Responses at Mass

During our Monday Afternoon Prayer, students have been practicing their responses to the Mass. One focus has been the act of giving the Peace. Students are learning to exchange the peace with two people, making eye contact and saying, “Peace be with you,” with reverence.
Reverence is the deep respect we show to God and one another when we are praying or at Church. It is an outward expression of the inner love and peace we share as a faith community, reminding us of Jesus’ call to love and unity.

Friday Morning Mass

Every Friday morning at 9.15am, one class joins the parish for Mass. We are grateful to our parish community, who always look after us and prepare such a warm and meaningful experience. These Friday Masses are a wonderful opportunity for our students to connect with their faith, and we encourage families to join whenever possible.

Season of Creation

We are in the midst of the Season of Creation, a time when we reflect on God’s gift of the Earth and our responsibility to care for it. Students have been exploring ways to protect and nurture our environment as part of their faith practice.

The highlight for this beautiful Season was the Receptions Reflection Day in Week 8. The classes received a parcel from God, with a letter encouraging them to be Custodians of Creation. Each parcel contained instructions and materials to build a play habitat, that the children created together with their teacher. They reflected on ways that they can have a positive impact on Creation.

The students then attended a wildlife show by Wilbur’s Wildlife. The children had the opportunity to interact with and learn about possums, lizards, frogs and a myriad of other Australian animals. At the end of the day, the children wrote a pledge and prayed for Creation.

Families are encouraged to continue these conversations at home, reinforcing the importance of sustainability and stewardship in everyday life.

Patrons of St Joseph's

Our school is deeply inspired by the values and lives of our patrons, including St Mary MacKillop, Fr Julian Tennison Woods, and Irene McCormack. St Mary MacKillop, Australia's first saint, reminds us to have courage and compassion for the poor. Fr Tennison Woods inspires us through his dedication to education and the environment, and Sr Irene McCormack exemplifies service and sacrifice for others.
This year, our sports captains powerfully incorporated the lives and values of our patrons into their team cheers, which created a strong sense of unity and pride during Sports Day. It was a beautiful reminder of how the lives of these patrons continue to inspire our students in all areas of school life.

As we come to the end of term 3, I wish all our families a well-deserved break.

Christine Farrugia

APRIM | St Joseph’s School