Our St. Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal  

Our OLSH St. Vincent De Paul Winter Appeal supports the vital work of St. Vincent De Paul as they work to assist people in need in our local area during the winter months.

The Winter Appeal runs for 2 weeks leading up to Sacred Heart Day. The OLSH College Bentleigh school community is invited to donate:

• pre-loved and washed blankets
• pre-loved and washed gloves, socks and beanies

Donations from the wider community can be made at the College front office.  All goods will be collected by our local St. Vincent De Paul representatives who will join us for mass on Sacred Heart Day.

Celebrating our generations

During our Generations Awards Assembly this week, we were delighted to welcome back a number of alumnae who have daughters and granddaughters at OLSH College. Each were presented with a candle and certificate from our Principal, Anne O’Loughlin and College Chaplain, Sr. Elizabeth Taylor. We welcomed back:

• Christine Georgas (Class of 1997)
• Kate Gothard (Class of 1994)
• Sophia Katsis (Class of 1997)
• Jacqueline Nandan (Class of 1984)
• Cheryl Howse (Class of 1973)
• Lisa Splawa-Neyman (Class of 1991)
• Amanda Waters (Class of 1998)
• Elisa Williams (Class of 1990)

We prayed together:

Loving God,

We give you thanks and praise for all mothers young and old, of every race and nation. We give you thanks and praise for all the women who helped shaped OLSH to be the place that it is today. We pray for our own mothers and significant women in our lives who nurture, love and care for us unselfishly, and for everything they do for us, for the endless love and support. We are endlessly grateful.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Pray for us.

Australian Catholics magazine

Australian Catholics is Australia’s only national print magazine for Catholics of all ages and all walks of life and is distributed throughout Australia to Catholic parishes and schools. Australia Catholics is a Jesuit publication, published four times a year - Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer - and articles cover the history and tradition of the Church, tackling preconceptions and providing nourishment for daily life.

We have taken out a school subscription from now until the end of 2023. I am hoping that by sharing this subscription with our wider school community that our OLSH families, students and staff will have a sense that we not only belong to a school and parish community, but to a community that extends across the globe and through the centuries.

Use this link to read the Australian Catholic Magazine. You will need to log in with the email address parents@olsh.vic.edu.au and password acparents. Explore the Education Hub and have a look at these articles you and your daughters may be interested in these articles from the Autumn edition:

Moments of grace by Dr Angela McCarthy

What the Church owes women Margaret-Mary Flynn

Something to live for – Hard quiz by Michael McGirr

The World of Jesus by Fr. Andy Hamilton sj

Sophie's off to World Youth Day 

Later this year, Year 12 OLSH College student Sophie Rochford will be attending World Youth Day (WYD) in Portugal. Sophie told us more about what WYD is and how she's preparing for this special opportunity. 

What is World Youth Day (WYD)?

WYD is a gathering of young Catholics from all over the world. This event provides the opportunity for young people to gather with the Pope to celebrate and enrich their faith and to learn about the message of Jesus and to grow in his love. WYD was founded in 1985, by Saint John Paul 2^nd, when he first invited young people to gather together in Rome and since then has been held every two to three years in a wide range of different countries and this year it is in Portugal in August.

What activities are included in the program?

The actual World Youth Day event goes for a week and involves events such as: an opening mass, youth festivals including music and dance performances, Catechesis, Stations of the Cross, a pilgrimage and a sleep out and a final Mass led by the Pope.

How many people are attending? 

I am going as part of the Archdiocese of Melbourne along with 585 other young people and up to 3 million people may attend from across the world.

What are you most looking forward to while you’re at WYD?

I am most looking forward to meeting other young Catholics from all over the world and deepening my faith.

What are you doing to prepare for WYD? 

In preparation for WYD I have been doing fundraising along with others in my parish including doing Bunnings sausage sizzles and craft stalls.

Thank you from Mapuordit South Sudan

We received a letter from Sr Rita who is one of the OLSH Sisters in Mapuordit in South Sudan, thanking us for the funds we sent to them from our Lenten appeal. Sr Rita wrote:

I send this letter with deep appreciation for your goodness and generosity in support of our works in South Sudan. As we go about our work there, we are very mindful of all who make our outreach possible. 

Our Lenten appeal funds were used to purchase footwear for the Mapuordit community. Read more in the full letter from Sr Rita.