21 / 28
21
The Catholic Leader, April 21, 2019
www.catholicleader.com.auRegional – Northern NSW
Mother Hilda Scott blessed and
installed at Jamberoo Abbey
WOLLONGONG Bishop Brian
Mascord blessed and installed Ben-
edictine Mother Hilda Scott as ab-
bess of the Benedictine Abbey of the
Presentation of our Lord, Jamberoo,
on March 25.
Mother Scott is the third abbess of the abbey
and was elected to the position some weeks
back.
Members of Mother Scott’s family joined the
Benedictine Sisters at the abbey for her blessing
and installation.
A Jamberoo abbey spokesperson thanked the
many prayers and expressions of support sent to
the Sisters over the election period.
“We have been graced by the presence of the
Holy Spirit at work among us and as He has
made Himself known through your kindness and
encouragement of us and our way of life,” the
spokesperson said.
“Know that our grateful prayers are with you.
“We especially thank Mother Mary (Barnes)
for her wise and loving leadership of us all over
these past twelve years.
“We wish her every good thing as she now
sets out on her well-earned break.”
During her instalment, Mother Scott received
the symbols of her station – the Cross as well as
the staff, seal and ring from Bishop Mascord.
Two new crosses reflect
light of Christ at St Agnes’
THE light of Christ is shining
for all in Port Macquarie with
two new stainless steel crosses
installed atop St Agnes’
Church in early April.
Parish priest Fr Paul Gooley
said the reason the new crosses
were installed was that, during
cleaning and maintenance of
the church and its belltower
last year, it was discovered
that one of the 80-year-old
concrete crosses at the top had
concrete cancer and had taken
some lightning strikes.
“At the time we took reme-
dial action but in the interests
of safety, a decision was made
to replace the original crosses
with ones made of marine
grade stainless steel,” Fr
Gooley said.
“We chose marine grade
stainless steel because it is
durable in our seaside climate
and it weighs a lot less than
the 380kg existing crosses.
“When the old crosses were
taken down, a rough inscrip-
tion was discovered on one of
them, which may be the names
and initials of the men who
originally cast them. “It also
appears the concrete crosses
were actually formed and
poured on top of the church,
25m above ground, which is
amazing.
“The new crosses gleam
brightly in the sun, which is,
for me, a great reminder that
Christ is ever-present in our
lives and watching over the
community of Port Mac-
quarie.”
Both priests of the parish,
Fr Gooley and Fr Peter Wood,
blessed the crosses prior to
them being lifted into place by
crane.
Fr Gooley is looking at
how the parish might display
the salvaged crosses on the
grounds of the Church.
Prayerful:
Mother Hilda
Scott was
installed as
abbess of the
Benedictine
Abbey of the
Presentation
of Our Lord,
Jamberoo.
Academic success continues
for St Mary’s College, Lismore
FOR St Mary’s Catholic College, Lismore,
2019 is shaping up to be a successful year,
following on from unprecedented academic
success in 2018 for the HSC.
Principal Tracy Robinson was one of the
driving forces behind the unique way students
studied for the HSC.
For the last three years, St Mary’s has been
operating an innovative model for the HSC
curriculum, which is ‘compressed’.
This means the students undertake three sub-
jects only in each of their senior years of study.
“In 2018, the impact of this initiative was
celebrated in our college community, with the
best HSC results we’ve seen in many years
and the college performing exceptionally well
against the other local colleges in the diocese,”
Mrs Robinson said.
Students achieved 10 Band 6 results and 44
Band 5 results.
Coupled with this, 100 per cent of students
who applied for early entry at local universities
were successful in their applications.
“Overwhelmingly, in an exit survey at the
end of their course of study, 2018 HSC stu-
dents themselves reflected that the Compressed
Curriculum model best supported them to
maximise their potential,” Mrs Robinson said.
It was found that 99 per cent of students
identified that this model of study meant that
they experienced less stress during exam pe-
riods, and it allowed them to better focus with
only three HSC subjects each year.
These outstanding results came after the
announcement from Federal Member for Page
Kevin Hogan of a $3.6m capital grant for
school refurbishments.
A teaching block of 17 classrooms will be
transformed into a STEM precinct with multi-
ple innovative learning spaces.
Installation:
Workmen
install the
new crosses
atop St
Agnes’
Church, Port
Macquarine,
with the
help of a
crane.
Refurbishment:
The new crosses were blessed by Fr Paul
Gooley and Fr Peter Wood before they were placed atop the
church.
Overwhelmingly, in an exit survey at the end of
their course of study, 2018 HSC students
themselves reflected that the Compressed
Curriculum model best supported them to
maximise their potential.
Big year:
2019 is shaping up to be a successful year for St Mary’s Catholic College, Lismore.