Principal's Message

Dear Parents, Carers, and Community Members,

It was wonderful to see the pure joy and excitement on the faces of our students as they finished their last day of school yesterday. There is a special kind of energy that fills a school on the final day, and sending them off to begin their well-deserved holidays was a highlight in itself. Now that the classrooms are quiet, we turn our hearts towards the deeper meaning of this time of year. We find ourselves deeply immersed in the beautiful season of Advent. In our Catholic tradition, this is not merely a countdown to the holidays, but a time of active waiting and spiritual preparation. It is a season that calls us to slow down amidst the excitement and prepare our hearts to welcome the Christ Child. As we light the candles on the Advent wreath, we are reminded of the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that Jesus brings into our lives. I hope that amidst the busy preparations for Christmas, you are able to find moments of stillness to appreciate the true gift of this holy season—the presence of God in our families and our community.

Reflecting on 2025, I am filled with immense gratitude for what has been a truly fabulous year. As my first year as Principal of St Philomena’s concludes, I want to thank you all for the warmth and kindness you have shown me and my family. It has been a privilege to walk alongside you, witnessing the growth and resilience of our students. We have ended the year on a high note with a flurry of wonderful celebrations that showcased the diverse talents and spirit of our school. From the elegance of the Year 10 Graduation Dinner and the reverence of the Year 6 and Year 10 Graduation Masses, to the academic and personal triumphs celebrated at our 2025 Prizegiving, it has been a joy to witness our students shine. We also saw our community spirit come alive at the P&F’s K-2 Games Night and the energetic 3-6 Disco, while our secondary students dazzled us with their creativity at the MAD (Music, Art, and Digital Tech) Night.

As the year draws to a close, we must also say goodbye to those who are moving on to new adventures. To our leaving staff and students, thank you for the contributions you have made to the St Philomena’s story. You leave behind a legacy of friendship and learning, and we wish you every success and happiness in your future endeavours. We also wish to extend a special and heartfelt farewell to Fr Vic and Fr Juvi, who have been pillars of spiritual support for our school and the wider St Francis Xavier’s Parish of Moree. Bishop Peter Murphy has assigned Fr Vic as the new Parish Priest of St Joseph’s, West Tamworth, starting in January, while Fr Juvi has been assigned as Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Parish in Inverell. We are deeply grateful for their guidance and friendship. To celebrate their time with us, anyone wishing to help farewell our priests is warmly invited to join the parish for morning tea after Mass this Sunday.

Finally, I would like to wish every family in our community a safe, restful, and holy Christmas. May the joy of the newborn King fill your homes with light and peace. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and for a fantastic 2025. I look forward to welcoming you back for another exciting year of learning and faith in 2026. 

Merry Christmas and God bless.

Alistair Stewart

Principal