From the Principal
From Sunday's Gospel: John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples: 'As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.
This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.
What I command you is to love one another.
Love One Another
In the midst of conflict and hatred,
we offer love to one another.
When we are met by despair and loneliness,
we offer love to one another.
Where uncertainty and apathy are found,
we offer love to one another.
When haste threatens to cloud our judgement,
we take time to love one another.
When it is hard to forgive and forget,
we will keep the
struggle to love one another.
Jesus said, “I give you a new commandment:
love one another,
just as I have loved you”.
We have heard,
and we will obey.
We will love one another.
Amen.
Cross Country
Congratulations to the 7 students who participated with a great attitude and their best efforts at Monday’s Little Desert Division Cross Country in Kaniva. All 7 competitors improved their times from the local level event held at the Nhill Golf Course. Other result highlights include Riley who came 3rd in the WWSSA level and 10th overall in his age group. Thank you to Mrs Dickinson, Mrs McEldrew and Mrs Philip who kindly transported and supported our students.
Mother's Day Afternoon
It was wonderful to see so many mums, nanas, grans, grandmas, aunties and great-grandmas at our Mother's Day afternoon last Friday.
These special ladies joined the children in the classrooms for some craft activities before enjoying Devonshire Tea in the hall.
National Simultaneous Storytime Wednesday 19 May - Dress Up Day
This year we will read the story Give Me Some Space. The same story will be read simultaneously at 11am in schools and libraries right across Australia.
Students are invited to dress up using the theme of “Shine like a Star” and bring along a gold coin donation. The money raised will go to the Cancer Council as part of the Australia's Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser. Let your imagination go wild! Parents are encouraged to join in the story time and activities from 10.45am.
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week will be celebrated across Australia in the week commencing Monday 24 May.
As mentioned last week, the Ballarat Diocese will be joining with dioceses across Australia to conduct Mass for Our Lady, Help of Christians during Catholic Education Week and we have been invited to send two student representatives to Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Ballarat on Monday 24 May. Senior students will be given the opportunity to express why they would like to attend and join with representatives from the 64 Catholic Schools from across the Ballarat Diocese.
All of our students will attend Mass in Horsham on Wednesday 26 May, together with students from Ss Michael & John's Primary School, Horsham, Our Lady Help of Christians, Murtoa, and St Brigid's College, Horsham.
On Thursday 27 May, we will be combining with Our Lady Help of Christians, Murtoa, St Joseph's, Coleraine, Sacred Heart, Casterton, and St Malachy's, Edenhope, to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. We will gather in Edenhope on that day for a short Liturgy, some activities and a shared lunch.
It promises to be a very busy week, but also a very important week on the Catholic Education calendar.
Reminder - school photos
School photo day is next Tuesday, 18 May. Please remember to return your order envelopes to school by Monday, 17 May. Please return each envelope even if you are not ordering.
Family envelopes are available at the office. Please pick one up if you require a family photo to be taken.
Photos will be taken at the start of the day so please be on time.
Students must wear full school uniform on photo day - polo top, jumper, navy pants/shorts/skorts, black shoes, navy or white socks. The summer dress may be worn if the weather is hot, but no leggings please.
150 Days for Refugees: Josephite Justice Network Launches New Campaign
Refugee advocates and members of the Josephite Justice Network launched a new campaign, 150 Days of Action for Refugees, on 1 May for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker.
The campaign is a response to Pope Francis’ declaration of 2021 as the Year of St Joseph, who was himself a refugee in Egypt and is “the special patron of all those forced to leave their native lands because of war, hatred, persecution and poverty.”
Patronage of merged parish region
In Diocesan pastoral planning over some years, it has emerged that from 2021 the merger of Hopetoun, Nhill, Horsham and Warracknabeal parishes into one parish will be brought about by a decree from Bishop Paul, our Diocesan Bishop. Every church and school maintain the patronage (prayers) of the saints that have been dedicated to their spiritual care: St Patrick, St Joseph, St Augustine, St Mary, Ss Michael and John, St Brigid, etc. However, we seek an ‘overarching patronage’ for the entire new parish pastoral region (21,300 sq. kms). By such patronage our region (with its 10 churches and 6 Catholic schools) will be known, when referred to as a whole. Any parishioner wishing to suggest a saint or saints (or angels) for this honoured patronage is invited to lodge their suggestion via email to horsham@ballarat.catholic.org.au or in person at the Horsham Catholic Parish Office by Friday 21st May. Mons Glynn will consider any/all suggested patronage and discuss them with Bishop Paul, prior to a decision being reached.
Remember to follow us on Facebook
Those who are on Facebook are encouraged to follow our page at St Patrick's School, Nhill. 'Like' our page, enjoy our posts, and share them with your friends. Stay connected through our Social Media page.
Our Josephite Heritage
The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, often called the "Josephites" or "Brown Joeys", were founded in Penola, South Australia, in 1866 by Mary MacKillop and the Rev. Julian Tenison Woods. In 1949, three Josephite sisters arrived in Nhill to open St Patrick’s School. In 1978, the Sisters of St Joseph informed the Nhill Parish that they would no longer be able to maintain their role within the school.
We endeavour to honour our Josephite heritage through the regular presentation of the Little Joey awards at our assemblies. In support of this we also include a reflection from Mary MacKillop on our newsletter each week.
"Only what you will my God." Mary MacKillop, 1898
Wonderful win by the Power over the crows last Saturday night, and well celebrated by the players in the rooms afterwards - a great display of the connection between the players and their supporters, and an acknowledgement of the Club's heritage. The doggies this week and a chance to move into the top 2 on the ladder - Go Port!!
God Bless you all.
Kingsley Dalgleish
Principal