Dear Families,

Welcome back to a new term at Our Lady Help of Christians! We hope all our students and families enjoyed a restful break and are ready for the exciting learning and opportunities that lie ahead. We look forward to a term filled with growth, connection, and shared success.

Catholic Education Week

Catholic Education Week is celebrated each year in Week 3 of Term 3.  The theme‘Communities of Faith, Hope and Love’ captures the essence of what it means to be part of a Catholic school community.

Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society. 

This year the Northern Deanery Mass for Catholic Education week will be held at St Monica’s Cathedral on Thursday 31st July.  We will have 8 of our Year 6 leaders attend this important event.  We will also have a whole school liturgy on Wednesday 30th July which will incorporate a celebration of Grandparents Day.  After the liturgy, Grandparents will be invited to visit the classrooms, and this will be followed by a bring-your-own morning tea for families to enjoy in the grounds.  We look forward to sharing this wonderful celebration with our students, families, and staff.

Catherine McAuley – Living the legacy of Mercy

Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, dedicated her life to serving the poor, sick, and uneducated, particularly women and children. Guided by deep compassion and faith, she established the first House of Mercy in Dublin in 1827, providing shelter, education, and care to those in need. Her legacy lives on in Mercy schools around the world, including Our Lady Help of Christians and many in the Cairns Diocese, which proudly continues her mission of compassion, service, and justice. As a school founded on the Mercy tradition, we strive to follow her example by nurturing faith, promoting dignity, and acting with courage and kindness in our daily lives.

One of Catherine McAuley’s most well-known and beloved quotes is:

“Be sure you have a comfortable cup of tea for them when I am gone."

This sentiment reflects Catherine’s deep belief in hospitality, kindness, and the importance of small acts of care. She often encouraged the Sisters to offer tea as a gesture of warmth and welcome, especially during times of difficulty or transition. The "cup of tea" has since become a cherished symbol of Mercy hospitality.

Mercy Works Fundraiser

On the last day of term 2, our Year 6 students led a wonderful Mercy Works Fundraiser, raising an impressive $1237.50. The event featured a range of fun activities enjoyed by younger students in exchange for a silver or gold coin donation. This initiative was a meaningful expression of our commitment to social justice and solidarity with the poor and marginalised. Mercy Works, the development arm of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia and Papua New Guinea, supports vital projects including education, agricultural training, nutrition programs, and assistance for women affected by human trafficking in Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Timor-Leste. Thank you to everyone who supported this important cause so generously.

Wishing you God’s blessing on the coming fortnight.

Best wishes,