Catholic Identity

Shrove Tuesday and the Season of Lent

This week, we marked Shrove Tuesday by enjoying delicious pancakes, a long-standing tradition in the Church. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Historically, people would use up rich ingredients like eggs, milk, and butter before the 40-day fasting period of Lent, leading to the tradition of making pancakes.

Lent is a significant season in the Church’s year. It is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, where we prepare our hearts for Easter by reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice. During this time, you will notice some changes in the Church and School. The tablecloths and the priest’s vestments will now be purple, symbolising penance and preparation. Additionally, the joyful word “Alleluia” will not be said or sung during Mass, as we enter this solemn period leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

A huge thank you to the parents and Catholic Identity Student Leaders who cooked and served pancakes for our school community. Through this event, we raised $69 for Caritas Australia, supporting their mission to help those in need.

As we journey through Lent, let us take the time to pray, reflect, and give to others, remembering the true meaning of this season.

Beginning Year Mass

Our St Patrick’s community came together today to celebrate our Beginning of Year Mass, and what a beautiful celebration it was! The church was filled with joyful singing and prayer, setting the tone for a year of hope and faith.

A special thank you to our Grade 6 leaders, who filled the roles for the Mass with confidence and read so beautifully. Your leadership is already shining brightly!  We are also grateful to Fr Uday for leading us in this special celebration.

Thank you to everyone who attended and shared in this occasion. May we continue to walk together as Pilgrims of Hope throughout the year ahead.

St Patrick's Day Celebrations

We are excited to celebrate St Patrick’s Day as a school community with a range of special activities!

On Monday, 17th March, we invite all students to wear green to mark this special day. From 12:00pm – 3:00pm, we will hold our Educational Sports Carnival, a fun-filled multi-age sports event where students will rotate through different sporting activities.

Then, on Thursday, 20th March, we will gather for our St Patrick’s Day Mass at 2:00pm in St Patrick’s Church. This will be a wonderful opportunity to come together in prayer and celebrate our school’s patron saint.

We look forward to celebrating with our students, staff, and families as we embrace the spirit of St Patrick!

About St Patrick...

St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of the most well-known saints in the Catholic faith. Born in Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped as a teenager and taken to Ireland as a slave. After several years, he escaped, but he later returned to Ireland as a missionary, spreading Christianity across the country.

One of the most famous stories about St Patrick is how he used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. By showing that the three leaves were part of one plant, he helped people understand this important teaching of the Catholic faith.

St Patrick’s feast day, 17th March, marks the day of his death. This day is widely recognised as a time to reflect on his missionary work and the lasting impact he had on the spread of Christianity.

At St Patrick’s School Tongala, we are proud to be named after this inspiring saint. His values of faith, perseverance, and kindness continue to guide our school community. Each year, we celebrate St Patrick’s Day with joy, bringing our community together through prayer, fun activities, and shared experiences. His story reminds us of the power of faith and the importance of spreading kindness to those around us.

As we celebrate St Patrick’s Day, may we remember his courage and commitment to sharing God’s love, and may we strive to follow in his footsteps as a school community.

Upcoming Class Prayer:

ECSI Survey

As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening our Catholic school identity, we invite parents to participate in the Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) survey. Your feedback is invaluable in understanding how our school community views its Catholic identity today and how we can shape it for the future.

The survey takes approximately 55 minutes to complete and must be submitted by Friday, March 14th. Your responses are completely anonymous and will help guide future planning at St Patrick’s.

Survey Access Details:

• Survey Link: www.ecsi.site/au/user/
• Password: Ghj654
• Survey Access Code: F9peQN

We appreciate your time and participation in this important initiative. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Katie Rasmussen either at school or email - krasmussen@sptongala.catholic.edu.au

Thank you for your support.

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.