoing learning continues to support staff to develop and refine best practice. It is important that teachers and ESOs have dedicated time to enhance their knowledge and skills, and collaborate with each another. This uninterrupted time allows them time to focus on improving their teaching strategies and integrating new methodologies into their practice. By investing in their professional development, we are ensuring high-quality teaching practices at Caritas College that continue to support improved educational outcomes. 

What a wonderful celebration of our school foundress, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, with our whole school liturgy. There is truly something special about knowing and understanding that she started the Caritas College community 153 years ago on the wharf with Sisters Angelica Greene and Angela Crugen. We are proud to tell this story of the early years of Catholic education here in Port Augusta and continue to stand on the shoulders of the Sisters of St Joseph in all the different ways that we act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8).

St Mary of the Cross was a strong and courageous woman, moving to Penola to be a governess to her cousin’s children on a property just outside of Penola called Greenrise. It was in this time that she met Fr Julian Tenison Woods and from there, the story begins. Along with her sister Lexie, Mary also opened a school in Mount Gambier before heading to Adelaide to teach in St Francis Xavier’s Hall. A woman of strong faith and goodness, Mary did not hesitate to take up this position in Adelaide to continue educating children in the ordinary circumstances of their lives.

Throughout her life, Mary faced many challenges – her father’s financial failures, a stroke which left her paralysed on her right side in her final years, and hostility from many Church authorities who didn’t understand the mission of the Sisters of St Joseph. Mary’s biggest challenge came on 22 September 1871, months after our College story began, when she was excommunicated by Bishop Sheil. Fr Joseph Tappeiner and other Jesuit priests in Sevenhill, ensured that Mary and the Sisters were supported as they navigated this time. On 21 February, 1872, Bishop Sheil removed the excommunication nine days before he passed away. Throughout this challenging time, Mary showed great courage, continued hope, forgiveness, and a deep love of God to guide her. There is something we can all learn here from Mary and her story continues to teach us many things today.

Our 2024 theme of Let Your Light Shine was evident in this liturgy as we shined a light on the values and characteristics that make Mary a wonderful example of what it means to be salt of the earth and light for the world. Our Year 3 and 4 students beautifully illustrated a timeline of Mary’s life, with artworks depicting different moments of her life and how she showed love for others and God to reflect our school motto, In All Things Love. Our Year 1 students have created portraits of Mary MacKillop which were used to create a banner with one of Mary’s quotes, resonating with our College Entrance Statement. 

For the past 153 years, we have proudly held our story, one that has allowed us to continue the Josephite tradition through both the hope filled and challenging times. As a community, we are proud to be part of this story which continues to transform our lives today. 

This week is National Vocations Awareness Week, a chance to celebrate our Christian vocation to follow Christ in loving God and others. Pope Francis invites us daily to pray for all vocations – single or married life, religious life or lay ministry in the Church, the diaconate or priests. We express our deep gratitude to Fr Jim Monaghan for his continued presence and ministry within our school community, as he continues to be a wonderful presence to families, students and staff. 

11 young people from our College and parish community will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation next Sunday, 18 August at 10:30am. Bishop Karol Kulczycki will celebrate mass and anoint and confirm our young people with the Oil of Chrism, which was blessed at the Chrism Mass during Holy Week in Term 1. The group gathered together earlier this week to prepare for their Confirmation by exploring the gifts of the Holy Spirit and selecting their Confirmation saint. We keep these young people and their families in our prayers over the coming week as they continue their final preparations that will see them as fully initiated members of the Catholic Church.

On August 15, the Church celebrates the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast commemorates Mary’s entrance, body and soul, into heaven.