Earlier in August was the feast day of St Mary MacKillop, co-founder of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. St Mary MacKillop dedicated herself to bringing education and hope to those most in need, often in the most challenging and remote parts of Australia.

Mary’s life was marked by virtues that continue to inspire our Catholic school communities today:

• Faith – Mary trusted in God’s providence through trials, setbacks, and misunderstandings, remaining steadfast in her mission.
• Perseverance – Despite facing criticism, financial hardship, and personal sacrifice, she never wavered in her commitment to serving the poor.
• Compassion – Mary’s heart was always turned toward those on the margins, seeing Christ in every person she encountered.
• Humility – She worked quietly and without self-promotion, giving glory to God rather than seeking recognition for herself.
• Forgiveness – Even when wronged, Mary responded with grace, offering mercy as she had received it from God.

Quite aptly, St Mary MacKillop’s feast day occurs during Catholic Education Week. Mary and the order that she founded has much in common with many orders of Catholic fathers, brothers and sisters. They set a blueprint for us to follow. These orders such as our own Sisters of Charity remind us that holiness is in the ordinary. They sought to be out with people, often the poor and disadvantaged, seeking to bring people to faith in Jesus and to educate people allowing them to improve the quality of their lives, spiritually and in their standard of living. Contrary to the push of our society, their example, following the gospel, asks us to choose kindness over convenience, service over self-interest, and hope over despair.

At our Junior Campus Mass, Father Mike reminded us of the virtues of St Mary MacKillop’s life and urged us to follow her instruction and to, "never see a need without doing something about it."

I hope these are the values you are seeking when choosing St Aloysius Catholic College for your children’s education.