News

Praise & Worship Celebration On Thursday, 22 July, Our College Ministry Leaders, Cristal (Year 9 ) and Leane (Year 6), attended the opening celebration for the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. The celebration, held at St Mary’s Cathedral, was led by the Very Rev Father Vincent Glynn – Episcopal Vicar for Education and Faith Formation. We prayed for all our students involved in the Catholic Performing Arts Festival this term – may they enjoy sharing their God given gifts and talents with each other. Sacrament of Reconciliation Our Year 3 students are currently preparing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time during this term. Parents and students have had the opportunity to attend workshops run by 24/7 Youth Ministry. World Day Against Trafficking in Persons Friday, July 30th is the international World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. See website for further information: https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-human-trafficking-day Did you know? • In 2018 about 50,000 human trafficking victims were detected and reported by 148 countries. • 50 per cent of detected victims were trafficked for sexual exploitation, 38 per cent were exploited for forced labour. • Female victims continue to be the primary targets. Women make up 46% and girls 19% of all victims of trafficking. • Globally, one in every three victims detected is a child. • The share of children among detected trafficking victims has tripled, while the share of boys has increased five times over the past 15 years. Source: UNODC Human Trafficking FAQs Focus for Fundraising – Term 3 Our fundraising for Term 3 will support the work of Mercy Works. Mercy Works is the development arm of the Australian and Papua New Guinean Sisters of Mercy. Their mission is inspired by Catherine McAuley’s vision of change for the poor and disadvantaged. Mercy Works are financed by donations from the four Australian congregations of the Sisters of Mercy, charitable trusts & foundations, various organisations & groups and individuals.   Adrian Martino Head of Faith and Mission

LifeLink Day A big thank you to all our families who donated to the Gold Coin Challenge on Thursday, 24th June – we raised $815.00. Each House made a money chain in an allocated area of the Wandju Room – congratulations to Watson House who had the longest chain. Your generosity in supporting this event will ensure that the wonderful work carried out by LifeLink Agencies continues in our local community. Confirmation Congratulations to our Year 6 students who celebrated the rite of Confirmation at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish last weekend; led by Fr Michael Separovich, Parish Priest, as the principal celebrant for the two services. Thank you to the Parish Catechist, Year 6 teachers and Barbara Bolding (Sacramental Program Coordinator) for their preparation of the students and coordination of the events leading up to the celebration. Term 3 Events Keep an eye out for information regarding our major events for next term: 1. Young Mercies for Vinnies Sleepout for Mercy Works – Thursday, 5 August 2. Mercy Day – Thursday, 23 September. Adrian Martino Head of Faith and Mission

Mother’s Day Mass It was wonderful to have the opportunity to thank God and pray for all mothers at our Mother’s Day Mass, which was celebrated in our College Chapel by Father Michael McMahon OMI on Friday, 7 May at 10.30am. LifeLink Launch College representatives from Year 7, 8 & 9 joined Ms Hepi and I for the Archbishop’s LifeLink Launch on Thursday, 20 May at Aranmore Catholic College. The LifeLink organisation was established in 1994 to provide for the ongoing financial and promotional support of agencies established or assisted by the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Perth. Further information is available on the LifeLink website: https://lifelink.com.au/ LifeLink – Winter Appeal 2021 A reminder that each family is asked to bring to school, non-perishable cans or goods that will assist ‘The Shopfront’, a LifeLink Agency supporting needy families in the Archdiocese of Perth. We will create a ‘hamper wall’ in the Wandju Room and then donate the goods to ‘The Shopfront’. LifeLink – Gold Coin Challenge On Thursday, 24th June, each student is asked to bring a gold-coin donation to contribute to a House Money Chain. Each House will have an opportunity to make a money chain in an allocated area of the Wandju Room (House points to be awarded for the longest chain). Young Mercies for Vinnies This group held their first ‘combined’ meeting with the Young Vinnies from Mazenod College to discuss what events they are currently involved with and begin planning for the Young Mercies for Vinnies/Young Vinnies sleep-out next term. All students with a passion for social justice are invited to join this group – please see Notices in SEQTA Learn for further information. Seeds of Justice “Seeds of Justice” is a Mercy Education Limited initiative to raise awareness of social justice issues and campaign for the rights of the marginalised, poor and vulnerable in society. Student conferences are held annually in Victoria and Western Australia for students attending Mercy Colleges. Our first national gathering was held via Google Meet here at the College and attended by students in Year 10 & Year 11 on Friday, 21 May 2021. The theme was: To be as shining lamps – Mercy empowering women.   MIA MAD 2021 All Senior School students have started their MIA MAD program for 2021. Students are reminded that all information regarding the program can be found on SEQTA Learn in the course: 2021 Year <Level> Mercy In Action – Making A Difference. A number of MIA MAD opportunities have begun at the College, including our involvement with the Red Cross Soup Patrol. Mr Adrian Martino Head of Faith & Mission

Ministry News Project Compassion $1957.00 was the final total raised for Project Compassion in Term 1. This will enable Caritas Australia to support programs that help the poor in Australia and the Oceania region. Funds were collected from the Project Compassion Boxes, Sausage Sizzle and Easter Raffle – well done and thank you to those who supported these events last term. This term our fundraising efforts will support LifeLink agencies. The LifeLink organisation was established in 1994 to provide for the ongoing financial and promotional support of agencies established or assisted by the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Perth. A number of College representatives will be attending the launch of LifeLink Day 2021 for primary and secondary Catholic schools in Perth later this term. Please keep an eye out for events that will occur this term to raise funds for this worthy cause. Young Mercies for Vinnies This group will continue to meet this term with the focus of planning a ‘Sleepout for Mercy Works’ next term. All students with a passion for social justice are invited to join this group – please see Notices in SEQTA Learn for further information. MIA MAD 2021 All Senior School students have started their MIA MAD program for 2021. Students are reminded that all information regarding the program can be found on SEQTA Learn in the course: 2021 Year <Level> Mercy In Action – Making A Difference. Mother’s Day Mass We will have the opportunity to thank God and pray for all mothers at our Mother’s Day Mass, which will be celebrated in our College Chapel by Father Michael McMahon OMI on Friday, 7 May at 10.30am – please register if you wish to attend (an invitation was sent to all College families). Mr Adrian Martino Head of Faith & Mission

Lent A majority of this term has been spent in the Church Season of Lent. The forty-day Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Thursday evening with the Celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. It is a time for Christians to commit to strengthening their faith through the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We are most grateful for the generosity of our College families who supported and donated items for our Easter Raffle – we were able to put together nearly 70 gift packs for prizes. All money raised from our Sausage Sizzle, Easter Raffle and Project Compassion Boxes will support projects coordinated by Caritas in Australia and neighbouring countries. Thank you for your support! Stations of the Cross We concluded the term with a whole school assembly: a prayerful reflection on the Stations of the Cross led by our Year 5 students. We remembered the path Jesus took on Good Friday. On the way to His death, Jesus showed us how to live and how to die. We cannot rise with Christ unless we walk the path with Him. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” [Luke 24:5] Happy Easter to all SBC families! Mr Adrian Martino Head of Faith & Mission

Ministry News School Opening Mass 2021 At the start of each school year we gather to celebrate our Opening Mass in our outdoor Cathedral, under the old oak trees outside Lesmurdie Cottage. The beautiful surroundings are a wonderful reminder that our God delights in the celebration of the wonderful gifts we have to offer our school community at the start of a new year. Our theme focused on the Mercy Values of compassion and hospitality, highlighted in the Gospel story of The Good Samaritan [Luke 10:25-37]. Father Michael McMahon OSM was our celebrant and we also welcomed a number of the Sisters of Mercy, Ms Mary Retel (Mercy Education Limited Board Director) and College Advisory Council Members. Ash Wednesday Liturgy We gathered as a College in our gym to celebrate Ash Wednesday, which begins our forty-day season of Lent that leads to Easter. On Ash Wednesday, we come together like the people of the Old Testament to remind ourselves that we do not always follow God’s ways and that we need to ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness. Like God’s people in the time of the prophets, we wear ashes to show that we want to turn away from whatever keeps us from God, and to have a change of heart, so that we can live in peace and in joy with God and with each other. Sacramental Programme Parents in Years 3, 4 and 6 are reminded to carefully read the information provided at the parent information evenings if you would like your child to receive the Sacraments at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me on 9290 4271 or martino.adrian@stbrigids.wa.edu.au Project Compassion Launch 2021 A number of our school leaders represented our College at the annual launch of Project Compassion 2021 held at Corpus Christi College. The theme for this year is based on St Oscar Romero’s words: “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” Saint Oscar Romero was a voice of justice for the Catholic Church in El Salvador. He served as the fourth Archbishop of San Salvador. He spoke out against poverty, social injustice, assassinations, and torture. In 1980, Romero was assassinated while offering Mass in the chapel of the Hospital of Divine Providence. Our major fund-raising focus for Term 1 is Project Compassion and we ask our students to be generous and donate their ‘spare change’ during this time. Project Compassion boxes have been distributed to all classes within the College. Mr Adrian Martino Head of Faith & Mission