JJAMM Week – Continuing the Story

This week our school community has joyfully celebrated JJAMM Week – a special time to honour the lives and legacy of Jesus Christ, St Joseph, Fr Julian Tenison Woods and St Mary MacKillop. Throughout the week we have gathered as a community through prayer, liturgy, classroom activities, service and celebration, taking time to reflect on the rich Josephite heritage that continues to shape who we are today.

At the heart of this year's celebration was our newly developed JJAMM Week Identity. More than simply a logo, this image tells the story of our faith and our mission.

At its centre is the open Gospel, reminding us that Christ is the source of everything we do. Rising from those pages are the letters JJAMM, symbolising that our Josephite story begins with Jesus and is grounded in the Good News. Standing alongside are St Joseph, Fr Julian Tenison Woods and St Mary MacKillop, whose lives were inspired by the Gospel and who courageously responded to God's call in their own time.

Yet the image does not end with them.

It reminds us that the story is still being written. Their mission is now entrusted to us. Every act of kindness, every moment of compassion, every opportunity to stand up for justice, and every choice to love and serve another person becomes a new chapter in the Josephite story.

Throughout the week, our students and staff embraced this spirit in many different ways. We enjoyed our much-loved pJJAMMa Day, where students came dressed in their pyjamas and began the day sharing pancakes together—a simple but joyful reminder that community is built through spending time with one another. The delicious JJAMM doughnuts proved another highlight, bringing plenty of smiles while celebrating the week in true Josephite style.

Today, our annual Walkathon provides a fitting conclusion to JJAMM Week. As we walk together, we are reminded that faith is a journey we undertake as a community. Each step symbolises our commitment to following in the footsteps of Jesus, St Joseph, Fr Julian Tenison Woods and St Mary MacKillop, continuing their mission through the way we live each day.

This message has connected beautifully with our school theme for 2026, Conscious Compassion, and with St Mary MacKillop's words:

"Love each other, help and comfort each other."

These words are more than an inspiring quote—they are an invitation to live differently each day. Throughout JJAMM Week we have celebrated not only the remarkable lives of Joseph, Julian and Mary, but also the countless ways our own students and staff continue their mission through generosity, respect, dignity, forgiveness, reverence and compassion.

As our celebrations conclude, JJAMM Week does not simply become another event on the school calendar. Instead, it serves as a reminder of our identity as a Catholic community. The story continues every day—in our classrooms, on the playground, through our learning, our relationships and our service to others.

May we continue to write the next chapter with courage, faith and hope.

Prayer

Loving God,

We thank you for the gift of JJAMM Week and for the opportunity to celebrate our Josephite story.

Thank you for the example of Jesus Christ, St Joseph, Fr Julian Tenison Woods and St Mary MacKillop, whose lives remind us that faith is lived through love, compassion and service.

As this week comes to an end, help us to remember that the story does not finish here.

May we continue to write new chapters each day through the choices we make, the kindness we show and the hope we bring to others.

Give us the courage to love each other, help and comfort each other, so that all who meet us may catch a glimpse of your presence.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Jesus light of the world, guide us

St Joseph, journey with us

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us

Alison Wright

Director of Faith and Mission

CDF SUPPORTING OUR DIOCESE OF BALLARAT