Bishop Vincent with Year 7 students at the Catherine McAuley Westmead Opening School Mass
Last Friday, 9th February the Catherine McAuley Westmead school community came together for the Opening School Mass.
The principal celebrant was the Most Rev. Vincent Long Van Nguyen, OFM, Conv DD STL. The school welcomed our students, staff, parents and many special guests including Sisters of Mercy, members of our Parents & Carers Group, staff from Catholic Schools Diocese of Parramatta and local schools, and our parliamentary representatives.
New staff were commissioned at the Opening School Mass and received a staff candle
At the conclusion of the Mass new staff at the school were commissioned with Ms Refalo, School Principal, inviting the new staff members to come forward and receive a candle which was lit by the School Captains from the school candle. We welcome Miss Farrell, Mr Duarte, Miss Grow, Mrs Malek, Mrs Stevens, Miss Tedesco and Ms Tulau (absent).
The school community gathered together for the Opening School Mass on Friday 9th February 2024
Our Year 7 students had the Year 7 candle lit for the first time by Mrs Rehayem, Leader of Wellbeing Year 7 and Year 7 student Yanika, and the Year 7 students were presented with their school bibles. The students were then invited to form a circle of mercy. The school community were asked to pray that just as Venerable Catherine McAuley studied and followed God’s Word, these young women will learn to become women of the Word, and Good News to all people.
Finally, the student leaders for the Student Representative Council, Mercy in Action, House and Liturgy, along with the Year 10 Peer Mentors, were commissioned. The student leaders made their act of commitment in the presence of the school community and were presented with their badges.
Jacqui Hamilton | School Development Officer
Catherine McAuley Westmead
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Thank you to the guest judges for yesterday’s Lip Sync Final 🎤 Julia Fleming and Dannielle Miller from the Parramatta Women’s Shelter and the Walk the Talk Program. As a school, we have contributed a donation to Parramatta Women’s Shelter of $7000, an additional $3300 in vouchers, approximately $2000 of groceries and a number of crochet blankets prepared by the Charity Crochet Group.!! 🙌 🙌 Thank you to all students, families and staff for helping the school support this worthy cause! 😍😍 @parrawomensshelter @womenscommunitysheltersau
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