News & Events
CCJP Seminar Uluru Statement from the Heart
This CCJP Seminar (Catholics in Coalition for Justice and Peace) was held on Sunday, 17 February 2019 at the Catherine McAuley room, Sisters of Mercy Parramatta.
We began outside at the Ground Painting, The Journey by Ngemba artist Danny Eastwood. The Uluru Statement from the Heart was read by guest speaker Wiradjuri woman Jennifer Newman, followed by an acknowledgement of the Barramattagal of the Darug nation and a commitment statement by the assembly.
The crux of Ms Newman’s talk was as follows:
"The form of constitutional amendment presently under consideration is confined to an act of recognition exercised by Australia, to which the responsive role available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is silent and passive." Through indigenist discourse analysis, with a strong narrative turn, Jennifer Newman gently (and admits herself she accompanies herself with "a lot of arm flapping") proposed an idea of engagement on the strength of reciprocal principles rather than compromising adversarial powers.
During Jennifer's warm, heartfelt and inspiring address to the CCJP seminar group on Sunday, we asked ourselves:
Was this the first time some of us felt that the concept of 'sovereignty' was not so complex?
Read: Jennifer's document for quotes that ask for changed thinking in Australia today can be found here.
Be inspired: by Judith Durham (The Seekers) singing new words for our national anthem (below)
Read the text: of Noel Pearson's Declaration for Australia, a proposed Preamble for Australia's Constitution here.
Lyrics:
Australians let us all be one, with peace and harmony.
Our precious water, soil and sun, grant life for you and me.
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts to love, respect and share,
And honouring the Dreaming, advance Australia fair.
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair. ...
Australians let us stand as one, upon this sacred land
A new day dawns, we’re moving on to trust and understand.
Combine our ancient history and cultures everywhere,
To bond together for all time, advance Australia fair.
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair. ...
Australians let us strive as one, to work with willing hands.
Our Southern Cross will guide us on, as friends with other lands.
While we embrace tomorrow’s world with courage, truth and care,
And all our actions prove the words, advance Australia fair,
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance Australia fair. ...
And when this special land of ours is in our children’s care,
From shore to shore forever more, advance Australia fair.
With joyful hearts then let us sing, advance . . Australia . . fair.
Your Invitation to the 5th Australian Catherine McAuley Symposium
The Catherine McAuley Symposium is an initiative of the office of the Vice-Postulator for the Canonisation of Catherine McAuley.
We invite you to join us to hear Sr Mary Pat Garvin RSM (Americas) present 'Catherine McAuley - Social Mystic'Date: Saturday, 9 March
Venue: Catherine McAuley Rooms, Convent of Mercy, 6 Victoria Road, Parramatta
Parking: in grounds or chuch parking opposite
Details of the venues - any of which you are welcome to attend- can be found here (PDF)
Christmas Greetings & Blessings
In the Service of the Transmission of Faith: December Prayer Intention of Pope Francis
We are all invited to join with Pope Francis and his worldwide prayer network in praying this month's intention: In the Service of the Transmission of Faith.
Let us pray that people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time.
Text of the video:
If you want to share your faith through the word, you have to listen much and carefully.
Let us imitate the style of Jesus, who adapted himself to the people He had in front of Him so as to bring God’s love to them.
Let us pray that people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time, in their dialogue with people’s hearts, and above all, by listening much.
- Pope Francis, December 2018
We invite you to post a prayer or reflection in our prayer space
OLMC Parramatta Class of 2018 Achieves HSC Excellence
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The OLMC community proudly celebrates the outstanding achievements of the Class of 2018
• 80th school in the State in the Sydney Morning Herald's Top 100 Schools List
• 8th top Catholic Independent Girls' School in the State
• 6th in State for Community and Family Studies
• 28% of cohort achieved an ATAR above 90
• 53 Distinguished Achievers
Principal Stephen Walsh said that the OLMC community is very proud that, as a non-selective school, the College ranked in the top 100 schools in the Sydney Morning Herald: “At OLMC the growth mindset is central to all learning and this is undeniably reflected in this great result. Learning at OLMC is characterised by high expectations, motivation and a growth mindset. Students embrace challenge as an opportunity to learn in a well-supported environment. The 2018 cohort's outstanding HSC results reflect the growth these young women have made over six years at OLMC.”
Cassidy Kealy-Ashby came sixth in the State in Community and Family Studies, achieved an ATAR of 99.15 and was named on the All Rounders List. Cassidy says she learned early that she needed to work very hard to achieve her goals: “I feel hard work beats talent. I handed in practice papers and essays to my teachers almost every day because seeking feedback is really important.” Cassidy plans to study a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education in order to become a high school PDHPE teacher. Her advice to Mercy Girls about to undertake the HSC is to be consistent with study and to schedule time accordingly. “The HSC is not a test of your intelligence but of your work ethic. For this reason I would advise those in the junior years to extend themselves where possible in order to really test their capability.”