Good day, good people!

It was wonderful to see our students gather on Tuesday for the first day of 2025. Their excitement and readiness for a new year were contagious! A fresh start brings new beginnings and endless possibilities, paired with the comfort of familiarity and belonging. By lunchtime, it felt as though we had never been away, a true reflection of the Franciscan spirit of love, community, and belonging that unites us all.

Our students have transitioned smoothly, with only a few tears—mostly from loving parents saying their goodbyes. Despite the long weekend disrupting the routine, the children have quickly settled back into school life. Their smiles and enthusiasm reassure us of the joy ahead this year. We pray their happiness and love for learning continue to grow throughout 2025, bringing comfort and pride to their families.

PADUA - Badging of Campus Captains and Year 6 Padua Guardians

All members and friends of the College community are invited to attend the Padua Badging of Campus Captains and Year 6 Padua Guardians to be held at a date to be announced. At this stage, it will be in the Padua Greccio Place Hall.

ASSISI - Welcoming Mass and Investiture of our College Leaders.

All members and friends of the College community are invited to attend the Welcoming Mass and Investiture of Assisi Leaders to be held on Friday, February 12th, in the San Damiano Centre at 9.00 a.m.  Please rsvp to Rachel Bond at rbond@sacc.catholic.edu.au for morning tea catering. 

Beginning of the Year for Teachers:

Our Teachers spent time at the beginning of the year refreshing their understanding and knowledge of what it means to work in a Catholic School with Prof Br David Hall and the capabilities of our Teaching staff with the 4 Dimensions by Dr Carolice Blackley. To transform ways of working through understanding how interactions with others are central to organisational and personal well-being. A wonderful way to refresh and reinvigorate our staff in their vocation for teaching in our Catholic College. 

Jubilee Year of Hope

This year Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee Year of Hope in 2025.

A Jubilee is a special year of grace and conversion, involving prayer, pilgrimage and sacramental repentance, held every 25 years, or during other years as called for by the Pope. Through a series of concrete rituals, acts and commitments, the goal of a Jubilee year is to inspire and encourage holiness of life among the faithful and therefore to strengthen the Church’s witness to God’s loving mercy in and for the world.

A word of Hope:  “Since we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing in the glory of God… Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom 5:1-2.5).

The coming Jubilee will therefore be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God.

May it help us to recover the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation.

“Spes Non Confundit - Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 (9 May 2024): Francis.” 2024. Spes Non Confundit - Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025 (9 May 2024) | Francis. May 9. 

MASS at ST ANTHONY’s PARISH

Everyone is welcome to attend Mass at St Anthony’s Parish. 

Please see the Parish Website or Facebook Page for details about Mass times and locations.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM

Students from Grade 3 to 8 are invited to be part of the St Anthony’s Parish Sacramental program.

• Parents are the first educators of children in the faith and traditions of the Catholic Church, where faith is learned and lived.
• Parents are best placed to discern their child’s readiness for the Sacraments;
• however, our Parish requests that children in Grade 3 and over enroll in this
• programme.
• The parish is responsible for establishing and running programmes for sacramental preparation and the celebration of the Sacraments.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO   

• See the Information Pack for the enrolment form and Bank details. This will be sent out via email during Week 1.   
• Complete the enrolment form and return it to the Parish as soon as possible with a copy of the candidate’s Baptism certificate (this can be done by email). 
• Pay the enrolment fee of $50 per child- which must be paid online to St. Anthony’s Parish before the commencement of the programme unless arranged otherwise with Fr Vinoj.
• Attend all lessons with your child.   
• Attend Mass on Saturday (St Clare’s) OR Sunday (St Anthony’s) with your child.
• Complete activities with your child and talk about the Sacraments with them both during the lesson and at home.

For further information, dates and or queries please contact:

Fr Vinoj Francis (Parish Priest) Ph: 4751 5217

Email: deeragunparish@tsv.catholic.org.ay

Or speak with an Assistant Principal - Religious Education

St Anthony’s Catholic College

Rose Fitzsimmons 

Ph: 4751 7200 

Email:  rfitzsimmons1@sacc.catholic.edu.au 

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. 

(St Anthony of Padua)

God Bless

Rachel Bond                                                                          Rose Fitzsimmons

Acting APRE (Secondary)                                                        APRE (Primary)