^{Bishop Sproxton with Ellenbrook Parish Priest Fr Bonaventure Echeta, St Helena’s Primary School Principal Lina Bertolini and students James McGowan, Therese Topliss, Bertie Turrell-Knight and Eloise Ham. Photo: Ron Tan.}

By Jamie O’Brien

The outstanding support and positive participation in LifeLink Day has seen St Helena’s Catholic Primary School Ellenbrook and Mercy College Koondoola being named as the recipients of the 2016 Archbishop’s Spirit Award.

Since LifeLink Day was first established in 1999, one school has traditionally been selected each year to receive a special acknowledgement and token of appreciation – namely the Archbishop’s Spirit Award.

^{Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton speaks to staff and students during his visit to St Helena’s on Friday 20 October to present the school community with the 2016 Archbishop’s Spirit Award. Photo: Ron Tan.}

The Archbishop’s Spirit Award is not awarded on the basis of how much money is raised but presented to the school that shows outstanding support for, and positive participation in, LifeLink Day – this year held on Wednesday 7 June.

It is awarded to the school which comprehensively demonstrates active support for the Archbishop’s LifeLink Day initiative, embraces the goals of LifeLink Day, that is, to not only learn about the Church’s response to people in need within the Archdiocese but to also undertake some form of fundraising in support of the social service agencies funded through LifeLink; commits to educating students on their responsibility to care for those less fortunate in the community and promotes an ethos of caring and compassion to students, teachers, parents and the wider community – that we all have a responsibility to show love and compassion, not just on LifeLink Day but every day.

Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, who is Chairman of LifeLink, made a special visit to St Helena’s on Friday 20 October to present the school community with the Award.

“Each and every one of you should be very proud for your contribution to LifeLink, for your contribution to making a life changing difference to those in need,” Bishop Sproxton told the students.

“In today’s world, which is passing very quickly, it is all too easy to forget about those in need and the St Helena’s School Community has shown what it takes to be an example of Christ alive, with generosity, with a spirit of love and mercy,” he said.

“For this, I thank you,” Bishop Sproxton said.

The school held a simple whole school assembly which was led by Deputy Head Boy Bertie Turrell-Knight and Deputy Head Girl Eloise Ham.

^{St Helena’s Primary School Ellenbrook Head Boy James McGowan and Head Girl Therese Topliss accept the plaque of the 2016 Archbishop’s Spirit Award from Bishop Don Sproxton. Photo: Ron Tan.}

The Award was graciously accepted on behalf of the entire school by Head Boy James McGowan and Head Girl Therese Topliss.

St Helena’s Catholic Primary School Principal Lina Bertolini, said staff and students were very honoured to be the recipients of the 2016 Spirit Award.

“It was lovely to welcome Bishop Sproxton to St Helena’s. Everyone was very excited by his visit and to be receiving this special honour,” Ms Bertolini said.

“As a school community, we are keen to continue promoting an ethos of caring and compassion to all, and LifeLink Day has been an extremely powerful opportunity for us to do this.

“We have also been able to demonstrate that we all have a responsibility to show love and compassion every day,” Ms Bertolini said.

^{Archbishop Timothy Costelloe with Mercy College Principal Julie Hornby, (back, third from right) Director of Mission Melissa Cartner, (back, second from right) Girrawheen Parish Priest Fr Albert Saminedi, teacher Carmen Gentille-Pace (far left), CSL Co-ordinator Karen Wilson (back, fourth from left) and students. Photo: Ron Tan.}

Archbishop Costelloe SDB visited staff and students at Mercy College on Friday 10 November to present the school community with their Award.

Girrawheen Parish Priest, Fr Albert Saminedi assisted in leading the school in a para-liturgy, with Archbishop Costelloe presenting the award to Year 6 students Natavia Patta Parla and Hannah Britton and Year 10 students Dana London and Wade Moore.

^{Archbishop Timothy Costelloe with Girrawheen Parish Priest Fr Albert Saminedi and Mercy College staff and students. Photo: Ron Tan.}

“I am impressed that students from Mercy College have heeded my invitation to remember the poor,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

“It really is heartening to see that the Mercy College school community are a people ready to roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty and make a difference,” he said.

^{Archbishop Timothy Costelloe speaks to staff and students at Mercy College, Friday 10 November, to present the school community with the 2016 Archbishop’s Spirit Award. Photo: Ron Tan.}

Mercy College Principal Julie Hornby said she is proud of her students, staff and entire school community for their dedication to putting their Christian witness into practise.

“We want to be a school community that has ears to listen and eyes to see the importance of being a school community that gives, and gives generously, particularly for the work of LifeLink,” Mrs Hornby said.

^{Archbishop Timothy Costelloe presents students from Mercy College with the 2016 Archbishop’s Spirit Award on Friday 10 November. Photo: Ron Tan.}

“For students at Mercy College, we are committed to promoting a culture among our students that encourages them to take out their headphones to listen to one another, opens their eyes to see what is happening around them and most importantly, to be a people that has a heart for those in need,” she said.

^{Mercy College Principal Julie Hornby congratulates the school community on being awarded the 2016 Archbishop’s Spirit Award. Photo: Ron Tan.}

Established in 1994 by the Archdiocese of Perth, LifeLink ensures the ongoing financial and promotional support of social service agencies established or funded by the Archdiocese.

These agencies include Centrecare Inc, Djooraminda, Identitywa, Centacare Employment & Training, the Emmanuel Centre, Catholic Ministry for People who are Deaf or Hearing Impaired, The Shopfront, Samaritan Projects, DayDawn Advocacy Centre and the Emmaus Community.

Each year, more than 34,000 Western Australians are helped by a LifeLink agency, and more than $54 million in welfare services is provided throughout WA.

For more information, or to donate to LifeLink, go to www.lifelink.com.au.