Ethos and Charism

I recently attended the Josephite Colloquium in Sydney. During the 3 day conference, I was immersed in Josephite Charism and had the privilege of journeying with others who are also in a Josephite ministry across Australia. This experience has reignited my passion to live St Joseph’s vision and mission and make our Josephite charism embedded in all that we do, think and say. Throughout the conference I was both affirmed and challenged.

I was affirmed that our school values strongly reflect our Josephite charism. Saint Mary Mackillop was a fierce advocate for demonstrating respect for the dignity of every person and there are many stories of this advocacy even in challenge of those in authority. Mary’s humility and compassion are also reflected in the stories of the lives that she and her Josephite sisters impacted and continue to impact today. Saint Mary Mackillop and her sisters faced extraordinary challenges during her ministry. She experienced much challenge and resistance to doing God’s work, even from those in authority in the Catholic church. What courage must she have needed to go as a woman in the 1800’s to petition the Pope after she was excommunicated? Mary’s most well-known quote is undoubtedly, “Never see a need without doing something about it.” Our St Joseph’s value of being generous to people in need is seen lived in the generosity our community displays of charity work like the Vinnies Winter Appeal.

Evangelisation and Faith Formation

The Sacraments are signs of God’s grace and love. Celebrating the Sacraments deepens our personal understanding and faith. In our community we have children who are preparing for their First Holy Communion. Next Friday 17 June all students in Year 4 will participate in a special retreat as a part of this formation program. Please keep these children in your prayers.

Prayer and Worship

Prayer and worship is integral to the life of all Catholic schools and has the potential to nourish the spiritual growth of all members of the school community.

Social Action and Justice

At St Joseph’s, we work to build the dispositions of empathy and solidarity in our students through programs for service- learning, social justice and outreach experiences.

This term our social action and justice is centred on the Vinnies Winter Appeal. You can contribute by donating clean:

• Gloves
• Socks
• Jackets
• Beanies
• Blankets
• Sleeping Bags 

​These donations go directly to people in need in our community. Send your donations in with your child to be placed in the baskets located in the Courtyard or drop larger items to the front office.

Wellbeing Team

This Friday our Year 6 Wellbeing team are running a lunch time activity called “What’s in your backpack?” This activity aims to raise awareness of those impacted by homelessness and support our students to make connections between the needs of people impacted by homelessness and the Vinnies Winter Appeal.

Junior Joeys Social Action Group

Our current focus is the Catholic Social teaching of Preferential Option for the Poor. Our focus question is: Who needs extra help in our community?

Melanie Stratford

Religious Education Coordinator

melanie.stratford@cg.catholic.edu.au