Kindergarten students at Our Lady of the Rosary Primary performed the gathering song, A Cross of Stars
Events were held across the diocese of Parramatta on Friday 8 August in honour of the Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
Canonised by Pope Benedict XVI on 17 October 2010, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop’s Feast Day was marked with liturgies, family events and social justice fundraisers at a number of schools and the Catholic Education office.
Students, staff and families from St Mary MacKillop Primary School in South Penrith celebrated mass at St Nicholas of Myra to remember and acknowledge St Mary MacKillop’s important work.
Students travelled to St Nicholas of Myra Church to join the Feast Day Mass and were treated to hundreds of green and yellow helium balloons decorating their classrooms on their return. In the afternoon, students came together to make a coin trail with donations going to the St Mary MacKillop Institute in East Timor.
Our Lady of the Rosary Primary, St Marys was founded by Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1880. Students celebrated a moving liturgy to celebrate the inspirational life of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. By bringing the letters written by Mary MacKillop to life, students were encouraged to learn from her example by working, learning together and caring for others particularly those in need.
Staff at the Catholic Education office, Parramatta gathered for a liturgy with Sr Rosie Drum MGL reading the letters of Mary MacKillop and leading a prayer asking for guidance and care for students, staff and school communities.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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28 Jul 2026
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Year 4 had a fantastic day exploring The Rocks as part of our History learning! ποΈ Students stepped back in time as they discovered the story of Australia's early settlement, learnt about the arrival of the First Fleet, and explored some of Sydney's oldest surviving buildings. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring our classroom learning to life through hands-on experiences and historical discovery. Our students represented our school with enthusiasm, curiosity and excellent behaviour throughout the day. We are so proud of the way they embraced every learning opportunity!
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Year 4 had a fantastic day exploring The Rocks as part of our History learning! ποΈ Students stepped back in time as they discovered the story of Australia's early settlement, learnt about the arrival of the First Fleet, and explored some of Sydney's oldest surviving buildings. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring our classroom learning to life through hands-on experiences and historical discovery. Our students represented our school with enthusiasm, curiosity and excellent behaviour throughout the day. We are so proud of the way they embraced every learning opportunity!
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We are incredibly proud to celebrate the amazing achievement of Elizabeth from Year 6! π Elizabeth recently competed at the National Gymnastics Championships, where she earned two silver medals in Acrobatic Gymnastics (Pre Youth Womenβs Pair), placing 2nd in Balance and 2nd Overall. Congratulations, Elizabeth, on your dedication, perseverance and outstanding success. We are so proud of you, and we canβt wait to see what you achieve next! ππ₯
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A huge congratulations to Hali, who has been selected in the MacKillop Rugby Union team after representing the Parramatta Diocese at the MacKillop Rugby Union Trials in Forbes last weekend. π This is an outstanding achievement and a testament to Hali's hard work and dedication to the sport. We wish Hali the very best of luck as he represents MacKillop at the NSWPSSA Rugby Union Championships in August. We know he will make us proud!
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Year 1 has been inspired by The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires! After reading the story, students worked in groups of 2β4 to design and build their own magnificent creations using concrete building materials. They showed fantastic teamwork and creativity as they brought their ideas to life. We are so proud of their amazing efforts!
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β½οΈ Congratulations to all four of our Stage 3 boysβ and girlsβ soccer teams on a fantastic day at the Soccer Gala Day! We saw great skill, teamwork and plenty of goals, with every team showing excellent sportsmanship and representing St Andrewβs with pride. ππ A big thank you to our teachers for their support and coaching, and to our parents for cheering on the teams throughout the day. π
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ππββοΈπββοΈ Congratulations to Amelia, William, Rhys and Violetta on proudly representing the Parramatta Diocese at the NSWCPS Cross Country Championships! ππ A special congratulations to π₯ Violetta, who finished an outstanding 8th, and π Rhys, who achieved a fantastic 18th place. Well done to all four students on this wonderful achievement. You have represented our school and the Parramatta Diocese with pride! πππ
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πOur hearts are full of gratitude! π A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful St Andrewβs community for your generous donations of pantry items for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. π₯«π§π As always, every item donated will be gratefully received and will make a real difference to those experiencing hardship in our community. β€οΈ Your kindness, compassion and willingness to support others embody the spirit of giving that makes our school community so special. π€β¨ Thank you for helping us bring warmth, hope and support to the poor and vulnerable this winter. π§£βπ We are deeply touched by your generosity. ππ