Thursday 27th March 2025

Gospel of the Week

Luke 15:1-3. 11-32

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Your brother here was dead and has come to life.

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:

‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.

‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

‘Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. “Your brother has come” replied the servant “and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.”

dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.

‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

‘Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. “Your brother has come” replied the servant “and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.”

‘The father said, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it is only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”’

 Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,

This week, the Gospel tells us in this parable Jesus gives a vivid picture of God and what God is like. God is truly kinder than any of us. He does not lose hope or give up when we stray from him. He is always on the lookout for those who have a change of heart and want to return.

The main theme that Jesus communicates through this parable is God's boundless mercy and love, demonstrating that no matter what sins we have committed, we can always 'return home' and be received with forgiveness. The three primary characters in the story are the father, and his two sons.

The moral lesson that Jesus taught through this parable is to love everybody, especially strangers and those who are in need of help. Like we read in the story about the Good Samaritan and we look at who made the choice to stop and help and who chose to cross the road. It is not for anyone to judge at why people make the decisions they do. We all have our reasons which will be based on previous experiences. If we look through the eyes of Jesus, let’s ray that we try and find the good in everyone.

A HUGE thank you to Louise Breeden for her incredible organisation of today’s Cross Country! This is no easy feat to set this event up for the whole school and every year, she continues to produce a wonderful activity that all students can participate in. Thanks also to my dedicated staff who continue to work hard to ensure that every student is kept safe and has a fantastic day.

Next week, and the first week of Term 2, we will be having our Holy Week Assemblies to which all parents are invited to. The dates and times are as follows:

Holy Week assemblies

All assemblies at 2.00pm in the Stadium

Monday, March 31st - Palm Sunday Foundation (Prep) to Year 2

Tuesday, April 1st -Last Supper Year 4's 

Wednesday, April 2nd- Agony in the Garden Year 3's

Thursday, April 3rd- Stations of the cross- Year 6's

 Term 2, week 1

Wednesday, April 23rd- The Resurrection by Year 5's

We look forward to welcoming you all to celebrate these very holy occasions.

For those of you who may not be aware, we have a staff member, Mrs Annette Tanner, who is unwell at the moment and if I could ask you, please to keep Annette and her family in your prayers as she battles an ongoing illness. Annette has been a teacher here at St Patrick’s for 15 years.

God Bless

Meg

Future Enrolments

This term, we have had an incredible beginning to the year with 31 school tours being held. Out of these 31, we have had 7 new enrolments this year, inquiries for next year, 2027, 2028 and 2030!

With this in mind, can I please ask for any existing families who have younger siblings coming to St Patrick’s in the next few years, to please make sure they fill in their enrolment forms early as possible. St Patrick’s is looking to manage a high demand of places within the school community and places may become limited.

Thank you.

School Advisory Committee (SAC)

SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SAC)-Looking for new parent members

I am looking for some new parents to be a part of the School Advisory Committee. Please let me know if you are interested. This committee meets only 4-6 times per year and as the name suggests, is an ‘advisory committee’, so no other work other than you may be asked to do a prayer and or take the minutes of a meeting. If you wish to be a part of the SAC, please email Meg at mescalante@stppakenham.catholic.edu.au

The role of the SAC is:

The School Advisory Committee operates as the principal consultative and advisory body in the school. The School Advisory Committee is advisory to the principal. This body acts as an adviser on strategic planning, support to the principal, school improvement and development, policy and general leadership, the sole purpose ultimately being to serve and work toward the mission and vision of the school.

The School Advisory Committee provides advice to the principal within the context of this Charter and the vision statement of the school.

1. School Advisory Committee Purposes

The purposes of the School Advisory Committee are to:

• act as an advisory body to the principal on matters concerning education in the school
• act as a forum for discussion on matters concerning education in the school
• provide a link between the parish priest, principal, teachers and parishioners in relation to the provision of Catholic education in the parish community
• promote community development by fostering a strong inter-relationship between the parish, the primary school and Catholic secondary colleges.

2. School Advisory Committee Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the School Advisory Committee are to:

• promote the Catholic ethos of the school
• provide feedback on and review of school policies
• plan for the future of the school and its ability to accommodate future enrolments
• provide advice on budget planning and finance-related matters
• contribute to the selection process for the school principal
• provide advice on the appropriate provision of faith development and Religious Education programs
• promote child safety in the school 

St Francis Xavier College, Officer school tours

If you are looking to enrol your child into St Francis Xavier, Officer, please note these important dates in your calendar.

Officer Campus Talk & Tour – 09.30am – 10.45am 

Tuesday 13 May

Tuesday 24 June

Tuesday 12 August

Tuesday 09 September

Tuesday 14 October

Wednesday 12 November

Year 7 2026 Enrolment Interviews

Wednesday 4 June

Wednesday 29 October

Year 7 2027 Enrolment Interviews

Wednesday 2 July

Year 7 2027 Parent Information Evening

Wednesday 7 May 7.00pm

Year 7 2026 Transition Day – Monday

8 December all day

Parent Helpers-Term 2

We will be running an induction for any parents who wish to help in the classroom on Tuesday 1st April at 9am in the front office. Please note, any parents wishing to assist in the classroom must have a Working with Children Check. It only needs to be a Volunteer one to assist in the classroom. The school will require a copy of this to keep in our files. We will notify parents of the date once we have finalised it.

ATTENTION PARENTS: School Uniform

I am asking please that all students, to be wearing our proper school uniform. It is important that we maintain a high standard of uniform throughout the school year and to wear it with pride.

I will continue to ask all students to be wearing proper school shoes and uniform right up until the end of the year. Runners are NOT school shoes. Please see pictures below. I understand that students are growing constantly, however they will continue to grow for many more years and so I cannot always accept this as an excuse. We must remember that many students are adhering to the correct standards of school uniform and therefore, it is important that the students and their families please respect this. Secondary schools do not accept poor unform standards.

 If finance is a concern when it comes to uniform, please speak to your classroom teacher. St Patrick’s has a very good second-hand uniform shop that you can top up your child’s uniform with. It is a third of the price you would pay at the normal uniform shop, and the money goes straight back to the school.

 This is an example of a school shoe to be worn every day, except on sport days/events:

This is a runner and NOT a school shoe