John XXIII College Newsletter

Faith and Mission

We extend our thanks to our College community for your generous support of the recent Compassion in Action Food Drive, held in honour of the passing of Pope Francis. This initiative was a practical expression of our shared faith and values, offering support to those most in need through donations of food and toiletries for The Shopfront, a local organisation that supports people experiencing hardship and social isolation.

 

In the Catholic tradition, compassion is not simply about feeling sorry for someone. The word itself means 'to suffer with.' It calls us to move beyond sympathy and into solidarity – to stand with those who are struggling and to respond with both love and action. Jesus showed us what compassion looks like: feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, healing the sick, and lifting the poor. Compassion is not an optional extra in our faith – it is essential, and it is reflected in our College Mission Statement, which calls us to be people who seek justice and live with hope and love.

 

As we remember the legacy of Pope Francis, we also look to the future with hope under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV, who has already called the Church to be more compassionate and merciful in all that it does. In his early messages, Pope Leo XIV reminded the world that true faith must be lived out in everyday acts of kindness, humility, and service, especially toward the poor and the forgotten.

 

Thank you to every student, family, and staff member who contributed. May we continue to be a community that brings compassion to life – in small acts, in daily choices, and in service to others.

 

Janeen Murphy

Deputy Principal Faith and Mission

 

 

 

 

 

Community Mass

Thank you to Loreto House for your preparation of this morning’s liturgy. Next Friday, Community Mass will be prepared by Year 8, and their families are especially welcome. 

 

However, everyone is invited to gather for our weekly Eucharist in this 50-day season of Easter. 

 

If you have any questions about Community Mass, please contact Mary-Anne Lumley: 

mary-anne.lumley@johnxxiii.edu.au

 

Community Mass details

  • College Chapel
  • Fridays in term time
  • Starts at 8:00am; concludes at 8:30am.

If you have any questions about Community Mass, please contact Mary-Anne Lumley: 

mary-anne.lumley@johnxxiii.edu.au

Sacraments

Do you have a child in Year 3, 4 or 6?

Students in these classes are respectively preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First holy Communion and Confirmation. It is imperative to enrol in a parish program as soon as possible as some parishes have already closed their enrolments for 2025.

 

Each parish has its own unique sacrament program. Information from some local parishes is provided on the College website. 

 

Parents often have questions about the Sacrament program, so don’t be afraid to ask. Below are some useful points of contact: