International Women’s Day was celebrated last Friday, 8th March. The theme for the day was #inspireinclusion. Staff Morning Chapel this day focused on the women in our lives who are or have been role models, supporters and inspirations. Every day should be an opportunity to forge a more inclusive world for all women.

This Sunday is the Feast of St Patrick. While it is often celebrated by wearing green, singing songs and consuming Irish drinks, it is important to remember that St Patrick was a man of immense humility, filled with passionate love of God, and people. We see his respect for the indigenous people in his incorporation of their reverence for the land, waters, seasonal cycles and the heavens, with Christian principles and rituals.

Our founder, St Mary MacKillop, also has a long association with Irish women who have been part of the story of the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph since its beginnings. Founded in 1866, by 1871 there were 78 Irish Sisters in the group of 137 Josephites.

When Mary visited Rome to seek approval for her congregation, she brought fifteen young Irish women to join her in her mission in Australia. Thus a strong link with Ireland was forged and continued to grow.

Next week we will celebrate the Feast of St Joseph. St Joseph has two feast days! The first one on March 15th celebrates Joseph as the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Joseph is the patron saint of many things but is more commonly recognised as the patron and protector of the Catholic Church. Little is known about the historical Joseph. We know he was an observant Jew. He would have seen to Jesus’ education in the faith of Israel. He would have taken Jesus to Jerusalem to celebrate the great festivals of the Jewish people and taught Jesus the prayers of his people. This is what a Jewish father would do for his son. When Jesus emerges as an adult, his faith has to some extent been shaped within his home and the village life of Nazareth.

Saint Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods, the co-founders of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, chose St Joseph to be patron of the Congregation.

Staff and students have been generously donating to Project Compassion. Funds will continue to be collected through the end of this term.

The Year 12 Retreat will be held from Monday 25th March to Wednesday 27th March. Our Year 12s have been very patient, but I am sure they will thoroughly enjoy the three days away. It will also be an opportunity to spend some time reflecting on the first term.

The last week of this term is Holy Week - the most significant week in Catholicism. Spanning from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday, it marks the final stretch before Easter Sunday, the celebration of Jesus' Resurrection. Our school community will come together on the last day of this term (Holy Thursday) to view a performance of the Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the Cross is a traditional devotion in honour of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

10B will present an interpretation of the Stations of the Cross before lunch. I thank them for their willingness to be involved.

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