Assistant Principal's 

News

It is lovely to be back at St Francis after my few weeks of leave. I was blessed to spend quality time with my family in Ireland and we were lucky to experience unseasonably warm and dry weather. During my trip, I visited the village of Knock in County Mayo. I spent some time at the Knock Shrine which is an international place of pilgrimage and prayer. I found it to be a very worthwhile and peaceful experience. I thought I would share with you the story of Knock. 

On a wet dark August evening in 1879, the villagers of this place had spent the day doing the usual work of the harvest time of the year – gathering winter fuel and fodder. As evening approached, the heavy mist that had been persistent throughout the day, turned to a steady downpour. The villagers gathered around the turf fires in their homes, taking comfort and shelter on a terrible night. 

Suddenly word spread throughout the village that something extraordinary was happening at the Church and so they hurried to the windswept gable where they witnessed a heavenly vision surrounded by a brilliant white light. Men, women and children gathered in prayer at the gable wall of the parish church

The witnesses clearly saw the Blessed Virgin Mary dressed in white robes, her hands and eyes turned towards heaven in prayer. On her head was a gold crown and where the crown fitted the brow, a single golden rose. On her right, bowed respectfully towards her, was St. Joseph. He appeared older, his beard and hair were grey and, like Our Lady, he was barefoot. 

To Our Lady’s left stood John the Evangelist vested as a bishop, wearing a small mitre. He held an open book in his left hand and on its pages, the lines and letters could clearly be seen. He appeared to be preaching but no voice was heard. He stood so that his back was neither turned to the Virgin nor to the Lamb that stood upon a simple plain altar. Behind the Lamb was a Cross. The witnesses watched and prayed for over 2 hours and though they were wet, they noticed that no rain fell upon the Apparition or on the gable.

Congratulations to the students in years three, four, five and six who sat the English and Mathematics ICAS exams during term three. These exams were set at a high standard of academic knowledge and the content was both rigorous and challenging. 

Students will be awarded certificates for their results under the following categories.

Students who completed the exams will receive their certificates on Monday morning on the playground after the morning bell. 

A special congratulations to the following students -

• James Angelakis who received a Distinction for English.
• Mason Ferreria, Yilin (Elaine) Tao and Austin Liu, who received a Distinction for Mathematics.

Kind regards,

Fiona Scullion