Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome back to Term 4. Where has this year gone. Who would think that it is only two months until Christmas. I always enjoy the noise of the start of a school term. Firstly in the Staffroom as the Staff reconnect after the holiday break and then in the playground where the talk, handball, hugs, basketball and stories bring life to the school.

HSC COMMENCEMENT

We wish the Year 12 students all the very best as they sit their HSC exams. The hard work, stress and effort will be tested and pay off for most students. We pray that they simply do their best. 

Please pray the following prayer for them:

Lord,

As our students in our diocese commence their HSC exams, we thank you that their value is not based on their performance, but on your great love for them.

Come Holy Spirit, into their hearts so that they can walk through this time together.

Help them, not only with this test, but the many tests of life that are sure to come their way.

As they take this exam, help them to recall everything they have studied and be gracious
with what they have overlooked.

Remove their anxiety, and help them to remain focused and calm, confident in the facts and in their ability, and firm in the knowledge, that no matter what happens today you are there with them, always.

Pax Christi ….. peace of Christ

St Francis …… pray for us

FEAST DAY FOR ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

The /Peace Prayer, inspired by St Francis of Assisi is a key prayer at St John’s and supports our core values.  On 4 October 2023 we celebrated the Feast Day for St Francis of Assisi. A man who recognised the gift of “savouring”.

St Francis had a strong sense of God’s presence and calling. There were three instances in his life where he sensed God instructing him to “repair my Church.” Initially, he perceived that this was a literal instruction and he began to repair the dilapidated church at San Damiano. 

God however continued to communicate with St Francis and over time he came to realise that this repair was in relation to spiritual matters. There are so many ways in which St Francis endeavoured to do this. He had a strong desire to walk in the footprints of Jesus and was someone who had a deep love for creation and a heart for the poor.  

In many regards, St Francis was ahead of his time in the area of ecological conversion. St Francis saw creation as a gift and as God’s first revelation. He came to see the unique beauty in every aspect of creation and to see the way in which we are inextricably linked. 

St Francis prompts us all to savour moments in nature and to see these as sacred moments. It is in these moments that we are able to capture a glimpse of something beyond ourselves and for our hearts to be healed, re-fueled or realigned. There are many practices promoted today that can help us to become more aware of God’s presence and at the same time support our wellbeing. Over the last few years, a practice called “savouring” has gained traction. Savouring is a practice where we deepen our attention and appreciation for moments and the things that surround us (Bryant and Veroff, 2007). This deeper attention and willingness to savour experiences has proven to have an extensive range of positive outcomes. This practice of savouring is one that St Francis lived. 

When we are willing to slow down and truly savour all that surrounds us, our hearts open. We appreciate creation more deeply and recognise our shared responsibility to take care of this gift more clearly. Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ provides a beautiful expression of the importance of savouring. “If we approach nature and the environment without…openness to awe and wonder, if we no longer speak the language of fraternity and beauty in our relationship with the world, our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, ruthless exploiters, unable to set limits on their immediate needs. By contrast, if we feel intimately united with all that exists, then sobriety and care will well up spontaneously. (#11) 

We learn so much from our Indigenous brothers and sisters who remind us and teach us how to savour, how to deeply listen, and how to care for this world we have been given. And today St Francis of Assisi calls each one of us to savour, to savour creation, moments, and people.  What will you savour today? 

COMMISSIONING CEREMONY 2024 LEADERS

I would like to extend a congratulations also to the 2024 Student Representative Council (SRC) and the 2024 Year 11 Youth Ministry Leaders on being appointed.

As elected leaders these students exemplify the leadership qualities that we value in all our young people. They have decided what is important to them and they are prepared to work to make this happen. For Leaders at St John’s this aligns with our school values. Leaders at St John’s value peace and speak up for justice. They value excellence in learning and always do their best and look to the words of Jesus to guide their actions. Leaders at St John’s value the Catholic social teaching of the Dignity of all human persons and get involved to bring about justice and peace and help others to create supportive and rich learning environments.

I encourage not just our new school leadership team but all our young people to use their leadership qualities to make a difference and support others to do so.

It was wonderful to see so many families attend the commissioning ceremony to witness their students receive their badges and take the pledge for their new leadership roles at St John's.