Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

This week at our school assembly, students celebrated the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

On 1 September 2019, Pope Francis shared his message for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. He began by saying, "And God saw that it was good” (Gen 1:25). God’s gaze, at the beginning of the Bible, rests lovingly on his creation. From habitable land to life-giving waters, from fruit-bearing trees to animals that share our common home, everything is dear in the eyes of God, who offers creation to men and women as a precious gift to be preserved.

Pope Francis challenges us as brothers and sister of God’s creation by saying,  "In effect, we have forgotten who we are: creatures made in the image of God (cf. Gen 1:27) and called to dwell as brothers and sisters in a common home. We were created not to be tyrants, but to be at the heart of a network of life made up of millions of species lovingly joined together for us by our Creator. Now is the time to rediscover our vocation as children of God, brothers and sisters, and stewards of creation. Now is the time to repent, to be converted and to return to our roots. We are beloved creatures of God, who in his goodness calls us to love life and live it in communion with the rest of creation."

Pope Francis strongly encourages the faithful to pray in the Season of Creation. This season of increased prayer and effort on behalf of our common home begins on 1 September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and ends on 4 October, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. He says, “This is the season for letting our prayer be inspired anew by closeness to nature, which spontaneously leads us to give thanks to God the Creator.”

During the Season of Creation, Pope Francis calls us to reflect on our lifestyles and our daily decisions about food, consumption, transportation, use of water, energy and many other material goods.

This too is a season for undertaking actions. Students at St Joseph’s are keenly involved in the School Environment Management Plan and take actions every week for the care of creation at St Joseph’s. You might like to read the Environment Matters section of this newsletter.

At St Joseph's, we will conclude the Season of Creation with a prayer celebration and our second annual St Francis of Assissi Awards. These are awarded to one student in each class. 

Pope Francis concludes his statement with this beautiful paragraph,

"Each Christian man and woman, every member of the human family, can act as a thin yet unique and indispensable thread in weaving a network of life that embraces everyone. May we feel challenged to assume, with prayer and commitment, our responsibility for the care of creation. May God, “the lover of life” (Wis 11:26), grant us the courage to do good without waiting for someone else to begin, or until it is too late."

Please find attached the full statement 1 September statement from the Vatican.

For all things at St Joseph’s, give thanks!

Jen Charadia

Principal