Being a Christian means going out on mission to transform the world, leaving our comfort zone to enter our workplaces and places of recreation to proclaim good news, returning to the comfort of our communion to strengthen and to be strengthened, and then going out again in an unceasing rhythm that deepens the communion and strengthens the mission of Christ’s body. (Archbishop John Bathersby, Address to Synod Preparation, 22 March, 2003)
Student and parental Spiritual and Faith Formation At St Mary MacKillop we work closely with our Parish to support the faith development of staff, parents and students. This is achieved in a variety of ways.
Whole School:. .
Mother's Day
Father's Day
Grandparent's Day
Remembrance Day
ANZAC day
St Mary MacKillop Feast Day
Feast of the Assumption
Ash Wednesday and Holy Week
Opening and Closing Masses for the school year
Year 6 end of year Thanksgiving.
Within these whole school celebrations we have begun altar serving opportunities for our students. We also draw on our student choir, and student reflections to actively involve students within these events.
Class Level
Each class celebrates Friday Mass of the day with the members of the Parish and parents each semester.
Fr Frank (PP) is involved within the school through his presence in classroom Religious Education lessons, His celebration of mass and liturgy.
Year Level Retreats - Years 5 & 6
School & Parish Partnership
The Sacramental Program - The APRE and teaching staff work alongside parishioners to lead the Sacramental Program within the Parish
School led Sunday Parish Mass for Cluster groupings (3 times per year)
Staff Spiritual and Faith Formation at St Mary MacKillop
Catching Fire St Mary MacKillop teaching staff participate in the staff spiritual formation program Catching Fire. It is a whole community approach to spirituality. Many of our staff participate in the four year cycle of personal growth, reflection and faith journey.
Staff Prayer Staff prayer occurs each Tuesday (Terms 1 & 3) and Thursday (Terms 2 & 4) from 8am. Prayer is led by individual staff members each week allowing for the opportunity for all staff to share their experience of God in the everyday.
Parent Prayer Each Friday at 8:30am we hold parent prayer in the Early Years classrooms. All parents of Early Years classrooms are welcome to attend
Staff Spirituality Mini - Retreats In Term Three of each year staff are offered the opportunity to attend an optional mini retreat. This is usually held at Santa Theresa Ormiston for 2.5 hours after school. This is an opportunity for staff to take time for themselves and to rekindle their relationship with God.
End of Term Prayer Reflection At the conclusion of each term staff gather in prayer and reflect on the Term that was. This is an opportunity for us to give thanks to God for all that we have achieved and endured. It is also a time where we are able to reconnect with our Value for the year and identify where and how we have lived that in the daily experience.
Staff Spirituality Day In October each year all school staff gather to take time to develop a deeper relationship with themselves, each other and with God. The content of this day usually works around our core value for the year and also aims to meet the needs of the staff which are identified during their goal setting earlier in the year.