Catholic Identity

Who Was St Patrick and Why Do We Celebrate His Feast Day?

St Patrick is one of the most well-known saints in the world and the patron saint of Ireland. Born in Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped by pirates as a teenager and taken to Ireland, where he was enslaved as a shepherd. During this time, he developed a deep faith in God. After several years, he escaped and returned to his family. However, he felt called to return to Ireland as a missionary, dedicating his life to spreading Christianity across the country.

St Patrick is famous for using the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity – how God exists as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is also credited with driving the “snakes” out of Ireland, which is believed to symbolise his role in bringing Christianity to a place where pagan beliefs had previously been dominant.

For our school, St Patrick is an incredibly important figure, as he is our patron saint. He represents faith, perseverance, and the call to serve others – values we strive to uphold in our school community. St Patrick’s life reminds us to remain strong in our faith, show kindness to others, and share the love of God in our daily lives.

We celebrate St Patrick’s Feast Day each year on 17 March, which marks the anniversary of his death. Feast days are special celebrations in the Catholic Church, set aside to honour saints and their contributions to faith. For us, St Patrick’s Day is not only a chance to dress in green and enjoy special activities but also an opportunity to reflect on his legacy and how we can follow his example in our own lives.

At St Patrick’s School, this day holds extra significance as we take time to celebrate the community we share under his name. Through our St Patrick’s Day celebrations, we remember his courage, his faith, and his mission to spread the message of God’s love.

"Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me." – St Patrick

Caritas Fundraising

Our Catholic Identity Leaders have been busy planning fundraising and awareness initiatives to support CARITAS Australia, an organisation committed to empowering communities in need.

To raise funds, they will be selling Zooper Doopers every Wednesday and holding a Free Dress Day on Wednesday, April 2nd. The money raised will go towards helping people build sustainable futures. Instead of simply giving money or food, CARITAS provides resources and training, such as seeds and animals for farmers or sewing machines for tailors, ensuring long-term support for those in need.

Thank you to all students and families who support these initiatives – your contributions make a real difference!

Sacraments:

The Kyabram Parish is calling for participants for the 2025 Sacraments Program. If your child is interested in receiving their sacraments this year, please email Katie Rasmussen at krasmussen@sptongala.catholic.edu.au to express your interest.

Sacrament dates:

Reconciliation – June

Eucharist & Confirmation – September

Please get in touch if you have any questions.

Upcoming Liturgy:

St Patrick's Graduate Outcomes:

The following documents unpack and explain our school Graduate Outcomes:

Seven Catholic Social Teaching Principles

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) is rooted in Scripture, formed by the wisdom of Church leaders, and influenced by grassroots movements. It is our moral compass, guiding us on how to live out our faith in the world.

The CST principles which inspire our work are:

• Human Dignity
• Common Good
• Solidarity
• Subsidiarity
• Preferred Option for the Poor
• Care for Creation
• Participation

Our faith calls us to love God and to love our neighbours in every situation, especially our sisters and brothers living in poverty. Following in the footsteps of Christ, we hope to make present in our unjust and broken world, the justice, love and peace of God.