Mater Hospital Brisbane raising awareness for World Hepatitis Day
29 July, Brisbane
Mater Hospital Brisbane’s dedicated hepatology team has donned bright orange to raise awareness for World Hepatitis Day. Nearly 300,000 people in Australia live with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, which increases their risk of liver disease and liver cancer. Hepatitis can often appear to have no symptoms, so early detection is crucial.
The Mater Hospital Brisbane hepatology team is committed to educating the community about the importance of liver health and the simple testing options that are available.
The Mater Hospital Brisbane raising awareness for World Hepatitis Day
Carmelite Spirituality Day
29 July, Melbourne
Whitefriars College hosted an enriching Carmelite Spirituality Day, featuring two compelling keynote presentations by Dr Ernesto Valiente. This event provided an opportunity for staff to deepen their understanding of spirituality and engage with pressing contemporary issues through the lens of faith. Dr Valiente presented on God’s Revelation and Christian Faith, and Oscar Romero: A Revolutionary Saint for Today’s Suffering World.
Dr Ernesto Valiente’s insightful and thought-provoking presentations offered valuable perspectives on the intersection of faith and contemporary social issues, encouraging all to live out their spirituality with greater conviction and purpose.
College Principal Mark Murphy with Dr Ernesto Valiente.
All Hallows’ Year 10 Sleep Out
26 July, Brisbane
On Friday, 26 July Year 10 students and staff from All Hallows’ School braved the cold night air and limited their food to better understand the challenges faced by many in our community. The staff and students were honoured to hear from author Trent Dalton, who shared his family’s story and insights on homelessness, and Jack Lip from Vinnies, who provided eye-opening statistics on poverty and homelessness. Congratulations to the 140 Year 10s and staff who participated in this initiative and sacrificed their home comforts to foster a better understanding of the need in our community.
Ministries celebrate Catholic Education Week
21-27 July, Brisbane – Mount Alvernia College
Catholic Education Week is always special for the Mount Alverna Community as they come together to celebrate their shared values of faith, hope and love.
All Hallows School
All Hallows’ recently celebrated Catholic Education Week and the vibrant mission that drives Catholic schools across the state. At All Hallows’, they have a rich and diverse Mercy Action Program where students volunteer their time in awareness raising, appeals, and fundraising
St Patrick’s College
St Patrick’s College recently held their Spirit of Catholic Education Awards, presented annually in conjunction with Catholic Education Week.
Congratulations goes to Ms Joanna Pacey and Ms Gayle Walkom for their well-deserved nominations. The College Faith and Mission Prefect, Adelaide Burke was the very worthy recipient of the Deus Est Caritas Award. Adelaide upholds the Mercy Values and demonstrates servant leadership on a daily basis. Congratulations on this wonderful accolade, Adelaide.
St Ursula’s College supports the Ponytail Project 2024
19 July, Yeppoon
Students from St Ursula’s College Yeppoon have a team of 20 Ponytail Project participants that participated in the #rockthechop and raised over $15,000 in funds this year for the Cancer Council Queensland.
As part of the Ponytail Project, students wore a ‘colour for Cancer’ (e.g. Pink for Breast Cancer) for a gold coin donation. The College Student Representative Council also hosted a Bake Stall with lots of delicious treats to help raise funds for the good cause.
Join in to support St Ursula’s smash their fundraising goal. Visit https://www.ponytailproject.com.au/fundraisers/STUYeppoon to donate!
St Ursula’s students proudly showing off their new ‘shorter’ hair in support of the Cancer Council.
Getting the big chop.
Students cutting off their friend’s hair.
Students preparing for the big chop.
St Rita’s completes the Great Marian House Bake Off
16-17 July, Brisbane
Each year the St Rita students from Marian House paint the College blue with their amazing bake off. The students hit their kitchens with their wooden spoons and blue colouring on hand to create the most amazing cakes. The College community then select the People’s Choice Award winner from 12 cakes that will be judged as the Finalists. Congratulations goes to Year 10’s Kate Thorn who took out the title of People’s Choice Award Winner with her underwater inspired cake.
All proceeds raised from the Bake Off go towards the College’s Presentation Sister school in Mithra, India.
The St Rita’s students supported the day by buying cakes to support their Sister School in India.
There were lots of yummy cakes on offer.
The winning blue themed cake from Year 10’s Kate Thorn.
Mater provides hope to doctors from refugee backgrounds
16 July, Brisbane
Mater is giving new hope to doctors from refugee backgrounds, thanks to the Observership Program. The six-month program enables overseas-trained doctors to study Australian healthcare and culture at key hospital departments at Mater before re-entering the profession in their new adopted country.
Dr Karim Amani is currently an observer in the Emergency Department at Mater Hospital Brisbane, after fleeing from Afghanistan where he worked as a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon. Dr Inna Malynochka worked as an obstetrician gynaecologist in Ukraine for more than a decade before moving to Australia in 2017. Her home city of Vinnitsya was damaged during conflicts and she is determined to make a new life for herself and three children in Brisbane after enrolling in the Observership Program.
All Hallows’ Talk About It Tuesday
16 July, Brisbane
It was uplifting to see students from All Hallows’ School come together for “Talk About It Tuesday” where they enjoyed a delightful picnic and engaging conversations on the school’s terrace within the beautiful grounds of their school.
The All Hallows’ Spirit Week event truly show cased the school value of Joy: the foy found in sharing, face-to-face communication, and listening to each other with curiosity.
Students enjoying a delightful picnic and engaging conversation as part of “Talk About It Tuesday”.
Mercy Community proves it is the simple things in life that are important
12 July, Brisbane
Being independent and being able to undertake the simple things in life such as making your bed, can provide us with a sense of achievement. For Jennifer, making her bed was on her bucket list of things to do. Mercy Community’s Disability Active Support team recognised the importance of fostering independence and self-esteem and embarked on a journey with Jennifer to discover the joy and satisfaction of accomplishing tasks, including bed-making, on her own.
Jennifer demonstrating her newly found bed-making skills.
Mercy Community’s supported employment program, Cookery Nook
5th July, Brisbane
Mercy Community’s supported employment program, Cookery Nook, has been providing opportunities for people with disabilities since the 1970s – and it’s also one of Brisbane’s most successful catering services and cafes. Belinda Thomas has been with the team for 10 years and loves making cupcakes. Read all about how the Cookery Nook has supported Belinda on her employment journey and why Belinda thinks Cookery Nook is a great place to work.
Belinda Thomas from Cookery Nook making yummy cupcakes.
Mater Mackay supporting the Brekky Van
4 July, Mackay
Mater Private Hospital Mackay staff and volunteers have recently volunteered their time to assist with the St Patrick’s College Mackay Brekky Van which set up every Wednesday and Friday mornings outside the St Vincent’s de Paul building to serve a hot breakfast of sausages, eggs, fruit, tea and coffee to people in the community who are in need of support. The Brekky Van collaborates with Orange Sky Australia and supports the Catholic Social Teachings of Preferential Option for the Poor and the Dignity of the Human Person.
Mater staff volunteered during the school holidays to allow the teachers and students from St Patrick’s College Mackay a well-earned break.
Mater Mackay staff serving breakfast.
Mater Mackay supporting the Brekky Van.
Monte’s Timor-Leste Immersion
2-16 July, Timor Leste
Since 2014 Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College has built a strong relationship with the community in Maliana, Timor-Leste. The College provides on-going support to the local community and continues the wonderful work of the Sisters of Mercy by affording the opportunity of a quality education to all young women at the Colegio Infante de Sagre School in Maliana.
Each year Monte staff and students participate in an immersion to Timor-Leste. This year the Monte students and staff were delighted to meet new and old friends during their trip, attend a sunrise mass, visit Dili, a mangrove regeneration project, Balibo Fort, visit a Montessori Kindy (started by Sister Helen Nolan) and shop at the local Maliana markets.
Mater restores sight and transforms lives
1 July, Springfield
Mater in partnership with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health has completed more than 1,000 operations to restore the sight of First Nations Queenslanders. The First Nations-led program supports and treats Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people needing cataract surgery through a culturally informed and holistic service.
First Nations people are more likely to suffer serious sight deterioration at an earlier age than non-Indigenous Australians, but cataract surgery can restore their sight – and change lives.
A Mater surgeon changing the life of a First Nations Queenslander
