Ministry and Evangelisation

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Today (Friday, 19 June) is the Feast Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord has existed for centuries, and this devotion serves as a reminder for us to seek comfort, shelter and life in the beautiful heart of our Saviour.  Saint Mary MacKillop had a special affinity to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as the order that she founded in Australia is known as The Sisters of St Joseph of the Scared Heart.

A recent addition to our College grounds that has coincided with this special feast day, as well as with National Reconciliation Week, was a mural project organised by the Student Representative Council and enthusiastically overseen by Mr Angus Crowley.  The mural combines the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Proclaim Lismore Flame, the handprints of many staff and students as well as the quote by T. Barnard, “It’s not about the colour of my skin, it’s about the spirit that burns within”.

St Paul’s Feast Day Celebrations

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In Week 10, on Monday, 29 June, we will celebrate the Feast Day of St Paul, from whom our College takes its name.  Like many things this year, our Feast Day celebrations will look a bit different from previous years.  This year we will have a ceremony celebrated in PCs in lieu of Mass.  Year 12 will be hosting a festive Marketplace at lunchtime as a way to raise funds for their graduation.  In Period 5, we will host a trivia/games competition, again in PC.  Normal classes will run for the rest of the day. We look forward to an enjoyable, albeit, more subdued Feast Day this year.

Sunday Mass Update

As restrictions begin to ease, Fr James has generously scheduled some additional weekend Masses, to enable as many people as possible to be able to attend Sunday Mass.  

Please contact the Parish Office or see the Parish Facebook page for more details about how to go about attending one of these Masses. 

For the time being, weekend Mass times will be as follows: 

  • Saturday 9.30 am – South West Rocks
  • Saturday Vigil 6 pm – Kempsey
  • Sunday 7.30 am – South West Rocks
  • Sunday 9.30 am – Kempsey
  • Sunday 11 am – Kempsey

YMO Happenings

Our Youth Ministry Officers (YMOs), Calissa and Darcy, have been doing lots of amazing things as the term continues: 

  • Our lunchtime youth group REACH continues, with a good core group coming along to explore and nourish their faith. The REACH Instagram page is still up and running – there is some great content posted there.  Follow it using reach_kmc.
  • In Week 10, a number of our Youth Ministry students will join with our YMOs to assist the Year 4 teachers in facilitating the Accendre.  We are looking forward to an enjoyable, faith-filled day.
  • They have continued to be an active presence in our Youth Ministry classes in Years 9 and 10, teaching the students about various aspects of leading retreats. We hope that in Term 4, both classes would be able to facilitate retreat days for our Catholic Primary feed schools of St Joseph’s in Kempsey and St Patrick’s in Macksville.

Vinnies Winter Appeal

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Once again this year, as a College, we will be joining with the wider St. Vincent de Paul Society to help with the annual Vinnies Winter Appeal.  Mr Edwards, along with some helpers in Year 10, has been drumming up support for this important appeal, which aims to provide some warmth and assistance to those in our community who need it. 

Families are asked to bring in any warm items of clothing (jumpers, beanies, trackies, sleeping bags, blankets, etc.).  Online monetary donations are also very much needed and appreciated! 

Please GIVE GENEROUSLY where you can, to support our brothers and sisters in need this winter.

Spiritual Resources

FEATURED RESOURCE: Wildfire – Evronia and Mariah Allan

During their time of isolation, two of our alumni performed and shared their own version of “Drawn to You”, a song by Audrey Assad and Matt Maher.  Sisters, Evronia and Mariah Allan, both served as Youth Ministry Officers here at St Paul’s (in 2017 and 2019 respectively) and were also on mission with the Catholic Ministry group, NET Ministries.

If You Do Nothing Else Today, Stop for Five Minutes and Listen to Angels Sing!

We are truly blessed to have had these young women as a part of our community, who are so excited to share their love for Jesus with the world. 

You can view this amazing, moving rendition here.

School Retreats Update

It is our intention, to hold the following Retreat and Reflection days during Semester 2.  Some have been postponed/changed due to the coronavirus pandemic, however as a Catholic school, the spiritual formation of our young people remains of utmost importance.  More details will be forthcoming as we get a better idea of the ‘lie of the land’.  Here is a tentative list of what we hope to hold in Semester 2: 

  • Vinnies Sleepout/Street Retreat
  • Year 8 ‘Catch the Wave” Retreat (Week 6, Term 3)
  • Year 12 Reflection Day (Week 7, Term 3)
  • Year 9 Retreat Day (Week 3, Term 4)
  • Year 10 Retreat (Week 3, Term 4)
  • Senior Retreat (Week 4, Term 4)
  • Year 7 Reflection Day (Week 8, Term 4) 

Over the next two weeks, I will be taking paternity leave as my family welcomes our second child into the world!  During this time, Miss Megan Henry will be filling in as Acting Leader of School Evangelisation.  I am sure she will do a fantastic job in continuing to nurture our College community’s relationship with Jesus.  Congratulations Meg.

Please contact me if you have any questions about, or ideas for, ministry and evangelisation at the College.

God Bless!

Mr Dominic MacAndrews - Leader of School Evangelisation

dominic.macandrews@lism.catholic.edu.au