Religious Life of St Joseph’s

Welcome back to 2023. It is so good to be back in our Christ-Centred Community after a wonderful break over Summer.   This year our theme is ‘Walking Together’. 

Our theme comes from the writings of Pope Francis on Synodality. Synodality is defined as "the action of the Spirit in the communion of the Body of Christ and in the missionary journey of the People of God."

Pope Francis says, "Synodality is a style, it is a walk together, and it is what the Lord expects from the Church of the third millennium." 

Our focus scripture in  2023 is Luke 24:13-35- The Walk to Emmaus

13 Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad.[b] 18 Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,[c] who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.[d] Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25 Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the Messiah[e] should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us[f] while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

As a staff, we began our journey of Walking Together in a shared search for Christ on our Spirituality Day at the Arboretum where we spent the morning unpacking our scripture and walking together in prayer. We also began a journey walking together with Marymead and St Vincent de Paul, as all staff went out in teams on mission in the community. 

On these missions, our teams cooked meals and created personal care backpacks for those in emergency situations for Marymead, created Back-to-school packs for St Vincent de Paul and served at the St Vincent de Paul Dickson shopfront.

Social Action and Justice

The Junior Joeys group will be running a Games Challenge this Term at Break 1 on

Tuesday and Wednesday from Week 3-10 in the Courtyard weather permitting, or Library if needed. The Games challenge supports the Catholic Social Teaching Principle of The Common Good, which is closely intertwined with Human dignity and leads to solidarity. The Games Challenge is aimed at helping students develop their social skills and sense of belonging in a supportive environment. The main point of the Games Challenge is for students to work together to celebrate and benefit from each other’s strengths. In this way, the teaching of Common Good is experienced in a fun and empowering way and has the potential to extend this experience of Common Good to others.