In Faith we will show..... Respect, Empathy, Inclusion, Excellence!

St Anthony's Feast Day

The feast day of St Anthony is Thursday 13 June, just a few weeks away. To celebrate this important event for our school and parish we will be having two events due to commitments from the HOLT Sporting Association that our senior students are involved in.

The first event will be held on Wednesday 5 June and the second on Thursday 13 June starting with Mass at 9.15am and then activities during the day.

As the Patron Saint of our Parish and school it is always important to remind ourselves of the life of this special saint and how he still can bring hope and inspiration to all of us no matter what stage of life we are at.

Anthony was born in 1195 in Lisbon, Portugal and given the name of Fernando at Baptism. When he joined the Franciscan Order he then took the name Anthony.

Anthony of Padua is one of the world's most beloved and popular saints. Known for finding lost articles, awe-inspiring miracles, and his love for the poor. Hosts of miracles have been attributed to St. Anthony's intercession.

Doctor of the Church: Noted by his contemporaries for his powerful preaching, expert knowledge of scripture, and undying love and devotion to the poor and the sick, he was one of the most quickly canonized saints in church history, being canonized less than a year after his death.

What can we learn from St. Anthony of Padua?

Anthony of Padua's life is what every Christian's life is meant to be; a steady courage to face the ups and downs of life, the call to love and forgive, to be concerned for the needs of others, to deal with crisis great and small, and to have our feet solidly on the ground of total trusting love and dependence on God.

Year 3 Reconciliation

Congratulations to the Year 3 students, Max, Jacqueline, Luke, Cristelle and Joseph, who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time last Tuesday night. As always they were well prepared for this sacrament where they took total responsibility for it under the guidance of their teachers. "Thank you!" to Mr Tim O'Mahoney who made this a special celebration for the students and their parents.

Vatican News

I would like to share with you some good news that we don't see in our local media but definitely worthy of attention. I subscribe to the Vatican Daily News and was excited to read the article on this special occurrence.

Pope Francis clears path for Canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis

Pope Francis recognises a miracle attributed to Blessed Carlo Acutis and another to Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, and approves the canonization of 11 martyrs in Syria.

Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, met with Pope Francis on Thursday 23 May 2024, who approved the public announcement of several decrees related to the causes of canonisation of several men and women.

For young Catholics, the most interesting is surely the recognition of a miracle attributed to Blessed Carlo Acutis.

The young man was born on May 3, 1991, in London, England, and died on October 12, 2006, in Monza, Italy, succumbing to leukemia at the age of 15.

He was noted for his cheerfulness, computer skills, and deep devotion to the Eucharist, which became a core theme of his life.

Pope Francis beatified the millennial in 2020 in Assisi, where Blessed Carlo had made multiple pilgrimages and where his mortal remains rest.

Miracle attributed to Blessed Carlo Acutis

The miracle recognized is related to a woman from Costa Rica.

On July 8, 2022, Liliana prayed at Blessed Carlo’s tomb in Assisi, leaving a letter describing her plea. Six days earlier, on July 2, her daughter Valeria had fallen from her bicycle in Florence, where she was attending university.

She had suffered severe head trauma, and required craniotomy surgery and the removal of the right occipital bone to reduce pressure on her brain, with what her doctors said was a very low chance of survival.

Liliana’s secretary began praying immediately to Blessed Carlo Acutis, and on July 8, Liliana made her pilgrimage to his tomb in Assisi.

That same day, the hospital informed her that Valeria had begun to breath spontaneously. The next day, she began to move and partially regain her speech.

On July 18, a CAT scan proved that her hemorrhage had disappeared, and on August 11, Valeria was moved to rehabilitation therapy. She made quick progress, and on September 2, Valeria and Liliana made another pilgrimage to Assisi to thank Blessed Carlo for his intercession.

In the decree released last week, Pope Francis announced he will convene a Consistory of Cardinals to deliberate the canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis, clearing the way for him to become the first canonised millennial in the Catholic Church.

Here is an extract from Devin Watkins’ article in Vatican News Friday 24 May 2024.

Feast of the Sacred Heart - Vinney's Appeal

Please keep sending in your blankets and coats or winter clothing that you no longer need as these will put a smile on a needy person. If articles can be brought to school by Friday 7 June that would be greatly appreciated.

Curriculum Day

A reminder that Tuesday 11 June is our Curriculum Day with OSHC being open for the families that need it. Students should not attend school on this day.

Yours sincerely

Margaret Carlei

Principal

“Compassion toward our neighbors ought to be threefold:

if they sin against us, we ought to forgive them.

If they stray from the path of moral integrity and truth, we should instruct them.

If they are in need, we must help them.” St. Anthony of Padua.

Library News

Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge 2024