Sacramental Preparation

We continue to keep in our prayers the children and families currently involved in our parish Reconciliation program.

Our School Values

At St Francis of Assisi, we value respect because we honour the presence of God in those we meet, believing that everyone is created in the image and likeness of God. 

At St Francis of Assisi, we show that we are a community that values respect by:

• using good manners
• considering how our actions affect others
• being an active listener
• responding to people’s needs
• treating all people with kindness
• appreciating the diversity of our community

At our Principal and Values Award Assembly last Friday, we recognised one student from each class who has demonstrated the Christian value of respect during the first half of this term.

This week, teachers began explicitly teaching another of our values - honesty.  You are encouraged to continue discussions around the importance of honesty and what it does and doesn’t look like with your child at home.

At St Francis of Assisi, we value honesty because it helps us build positive relationships based on the modelling of Jesus.
At St Francis of Assisi, we show that we are a community that values honesty by:

• telling the truth
• owning our actions - positive and negative
• acknowledging when people have been honest with us
• doing the right thing even when no one is watching
• saying what you mean and meaning what you say

Mini Vinnies Fundraising for Project Compassion

The Mini Vinnies student team is excited to run their first fundraising event for the year. While the weather is still warm, they will be raising money for Project Compassion by selling zooper doopers for $1 on Thursday 14 March, Tuesday 19 March, and Tuesday 26 March. The students are very excited to be leading this fundraiser.

Project Compassion Focus Stories

Third Week of Lent  (Week Beginning Monday 4 March)

Samoa may be a country surrounded by water, but access to clean drinking water is scarce in some areas, with many families facing extreme hardship as a result. Leaia lives with her five children, husband, brother and sister-in-law on the island of Upolu in Samoa. Not having access to a reliable source of clean water caused Leaia a lot of worry. Their home is not connected to a piped water system, so they had to rely solely on rainwater collected in old fridges. When their water ran out, Leaia had to walk with her young children to collect water in buckets and containers from a neighbour down the street. With the support of Caritas Australia's local partner, Caritas Samoa, a water tank was installed at Leaia's home. She and her family now have a steady supply of clean drinking water at home. Next year, they will also have a toilet built, with the support of Caritas Samoa, which will further improve their health and living conditions. “We are very thankful and grateful for the water tank. It has helped us so much and made our daily life easier,” Leaia said. Watch Leaia's Story.

Fourth Week of Lent (Week beginning Monday 11 March)

Memory is 26 years old and lives in rural Malawi. As the eldest child in a low-income farming family, Memory had to take on many household chores and farming activities to support her parents. They struggled to pay for Memory’s school fees and school supplies, and Memory often had to walk to school barefooted. With the support of Caritas Australia and its partner the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM), Memory was able to enrol at a technical college where she learnt technical skills in carpentry. She undertook a three-year carpentry course, with CADECOM supporting part of her tuition and boarding fees. Memory became the first female carpenter from her village. Today, she works as a carpenter at one of Malawi’s largest hydroelectric power stations. With the income from her job, she can provide financial support to her family and inspire other young women in her community so that they may have the opportunity to succeed in a male-dominated industry. Watch Memory's Story. Photo: Tim Lam/Caritas Australia

Please donate to Project Compassion

Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow, for all future generations.  You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes, online by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413.

Wear Green to Highlight St Patrick’s Day

This year, the Solemnity of St Patrick is observed by the Church on Monday 18 March, due to the 17th falling on the 5th Sunday of Lent. There will not be Mass on this day, however, we will acknowledge St Patrick during morning assembly prayer and reflect on some of the focus stories from this year’s Project Compassion appeal.  Students are invited to wear a green accessory and make a gold coin donation for Project Compassion.

Upcoming Parish Masses the Whole School is Attending

• Tuesday 19 March - 9am Mass for the Solemnity of St Joseph

St Joseph is the patron saint of families, workers and the Universal Church.  Joseph was a carpenter, a good and honest man, whom God called to care for Mary and her baby Jesus.  Joseph was a faithful and trusting servant of God who wanted to do what was asked of him.  We can learn from Joseph to listen to what God asks of us and become faith-filled servants caring for those in need.

•  Monday 8 April - 9am Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation

This year, our Church will celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord on Monday 8 April.  This particular feast commemorates the time when the angel Gabriel visited the Blessed Virgin Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of our saviour.  On this day, we do not only celebrate the announcement to Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus, but also her willing acceptance of the news.  Like Mary, may we be as generous in accepting the will of God in our lives. 

Partnering with our Parish - Upcoming Mission and Vision Meeting
I draw your attention to the following notice regarding an upcoming mission and vision meeting that was in our parish bulletin last weekend:

Our Vision and Mission Statements, underpinned by our Key Values, continue to provide direction for the life of our Warrawong and Berkeley Parish communities and enable us to look towards our future. All parishioners are warmly invited to further explore our Parishes Mission and Vision on Thursday 14 March at St Francis of Assisi Hall at 7:00pm.

One of the focuses of our School Strategic Improvement Plan is to look at ways we can continue to create opportunities to work in partnership with our school and parish.
If you are able to attend on Thursday night, we would love to see you there.

Contacting the Parish
From time to time, life presents us with situations that prompt us to reach out for pastoral support.  If you would like to make contact with Fr Damien, Deacon Michael, Deacon Lawrie or Sr Anna, you can call the Parishes’ Office by phoning 4276 3565 or emailing berkeleywarrawong@dow.org.au.  Office hours:  T-F 10 am - 1:30 pm.  Alternatively, you can always approach them at Mass.  There is daily Mass (T-F) at St Francis of Assisi Church at 9 am.  During Lent, there is also a 7 pm Mass on Wednesday nights.  Weekend Mass times are: 4 pm Saturday @ St Mary’s, Berkeley and 10:30 am Sunday @ St Francis of Assisi, Warrawong.

Holy Week Ceremonies in our Parishes - Save the Dates!

Palm Sunday 23/24 March	Holy Thursday 28 March	Good Friday 29 March
4 pm Berkeley 10:30 am Warrawong	7 pm Warrawong -  Mass of the Lord's Supper	10 am Berkeley -  Stations of the Cross 3 pm - The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ

Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday 30 March	Easter Sunday 31 March
6:30 pm	8 am - Berkeley 10:30 am - Warrawong

In addition to the above ceremonies taking place in our parishes, the Chrism Mass will be held at the Cathedral in Wollongong on Tuesday 26 March, commencing at 7 pm.  At this Mass, the priests of the diocese renew their priestly vows and the sacramental oils used in Baptism, Holy Orders, Confirmation and the Anointing of the Sick are blessed by Bishop Brian.

Ms Marita Maloney
Religious Coordinator