Faith, Justice and Formation

Mother's Day Mass Friday 12 May 2023

We are very much looking forward to welcoming all mums and boys to the Mother’s Day Mass at Rosehill Gardens this Friday.

Please note the following arrangements.

• You need to have a ticket to attend the Mass. Please either print your ticket and bring it with you or have it available to show on your smartphone when you arrive.
   
• Doors open at 8:00 AM. The Mass will start promptly at 9:00 AM. Please allow plenty of time for travel to Rosehill as the traffic on James Ruse Drive can be difficult to negotiate in the early morning. We will not be able to delay the start of Mass for late arrivals.
   
• Please follow the directions of parking attendants and other staff.
   
• Boys should bring their bags with them. They will be directed to leave their bags on the ground floor of the Grand Pavilion where there will be secure allocated spaces. They need to find the area set aside for their homeroom and then join you upstairs.
   
• At the conclusion of the Mass, all boys need to return to school on the buses provided.
  
  For students not attending Mass it is a normal school day starting at 8:35 AM.

Below is a map that shows the two car park entry points at Rosehill Gardens. You can enter either directly from James Ruse Drive or from Grand Avenue.

Novena of Rosaries to Our Lady Help of Christians - Families Unite in Prayer

The Heartfelt Community, Bridget Sakr, and Fr Peter Joseph, with the help of St Mel's Catholic Parish, Campsie, is embarking on a Rosary Crusade to Our Lady Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia since 1844. This Rosary Novena Crusade is said for the very important and necessary conversion and sanctification of Australia. (Don't forget to include your personal intentions too!)

They are seeking to arrange a pledge of 100,000 participants to pray the Novena of Rosaries to Our Lady Help of Christians, nine days before the feast of Mary Help of Christians which is on 24 May 2023. 

This novena, which commences on 15 May 2023 and concludes on 23 May 2023, requires participants to say a prayer each day to be said before the rosary is recited on these nine days.

The target is to reach 100,000 participants by 15 May and with your help and support, this can be made possible. This link will take you to a page giving further information and a registration form so that your commitment to prayer can contribute to the target. Once a participant registers, they will receive all the daily prayers for the nine-day novena. 

Adam Leslie

Acting Director of Identity

St Patrick’s College Winter Appeal 2023

The last couple of cold mornings have been a reminder that winter is upon us once again, and as the days get shorter and the nights get colder, we must remember those who are less fortunate than us and help those who do not have a place to sleep this winter. We are so fortunate to have a home to go to, warm blankets, as well as food and basic hygiene. To help those who are sleeping rough and to show them the dignity they deserve as human beings through our love and care, we will be holding our Annual SPC Winter Appeal on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 May. All donations will be distributed between SVDP (St Vincent De Paul), The House of Welcome and Catholic Care to spread our reach across the city and state.

It would be greatly appreciated if every student brings the following:

• A blanket or sleeping bag (the simple ones from Kmart and the like are great or the blankets/sleeping bags can be used ones if they have been cleaned).
   
• A toiletry item (all small in size so they are easy to carry when on the streets) allocated by house below.

Optional extras for people to bring in are: NEW beanie, scarf, socks, underwear (in packet), men’s singlets. Please DO NOT bring any clothes. (Anything outside the requested items will be sent back home, sorry.)

Please help us by following the directions for donation below. This assists us with the large numbers and the organisation we need to undertake.

ALL boys in Berg, Coghlan and Crichton are to bring their donations in on Thursday 25 May.

ALL boys in Hanrahan, Hickey and Rice are to bring their donations in on Friday 26 May.

All items will be collected in homeroom on the allocated day. This should assist families by having all sons bring in on the one day. All items should be brand new. 

As people in a privileged position, our generosity is vital in order to help those who cannot afford these luxuries. Homelessness is a significant, although often hidden, problem in Sydney and New South Wales. Especially at this present time there are so many people in need of adequate housing who would never have imagined that they would find themselves in this position. There has been much discussion in the public sphere about the shortage of adequate housing and the rising cost of rent. This is having an impact on so many people and we are called to act.

The Winter Appeal will be followed up by the optional Winter Sleep Out for students in early Term 3. Details regarding this will be placed in the Especean later this term.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Karim Lattouf                                         Adam Leslie

Social Justice Prefect                       Acting Director of Identity

Head to Heart Program

On the 19th of April, during the second week of the school holidays, Mr Herro and Ms Benham alongside me and many Year 11 students took place In the ‘Head 2 Heart’ program that was part of our Social Justice Service for 2023. This was run by Eddie Rice Camps Australia, and facilitated by the College. Many of us were nervous to say the least, eager to find out what the next 24 hours held. Head 2 Heart is a social justice and leadership program that facilitates an overnight program for their kids facing adversity, collaborating with secondary schools like SPC. Camps can be used to provide temporary respite care. Having the assurance that their children are loved and having fun gives families and other carers of children the chance to deal with their challenges.

This leadership program is designed for senior students who want to make a difference in their community. The College and Head 2 Heart collaborated to make the program available to these young people. We utilised the school's resources as well as the familiarity of the space around us. This enables students to focus on the work of mentoring and interacting with their buddy. We spent both days playing games, singing songs, and doing other activities with the participants that focused on fostering connection and resilience. The program concluded with a communal meal, and a final debriefing session to help participants unwind and reflect on their experience. 

Children are able to laugh, play, sing, dance, run wild, and have fun—activities that the majority of Australians consider crucial components of maturing. The camp also fostered personal development, the acquisition of life skills, and the development of a sense of value and worth in the children who attend. Eddie Rice Camps offer a 1:1 participant to volunteer ratio, which allows for deep interaction and confidence building. The 1:1 ratio enables one-on-one attention, which many kids thrive with. The kids' ability to interact with kind, loving, and energetic people who can serve as great role models in their life is the source of many benefits. Every child deserves a happy and safe upbringing. If you ever get the opportunity to partake in an activity like this or one similar, I urge you to do it – you will not regret it. I thank all the individuals, particularly Mr Bottalico who made this experience a memorable one. 

William Chahin 

Year 11 Student