Religious Life of the School

Last Sunday, 13 October was a perfect spring morning for Archbishop Christopher Prowse to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Joseph’s. Archbishop Christopher Prowse’s homily was an open invitation to all to come alive with the love and grace of Jesus Christ. Congratulations to these children for saying ‘Yes’ to receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit. May they be open to using these gifts to glorify Christ with their lives.

Pope Francis has declared this month of October 2019 as an extraordinary Missionary Month. This month is to increase awareness that Mission is for the entire world. We are all being called to help communities grow in “missionary and evangelising zeal.” This is a wonderful reminder of our focus scripture for 2019: Go and make disciples. How will you go forth and make disciples this week?

Prayer and Worship      

Student Led Christian Prayer

Each Friday after first break Year 6 lead classes in prayer with a focus on the Gospel for the coming Sunday.

Liturgical Season: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Liturgical Season Colour: Green

This week the focus is on the Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Jesus told this story: “In a certain town, there was a judge who was often unjust and unfair. A woman in the town asked the judge to help her settle a quarrel with her neighbour. The judge was not interested in the woman’s problem and sent her away.

But the woman did not give up! She came back every day, day in and day out, until the judge could not stand being pestered any more. ‘I must give this woman what she wants,’ he said, ‘or she will never give me any peace.”

Then Jesus said, “If such a man can finally listen and do what is asked of him, how much more will my heavenly father do for you of you keep on asking?”

At home we invite you to read the upcoming Gospel as a family and discuss our focus questions for the week.

1. Why did the woman keep on pestering the judge?
2. Have you ever pestered anyone for something you really wanted? What happened?
3. Do you have something you really want that you can persist in praying to God about?

Celebrating Liturgy and Sacraments

Week 1:   Friday 18 October: Grade 6 Class Mass

Week 2:   Wednesday 23 October: Catholic Mission Mass at the Cathedral

                Thursday 24 October: Grandparents and Special Friends Day

Week 3    Thursday 31 October: Move for Mission Fundraising Disco (lunchtime)

                Friday 1 November: Grade 1 and 2 Class Mass

                Sunday 3 November Family Mass led by Year 6 9am

Week 4    Friday 8 November: Grade 5 and Foundation Class Mass  

Week 5    Monday 11 November Remembrance Day led by Grade 5 10.30am

                Friday 15 November: Grade 4 Class Mass 9.15am

Week 6    Friday 22  November: Grade 3  Class Mass 9.15am

Week 7    Thursday  28 November Advent Prayer Celebration led by Grade 4 9.15am

Week 8    Thursday  5 December Advent Prayer Celebration led by Grade 3 9.15am

Week 9    Thursday 12 December Advent Prayer Celebration led by Grade 1 9.15am

                Friday 13th December Thanksgiving Mass at 9.15am

Week 10  Thursday 19 December Advent Prayer Celebration led by Foundation 9.15am

Social Action & Justice

Riamabana

Year 6 are ready to go with their Lip balm pop-up shop. The pop-up shop will commence this coming Friday during first break.

This Friday, Simon Carroll from Global School Partners will come to St Joseph’s where we will present him with a cheque for $2500. Congratulations to our St Joseph’s community for raising this amazing amount of money. This money will be used to build a new toilet block. This week students have also been busy writing letters to the students at Riamabana Orphanage Academy. Simon will send these letters to the students in the coming weeks.

Catholic Mission

October is Catholic Mission Month. October is also the Month of the Rosary. At St Joseph's we will hold a "Day of Many Colours" event on Thursday 31st October where children will wear a colour representing the continent their family is from and come together as a whole to school to pray the Rosary.

The Social Justice Leaders are also working on a "Move for Mission" lunchtime Disco on Thursday 31st October (Break 1 - Junior Primary  Break 2 Upper Primary). Entry will be by gold coin donation. More information will be available early next Term.

Religious Identity and Culture

Ethos and Charism

Our strategic priority to deepen our St Joseph’s identity means to deepen our understanding of our Josephite Charism.  We can learn much about our Josephite Charism through quotes from Saint Mary Mackillop. As we begin Term 4, the quote for this week is:

Evangelisation and Faith Formation

Faith Formation

Last night St Joseph’s Parish began its annual Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) journey this October.

If you are curious about God or the Catholic Church, were baptised as a child but did not receive Eucharist or Confirmation, visit the parish one Sunday and speak to Fr Paul.

If you have questions about the RCIA process, please email Alwyn Dantis on alwyndantis@yahoo.com or ring 0467 243 363.

Yours in Christ,

Melanie Stratford

Religious Education Coordinator

melanie.stratford@cg.catholic.edu.au