Dear Parents and Carers of Good Samaritan,

This week we celebrate the Feast of St John Vianney, the patron saint of the co-cathedral. St John Vianney lived during the time of the French Revolution and was actually drafted into Napoleon Bonaparte’s army. 

Following the revolution, Vianney came to recognise that many people were indifferent or ignorant to religion which made him work tirelessly to gain pilgrims who would follow him to come to a better understanding of God through prayer. St. John Vianney would often say: "Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there: If you set it on fire, it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that."

Next Monday we celebrate the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop - Australia’s first saint. Mary MacKillop was a trail-blazer in her lifetime, leaving a culture of exemplary living for her followers to emulate. Mary paved the way for education of poor children and a variety of ministries which addressed the needs of 19th century Australia.

Her legacy continues today in countless ways. Education in its many facets is still a strong ministry for the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

Mary’s work continues today with a myriad of ways of bringing healing and hope through spirituality, counselling, supervision and mentoring.

Mary MacKillop’s legacy encourages us to be people of justice and ecumenism. 

Mary inspires us to be courageous and hopeful and to have a deep faith in our God who provides.

Mary MacKillop has shown us how to forgive and how to be compassionate; she teaches us about spirituality and is a saint for all of us today.

The lives of St John Vianney and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop demonstrate the deep commitment that was shown to their faith and the Church. They both stood for others believing that their work was for the good of others; that those around them would live lives that were fulfilled and filled with prayer and the Holy Spirit. Mary is remembered by many quotes, and I leave this one with you this week to reflect upon as we journey through the week.

“If disappointed, don’t say hard things. Only think a little, pray a little, and try to remember that God will bring about what is best in God’s own time.”

Mary MacKillop, 2 September 1873

Enjoy the week, together, with Jesus,

Toni Sillis

Principal