Thursday the 21st of May is out Hennessy Feast Day as it makes the date when St Mary Secondary School became Hennessy Catholic College and welcomed senior students from across the region in 2000. 

Until Monday the 25th of May you can find on Compass a link to the Hennessy Day reflection that the Students participated in here at school during PC on the 21st.

In Church News on the 15th May Father Anthony Percy, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese released an update on the COVID-19 Restrictions as they apply to Churches in both the ACT and NSW. Please find use the link to see the new measure for attending Mass and the sacraments. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eBGjeirTkpnsgmEr3wpjCRS738E4iCAR/view?usp=sharing

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect Australians’ lives, including their worship, the Catholic bishops of Australian will entrust the country to the care of Mary Help of Christians on her feast day this week.

In a message issued by the bishops conference as “A word of encouragement to the Catholic people of Australia”, the bishops noted that the country “has certainly suffered because of the pandemic, but not as grievously as some other countries”.

“For that we thank God and we congratulate public health authorities and governments on their prompt and prudent responses,” the bishops wrote.

The bishops approved the entrustment of the country to Mary Help of Christians during last week’s plenary meeting, conducted using videoconference technology.

The motion read: “That the Australian Bishops entrust Australia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary under the title Our Lady Help of Christians, seeking her intercession for the safety of all our people especially in this time of COVID-19 pandemic.”

Mary Help of Christians has been the official patroness of Australia since 1844. Her feast day is celebrated on May 24, which this year coincides with the Feast of the Ascension. The entrustment of Australia to Mary Help of Christians can therefore take place on the 24th or the 25th, the bishops agreed.

Archbishop Christoper Prowse has asked for all the faithful to pray the entrustment prayer on both Sunday the 24th and Monday the 25th of May. The Prayer is included for you here:

O Immaculate Mary, Help of Christians, Queen of heaven and earth,

and tender Mother of humanity,

at this time when a pandemic threatens all your children,

we entrust to you our nation, Australia, and all who live in this country.

We commit to your intercession all the members of our community,

beginning with the weakest ones, from the unborn

to the sick, the disabled and the elderly.

We commit to you our families, our young and old, and all who

are vulnerable, those who are quarantined or anxious.

We entrust to your Immaculate Heart those who have lost their

livelihood or employment, our pastors and other essential

service workers, and our leaders at this time.

We implore your intercession especially for the protection of

doctors and nurses and those who minister to the contagious

sick in this crisis.

Reign over us, Mother of God, and teach us how to make the

Heart of Jesus reign and triumph in us and around us, as it has

reigned and triumphed in you!

Amen