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Dear Parents,
Friday was a surprising day for us last week as we were visited by Channel 7 who wanted to do a story on the St Joseph’s Christmas Food Drive. We were more than happy to share about this initiative and we invite you to view the item on the Channel 7 Prime Central West; please search for the Monday 20th edition.
Please do jump on board and support the Food Drive. There will be a special end of term treat for the Colour House which contributes the most items.
This week we welcome Maddie James from Hennessy Catholic College to St Joseph’s for Work Experience. Maddie will be assisting throughout the school, and it is a pleasure to have her with us.
With the final weeks of the year upon us, the focus of our newsletter this week is to update parents on all the end of year happenings. We look forward very much to sharing the joy with you all!
Swimming Programme – Monday 4th Dec – Friday 15th
Students will participate in daily swimming lessons, commencing on Monday the 4th of December (Weeks 9-10), run by the Grenfell Aquatic Centre and their qualified instructors. Lessons will run until the end of term or will be stopped if there is risk of poor weather conditions.
Students are to come to school in their school uniform and their swimmers ready to go underneath. It is important that students are at school on time and prepared as we will be swimming first up, in the morning session. Students will change back into their uniform to return to school.
Please ensure that students have a rashie or t-shirt to swim in, their goggles (if required), sunscreen, towel, underwear, and that all items are clearly labelled.
Please ensure to provide us with your Season Ticket number to avoid pool entry fees. If your child/ren are not season ticket holders, a daily entry cost will be incurred, amounting to $20 for the entirety of the lessons. This can be paid in full when providing consent.
For any further questions or concerns, please contact the front office.
Year 2/3/4 Liturgy
Please do join us at the Church this coming Wednesday the 29th of November at 9:30 am for the Year 2/3/4 Liturgy. Parents and friends are all welcome!
Award Presentation Evening – Thursday 7th December at 7.00 pm
We look forward to welcoming all our St Joseph’s families to this very special end of year event held here at school.
Families are asked to arrive anytime from 6.45 pm and to be seated ready to commence at 7.00 pm. The children are to wear school uniform please.
We are excited to have special guests joining our school community to celebrate all the successes of 2023 and look forward to all the children participating.
End of Year and Year 6 Graduation Mass – Wednesday 13th December
Please join us to give thanks to God for all the blessings of 2023 and especially our Year 6 graduating students. Our community will come together in unity at 6.00pm at St Joseph’s Church and again, we hope that every member of the community will join this event.
Christmas Fair – Friday 15th December
Christmas Carols – Sunday 17th December 5.30 for 6.00pm Start at Taylor Park
All the children K-6 have been preparing for this event and we look forward to the St Joseph’s children presenting the carols they have been working on during this community event. We ask that the children please wear their school uniform and a Christmas accessory i.e. Santa hat, etc.
Please Support St Joseph’s Fundraising…
Our St Joseph’s Parent and Friends Association has been kindly invited to host the BBQs for the above two events. This is potentially an excellent fundraising opportunity for the school and more importantly, a great way for St Joseph’s to contribute to the wider Grenfell community. We will need lots of helpers for these events so please do keep these dates free and do volunteer to support our school and the local community.
St Joseph’s Uniform Ambassador Award
To help keep the children continue to wear their uniform with pride right up until the end of the year, for the next few weeks we have announced a special award – the St Joseph’s Uniform Ambassador Awards. At least one child (hopefully more!) from each class will receive this special award at assembly.
In Conclusion…
Hoping that the above information will be helpful in preparing for the busy weeks ahead. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
This coming Friday the 24th of November is the end of the month and so it will be a Mufti Day, the last for the year.
Looking forward to seeing you all over the coming weeks!
With best wishes,
Louise Grant
Principal (Acting)
Request for Year Six Graduation Mass Photos
Monday is the final day that we will be accepting photos for the Graduation Mass presentation slideshow. We are looking for approximately 12-14 photos in total. Among those photos, or in addition to, we would also like you to provide us with a photo of your child in Kindergarten and Year Six, to contribute to a display at the Graduation Mass. Feel free to email them directly to me or save them to a USB. Thank you for your time and assistance!
Class Mass Dates
Please note in your diaries the following Mass dates:
- Year 2/3/4 Class Mass – 29th November
(now a Liturgy of the Word due to priest unavailability)
- Year 6 Graduation Mass – 13th December
We welcome everyone to attend these very special events at St Joseph’s Church.
Prayer For Peace in the Middle East
Lord Jesus Christ,
The Holy Land is once again struck by violence, hatred, and death. Lord, look with mercy upon the land that was your earthly home.
Receive the deceased into your presence. Comfort those who mourn, are wounded, or forced to flee. Be close to all who are full of fear and despair.
You are our peace and the light of the nations, put an end to the spiral of terror and suffering in the Holy Land and in the whole Middle East.
Let peace and justice flourish at the holy sites. You are our refuge. Let the people be safe in your Love.
Have mercy on us and on our time. Amen.
www.aidtochurch.org
Year Six Graduation Mass
School Christmas Food Drive - Grenfell Food Hall
Our Christmas Food Drive is off to a great start!
Thanks for your support in this and all our school fundraising projects.
Below is a list of the categories/ items we will be collecting over the next two weeks to donate to the Grenfell Food Hall. Please check all item expiry dates extend into 2024.
If you have any questions, please let us know. We thank you in advance for your support!
Sunday Gospel Reflection (November 26)
Gospel Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 22:34-40
So many Catholic schools are applauded for their commitment to the principles, values and works of charity and social justice. However, connecting charitable works with discipleship, living out our Catholic faith in imitation of Jesus or, as the parable suggests identifying Jesus himself with the poor, naked, sick and imprisoned, is just as important. In our experience, a parable catches us unaware and draws us into the narrative just as we realise we’ve passed judgement on ourselves. For, unlike the sheep or the goats,weI can only reply, “I knew it was you Lord and still I did little to help!” Of course, the “least” can suddenly become ourselves, our wives or husbands, sons or daughters, colleagues or students, family and friends, neighbours or parishioners. In loving service of them, in our painful accompaniment of them, we become one with the crucified but risen body of Christ.
God our Father,
May we be blessed as we come to know Christ
in our own and others’ hunger and thirst, nakedness, illness or homelessness.
We ask this through the Son of Man, who comes in glory.
Amen.
Source: Formed in Prayer, CSYMI (Adapted)
Student Prayer of the Week
Yours in Faith,
Danielle McFarlane
Religious Education Coordinator
Parish News
Sunday 8 am
St Joseph’s Church, Grenfell
Please note that a Mass will be held on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. There is a Celebration of the Word with Holy Communion, not a Mass, on the first and third (and any fifth) Sunday of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend!
If you wish to visit St Joseph’s Church, it is open daily from 10.00am – 4.00pm and following Mass on Sundays.
Welcome Deacon Mark Ha
Dear Parishioners,
Greetings in the spirit of joy and fellowship. I trust this message finds you in good health.
I have returned from a restorative holiday, invigorated and eager to continue our sacred ministry in the Young Mission.
I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Fr Allen Crowe and Fr Dom from Galong Monastery for their invaluable support during my absence. Their presence was a true blessing.
I am delighted to share that we are welcoming a new member to our team. Thanks to the generous support of the Archdiocese of Canberra Goulburn, Deacon Mark Ha will be joining our Young Mission on November 18th for a few months for pastoral experience. As he becomes part of our community, he will have the opportunity to introduce himself to all of you.
Let us unite with steadfast devotion to nurture our Young Mission. Together, let us hold Deacon Mark Ha in our prayers as he embarks on this new chapter of service.
As we approach the Advent and Christmas season, I invite you to consider becoming a cherished part of our parishioners' family by supporting our ministry with the gifts you have been blessed with.
Please approach the Parish Office to leave your name if you are interested in helping in any of the ministries.
May abundant blessings be upon you all.
In faith and gratitude,
Fr. Jiss
Christmas Timetable Mass Times
Saturday 23rd Dec: - Young Vigil - 6.00pm
(Weekend Masses) - Boorowa Vigil - 6.00pm
- Grenfell Vigil - 6.00pm
Sunday 24th Dec: - Young Mass - 10.00am
Sports News:
Upcoming Swim Safe Lessons.
Students will participate in daily swimming lessons, commencing on Monday the 4th of December (Weeks 9-10), run by the Grenfell Aquatic Centre and their qualified instructors. Lessons will run until the end of term or will be stopped if there is risk of poor weather conditions.
Students are to come to school in their school uniform and their swimmers ready to go underneath. It is important that students are at school on time and prepared as we will be swimming first up, in the morning session. Students will change back into their uniform to return to school.
Please ensure that students have a rashie or t-shirt to swim in, their goggles (if required), sunscreen, towel, underwear, and that all items are clearly labelled.
K-4 will be transported to and from the school via bus.
5/6 will be walking to and from the pool.
If your child/ren are not season ticket holders, an entry cost will be incurred, amounting to $20 for the entirety of the lessons. This can be paid in full when providing consent.
For any questions or concerns, please contact the office.
A compass event has been sent out, please respond as soon as possible.
Chelsea Harveyson (Anderson)
Classroom Teacher and Sports Coordinator
