From the APRIM
St Joseph’s Day, Project Compassion & Dialogue Week
At the School of the Nativity, our faith life is at the heart of everything we do. As we move through the season of Lent, we have several important events and opportunities for our community to gather, pray, and act for justice.
St Joseph’s Day – Whole School Mass
Our school community will gather to celebrate St Joseph’s Day with a Whole School Mass on Wednesday 19th March at 9:15am in the Church.
Families and parishioners are warmly welcome to join us as we celebrate together. St Joseph holds a special place in our school community, and this Mass is an important moment for us to reflect on his example of faith, courage and quiet leadership.
Who Was St Joseph?
St Joseph was the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus. In the Gospels we see him as a man who listened to God, trusted in God’s plan, and cared deeply for his family. When an angel spoke to him in a dream, Joseph chose to trust God and lovingly support Mary and the child Jesus.
Although Joseph speaks no recorded words in the Bible, his actions show us what it means to live with faith, humility, courage and compassion.
As a Josephite school, inspired by the charism of St Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph, St Joseph’s example reminds us to care for others, especially those in need, and to act with quiet generosity and love. His life reflects the Josephite spirit of service and justice that continues to guide our school today.
Project Compassion
During the season of Lent, our school participates in Project Compassion, the annual Caritas Australia campaign that supports vulnerable communities around the world.
Project Compassion raises funds to help people access essentials such as:
• clean water
• education
• healthcare
• sustainable food and livelihoods
Through this campaign we are reminded that even small acts of generosity can help transform lives. Families are invited to support Project Compassion by donating during this time. Every contribution helps Caritas Australia work alongside communities to create lasting change.
At Nativity, supporting Project Compassion is one way our students live out Catholic Social Teaching by standing in solidarity with people experiencing poverty and injustice.
St Joseph’s Day Fundraiser
Following our St Joseph’s Day Mass, students will take part in a Project Compassion fundraising fete.
Students are encouraged to:
• bring along their Project Compassion donation money, and
• bring $1.50 for a sausage sizzle lunch (more details to follow).
All funds raised from the fete and lunch will go directly to Project Compassion, supporting those most in need around the world.
This day is always filled with joy, generosity and community spirit as students learn that their actions can make a real difference.
Making Our Masses More Inclusive
We warmly encourage families and parishioners to attend our school Masses. In the future, we will be making our celebrations more accessible and inclusive by displaying Mass responses and actions on slides.
This will help everyone present to:
• join in the responses
• know when to stand, sit or kneel
• fully participate in the prayers and songs of the Mass.
Our hope is that this will make our liturgies easier to follow and allow all members of our community to pray together with confidence and understanding.
Dialogue Week and the Synod
Recently our school participated in Dialogue Week, an important opportunity for students and staff to reflect on issues affecting our Church and world.
During this time, students and staff shared their thoughts about themes they believe are important for the future of the Church. These ideas were then submitted to be part of the wider Synod conversations within the Archdiocese.
A Synod is a gathering within the Catholic Church where people come together to pray, listen, share ideas and discern how the Church can grow and respond to the needs of the world today. It invites people from all walks of life to have a voice in shaping the future of the Church.
Our students reflected on themes such as:
• justice
• inclusion
• caring for creation
• prayer
• showing compassion to those in need
It was wonderful to see our students thoughtfully engaging with these important topics and contributing their voices to the wider Church community.
As we journey through Lent together, may the example of St Joseph, the spirit of generosity through Project Compassion, and the invitation to listen and dialogue within the Church continue to guide us as a community of faith.
We look forward to welcoming families and parishioners to celebrate St Joseph’s Day Mass with us on Wednesday 19th March at 9:15am.
In all things love
Rachel
Assistant Principal Religious Identity & Mission (APRIM)