Catholic Identity
At a Glance…
The “At a Glance” section of this newsletter is a response to the feedback presented in the “Tell Them From Me Survey” completed earlier this year. We acknowledge that some families are time poor and wish to have the information communicated as concisely as possible.
Staff Spirituality Day
Year 6 Mass with the Bishop
Religious Literacy Assessment Year 4 (Tuesday 28 July)
Solemnity of St Mary Mackillop (Friday 7 August & Saturday 8 August)
First Reconciliation Parent Information and Prayer Evening (Wednesday 9 September 6:00pm)
Year 6 Sacrament of Confirmation with the Bishop (Thursday 10 September and Tuesday 15 September, 7:00pm)
Gospel Reflection
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” – Matthew 13: 44
Matthew reminds us that the Kingdom of God is a treasure worth everything we have. In the middle of busy family life, Jesus reminds us that the things we treasure shape the way we live. Take some time this week to ask: What is something our family truly values, and are our choices showing that it matters? How do we make space for the people, relationships and moments that bring us closer together?
Staff Spirituality Day
On Monday, 20 July 2026, the staff of St Joseph’s, Bulli gathered at the Bulli Surf Club for our annual Staff Spirituality Day. Centred around the theme, "For What Do You Wish to be Known? Guided by our Principles," the day provided a sacred opportunity for our team to step back, reflect, and realign our personal and professional lives with our faith.
We drew rich inspiration from a podcast featuring former Director of Schools Peter Turner on the lasting ripple effect of genuine kindness and presence, and reflected on the Gospel story of Lazarus; a beautiful reminder of Jesus’ mission to heal, unbind, and bring people back into loving community. Ending the day by crafting our own personal "principle coasters," we left feeling deeply recharged and eager to bring these as living principles into our own community.
Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian
On Wednesday, our Year 6 students had the wonderful privilege of traveling to Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, Helensburgh to join fellow senior primary students from across our region for the annual Year 6 Mass, celebrated by Most Rev Brian Mascord, Bishop of Wollongong. Cross-school gatherings like this are a cherished tradition in our diocese. They offer our Year 6 leaders a special opportunity to connect through the Eucharist, reflect on their primary school journey, and celebrate their shared faith as they begin looking ahead to high school.
The energy, reverence, and joyful spirit of the students filled the church and the students of St Joseph’s Bulli were particularly praised for their enthusiastic singing. We thank Holy Cross Helensburgh, staff and clergy for hosting this celebration.
Religious Literacy Assessment Year 4 (Tuesday 28 July)
Tomorrow, all students in Year 4 across the Diocese of Wollongong will participate in the Religious Literacy Assessment (RLA). It focuses on religious literacy, knowledge and understanding of key concepts taught in the Religious Education program from Kindergarten to Year 4. Like all quality assessment, the results help us inform our teaching and celebrate the wonderful learning that is happening at St Joseph’s!
Students will complete the assessment on their iPads with their classroom teachers. If you require further information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Some examples of past questions are below.
What is another name for the Paschal Candle
✅ Easter Candle
❌Lenten Candle
Why did Mary and Joseph travel from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus?
✅Joseph needed to return to Bethlehem for the census
❌Bethlehem was a safer place to have a baby
After the consecration, during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, what do we receive?
✅The Body and blood of Jesus
❌The Bread and wine
Solemnity of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop (Friday 7 August & Saturday 8 August)
This year, the Solemnity of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop falls on a Saturday. To celebrate this special day, we will gather as a whole school community for Mass on Friday 7 August at 11:30am in the Parish church. All parents and family members are welcome to attend and parts of this Mass will be filmed by the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong.
On Saturday 8 August, Bishop Brian is hosting a special Mass for School students and staff to be held at the St Francis Xavier Cathedral at 12.10 pm. If you would like your child to attend, please contact the school office by Wednesday July 29.
First Reconciliation Parent Information and Prayer Evening (Wednesday 9 September 6:00pm)
The planning between the school and parish is well underway for the Sacrament First Reconciliation. An essential and necessary part of this planning and preparation is the parent information and prayer evening. This evening, held in the church, is a special time for parents to receive necessary information, (including enrolment forms and booking information) about their child’s Sacrament and how they can support them on their journey.
The evening is scheduled for Wednesday September 9 at 6:00pm
If your child has not been Baptised into the Catholic Faith and you wish for them to participate in the Sacraments (Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation), please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible to ensure that your child is able to participate with the rest of their grade.
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9.30am to 3pm
Phone: 4284 3000
Year 6 Sacrament of Confirmation with the Bishop (Thursday 10 September and Tuesday 15 September, 7:00pm)
On Wednesday night, the Parish of St Joseph’s Bulli in collaboration with the school, held a very successful parent information and prayer session for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Here, parents received enrolment forms and were provided an opportunity to ask questions and pray for their children. Fr Patrick encouraged all families to attend Mass as much as possible as part of their child’s spiritual formation. Mass times are 8:30am and 5:30pm on a Sunday, and we look forward to seeing you there!
As our candidates prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and the full gifts of the Holy Spirit, we look to modern models of faith like St Carlo Acutis. Known as the first millennial saint, Carlo showed young people that holiness belongs in today’s world, blending an authentic love for the Eucharist with a passion for computer coding, everyday friendships, and helping others. As our students step forward to confirm their faith, we pray the Holy Spirit strengthens them to follow his example: using their unique gifts to spread kindness, stand up for what is right, and shine Christ’s light in our school and beyond!
If you were not able to attend the night, please contact the Parish Office to pick up a form. No forms are kept at the school office. Completed forms are to be returned to Fr Patrick at Mass or via the Parish office.
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9.30am to 3pm
Phone: 4284 3000
Mr Alexander Walker
Religious Education Coordinator