We celebrated a beautiful Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mass, led by Father Peter, last Friday. Our choir and band accompanied joyful, energetic singing and we were inspired by reflections on how the love of the Heart of Jesus continues to be present in our lives. Our College Captain, Keiva, encouraged us all to walk with love in our hearts and to share that kindness with those around us.

Father Peter's homily about the deep love of the Heart of Jesus are shared below 

Have you ever noticed how many songs are about love?

Since the 1960s, more than two-thirds of popular music has revolved around romantic relationships. One study even found that 92% of the most popular songs include some reference to love.

This isn’t just the entertainment industry pushing an agenda – it’s a mirror reflecting our deepest longings. We’re drawn to these love stories because, deep down, we want to live one ourselves.

We crave fairy tales because they hint at something we were made for. Something more.

But fairy tales rarely touch the struggles that come with love and longing:

• The pressure to be in a relationship
• Feeling like you’re not good enough
• Wondering why everyone else seems to be in love – except you
• The highs of crushes and the lows of heartbreak
• Waiting for a text that never comes
• The sting when someone stops talking to you
• The fear of being alone
• The aching question: Will I ever find someone who truly loves me?

That’s where the Feast of the Sacred Heart comes in. It isn’t a fantasy, and it isn’t just a religious tradition. It’s a love story – God’s love story for the world. And you are part of it.

There is no heart more in tune with yours than the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He knows what it feels like to be misunderstood, to be abandoned, to long for love that isn’t returned. He knows every ache and every silent question in your heart. Not from a distance – but from experience. This isn’t a fairy tale.

No human being can fully satisfy the deep desires of your heart. And you cannot fully carry someone else’s. We weren’t made to be each other’s saviours. Only the Sacred Heart can carry that weight – and does so with tenderness, wisdom, and strength.

So stay close to the heart of Jesus – the one heart that will never stop loving you. In Him, you’ll find the strength to face your fears, the comfort to heal your wounds, the wisdom to walk with love – and the courage to keep on loving.

Winter Blanket Appeal

An annual highlight of our Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus celebration is the collection of blankets and warm clothing for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. We were grateful to receive generous donations from across the College community, all of which were presented during our special Mass. Sr Michelle from Vinnies joined us to share how these contributions make a meaningful difference and reminded us that even small acts of kindness can have a powerful and lasting impact when we come together as a community.

We've had two lovely messages of thanks from the Vinnies conferences.

"Thank you on behalf of the Highett Conference for the contributions to the Winter Blanket Appeal.  We all enjoyed the Mass and morning tea, and are so impressed with the students of OLSH. Kindness and generosity abounds. The blankets will keep our companions warm this winter." - Patricia Hickey and the members of Highett Conference

"Thank you to Our Lady Of Sacred Heart College Bentleigh for your efforts. Special thanks to the college students, staff, and management for the promotion of our Winter Blanket appeal. It is admired that the college students recognize the need to help those less fortunate.  With the high cost of heating, these blankets will keep many needy people warm in the Bentleigh, Moorabbin, and Highett areas. All our members are very grateful. Thank you for your co-operation." - Herbert Portanier, SVDP Bentleigh/Moorabbin Conference President.

National Reconciliation Week 

On Tuesday June 3 (Mabo Day), local indigenous elder Sherry Balcombe joined us at the College to speak to classes as we celebrated Reconciliation Awareness Week.

We heard from Sherry about Aboriginal spirituality and the fact that is a geosophical (ground centred) and not theosophical (God centred). Sherry spoke of the alignment between Christian symbols, stories and rituals and Aboriginal spirituality and asked us to keep being advocates of Aboriginal people so that the Church can become the Church it is called to be:

“ until Aboriginal people and their contribution has been JOYFULLY accepted the Church in Australia will not be the church that Jesus wants it to be.” - Pope John Paul II - 1986

Australian Catholic Youth Festival 

Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is a national gathering of Catholic young people established by the Australian Bishops more than ten years ago. Held in Melbourne in 2025 (November 30 – December 2), it’s an opportunity to celebrate the jubilee year as a community and help young people be pilgrims of hope. If you are in Issoudun, Year 10 or Year 11 and you are keen to find out more, please go to the website: https://acyf.org.au/ read the information provided and if you are keen to attend, please email Ms. Donohue: mdonohue@olsh.vic.edu.au

Australian Catholics

There are some wonderful articles and reflections for you to access and share with your families. We hope you enjoy sharing this resource. Log in using the email address parents@olsh.vic.edu.au and password: acparents.

2026 Ametur Experience: UK, Italy and France

We are currently planning our Ametur Experience for 2026 to the UK, Italy and France Europe in the 2026 September school holidays. There will be a Performing Arts tour in the UK and an Italian cultural immersion in Rome and Orvieto. 

Both groups then meet in Issoudun, France, the birthplace of the OLSH Sisters for three wonderful days to complete the experience. The Ametur Experience will be open to current (2025) Year 8 to Year 11 students. 

An information session will be arranged in Term 2 for all interested students and parents.

Gospel and reflection

For your personal prayer, reflection and interest we will include the Sunday Gospel reading and a reflection on the Gospel in our College newsletters. I hope this helps you to deepen your faith as you engage with the Jesus of the Gospels.

GOSPEL Jn 14:15-16, 23-26

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John. The Holy Spirit will teach you everything. 

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If you love me you will keep my commandments. 
I shall ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you for ever.
‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own; it is the word of the one who sent me.
I have said these things to you while still with you;
but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

R. Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ

PEACE BE WITH YOU

We live in a world of fear. It surrounds us: the political aggression evident globally, the social issues that depress, even personal challenges that come from relationships and life choices. The fear of tumultuous unrest or personal failure dominates our hearts at times. 

Today’s Gospel offers us a calming voice. Pentecost is a celebration of God’s Spirit present, efficacious and penetrating—even into those areas of life and our world that seem so strained, tense and violent. Jesus comes into a room of fearful disciples. They are afraid of the religious authorities—what they did to Jesus could also happen to them. Into their midst the Risen Jesus comes. He stands among them, not away from them, or outside them. But in the midst of their fears. Twice he offers them the word that they need to hear, ‘Peace be with you.’ It’s a word that we need to hear personally, and that the world needs to know.

‘Peace’ comes from the gift of Jesus’ own spirit. His reassurance of his presence, the evidence of his suffering before them in his wounds, and his gift of peace is a strong affirmation. ‘Peace’, ‘shalom’ in Hebrew, is a prayer for wholeness in the midst of fear and suffering. It is the gift that Jesus wants for us, and for the world. The Gospel ends with the invitation to mission, to spread this peace that brings wholeness and forgiveness of sin.

Fr Michael Trainor

Gospel reading from The Jerusalem Bible, Copyright © 1966 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. and Gospel Reflection, © St Pauls Publications 2025, are published with permission of St Paul's Publications. Strathfield NSW. All rights reserved.

Ms Megan Donohue
Deputy Principal Faith and Mission