CELEBRATING ST JOSEPH'S DAY

WEDNESDAY 19th MARCH

On Friday, 19th March, we will be celebrating St Joseph's Day.  St Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, is the namesake of our school and Parish as well as being the Patron Saint of many, including the Catholic Church, fathers, carpenters and workers. 

Grades 1 to 6 will begin the day with a prayer service in the hall at 9:15am. Families and friends are welcome to join us.

As a St Joseph's Day celebration and a Harmony week activity, we are having a visit from the Cultural Infusion organisation presenting "Bollywood Infusion." It should be fun learning about the famous dance industry in India and a few Bollywood dance moves. 

As in past years we will have two fundraisers in aid of Caritas.  Following the Italian tradition of eating sugared fritters, called zeppole or frittelle, on St Joseph's Day, we will offer cinnamon doughnuts to the children, which are like the Italian fritters. Doughnut orders have already been taken.

Students are also encouraged to wear the colour RED on the day, following the Italian and Polish tradition of wearing the colour red to honour St Joseph. Students wearing red are asked to please bring along a gold coin donation in aid Caritas’ Project compassion “Unite Against Poverty This Lent” appeal.

Sacrament of First Reconciliation

Extra Ceremony

Families with candidates preparing for their First Reconciliation please note that due to our numbers, an extra ceremony has been added. Families can choose to attend at 5pm or at 7pm, both will be held at St. Ita’s Church, Drouin. Families are asked to RSVP to Liz Warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au  with the time that they will be attending.

Sacrament of First Holy Communion

Note: change in venue

Attention: Families with Students in Grade 4 and above

Dear Parents/Guardians,

If you would like your child to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion this year, please attend our Information Meeting on Thursday 27^th March, at 7pm in the St. Ita’s School Hall, Drouin. This meeting is for Parents/Guardians only (not candidates). Our guest speaker is Rev. Dr. Fr. Elio Capra, SDB.  He is a knowledgeable and engaging speaker. At this gathering, we will hand out information packs, containing enrolment forms, and outline the events and details concerning this wonderful Sacrament. A letter with more information should have come home by now. If you have not received one, please check with your school/catechist class.

For further enquiries please feel welcome to contact Liz via phone: 5623 1642 or email: Warragul.sacraments@cdsale.org.au

 A message from Deacon Mark

Now - Down the Mountain

Peter’s, often blundering, steps strike a chord with me. I feel I know Peter. And, as a pretty ordinary photographer and painter and an average wordsmith, I understand Peter’s impulse to somehow capture the astounding event he and James and John are witnessing (Luke 9:28-36). Often, I try to capture sunsets, beach scenes, landscapes and even grandchildren. I want to record them at their peak moments, but I rarely succeed to my satisfaction. Peter probably thinks this is Jesus’ peak moment, hence his somewhat silly suggestion to build dwellings or tents or memorials signifying the great prophets, Moses and Elijah and Jesus. He is quickly shut down. Moses and Elijah disappear, and Peter’s creative moment is gone. Confirmation of Jesus greatness is the beginning not the end. Immediately, Jesus is identified as the Chosen One and they are instructed to listen to him so that they (and we) may learn to truly follow Christ on his continuing journey.

What Peter has failed to realize, as many of us often do, is that what is important is not so much that Jesus is transfigured, but that we be transfigured – that’s what Jesus came to do: to transform us more and more into his image and likeness, that we might become, as C.S. Lewis said, “Little Christs.” This glorious “Transfiguration” event might seem a little left field in the context of Luke’s narrative, sandwiched as it is between Jesus forecasts of his imminent death. But it points us forward to along this Lenten journey, emphasising the glory in prospect for each of us, but recognising too that we need to pass through harsh times before the glory. Peter, James and John (and we) need to come down from the mountain, joining Jesus in his journey of love and service and walking together towards whatever future God plans for us. 

Deacon Mark Kelly