Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have lived in this land for many thousands of years. Their custodianship, however, is not recognised in the Australian Constitution. This is an omission which needs to be rectified. A constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament is proposed as a way to achieve this.

As a vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament nears, Australia’s bishops have encouraged Catholics to read and discuss the Uluru Statement from the Heart – the document from which the Voice proposal emerged.

During their plenary meeting in Sydney this week, the bishops considered how they might assist Catholics in preparing for the referendum to enshrine the Voice to Parliament in the Constitution, with a vote due in the second half of 2023.

'This is my beloved in whom I am well pleased’

These words from the Gospel of Luke are a beautiful summary of our Sister, Catherine Mary’s whole life: a rich life of 94 years, lived with Jesus and for Jesus. On Sunday 11^th December our dear Sister, Catherine Mary, gently and peacefully breathed her last breath as she surrendered to her loving God whom she had served lovingly and faithfully as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart for 73 years. 

'This is my beloved in whom I am well pleased’

These words from the Gospel of Matthew capture well the driving force behind Sr Theresa’s life. She had an absolute trust and deep faith in God. On Tuesday, 8th of November she came face to face with her God whom she had so lovingly and faithfully served as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart for over seven decades.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

These words from the Gospel of John were chosen by Terie for her Funeral Mass a few weeks ago. They speak of Terie’s absolute trust and deep faith in God. On 21^st June, just five weeks after Terie had been diagnosed with terminal Cancer she came face to face with the God she had so lovingly and faithfully served as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart for over six decades.

It is with great joy that we learn today that the amalgamation of St Agnes Catholic Primary School, Matraville and Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Primary School, Pagewood has been brought forward to the start of the 2023 school year with the school to be named Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Matraville.

This new name celebrates the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart as the founding religious order for both schools.

“So long Thy Love has led me, surely it will lead me on”

As Yvonne looked back over her life’s journey, she realised how this prayer had helped her to accept the challenges, joys and difficulties of the many and varied apostolates she carried out as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. On Sunday 13^th March, Jesus gently took Yvonne to himself. She was 87 years old and 67 years professed.

Come you whom my Father has blessed, take for your inheritance the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.

We heard these words from the Gospel of Matthew the day our much-loved Sister, Nora, suddenly came face to face with the one she had so lovingly and faithfully served as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart for over six decades.  ‘Come you whom my Father has blessed’.

I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of God - Margaret Mary Alacoque

These words from St Margaret Mary Alacoque capture well the driving force behind our dear Sister Gertrude Mary’s life.  Deep faith in the one who called her and loved her unconditionally. At approximately 3.15pm on Wednesday, 16 February, our dear Sister, Gertrude Mary came face to face with the one she had lovingly and generously served for over six decades as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

"The love of the Heart of Jesus will be our light, our strength, our guide and our support." - Fr Jules Chevalier 1892

These words from our Founder, Jules Chevalier capture well the driving force behind our Sister, Margaret’s life: to trust totally in the love of Jesus and follow him with enthusiasm and generosity. On Saturday, 5^th February Marg gently slipped into the loving embrace of the one who had been her light, her strength, her guide, throughout her 87 years. She was in her 67^th year of her religious profession.