St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Bulli

    Catholic Identity

Family Mass 

I extend a huge thank you to all of St Joseph’s students and families for attending our family Parish Mass on Sunday. The church was packed to capacity with many standing on the fringes. The sense of community was something of the Holy Spirit. A special recognition to our Choir who led the music so beautifully and was their first time singing outside of school. There were many proud parents and family members and again, I say thank you!

 

In Fr Patrick’s Homily, he spoke about the story of the Prodigal son with the focus on the Father. The Father waited, and welcomed the son with open arms. Fr Patrick continued to highlight that the Father was an ambassador of Christ. Like we are ambassadors for our sporting team by sharing our passion and stories with others, we too, are asked to be ambassadors of Christ, to show the love and care that the father showed his son, modelled off Jesus.

Carlo Acutis

On 27 April this year, Pope Francis will canonise Carlo Acutis, making him the Catholic Church’s first millennial Saint. Carlo was known for his devotion to the Eucharist and his use of technology to spread the faith. In doing this, he created an online exhibit about Eucharistic miracles and approved Marian apparitions. Carlo’s canonization is an inspiration to all of us and reminds us that we can all be a saint! In one of Bishop Brian’s homilies he stated that we (as teachers and parents) are raising a new generation of saints. This statement ignites a new passion for what we do in our individual vocations.

Update- Project Compassion Lam’s Story 

Lam, a young man from rural Vietnam with a passion for graphic design, faced limited career prospects due to his disability. With support from Caratas, he pursued IT training and now runs a successful freelance graphic design business.

 

So far, we have raised over $730 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! 

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) 

 

Year 4 have been involved in a great project of promoting our Parish’s Holy Week and Easter Liturgies across the school. Watch this space!

 

 

ANZAC DAY Commemoration 2025

We look forward to welcoming parents and families during this special time. 

 

This year, ANZAC day is commemorated during the pupil vacation period. As a Catholic School community, St Joseph’s will be commemorating ANZAC day on Wednesday 30 April with a whole school Liturgy at 11.30am.

 

We would like to involve our wider school community as much as we can, and therefore ask:

  • If you or your family have represented Australia in the Australian Defence Force and wish to participate (students and or family members) in the Liturgy through reading, reciting the Ode or bringing in a significant item (Hat, medals etc), please contact Mr Walker through the school office by Wednesday 9 April. 

     

  • If you or your family have represented Australia, in the Australian Defence Force and you are comfortable doing so, please send in a photo to be added to our whole school slideshow. (This may be grandparents, parents or other family members)

     

  • Photos are due to the school office, via email (info@sjbdow.catholic.edu.au) in jpeg format by Monday 28 April.

We are looking forward to commemorating this special occasion as a whole school community and truly value your involvement. 

 

Alexander Walker

Religious Education Coordinator.

Message from Bishop Brian- Year of Hope Passports 

Throughout the newsletter messages this term, you have read about the Year of Hope Passports. Many families from our school community have collected their own passport from the church or from our school office. It is very exciting to announce that each student in years (2-12) will be receiving their very own special Year of Hope Passport. These will be presented to the students over the next week. 

 

Read Bishop Brian’s message about the Passports. 

“ I am pleased that the decision has been taken to  distribute them (Year of Hope Passports) to all Catholic school staff and students (Years 2-12). It is my hope that these passports will be used throughout our school communities as a simple but effective tool to help students, their families, and all staff to come to a fuller understanding of the purpose of this Jubilee Year, but also, to embrace some simple practices of prayerfulness, pilgrimage and service—helping individuals open themselves more fully to the love and mercy of God in the process.” 

 

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. 

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 at 8:30am and 5:30pm: 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