Our school community was to share in the presence of Mercy Cross and relics of St Mary MacKillop and St Teresa of Kolkata.
Mrs La Rocca shared in her reflection that 'The face and presence of God is evident all around us. It is glowing in the sea of little faces I have the privilege of witnessing each morning. However, it is especially present in the challenges sent to test us and make our faith stronger. How often do we recognise this as God, present in our lives?'
Students Ashton, Alannah, Alicia, Giaan and Liam (Yr 4) jointly constructed the short reflection below of their experience of this special occasion.
OLA gathered together to celebrate Mercy Day. Prior to Mercy Day we made crosses out of wooden sticks, buttons and glitter. The reasoning behind this was to remember Saint Mary McKillop and Saint Teresa.
The whole school went up to venerate the cross by either touching it, kissing or making the sign of the cross. We also put our wooden crosses on the cloth in front of the relics.
At the end of the liturgy students could choose if they wanted to go up to the cross and relics to say a quiet prayer and spend some time reflecting on where they have seen the face of God.
Students placing their crosses around the relics and spending some time in silent prayer.
Students in Year 4 spending some alone time reflecting on where they see the face of God.
Students in Years 1 and 2 sharing where they have seen the face of God.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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20 Feb 2026
From Facebook
What a fantastic evening we had at our Kinder and New Families BBQ last night. It was such a success and a wonderful way to welcome our newest members into the OLA family. A huge thank you to our amazing P&F and parent helpers, our dedicated teachers, and our Year 6 school leaders who helped, played with the students, and made everyone feel so welcome. Events like this give us such a great opportunity to meet new families, connect, and enjoy time together as a community. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the night so special.
20 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our Outstanding Achievement and St Francis award recipients for Week 4!
Latest News More news
20 Feb 2026
From Facebook
What a fantastic evening we had at our Kinder and New Families BBQ last night. It was such a success and a wonderful way to welcome our newest members into the OLA family. A huge thank you to our amazing P&F and parent helpers, our dedicated teachers, and our Year 6 school leaders who helped, played with the students, and made everyone feel so welcome. Events like this give us such a great opportunity to meet new families, connect, and enjoy time together as a community. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the night so special.
20 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our Outstanding Achievement and St Francis award recipients for Week 4!
18 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Today, our school community came together to mark the beginning of Lent with a reverent and meaningful Ash Wednesday Mass. It was a special time to pause, pray, and reflect as we received the ashes and were reminded of the call to grow in kindness, hope, and love. We are grateful to share these moments as a school family, supporting one another as we begin this Lenten journey together.
17 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Our Kindergarten students have had a wonderful start to Big School. They’ve been learning about how special they are in Religion lessons, using hands‑on maths equipment to count and explore, making new friends on the playground, visiting the library, and spending time with their Year 6 buddies. To finish off the week, the children practised their fine‑motor skills by creating a special artwork for their families, showing just how much they love them “to pieces.” Their smiles said it all. We’re so proud of how confidently they’re settling in and embracing every part of school life!
17 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Yesterday, some of our Stage 3 students took part in an exciting skills workshop with Joash Papalii and Kitione Kautoga from the Parramatta Eels as part of the @nrl Schools Blitz. The boys ran a session encouraging teamwork, wellbeing, and healthy habits, and our students were eager to learn from them. A highlight was the Q&A session, where students asked thoughtful questions about their footy journeys- their playing history, inspirations, and hopes for the future. The players were generous with their stories and advice, and the kids absolutely loved it. We’re so grateful for the visit. Thanks Joash, and Kitione, you brought great energy to OLA yesterday!
17 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Today, we celebrated our new Semester 1 SRC members- students proudly chosen by their peers to represent their classes. A highlight of the morning was seeing families share that special moment on stage as badges were presented. The pride on every face said it all. Congratulations to our Semester 1 2026 SRC team. We can’t wait to see the ideas you bring to our school!
13 Feb 2026
From Facebook
This term in Religious Education, Year 6 has been exploring the concept of Human Dignity- a precious gift from God that calls us to respect and honor the worth of every person. This week, their learning led them to reflect on how God invites us to love one another in the way of Christ each day. With this in mind, they chose tomorrow's upcoming Valentine’s Day- a day that celebrates love in our society- as a special opportunity to put their faith into action by showing kindness and care through their words and deeds!
13 Feb 2026
From Facebook
13 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our first Outstanding Achievement and St Francis award recipients for the year!
13 Feb 2026