Dear Parents, Caregivers, Staff, Students and Friends,  

Did you know that … the First Catholic School in Australia was founded in October 1820? This year marks 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. 

Two hundred years ago, the first official Catholic school opened in Australia on October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest John Therry. The school, which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter Street, Parramatta, taught 31 students. Since then, Catholic education has grown and now educates around 770,000 students in more than 1,750 schools with nearly 100,000 staff. 

This week across Australia, all Catholic Schools celebrated this incredible milestone! On Monday, May 24, a National Mass was celebrated on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians to commemorate this occasion. Schools in the Port Pirie Diocese had the opportunity to watch a live Mass streamed from St Francis Xavier Cathedral presided by Archbishop Patrick O'Regan. 

The month of May marks many significant feasts for our Church. Last Sunday, we celebrated the Ascension of the Lord; this coming weekend, we acknowledge Pentecost and follow with the Holy Trinity. Many of our classes will explore these feasts and discuss why they are important occasions in our liturgical year. 

RECONCILIATION WEEK 

On Wednesday, we placed on our fence, facing Verran Terrace, our new Forgiveness - Reconciliation banner to commemorate National Sorry Day, and yesterday was the beginning of National Reconciliation Week.  As a nation, there has been progress in the cause of Reconciliation, but there is so much still to do. As an inclusive community that has embraced our call to continue to work towards Reconciliation, Our Lady of the River School is proud of our small group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Our whole school diversity is a source of strength and a sign of hope for the future.   

As a community that celebrates the diversity of our students as a source of our great strength, Reconciliation Week is a time to remember the rich heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and celebrate the contribution they have made to Australian society and culture.  But, it is also a time to acknowledge the past and seek healing.    

The word "reconciliation" means to make things right and to repair relationships. In effect, we use this word to indicate that we sit down together as equals. Our indigenous people have not always been treated as equals in Australian society.  During Reconciliation Week, we remember the past, celebrate the present and dream our future together.  

NATIONAL SORRY DAY, or the National Day of Healing, is an annual event held in Australia on May 26 since 1998.  This day acknowledges the Indigenous children separated from their families, known as the "Stolen Generations".  

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK was initiated in 1996 to celebrate Indigenous history and culture in Australia and foster Reconciliation. It is between May 27 and June 3 of each year. May 27 is the anniversary of the 1967 referendum (on indigenous policies) in Australia. June 3 marks the High Court of Australia's anniversary on the Mabo v Queensland trial of 1992. Both dates are incredibly significant for the rights of the indigenous people in Australia. 

Have a great weekend. 

Ros Oates
Principal