2022 | Issue 3 | SJC Newsletter

2022 Enhancing Catholic Identity Survey – Families

Free Raffle Entry Per Survey Completed

All families are invited to go into the free draw for one of the following prizes when you complete the ECSI Survey sent to you on Thursday 10 March and have it completed by 15 of March.

• Village cinema x 4 tickets
• De Grandi Voucher
• Steampacket Foods Voucher

The Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools supports us in consulting with our whole community of staff, students and families via this survey to help us use the crucial data collected from the survey report to contribute in significant ways to our school strategic improvement plan and effectiveness; supporting our school community as it discerns actions for a further strengthening our Catholic identity and mission.

Please be mindful when completing your survey of what you have felt, noticed, heard from your son, viewed online and participated in while belonging to our St Joseph’s Catholic community in the Edmund Rice tradition of Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community, Justice and Solidarity and Liberating Education.

Mary Malone

Director of Identity

Gospel and Spirituality Touchstone Assembly

We began this week gathered together for our first student led Gospel and Spirituality Touchstone Assembly. We reflected on and prayed that as we begin our Lenten journey that so many of us currently have strong empathy with others near and far, due to the floods on the east coast of Australia, the war in the Ukraine and the need to Break The Bias to create a more sustainable future for many women across the globe experiencing many inequalities in their life opportunities. We acknowledge the theme of International Women’s Day with hands on hearts sending gratitude to all the women who are influential in our lives and pledged to ‘Break the Bias’, to call out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping each time we see it. Just as Edmund Rice responded by his faith to take action, like Mary Mackillop Australia’s first saint, both created life-giving opportunities through education for future generations. There are many people in our community who are keeping the spirit of Mary MacKillop and Edmund Rice alive today. We wish our Service Learning Coordinator well in her nomination for the category 'Women in Community Life for Education' in the City of Greater Geelong Women in Community Life Awards tonight.

Edmund Rice Day Friday 13 May 2022!

As a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition we are called to action. We pray for generous hearts as we prepare to reach out to our friends at St Joseph’s College in Kensekka in East Africa, as they emerge from the COVID pandemic to renew their opportunities to gain access to educational facilities. We think about all of the women of the world who need our courage to break the bias so we can make possible a gender equal world. Our funds raised will help support the young women of Kensekka to make an education possible.

Tane B and Patrick J

Gospel and Spirituality Prefects

Justice and Solidarity Touchstone for Ukraine

As members of Justice and Solidarity Touchstone student leadership team we wore blue and yellow ribbons today in solidarity with the other Geelong Catholic Colleges hosted by St Ignatius. We took part in a ‘Student Walkout’ via Zoom today in period 4 today in support of children in Ukraine who are going without education at this time. We joined in prayer and reflection with Fr Darien Sticklen, Fr Raymond Bugeja and Fr Iurii Tychenok.

During this Lenten season we are called to give alms and to help those in need. Right now, the escalating war in Ukraine has become a massive humanitarian crisis. So far over 1 million people have had to flee their homes, leaving nearly everything behind. Right now, they need all the help they can get immediately. St Joseph's has had a long-standing relationship with CARITAS and now we can help through their Ukraine appeal. Part of our Edmund Rice Day funds will go to the CARITAS Ukraine appeal to create definitive change. We will be helping the CARITAS Ukraine staff provide families fleeing the conflict with emergency food, water, shelter, hygiene support and medical and psychological services.

Compassion is one of our school's core values so please uphold that and show your support for the people of Ukraine when it is time to give our Edmund Rice Day funds.

Sascha W

Justice and Solidarity Touchstone Prefect