Mother’s Day

Last Sunday, we celebrated Mother’s Day. A special day to highlight the central roles our mothers play in our lives. We also celebrated all the other women in our lives such as grandmothers, great grandmothers, stepmothers, aunts, cousins, teachers, and special friends who have helped to shape and form us into the person we are today.

Last Friday, the students of St Joseph's took the time to recognise and appreciate the special mother figures in their lives with a breakfast and school assembly presentation. To the mothers who were unable to make it, please rest assured that you were not far from our hearts and thoughts.

Below is a prayer you may like to pray together with your family for Mother’s Day…

Dear Lord,

We pray for young mothers, who give life and count toes and tend to our every need;

may they be blessed with patience and tenderness to care for their families and themselves with great joy.

We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us; may they continue to guide us in strong and gentle ways.

We remember mothers who are separated from their children because of war, poverty or conflict; may they feel the loving embrace of our God who wipes away every tear.

We pray for women who are not mothers but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion.

We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live forever etched in our memory, with love.

Amen.

Journey With Jesus Retreat

Year Five attended the ‘Journey with Jesus’ retreat last Thursday with their class teacher, Mrs Harveyson. This was a faith-filled experience for the students and was facilitated by Hennessy Catholic College. The day was packed with games, activities, dramas, videos and talks that explored the Gospel messages of God’s love, salvation, and forgiveness. Year Six will attend a similar retreat day later in the year.

REC Network Day

On Wednesday last week, I attended the REC Network Day at the Catholic Education Office in Manuka. The theme of the day was ‘Encounter-Discipleship-Mission’. RECs from a number of schools across the Archdiocese participated in the day. We focused on the importance of evangelisation, and how High Impact Teaching Practices can benefit Religious Education in the classroom, as well as Christian meditation. Helen Bramanathan from the Catholic Education Office will visit our school next term to focus more on Christian meditation with us.

Class Mass

This term, Year 5/6 will be responsible for a class mass, based on their own chosen theme, to be celebrated with Fr Jiss at St Joseph’s Church on Wednesday the 31st of May at 9:30 am. The students would love to have you attend if you are able.

Sunday Gospel Reflection (June 21)

Gospel             Mat 28:16-20

On Sunday and Monday, 7 and 8th May, over a thousand Catholic school and other Church leaders gathered in hubs across Oceania for the second Oceania Evangelisation Program. The Program took the Easter theme of ‘Jesus is Lord’. We were privileged to hear inspiring testimonies of people, young and old, who had indeed made Jesus the Lord of their lives, the centre of their lives. Just as Jesus had arranged to meet the disciples in Galilee, we heard of how they had encountered Jesus and how this encounter had changed their lives. Just as the disciples fell down before Jesus, each person spoke of how surrendering their lives to Jesus had transformed them personally to want to become missionary disciples. Each had become a teacher in their own way, proclaiming the good news by their lives, their words and deeds, in their own families, schools, workplaces, parishes and the wider world. Many spoke of a powerful sense of Jesus present to them, accompanying them each day and of how the Holy Spirit, first given in Baptism, had become their helper and guide in their varied ministries. As leaders we are all witnesses to something, we all witness news... the question is always, ‘Is it good news, the good news of Jesus, lifting us up and with us always, “yes, to the end of time.’

Loving Father,

We surrender all to you today.

Enter into our hearts in a deeper way as we say, “Yes” to you today.

Jesus, you are the Lord of my whole life.

We believe in you and, like the disciples, fall down before you as our Lord and Savior.

We hold nothing back.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord

Amen

Source: Formed in Prayer

Sacramental Program

This year, St Joseph’s Parish will be offering the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation to eligible candidates. To be eligible to prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy communion, candidates must be in Year 4 or above. To be eligible to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation, candidates must be in Year 5 or above and must have already received the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

The meeting dates for the Reconciliation and First Holy Communion candidates are as follows.

· 17th May – Preparation Meeting

· 24th May – Preparation Meeting

· 28th May – First Reconciliation Mass

· 31st May – Preparation Meeting

· 7th June – Preparation Meeting

· 11th June – First Holy Communion Mass

The preparation for the Confirmation candidates will take place in Terms 3 and 4. Specific information regarding meeting/ mass dates will be provided towards the end of Term 2.

If you are interested in enrolling your child/ren please contact me at the school on 6343 1514 or via email: danielle.mcfarlane@cg.catholic.edu.au

Furthermore, if you know of anyone else interested in further information, who may not have access to this newsletter or the Parish bulletin, please encourage them to contact me also.

Parish News

Sunday 8 am Mass

St Joseph’s Church, Grenfell

Please note that a Mass will be held on the second and fourth Sundays each month. There is a Celebration of the Word with Holy Communion, not a Mass, on the first and third Sundays of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend!

The Parish would love to welcome more children to be involved in Mass on weekends. There are many opportunities for involvement, including doing the readings. If your child can participate in any way, please let me know.

If you wish to visit St Joseph’s Church, it is open daily from 10.00am – 4.00pm and following Mass on Sundays.

Yours in Faith,

Danielle McFarlane

Religious Education Coordinator

Chelsea Harveyson (Anderson)

​Classroom Teacher and Sports Coordinator

"A huge thank you from the Touched by Olivia Foundation and Weddin Shire Council for the work done by your students designing the inclusive playspace to come at Taylor Park, Grenfell. Your  students were engaged and insightful into what inclusion means. They shared how to create a playspace where everyone will feel safe and welcome, will want to play often and together, and the benefits of play and healthy, active, fun for the whole community.

Their input was thoughtful and detailed and will influence the design greatly. We will share the concept designs with the students in the coming months - I know the students will have invaluable feedback! 

The wider student, school and parent community are encouraged to share their thoughts also - a quick 3 minute survey is here. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W85J2G6

Be proud St Joseph's- I work with students all around the country and your students are some of the best with a great sense of social justice and profound understanding of how we can create a more inclusive world!"