Week 5 Term 3 2024 – APRE Newsletter item 

This term we have celebrated many special events already. We thank our St Joey’s Community for always having-a-go and participating in whatever opportunities come their way. Please spend some time reflecting on the events below and reading about some upcoming events this term... 

NAIDOC Week 

We commemorated NAIDOC Week with a whole school liturgy that was led by Year 2 students along with many of our First Nations students. This year the theme for NAIDOC week was ‘Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, Loud and Proud’. Throughout the week, we celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. As Australians, we are fortunate to share our home with the world’s oldest continuing culture who have upheld their rich and diverse cultural traditions for thousands of years. We are thankful for the deep and enduring legacy of these ancient peoples and their contributions to our continent. We recognise and appreciate the land on which our parish is situated and the people who have nurtured it over time, the Alngith People. Together, let us continue to cultivate a spirit of unity and respect for all cultures and traditions within our community. This is how we, as a community, ‘Keep the Fire Burning’.  

 

Catholic Education Week 

We began our Catholic Education Week celebrations with a whole school Mass with Fr. Dariusz. The students all enjoyed some cake to celebrate and fun activities throughout the week, including our Just Dance night. We celebrate Catholic Education Week every year in week 3 of Term 3. It is an opportunity for all 312 Catholic schools in Queensland to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos. Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society. We are Communities of Faith, Hope and Love... not only was this our theme for Catholic Education Week this year, but what we strive to be every day.  

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day 

Celebrated on the 4th August every year, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day was chosen in 1988 to communally celebrate the birthdays of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people taken from their families at a young age – the Stolen Generations. This day is a chance for all Australians to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, language and the rich cultures of all First Nations Australians. At St Joseph’s School approximately a third of our students are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or both. We acknowledge the importance of sharing their stories, language and culture in our classrooms, not just on this day, but throughout the year. 

Feast Day of Mary MacKillop 

We celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Mary MacKillop on the 8th August every year. Mary is this first Australian saint. This August, let’s walk in the footsteps of Australia’s most loved Saint. Just like Mary MacKillop, let’s be fierce in the face of adversity. Let’s be fair and act when we see injustice. Let’s give love to those we encounter each day. 

“Let no obstacle deter us from proceeding with courage.” 
– St Mary MacKillop 

When Mary saw families living on the margins without access to education, she set up a school to teach children herself — regardless of their situation. She and the Sisters of St Joseph went wherever the need was greatest. And despite facing enormous challenges, they continued to walk with people every step of the way. It was more than 150 years ago that Mary and the Sisters of St Joseph travelled through the heat of the outback to some of Australia’s most remote communities. They were willing to do whatever it took to set up schools, so overlooked children could pursue an education, reach their full potential, and flourish. They gave up everything to live amongst the people they served and teach with love and compassion. They saw injustice and were fierce to act, so children wouldn’t miss out on fair access to education. They were Fierce for Fair. 

“Never see a need without doing something about it.” 
– St Mary MacKillop 

Information and image from marymackilloptoday 

Next week, on the 15th August, we celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This significant day recalls the spiritual and physical departure of the mother of Jesus Christ from the earth, when both her soul and her body were taken into the presence of God. 

Ordination of Bishop Joe 

Next week we will celebrate a very special event for our diocese, the ordination of Bishop Joe. We haven’t had a bishop for two years now and haven’t had an ordination in Cairns since 1992, hence the excitement around this event! St Joseph’s Weipa will be represented at the ordination in Cairns by our Principal Kath Porter and two of our Year 6 students, Vanessa and Jed. But don’t worry, the rest of our St Joey’s Community will not miss out and are invited to view the ordination via live stream in our Flexible Learning Centre at 6pm Thursday 15th August. 

Julie Dore 

Acting Assistant Principal Religious Education