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FATHER’S DAY
Today at St Francis we celebrated Father’s Day, as a community, with a morning liturgy and then sharing some breakfast treats. It was great to have so many fathers/grandfathers and fatherly figures join us.
Officially in Australia we have to wait till Sunday for Father's Day to be celebrated. Of course, Father’s Day means different things to different people. For some, it is a time to celebrate and thank fathers. In contrast, for others, it is a time to reflect on father figures (grandfathers, other relatives) or significant males in young people's lives or who have impacted us throughout our lives. For some, it is a reflection on the life of a fatherly figure who, while they may have passed on to eternal life, still is held deep in our hearts.
Let us recognise and thank all of those fathers and/or male figures who have made a difference and/or positively impacted our young people's lives.
In a General Assembly back in 2015, Pope Francis had the following reflection about the family, and in particular, commented on quality fathering and fathers who were present:
“To say “present” is not to say “controlling.” Fathers who are too controlling stifle the spirit of their children; they don’t let them develop.
The Gospel speaks to us about the exemplarity of the Father who is in Heaven who alone, Jesus says, can be truly called, “the good Father” (cf. Mk10:18).
Everyone knows that extraordinary parable of the Prodigal Son, or better yet, the Merciful Father (Luke 15:11-32). What dignity and what tenderness there is in the expectation of that father who stands at the door of the house waiting for his son to return!
Fathers must be patient. Often, there is nothing else to do but wait; pray, and wait with patience, gentleness, magnanimity, and mercy.
A good father knows how to wait, and he knows how to forgive from the depths of his heart. Certainly, he also knows how to correct with firmness: he is not a weak father, submissive and sentimental. The father who knows how to correct without humiliating is the one who knows how to protect without sparing himself…
All of this is, of course, not easy, so Fathers need God. Without the grace that comes from the Father who is in Heaven, fathers lose courage and give up.”
—Excerpted from a catechesis on the family at a general assembly on 4/2/2015
So, with this we recognise our appreciation of all fathers and father;y figures and hope they all have a restful and blessed Sunday.
Saint Francis Feast Day - Friday 23 August
What a wonderful day this was!
I would like to thank our community for being such great participants on this day. Right from the opening of the Mass, when our Junior Year students, complete with hand gestures, sang the opening hymn, it was clear that everyone had entered into the day with the right energy and outlook.
It was wonderful that the Bishop was able to celebrate the Eucharist. Equally, it was great to have members of Edmund Rice Education Australia with us throughout the celebration. At the conclusion of the mass, Dr. Michael Slattery, formally presented the College with an official message stick and certificate to ratify our College’s Associate Member status with EREA.
Following a beautiful mass students then celebrated together in a joyous celebration of friendship, fun and community.
I would like to thank all of our staff and the extended College Executive team for the incredible amount of planning that they placed into the day, and then for their patience, positivity and hard work across the many different food stalls, activities and rides that our students were able to partake in.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRAINING (VET) AWARDS’ SUCCESS
Last night, the Catholic Education Office Wollongong held its annual VET awards in Wollongong.
There are over 1300 VET students across the Diocese who undertake VET courses - and I’m pleased to say our College had outstanding success.
Pleased to say that Ms Amber Meadley has been named the Diocesan VET Hospitality Trainer of the year and Khloe F. of Year 12 has been named the Diocesan VET student of the year in Hospitality.
Given the strong fields of both staff and students across the Diocese we are very excited that staff and students from St Francis have, for the first time, received such prestigious awards.
I have attached some photographs of the evening:
I would like to commend Khloe and Ms Meadley on such fine achievements and it’s great that they both can be recognised in their own ways for their hard work and talent.
LIVERPOOL COUNCIL GRANT AWARDS
Earlier in 2024, our College was the recipient of a Liverpool City Council environmental Grant. In a recent ceremony, the ‘Celebrate Community Success event’, individual groups across the Liverpool Council area were recognised for excellence, in many different respects.
Oliver G. (Year 7) and Chaitia P. (Year 5) can be seen below in the photo below with Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun. I would like to thank Mr Balzarano, our College Business Manager, and Ms Jasmina Cox for their work in this area and for being successful in their application.
Mr Mannoun commended our students and our College for our work in the ecological and our commitment in giving back to our local environment.
MARY MOTHER OF THE CHURCH - MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY EVENT
See later in this newsletter for a flyer and the relevant details regarding an exciting multicultural event happening soon in our local parish.
I encourage as many of our families as possible to attend this event if they can.
YOUTH AWARENESS MENTAL HEALTH (YAM)
Thank you to the parents and carers who were able to attend this Week’s YAM information night for students partaking in the upcoming mental health programme being held at the College. The course itself is aimed at mental wellness and supporting students, either supporting themselves or others, who may be experiencing anxiety and/or depression.
While the College continues to offer counselling for our students from primary school onwards, building skills for life and mental strength and wellness are critical. Further skills for students are embedded in our K-12 Pastoral Care program.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUR TEEN
I am pleased to advise that See CatholicCare will be holding an information night on this important topic on the 12th September at Saint Francis (6.30-7.30).
Our parent/carer body had requested information sessions to help support parents/carers. This follows Andrew Fuller being a presenter back in Term One.
While the night focuses on Teens there is no harm in parents/carers with children of any age to attend - to be an almost preemptive strike and be prepared for the modern work of social media - its joys and dangers.
Please register below to attend the evening.
Any further details about the evening can be sought from Mrs Jennifer Lowe our Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care.
The booking link for the event can be found here:
PRAYER
In honour of Father’s Day, the following prayer (adapted from the Catholic Telegraph) is most fitting:
God our Father, we give You thanks and praise for fathers young and old.
We pray for young fathers who are newly embracing their vocation; may they find courage and perseverance to balance work, family, and faith in joy and sacrifice.
We pray for our fathers around the world whose children are lost or suffering; may they know that the God of compassion walks with them in their sorrow.
Let us also remember and pray for those men who, though not fathers, have taken on the role of guiding and mentoring us with their fatherly love and advice.
We remember fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love.
–Amen
Year 6 Mass with the Bishop
This year, many of our Year 6 students will be making or have already made their sacrament of Confirmation. As part of this important time, Year 6 participated in a Mass with Bishop Brian Mascord at Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Ingleburn on August 13. This celebration was a wonderful opportunity for the students to meet and interact with the Bishop and other Year 6 students from other primary schools in the Macarthur area.
First Reconciliation Program
Over the last four weeks, students have been busily preparing for the sacrament of First reconciliation. All the candidates that participated in the lessons at the college were enthusiastic throughout each session and contributed their thoughts and experiences in their groups. Special thanks to Mrs. Ghignone, Mrs. Brites, Miss Meli, Miss Mosca and Mrs. Khoury, who led these lessons.
This Friday, the 30th of August, the children will be making the sacrament of First Reconciliation at Mary, Mother of the Church Parish. We wish them the very best during this special time.
Care of Creation Month
This season begins on September 1 and ends October 4, with the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the beloved patron saint of ecology. During this time the entire Christian family across the world unites in a celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. As followers of Christ from around the globe, we are co
-creators with God who share a common call to care for all that God has made. Our wellbeing is interwoven with the wellbeing of the Earth.
We rejoice in this opportunity to safeguard our common home and all beings who share it. This year, the theme for the season is “To hope and act with Creation”. Amid the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, many are beginning to despair and suffer from eco-anxiety. As people of faith we are
called to lift the hope inspired by our faith, the hope of the resurrection. This is not a hope without action but one embodied in concrete actions of prayer and preaching, service and solidarity.
In his message for this year’s World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, P
ope Francis reminds us that “To hope and act with creation, means above all to join forces and to walk together with all men and women of good will.” This month in particular, may we join forces to give praise to God expressing our thanks for the marvellous works that have been entrusted to our care, and we
ask for God’s help as we take action to protect our planet and all of its creatures.
WOODiWiLD
At St Francis Catholic College we are committed to sustaining a healthy ecosystem for
the future. WOODiWiLD is our college fundraiser that was initiated to supporting our commitment. This fundraiser will not only protect our unique and vulnerable wildlife, but it will also provide our students with a direct link to their own tree (that they can name) within the Great Aussie Schools’ Forest! Please scan the QR code for direct access to the website and help us reach and even surpass our target of 400 trees!
A weekend experience for fathers and their teenage sons.
One of the most important influences in the lives of men is the relationship they had with their father or significant father figure. The encouragement and affirmation that this relationship could, and should, provide, is a key ingredient for how young men view themselves and embrace their faith and gifts as they take their place in the world.
Growing Good Men is an experientially-based program which encourages and enables fathers and sons to strengthen their relationship and to explore important issues of growing into manhood. It is designed for fathers and their adolescent sons aged 12 to 17 years (school years between 7 and 11).
Don’t miss this! Spots are limited to just 25 fathers with their sons. This is a unique opportunity for dads and their sons to embark on a quest of discovery with Robert Falzon (founder of menALIVE) and his team.
The weekend experience explores:
- The importance of the father and son bond for both generations
- The journey of adolescence
- Becoming a man
- Dealing with anger
- Friendship with girls and women
- The quest for identity
- Rite of Passage
Set over a weekend, the program involves: short keynote sessions, small group and father/son sharing, a wide range of challenging and engaging activities (which may include high ropes courses or similar adventure activities), reflection and prayer. The centrepiece of the program is a Rite of Passage on Saturday night. The weekend concludes with a Father’s Blessing and commissioning.
Please note: If you are unable to attend with your father, you may choose to come with another significant male person over the age of 18. In this situation, we would need a letter of consent from a parent/guardian. Should your situation not fit the two options mentioned and you still wish to attend please call us.
On Thursday 15th August, 20 students from Years 3-6 attended a Talented Mathematicians Workshop titled ‘Out of the Box’ run by ‘Inquisitive Minds’. The students were taught strategic problem-solving techniques and were given the opportunity to work on a series of engaging, original and hands-on maths problems alongside like-minded students from other schools.
“At Sackville Street Public School, I along with other students from different schools, had the opportunity to participate in different maths related activities. We had lots of fun and some of us even won awards and a medal! My favourite activity was when we had to build a bridge using wooden planks. In the end, we only got 43 cm and Sackville Street Public School won with 63.5 centimetres. Overall, the day was really enjoyable!” - Jonathan F
“Inquisitive Minds was hosted at Sackville Street Public School and attended by SFCC and two other schools. My peers and I had a great time learning and solving questions that tested our limits. I learnt many tricks and ways to solve questions while socialising with students from other schools. One of the challenges was where we had to partner up with a student from another school and do a maths relay with them. The winning team received an Inquisitive Minds medal. Other winning teams in different events received an award certificate. Big thanks to Mrs Jeymour who made this experience possible.” - Isaac N
Catalina C
Noah S
Brielle R
Mayu B
Year 2
Sebastian M
Gabriel B
Noah P
Eva G
Year 4
Madeline S
These advertisements are not school endorsed programs.