St. Brendan's Primary School Newsletter

Catholic Identity

Fr Joe’s Retirement Assembly

Thursday, 4th September

‘A whole school moment in time, 

dedicated to Fr Joe, which we will fondly treasure close to our hearts’

 

Last Thursday, our whole school community gathered in prayer, song, and performance to celebrate a very special milestone—our heartfelt farewell to Fr Joe Taylor, who has faithfully served as our Parish Priest for the past 13 years.

 

From the moment Fr Joe walked into the hall to the cheerful welcome of all the students, it was clear the assembly would be a heartfelt tribute to an extraordinary priest who has touched the lives of so many in our school.

 

The celebration began with a short, prayerful liturgy, thanking God for Fr Joe, our “Good Shepherd” over these past 13 years. Students and staff were then delighted by moving video messages from Fr Jackson, Fr Rom, Fr Paul, and our much-loved musician Andrew Chinn. These messages brought both smiles and tears—Fr Joe was even spotted wiping his eyes as he listened to the heartfelt words.  A particularly touching moment was when the students shared an Irish blessing in Gaelic, with Fr Joe and the school responding in English. The final blessing song, led by Andrew Chinn’s music, lifted the roof with a powerful chorus of voices.

 

The highlight of the assembly came with the extraordinary Art Gallery Performance, led by Mrs Ange Collins and our senior students. Through drama, music, and song, the performance captured three key moments in Fr Joe’s life:

 

  • His youth in Echuca—portrayed through a frozen image of him enjoying the River Murray and sport, with the Middle Years students singing Give Me a Home Among the Gum Trees.

     

  • His missionary years in Fiji—depicted by a frozen scene of Fr Joe’s near-fall from a bridge and the kindness of a village woman who helped him, with the Juniors singing Jesus Like Him (Algeta) in Fijian, translated by Fr Paul.

     

  • His retirement years—illustrated through a scene of travel, reading, and gardening, accompanied by the Senior students’ moving rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

 

To honour him, Fr Joe was also presented with a beautiful box containing over 350 handwritten cards and well-wishes from every student in the school. He was truly touched by the outpouring of love and looked forward to reading each message in his own time.

 

We were blessed with the presence of special guests including, The Honourable Mrs Kim O’Keeffe MP, Monsignor Peter Jeffery, Sr Agnes Murphy RSM, Fr Ronaldo (who will join us as our new Parish Priest), and one of Fr Joe’s dearest friends, Maria Weatherill. Their attendance helped make the occasion even more meaningful.

 

The assembly was filled with so many moments of joy, love, and gratitude, which staff, students, and guests reflected on fondly afterwards.

 

We thank our students for giving their very best in such a moving celebration, and we give thanks to God for Fr Joe’s remarkable 51 years of priestly service. We wish him every blessing as he begins his well-deserved retirement.

 

God bless you, Fr Joe.

 

 

 

Sister Agnes Murphy RSM- guest speaking to the Year 5/6 students

Connecting the Mercy traditions and qualities from our ourt reach fundraising efforts on Footy Colours Day for Azem Almaz

 

Article Below compliments of Shepp News;

 

 

Footy Colours Day

GOLD COIN DONATION

Next Friday we will have our annual term 3 fundraiser event, raising money for a local or Diocesan cause. 

 

This year we will be supporting the good work of AZEM ALMEZ and his efforts with ‘People supporting People.’ next Friday, 19th September we will have a whole school assembly to present a Cheque with our total funds raised to Azem and Kim O’Keefe MP at 1.30pm in our courtyard, weather permitting (or in the school hall-TBC). 

 

We encourage all our students teachers and the school community to get behind this important cause as we bring Mercy into action through this outreach initiative.

 

 

 

"Our charity is to be cordial... something that renews, invigorates and warms. Such should be the effect of our love for each other."— Catherine McAuley

 

In the spirit of Catherine McAuley, may our acts of charity be more than duty—they should be heartfelt, life-giving, and filled with warmth. Let us remember that true giving renews both the giver and the receiver, and that even the smallest gesture, when done with love, carries the grace of God.

 

Loving God,

Help us to give generously, not only from our hands but from our hearts.

May our charity reflect Your mercy and bring light to those in need.

Guide us to be instruments of Your peace,

With faith and courage, in the spirit of our Mercy founders.

Amen.

 

Pilgrims of Hope – Term 3 

Celebrating Faith, Living Mercy, Walking in Hope

 

As a school community, we continue to walk together as Pilgrims of Hope, guided by our Catholic faith and the charism of Mercy. Term 3 has been a season of extraordinary richness, woven together with prayer, celebration, service, creativity, and learning. Each event has been more than just a moment in time—it has been an opportunity to encounter God, deepen our faith, and live out the values of compassion, justice, and service to others.

 

Through Sacraments, liturgies, guest speakers, artistic expression, and community outreach, our students and staff have embraced the call to make faith real and purposeful in their daily lives. This term has shown us that to be Pilgrims of Hope is to journey side by side, carrying forward the light of Christ into our school, parish, and wider community.

 

Catholic Identity Highlights from Term 3 include:

  • Sacramental Masses – Three very special Masses celebrated by Fr Joe and Fr Adi, bringing our students closer to God through the Sacraments.

     

  • Faith and Formation – Guest input from Fr Adi with our Year 2 and Middle Years students, exploring the meaning of Faith and the Sacraments.

     

  • Living Mercy Today – Reconnecting with our Mercy Charism through:
    • A podcast recording with Sr Agnes Murphy (RSM), Grace Weber, and Jaron Saboni—sharing the wisdom of one of our three Sisters of Mercy still active in the parish.
    • Senior students engaging with Sr Agnes as our guest speaker on the Mercy values and their relevance today.

    • Our outreach fundraiser supporting Azem Almaz and “People Supporting People”, showing how Mercy is lived in real and practical ways.

       

  • Youth Mass – A joyful celebration with many of our students leading in prayer, readings, choir, and offertory, followed by a night of games, pizza, and friendship.

     

  • Staff Spirituality Day – A CESL-led day of reflection and discernment, reminding us that being a teacher in a Catholic school is itself a pilgrimage of hope.

     

  • Liturgical Celebrations – Whole-school participation in the Feast of the Assumption, honouring Mary, our Mother in Heaven.

     

  • Assemblies and Whole-School Events – Including Grandparents and the Elderly Day, the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, and our Athletics Carnival where students proudly represented their house saints: Dominic Savio, Maria Goretti, Catherine McAuley, and Francis Xavier.

     

  • Celebrating Fr Joe’s Retirement – The whole school came together in a heartfelt retirement assembly for Fr Joe. Through prayer, song, performance, and words of thanks, we honoured his years of service, guidance, and presence in our school. Such  a joyous and moving tribute to a priest who has journeyed with us through many treasured moments of faith and liturgical celebrations.”

     

  • Upcoming Footy Colours Day – Our annual Term 3 fundraiser, with proceeds once again supporting the work of Azem Almaz and his outreach in Shepparton—living Catherine McAuley’s vision of Mercy in action.

     

  • Creative Faith Expression – Year 3/4 students created vibrant artwork inspired by this year’s Season of Creation theme: Seasons of Peace (Isaiah 32:14–18).

     

Term 3 has been an inspiring reminder of the many ways our Catholic identity is alive at

St Brendan’s. From the reverence of our Sacramental Masses, to the creativity of our art celebrating the Season of Creation, to the energy of our Youth Mass and whole-school assemblies, every experience has drawn us closer as a community of faith. 

 

Just as Catherine McAuley planted seeds of Mercy to flourish in the lives of others, we too have sown seeds of hope through our fundraising, prayer, and commitment to one another. As we prepare to conclude the term with our Footy Colours Day fundraiser, we do so with grateful hearts—knowing that together we are living out our mission as Pilgrims of Hope, bringing joy, compassion, and God’s love into the world.

 

Thank you to all the students, teachers, and families for your continued support and dedication.  As pilgrims of hope through the spirit of mercy, we journey together with God in our hearts, sharing the vision of a brighter future.

 

Wishing everyone a restful and enjoyable holiday—a time to be still, to reflect, and to embrace the presence of God in our daily lives.

 

With faith and courage, and in the spirit of our Mercy founders,

 I wish you peace and renewal this holiday.

 

 

Kind regards, 

Leanne Pellegrino (Catholic Identity Leader)