Catholic Identity
Our Lenten journey towards Easter!
On Sunday, while cheering on the Illawarra Hawks at WIN stadium, I began to make many parallels between the game of basketball and our Catholic faith. As we journey towards Easter, I encourage you to meditate on how each aspect of a basketball game offers valuable lessons that resonate with our spiritual journey.
1: Fouls and acknowledging our sins.
Fouls disrupt the flow of play and can give the opposing team an advantage. When we commit a foul, it’s important to own up to it, to acknowledge our mistakes and accept the consequences. In our spiritual lives, when we sin, we distance ourselves from God and may hurt others. It is important to own up to the mistakes that we make in our lives.
2. Time outs- Moments of reflection and prayer.
Throughout a game, teams take timeouts to regroup, strategise, and recharge and are essential to the success of a game. Similarly, in our busy lives, we need moments of quiet reflection and prayer. Taking time to step back allows us to listen for God’s guidance amidst the chaos. Whether it’s a daily meditation or a moment of silence, these “timeouts” help us reconnect with God and rediscover our purpose.
3. Substitutes mean the power of community.
When fatigue sets in, coaches substitute players to keep the momentum going. In our Catholic faith, we also rely on one another. Our community plays a crucial role in supporting us through life’s challenges. Friends, family, and fellow parishioners provide encouragement, share burdens, and celebrate victories together.
4. Three-Pointers encourage us to live out our faith boldly.
Hitting a three-pointer requires confidence, precision, and faith in oneself. These high-risk, high-reward shots often change the game's momentum and inspire both players and fans. In our faith, taking bold steps; whether through acts of charity, standing up for justice, or sharing our beliefs, can have a significant impact on those around us.
5. Travelling teaches us the importance of staying grounded.
In basketball, traveling results from losing control or moving without purpose and interrupts the flow of the game. Similarly, in our spiritual journey, if we stray too far from our core beliefs or become distracted by worldly concerns, we risk wandering off path. To stay grounded, we must continually remind ourselves of the teachings of Jesus and remain committed to our values.
As we cheer on the Hawks on Sunday, let's take these reflections to heart and integrate their lessons into our own lives. By acknowledging our fouls, valuing timeouts, embracing our community, daring to take three-pointers, staying grounded, we draw closer to God and embody God’s love in the world.
Holy Week Liturgies
As we continue our Lenten preparations, students across our school will be presenting a short Liturgy, drawing our focus into the solemn time of our Church’s Calendar Holy Week. Parents and family members are invited to attend these liturgies from 8:50 am each morning in Week 11.
Monday 7 April: Year 1 and Year 2- Palm Sunday
Tuesday 8 April: Year 3- The Last Supper
Thursday 10 April: Year 5-: Jesus Praying in the Garden
Friday 11 April: Year 6- Stations of the Cross (from 9:10am)
We look forward to welcoming parents and families during this special time.
Update- Project Compassion Toefuata'iga’ story.
Toefuata'iga, a 13-year-old student in Samoa, faced severe challenges and disruptions to her learning due to water scarcity. After Caritas Australia’s partner Caritas Samoa installed a 10,000 litre water tank at her school, Toefuata'iga and her classmates saw improved health and more consistent class attendance.
So far, we have raised $300 towards Project Compassion. There is still a little more work to go to reach our goal of $2000! Some students across our school have taken great initiatives in raising money in our community. We have had students baking and selling brownies, cookies, making craft and donating our 10c cans. These are some great examples of how we are people of service towards each other and our community!
Fantastic work!
Fr Patrick Visits Kindergarten
One aspect that makes St Joseph’s great is the strong connection that we have with our Parish and Parish Priest, Fr Patrick. Last week the Kindergarten students were very excited to have Fr Patrick visit their classrooms. They showed him their prayer space, they prayed together, sang songs together and met some very special toys!
Thank you Fr Patrick for visiting!
What is Mini Vinnies?
At St Joseph’s, our Mini Vinnies group is made up of committed students and teachers that meet to discuss and raise awareness of social justice issues and organise ways to help others in need within our own community and beyond. Mini Vinnies groups are a great introduction into the St Vincent de Paul Society and experiencing its ethos, while developing leadership skills. Mini Vinnies provides students with opportunities to put their faith into action by coordinating volunteer driven projects, events and initiatives that allow students to reflect on the needs in their community, help develop empathy, compassion and understanding with their fellow students, and share their passion to raise awareness about social justice issues.
The program at St. Joseph’s is run by Mrs Parker (3M teacher) and Miss Negus (KM teacher) and any student (K-6) is welcome to attend on Thursdays at lunchtime.
What do Mini Vinnies do?
Mini Vinnies raises awareness of social justice issues, organises ways to help others in need, develops leadership skills, and encourages students to become compassionate servant leaders.
Mini Vinnies students give up a lunchtime each week to discuss social justice issues, raise awareness of these and create solutions.
How wonderful that we have a school community where so many students want to be a part of such an important initiative.
Project 1 - making Christmas wrapping paper!
Year of Hope Passport
If you and your family are seeking an outing this weekend, I encourage you to visit one of the Pilgrimage sites in the diocese of Wollongong for the Year of Hope.
St Francis Xavier Cathedral- Wollongong
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception- Unanderra
Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church- Rosemeadow
St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church- Milton
St Joseph’s Catholic Church- Kangaroo Valley
Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy- Sutton Forest
Please let me know once you have visited one of these sites so that we can stamp our school passport!
Students will soon receive their own Year of Hope passport to be stamped.
Upcoming events
Families are invited to attend the following events.
Friday 21 March: Harmony Day Assembly at 2:00pm. Students wear an ORANGE ACCESSORY.
Sunday 30 March at 8:30am: Family Mass with morning tea- All are very welcome and encouraged to attend! Please inform Mr Walker if your child would like to participate by reading, welcoming, offertory, collecting etc.
Sacramental dates
More information will be communicated closer to the date.
Wednesday 30 July at 7:00pm: Year 6 Confirmation with the Bishop
Thursday 31 July at 7:00pm: Year 6 Confirmation with the Bishop
Sunday 17 August: Year 3 First Holy Communion
Sunday 24 August at 8:30am and 5:30pm: Year 3 First Holy Communion
- Thursday 6 November at 9:30am: Year 2 First Reconciliation
St Joseph’s Bulli Mass times
We are so blessed to have a church so closely connected with our school. Please see below this week’s Mass times.
Sunday 8:30 am
Sunday 5:30 pm
Mr Alexander Walker
Religious Education Coordinator