In November, 22 Year 11 students travelled to the Kimberley (Broome and the Dampier Peninsula) on a missionary pilgrimage. The students and staff spent their time connecting with the legacy of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM Sisters) who worked in the region from 1974-2007.
The group connected with community organisations and schools, walking in the footsteps of the RNDM Sisters and in the spirit of their charism. They worked with community organisations such as CentaCare, Fr McMahon’s kitchen and Feed the Little Children, who support the local community doing it tough with meals and toiletries. They visited Sacred Heart Beagle Bay, St Mary’s College and St Martin de Porris School and stayed at Broome Residential College, allowing them to connect with other students from all over the region. The students learnt a lot about Indigenous culture, connection to country and language, the history of Broome and the inspiring work of the RNDM Sisters who listened to, learnt from, encouraged and loved their students and this community.
Throughout the year, the students fundraised significantly and were able to provide donations including grocery vouchers, pencil cases full of stationery items and toiletry packs. In total, they raised an amazing $10,000 for the Kimberley region. Particular thanks to the parishioners at Our Lady of the Mission for your continued support of the Sacred Heart Mission program - we couldn’t have done this without your generous contributions.
The students who attended represented themselves, their families and the College beautifully. They served others selflessly, connected with others in the spirit of communion and shared God’s light and love with everyone they came across. The experience shifted their thinking, bonded them with the Kimberley community and each other, and brought them closer to God through seeing Him in every person we met.
As a Sacred Heart community, we are ‘Partners in Mission’ to the RNDM Sisters, and so the call of Euphrasie is extended to us all, to love as Christ loves. We are called to have hearts filled with compassion for those around us and, with the Spirit’s power, take action to make a difference. These students have certainly been inspired to continue to work together to help build a better future and, in doing so, share the light and love of Christ with the world.
"The Kimberley Immersion is so much more than volunteering. We came into this immersion understanding we are going to be helping people who need us the most. To cook their meals, have conversations, to see their humanity and hear their stories was both heartbreaking and inspiring. I think I can speak for all of us when I say this, but we can never live the same way again. In knowing the power we all hold to make so much of a difference to just one person’s life." - Emily and Scarlett
"What an unbelievable experience - from the distant streets of Lombadina to the beautiful beaches of Broome, our minds have forever been re-wired to develop empathy and a better understand of the situations that those around us are in and how the minuscule acts of solidarity we contribute, can indefinitely alter people’s lives." - Tyson, Oskar and Stuart
From Sacred Heart College - may the joy of Christ’s birth fill your hearts with peace, love, and hope this Christmas season. As we celebrate the coming of our Savior, may we be inspired to share His light with others and grow in faith and communion with one another. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and holy Christmas, and a New Year filled with God’s grace.